Forgiving

[Jacqueline]

I've always lived my life with four important rules. I won't say that I was living for God even though I did believe in him and talked to him and read my bible.

1) Do unto others as you would like them to do unto you.

2) Karma- What you do will always come back to you.

3) Empathy

4) If there's anything you can do to help someone do it.

I just felt that was the right way to live life. In doing so I shielded myself from a lot of the things that kids do. Like hinging out, jumping from one guy to another, drugs, drinking and so on and so on. Because of this I have always been know as the good girl, reliable, decent. With this stupid mistake I've destroyed all that. This guy is a friend of my brothers and has told my brothers other friends about it. One of them actually said to me at least one of use had you. That statement floored me. How can I forgive that? How can I forgive me? May be its just my

pride that's hurt?

God Bless

Jacqueline

[Guest ReflectionsofHim]

when ever I see him I can't help feeling angry.

Forgiveness isn't only an act. It's a process. Give yourself a break, cut yourself some slack, don't sin in that anger, and allow your human self to heal from it. Remember, time heals all things.

Love through our Jesus,

Ref

[Orr v'emet]

That's hard Jacq. The good news is that God has forgiven you if you have asked for His forgiveness and your sin is remembered no more. It sounds like Satan is using this to keep you from living a victorious Christian life...don't let him...pray, pray, pray.

[seekandyouwillfind]

just thought i would put my devotion in today ................

i love how God works in my devotions ...........

hope this helps you like it helped me :hug:

June 14+15

The Seventy-times-seven Club.................

Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and i forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." Matthew 18:21, 22

With these words, Jesus Christ formed one of the most exclusive clubs in the world--the "Seventy-Times-Seven Club." He wants you to forgive each other an infinite number of times, not just when you feel like it. By an act of your will, you must put away resentment and the desire to punish the person who has wronged you.

Families can't function without forgiveness. Living together in close quarters means we inevitably have our toes stepped on. But forgiveness is hard for some people, partly because of several misconceptions about what it involves.

Here are some things forgiveness isn't:

Forgiveness isn't excusing or condoning sin. It doesn's involve changing your attitude about right and wrong.

Forgiveness doesn't require forgetting a person's sin. God has that power, but we do not. Forgiveness means that even though you remember the hurt, you give up the need to punish the other person.

Forgiveness doesn't require denying your pain, hurt or anger. It may take times for your feelings to catch up and begin to fall in line with your decision to forgive.

Similarly, forgiveness doesnt mean stuffing your grief. There is genuine pain due to hurt. It may take time for the wound to heal, even though you forgive the person who offended you.

Forgiveness doesn't always mean instant and full reconciliation. Even when you forgive, it can take time and effort by both parties to rebuild trust.

Now that I've discusses what forgiveness is not, Ill look next at what it is.

[Born Again]

Jacqueline-

I have been learning how important it is to see others as Jesus sees them. For instance, I have a hard time loving my boss, she does everything she can to make people feel stupid, including me. Jesus was so awesome in that He could look at the vilest people and see beyond who they were to what their greatest need was, which was Him. It is sooo hard to do but when you see the person that you are angry at, just say a quick prayer for Jesus to help you see him like He does. I have done this with my boss and you will see the difference it will make and the Lord will bless you for it.

Good advice KMB!

[seekandyouwillfind]

Looking at God's Example..................

And be ye kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32

John Wesley, founder of Methodism, was talking with General James Oglethorpe when the general remarked, "I never forgive," Wesley replied,"Then i hope, sir, that you never sin." In other words, if you cant forgive others, why should you expect God to forgive you?

Look at Paul's instruction to forgive others"just as God in Christ Jesus also has forgiven you." This raises an interesting question: What did God in Christ Jesus do to forgive you?

To answer this question I would like to take you to a pivotal moment in human history: the crucifixion of Jesus Christ as described in Luke 23. It's a story that is rich in significance.

After Christ was betrayed, tried and unfairly convicted, after He was humiliated and scorged and jeered and spit upon, He finally suffered the cruelest indignity. The only perfect man who ever lived was hung on a cross with two criminals. Below Him, soldiers mocked Him and stripped Him of His clothing. People sneered, "He saved others: let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God. His Chosen One."

Yet Christ's responce was incredible. Even at that moment , while suffering the most terrible abuse, He said," Father, forgive them: for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34).

This passage holds three lessons:

Forgiveness embraces the offenders. Christ offered forgiveness to the very people who hurt Him the most. And that's not all--He offered it to them while they were still hurting Him.

Forgiveness initiates. God desired your fellowship so much He took the initiative in forgiving you. He did not wait for you to earn it.

Forgiveness gives up all rights to punish. God cancelled your debt against Him. You deserve to die as the penalty for your sins. But God, knowing it was absolutely imposible for you to pay that debt, had Christ pay the penalty as a substitution for you.

If you ever have trouble forgiving , just remember what Christ did for you. And you didn't deserve it.

I know this is difficult for the natural self .....that is why we should stay in the "spirit".....Its amazing how devotions apply to ourselves......hope this helps someone like me........

[seekandyouwillfind]

just bringing this forward for someone ............... :hug:

[Guest ReflectionsofHim]

just bringing this forward for someone ............... :hug:

Amen and Amen!!!

Forgiving is pretty easy for me because I have such a big heart and had to learn a lot about forgiving others at a young and tender age and I'm so glad that I did!!! Thank You, Jesus, for using ALL things in my life for Your Glory!!!

Thank you so much for this!

Love through our Jesus,

Ref

:hug: