Forgiveness

I experience two extremes when talking about forgiveness to families. There are those who think they have forgiven but haven’t. Then there are those who know they haven’t forgiven. The latter either believes it is impossible for them to forgive or are not willing to forgive. It is important to understand what forgiveness means. Forgiveness does not say that what happened was okay. Forgiveness does not give the persecutor permission to continue hurting us. Forgiveness does not mean that those involved have to become best friends. Forgiveness is all about the person who has been harmed. Forgiveness is a gift that we give ourselves. We make a decision that we do not want to carry resentments around any longer. Resentments rob our emotional buckets of joy and peace. Forgiveness allows us to move past terrible situations. Forgiveness allows us to heal. Many times forgiveness opens the door to restoration of relationships. Carl Menninger (unsure of exact quote) - “ If patients in psychiatric hospitals would believe that their sins could be forgiven, 70% of them could walk out the next day.” United News International KRSS March 6, 2009 - “Forgiveness is God’s gift to us to be able to live in a world that is not fair.” Find out more about forgiveness in my August, 2011 Love in Action Newsletter http://bit.ly/njHTGd

Be a Good Finder

A recent drive took me through the farmland in my area which was recently hit by a hail storm. The corn crops looked like a field that I would normally see in November after harvest. In situations like these, it is difficult to find a good outcome. We all have storms in our lives which can put us in a spot of not being able to find the good. When we are not able to find the good in situations, we can turn to the word of God to help us. Psalm 138:7-8 offers such encouragement. “7Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me. 8The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, endure forever--forsake not the works of Your own hands.” Strengthen your faith during hard times while God works behind the scenes to produce a good outcome designed specifically for you. Be an encourager who helps others find the good in storms of their lives.