Forgiveness: Futile to Freedom

Romans 12:19--"Beloved, do not look for revenge but leave room for the wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay,' says the Lord".

A few days ago, a friend of mine requested that I blog about forgiveness. It wasn't until tonight that I finally felt confident enough to touch on such a complex, multi-dimensional issue. After all, what kind of authority do I have to speak on forgiveness when I haven't so much as forgiven myself in a variety of ways?

So, let me start off by asking you, have you forgiven someone, including yourself, who had an adverse effect on your life? How do we know if we have? Sometimes we go through life unaware of this constant gnawing at the very depths of our hearts. We may subconsciously try to bury it in order to escape the pain, or we may be consciously doing so in order to mask the shame or guilt that consumes us. Either way, you are suppressing a very natural feeling which may in turn give way to resentment towards the wrongdoer if not addressed appropriately. Sometimes this person is aware of it, sometimes they are not. And it hurts even more to believe that the latter may be true, for they are able to walk around with a clear conscience, while you are left to pick up the pieces. All in all, what is being resolved if we feed into the negativity? All you really gain is an attachment to these very sentiments that have ruled your life up until this point. Have you become so accustomed to feeding into this past hurt that you now identify with it? Yikes! I can vouch and that is not a very safe place to be.

Some of us may have taken an additional step, seeking revenge against those who played a role in the wrongdoing. In response to this, I shall paraphrase Romans 12:19. We have no authority over those who have sinned against us. We instead should "leave room" for God to step into the fire and drag us out. He will extinguish the fiery flames that torment your life. You have no business staring into the face of the flame or you will continue to get burned. Trust that God is dealing with your tormentors accordingly.

Another friend of mine, without even realizing the dilemma I was in, sent me a link entitled "Luggage". It touched on exactly what I wanted to discuss in this posting. So, without further adieu, I bring it to you. My lesson for today comes along with visual aid! It makes my life a lot easier! Let me know what you think! Make sure to watch both parts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kOGo2yn5rs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sgeyT7AcCg

I pray that all who read this experience a wave of forgiveness that will wash up upon the shores of their hearts. And as the wave retracts back to the sea, I pray that it will carry along with it, the hurt, the painful memories, and the shame that has weighed heavy on them for so long. In addition, I pray that God will break any spirit of vengeance that they may feel towards those who have hurt them. That battle is not theirs to fight.

Until next week, my brothers and sisters in Christ, feel encouraged that tomorrow is a new day. A day to forgive. A day to stop up the leak that has allowed the spirit of resentment and/or vengeance to infiltrate your pure heart. Trust that you are strong enough to block out the painful memories that persist on haunting you day after day. They are no longer your reality. They are just figments of your mind and they belong where they were created--in the past.

Let's instead open our minds to the future possibility of freedom that comes at the expense of a clear conscience and a light heart. We will soon be jet-setting to an eternity in paradise and no baggage is needed. So, travel light!

Blessings over you and your household, my friends....

Questioning our Convictions

Definition of conviction: a) a fixed or firm belief, b) the act of convincing.

What are your convictions? What firm beliefs or ideals do you stand by? If your convictions were confronted with opposition, are you confident enough in your understanding to defend them?

I stand firm in my conviction to live according the the Word. Underlying that, however, the lines become blurred. In my own experience, I have found a great deal of divisiveness within the Christian church, so much so that at times it makes me question my own beliefs. Some churches preach the gospel of love. The pastor loves on his/her congregation and as a result the members of the church feel a responsibility to minister in the same way. Other churches may place more value on obedience. They may expect their body to adhere to certain rules and guidelines to enforce obedience to the Lord. When the two meet, questions may arise as to who may be more "Christ-like". We may size each other up, wondering why he/she doesn't act or minister in the same way you do. Some of us who are new believers might not yet have strong roots in their convictions. As a result, he/she may begin to question their own foundation of faith.

Let's take the way we envision God for example. I was raised in a loving environment, where the image of God was painted in hues of love, forgiveness, and mercy. As a result, I try to walk accordingly and fellowship with believers who share the same perspectives. I have come across fellow believers who illustrate God as One that should be feared, a jealous God, or a Redeemer. This is also true as spoken about in the Bible. My walk may be different than theirs. My talk may be different than theirs. But neither is more "Christ-like". I find that I have to check myself every now and then when sentiments of inferiority in my convictions kick in. Just because this Christian wears a skirt down to her ankles, doesn't mean that you are in sin if yours comes to your knees. Are you comfortable in your own skin as a Christian or do you feel as though your convictions vacillate with the wind?

This leads me to another stumbling block. Who should be questioning your convictions? People of the world, fellow believers, or God? You can sit down and have a conversation with non-believers and realize that there are so many different perspectives when there is only one God. You can converse with fellow believers and realize that the same holds true. Why is this? My only speculation is that we all come from different backgrounds, whether it be ethnicity, culture, or up-bringing. Our history can paint or taint an ideal based on what we've heard, seen, or felt about it at a given time.

My resolution is this: Get in where you fit in. Not every church is for you. You may not care to fellowship with every Christian. That is okay. Spend time alone with God and ask Him to reveal Himself to you. In that time you will gain a deeper understanding of Him, which in turn stimulates growth in faith and in our convictions. Don't let fellow man decide for you. Stand firm for in you He has planted a seed of righteousness, justice, and, truth!

Be bold, Be Strong, and Trust that you are who God made you to be!

Until next time...

