All in Forgiveness
I am human. Jesus gave us holy forgiveness by dying on the cross for our sins. He also
modeled how forgiveness looks like in our lives.
Peter betrayed Jesus three times as Jesus had predicted at the last supper. Following
His resurrection, as Jesus talked with Peter, He asked him three times, “Do you love
me?” Not, “Why did you do it?”
This is when Paul says…
Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone (Romans 12:18 NLT).
Then, in verses 19-21, he proceeds to say don’t pay the person back with evil or revenge. Instead, Paul wisely says to calm the person down who is persecuting you by sharing food and drink with them. Paul explains that the best way to conquer evil is by doing good.
These walls of bitterness, unforgiveness, anger, withdrawal... may have given you a false sense of security, peace, or even justice. Yet, these walls have no place in the lives of believers. Have you tried to tear down a divisive wall in your own strength? Perhaps you’ve discovered that a well-fortified, long-standing wall is extremely difficult to remove.
When you're faced with a decision, what guides your response? Do you act based on emotion in the moment, or do you pause, pray, and thoughtfully consider your options? And when you sin—what’s your first reaction? Do you blame, ignore, make excuses, or repent?
My Mother's favorite flowers were violets and she grew them outside along our picket fence near the edge of the sidewalk. These small purple blooms sat low to the ground, vulnerable to careless feet that might trample them unnoticed. However small, humble things are often the most profound!
Rest can feel out of reach when unresolved hurt keeps resurfacing. This piece explores how forgiveness is often a slow, repeated choice that gently loosens the weight we carry and opens the door to deeper rest.
It happened so fast. I was putting my groceries in my car and the parking spot had a slight incline. As I was rearranging the bags, I turned to retrieve the bags to see the cart rolling away down the parking lot. “Stop!” I screamed at the cart!”. It kept on its journey with my walking cane inside the cart. I had no fast way to catch it. Finally, the cart hit a pole only to bounce into a car.
Hegemony is a noun that means “leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others,” according to Oxford Languages. I looked up the definition one day after hearing the word referenced in a news report.
Coco, my pup, notifies me when it is time to retrieve the day’s mail. One day, after our trip to the mailbox, she watched curiously as I opened a package containing a small, yellowed classic--Lewis Smedes’ book on forgiveness. Its size betrayed its reputation.
This summer my youngest daughter learned how to jump off the diving board. She would approach the diving board with her head held high, full of assurance that she was just as big as those kids around her.
One morning I was in front of my vanity mirror putting on my make-up. My youngest daughter walked up to me with a curious look upon her face.
I love to see scientific studies back up Bible verses. While I’m not surprised, I just think it’s fun to watch science catch up.
Just today, I read an article on how complaining and negativity rewires your brain for anxiety and depression.
I looked forward to youth group every week. My mom dropped me off at the back door of the church and I darted through the hall, heading up the stairs to the unfinished “attic” where we met on Wednesday nights. I couldn’t wait to see my friends and hear the music and message to grow my faith.
Throughout the Old Testament we see a “remnant” of God’s followers who live through the hardest circumstances and the greatest sins. They came back to God time and again and received forgiveness.
My husband and I were trying to find the right place. The jazz concert had been moved to a different venue on campus, so it wasn’t happening here!
I sat down to read and turned on the table lamp beside me. As light spread across the table, I saw a fine white powder coated its surface and even the books resting there.
Unfortunately the lessons of the thornbushes can be many and exceedingly prickly if you wander your own way, as the nation of Israel persisted in doing. Sin became our downfall way back in the garden.
