Who Am I?

 1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.  Leviticus 19:1-2

How to Forgive

Isaiah Core is a good friend of mine and also works with me in the youth ministry program at St. Paul.  He indeed understands what it means to be a “good and faithful servant.”  One of the great joys I find in him is his willingness to recognize ministry opportunities even in the most menial tasks.  Not only does he do these things but offers them as a sacrifice of service with a joyful heart.  He shared with me a post that he wrote back in 2006 when he was learning all over again how to forgive.  He had recently ended his plans to wed and was hanging on to Jesus for strength.  Recognizing the pain he was enduring in this time, the words he offers in the following post are even more powerful.  –trey

23“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”

Matthew 5:23-24 

How to Forgive – Isaiah Core

How does one forgive those who hurt us? In what ways do we sin by withholding Forgiveness?

Christ says throughout his ministry Love your neighbor and enemy. Now, it is simple to forgive someone who is not close to you. People who are not close to you do not know your deepest darkest secrets. They may offend you, but it is easy to forgive them.

Forgiveness is hard when someone like your best friend hurts you. Your best friend knows everything about you. Your best friend, who is suppose to be there day and night for you is idolized into something great and when he or she hurt you, it cuts very deep. Likewise with a family member, who exploits your fears because they want you to do some selfish act. Family issues are family issues, and the girls and boys that go through these ordeals usually come away scarred for life. How is forgiveness possible in these situations? What person in his or her right mind could forgive someone like that? This is the question of the ages.

So, Christ said that we must forgive those who hurt us. He also said if you do not forgive those who hurt you. In return you will not be forgiven. This statement has huge ramifications. Christ did not give us rules because he wanted to weed out anyone who felt pain and anger, but he wanted to tell the people who held grudges to try let go of the hate that could kill you. I personally have been though some rough times. A young girl broke my heart recently. I still struggle with forgiving this young lady, who has really hurt both my family and me. It has been a long road, but I am at a point now that forgiving her is really easy.

My path of reconciliation with this young woman began when I told Christ through prayer that it is impossible for me to forgive her. Then I asked for Christ to help me forgive her. I asked Christ for the strength to forgive her.

Christ is not some deity reigning on High and condemning every mistake we make. He is here right beside us in the muck and mud. He is here and when we ask him for help, seeing as he is the One who with his dying breath forgave the people who crucified him. He is also the one who can help us become more like him. He knows we are human, and he knows that forgiveness is something that takes months even years to accomplish.

Rely upon the Lord who continues to be our strength and light. He will help you forgive those who are unforgivable.

Prayer:  Father teach me how to forgive.  Amen

Love is . . .

One of my greatest joys is to surrounded by a group of friends that are wise, loving and a joy to be with.  Today’s guest blogger offers up an oldie but a goody.  You may have done this exercise before, but it’s power is still present in its words.  Let this exercise pour over you and be filled with the succinct power.  — trey

Love is . . . by Amy Prather

Read: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

“Love is patient, love is kind…” You’ve probably read this before or heard it. Go to any Christian wedding and it’s read. Go to any Christian bookstore and it’s there to hang on your wall. You can give it as a wedding present, place it on a calendar, keep it on a bookmark.

Back in the dark ages when the world was young and I was in youth – LOL! – my youth director did a small study on these verses. It rocked me to the core. Twenty-five years later it still resonates in my soul.

Basically, you replace the word “love” with your name. I’ll do it with you. Are you ready?

___________ is patient. Amy is patient. What? Not hardly! If patience is a virtue, then I’m not a very virtuous woman.

___________ is kind. Amy is kind. OK, that one’s not so bad. Most times I’m kind, but what about that person I’ve passed on the street, what about that girl/guy I made fun of in school? Oops! Forgot about that. Guess I don’t score as high as I thought I would.

___________ does not envy. Amy does not envy. Man, another one! I’m not doing so well, maybe the rest will be better.

___________ does not boast; ___________ is not proud. Amy does not boast. Amy is not proud. Well I thought things would get better but not so far.

___________ is not rude. Amy is not rude. This one’s kind of like the one on kind. Most times I do an OK job of this. But what about when people are rude to me/you? Not so easy is it.

___________ is not self-seeking. Amy is not self-seeking. Hello! This one is ugly!

___________ is not easily angered. Amy is not easily angered. Yeah, right, have you been to my house?

___________ keeps no record of wrong doings. Amy keeps no record of wrong doings. Grudges are something that I can pretty much keep at bay. Pretty much. How about you?

___________ does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. Amy does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. I think that I don’t delight in evil – I hope that I don’t – but rejoicing in the truth? What if it’s truth that we don’t want to hear?

___________ always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Amy always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Protects? I protect myself but what about others? Trusts? No. Hopes? No. Perseveres? No.

At the end of this you may be feeling like I do – that I am a hopeless, selfish, neurotic mess.

But here’s the good news. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.

That’s it. Despite our impatience, unkindness, enviousness, boastfulness, proudness, rudeness, anger, Christ came to earth to take that away. He died for all our sins. Amazing.

Now go back and substitute the name Jesus where you put yours.

Jesus is kind, Jesus is patient. Jesus does not envy, Jesus does not boast, Jesus is not proud. Jesus is not rude, Jesus is not self-seeking, Jesus is not easily angered, Jesus keeps no record of wrongs. Jesus does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. Jesus always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Jesus never fails.

All these statements are absolutely true. Jesus embodies all these characteristics of love. Jesus was love. He loved us so much that he was willing to die for you and me.

Prayer:  Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Amen.