Stay Encouraged!!!

No, He Never Lets Go!

Let's medidate on this Bible verse for a moment: Joshua 1:5b. The Lord said, "I will not leave you nor forsake you". I don't know about you, but after reading this verse, I feel as though I can conquer the world! For I know that through my struggles, my battles, my highs and my lows, I have the strongest army behind me--my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.



Not too long ago, I was at a point in my life where I thought I knew it all. I knew what occupation to pursue. I knew where I wanted to live. I knew the type of mother I wanted to be. I knew the type of man that I would eventually marry. No one could tell me different. I thought I had it all figured out. But God, in a moment's time, pulled the rug right out from under me. Just like that, I found myself flat on my face. God doesn't care where you are in your life or if the timing is convenient. He will show up when His sheep are off-course and He will take whatever means necessary to steer you back in the right direction. You have to remember, you are not in control. So just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride!



I know I am making light of what is oftentimes a very painful process. When God is working on you, it can almost feel as though everything that you know and love is stripped away. He may separate you from friends. You may lose your job. He will definitely tear apart your ego and in place of that pour in humility. By this point, you're probably wondering, "Why Me"?! When instead you should be exclaiming, "Yes, Me"! Through it all, you realize He has not left you nor forsaken you. He is in the process of building you up, equipping you, restoring you, and renewing you to do a greater work for His kingdom.



If and when when you lose your footing, and you fear the pain you are about to face, God steps right in to break your fall. It won't be as bad as you anticipated and from it you are almost guaranteed to learn something. I don't know if you remember but in my previous blog, I spoke about an event that occurred to me on top of a mountain. I literally lost my footing when I reached the top. Had I not done so, I would not have noticed the letters etched out in the sand--"P-A-P-A". And just like a good Papa, God will let you fall on your face sometimes to: 1) strengthen you for what is yet to come 2) strengthen your relationship with Him.



How many of us know that even when we make mistakes (some of them so bad we can't even forgive ourselves), He still has not left us? He has not forsaken us. He wants so badly for you to realize what greater purpose He has for you.



So, Press into Him, Seek Him, Praise Him and Thank Him for never letting us go!



Take on this week encouraged because you know that your Heavenly Father loves you just that much!



Bless you!

Make Papa Proud

In times of desperation and through the muddled chaos that surrounds you, do not forget the ultimate Being who created you in His image. How refreshing it is to think that we were made in the likeness of God. The omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, omnibenevolent (to name a few) has created a blue print of who we are predestined to be. Although each one of us is unique in so many ways, we are all brought into this world the same way--equipped with the desire to please our Heavenly Father. With free will, he allows us to choose between the life he has pre-determined for us (our blue print if you will) or the life that we create for ourselves. Which do you choose?

I decided to take a trip to Malibu this past Saturday with the initial intent of taking a long jog on the beach. I find that running helps me regain focus, especially in the midst of a storm (one that I have been trying to weather this past week). So, I started running towards a parking lot, an area I had never been before. Without a clue in my mind about where I was going, I continued until I reached a set of stairs in the sand that led me to a trail up the incline of a mountain. I started on this path a little nervous after noticing that no one else was around. I had a flashback of a conversation I had with a friend who told me that he ran into a mountain lion during one of his hikes up the mountains! However, I started reassuring myself that it is highly unlikely to find a mountain lion hanging out at the beach (or so I hoped)!

Trying to be bold, I started my journey along this trail. I noticed the daffodils that painted the pathway yellow. I then averted my eyes to the sky and noticed the seagulls spreading their wings as they spanned the clear, blue sky much like a kite rides the wind. I stopped at a point in my journey and rested at the edge of a cliff that overlooks the grandiose sea below. I began praying that God would reveal Himself to me. It was then that I reflected on a sermon that took place in church the night before. I found it amusing that the pastor referred to our Heavenly Father as "Papa" and how we should make "Papa proud". I started reflecting on how endearing it is to refer to Him as such and how I hoped that I made my Papa proud!

After some rest, I decided to continue. I came to a fork in the trail where one could either go further up the incline to the peak of the mountain or take the path of least resistance and head down the slope. I deciphered for a moment and then started to pray. I told God that I will persevere in reaching the top of the mountain, which symbolizes the trying quest I am willing to take in seeking after His heart. I followed a hummingbird that served as my guide and I almost effortlessly took long strides to the top. Needless to say, the atmosphere was breath-taking as I began surveying it all in 360 degree intervals. It was at this very moment that I began to lose my footing. I looked down to regain my balance and there written in the sand read "Papa".

I am ever so grateful for this encounter with God and I begin to wonder what if I had made the choice to travel down the path of least resistance? It is not always easy walking with the Lord, especially in today's society. However, the more you seek His presence, the more He will reveal Himself to you. I encourage each and everyone of us to take time out of our busy schedules for a one-on-one with God. You know you can't live without Him, so why do you try?

Nothing pleases "Papa" more than you longing to spend time with him. Nothing pleases "Papa" more than you desiring to be just like Him--an image of Him here on earth for the whole world to see. And when someone asks you, "Who do you favor?", you can say without a shadow of a doubt that you are your Papa's child. And yes, the more you favor Him, the more He favors you.
Now that's something to rejoice about!

P.S. The Lord put something on my heart today. "Keep your head up or you'll miss the beauty that surrounds you".

Amen!

Be blessed, Be Joyous, Be Fruitful, Keep your HEAD UP, and...

Stay Encouraged!!!