Tag: forgiveness

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Paid in Full

I dunno about you but I hate paying bills.  It’s not so much about getting rid of the money ( although that part is stinky), is more about the accounting and making sure it’s paid on the correct date and getting the right amount and all of that stuff.  For those things that I don’t have automatically paid, it’s a struggle every month.  Usually there is a frantic middle of the night rush on the due date to pay the bill.  What a blessing on line bill pay is.

So isn’t it good to know that as followers of the Christ, there is no due date.  Well, there will be a judgement day, and for those not follower the Christ, that will be quite a problem.  But for those who have put on the grace and mercy of Christ, your sins will have been paid in full, and on the due date, your balance due will be a big fat zero!

23May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (New International Version)

So, doesn’t knowing that you owe nothing and that its been paid for you provide some relief from the anxiety of the day and create a desire to repay that through your actions?  Get out there and impact those around you today.

Its freeeeeeeeeeeee!

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Go World

The Soccer World Cup starts today!  Isn’t the awesome!  I always think it is so amazing when the whole world gets together around one thing, even it is it sport.  Its good to see the people although they have their favorite team, still can realize that we are all people!

Its also interesting to think about this event taking place in South Africa.   A few weeks ago, I took advantage of pay per view to watch Invictus, the story of the South Africa rugby, but really a story about the power of forgiveness.  Its worth the watch, and its a really powerful story of the way people can work together to make things happen, but really it all started with forgiveness.

So as the world comes together today, putting aside their differences today to play futbol, how about taking a look around you and see how forgiveness can change the world around you.

36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. 37“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:36-38 (New International Version)

Oh, and for all you Englanders out there, watch out, the Yanks are coming!

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The Prodigal Kitty

Almost every morning when I awake I look at on my back porch I find one of our cats sitting in the corner of the porch sleeping.  It’s usually Todd, the cat that likes us.  But today it was Bruce, the traitor.  We call him that because he spends more time at the neighbor’s house, in the neighbor’s garage and eating the neighbor’s food then doing the same on our side of the street.  The “crazy cat lady” across the street has him under her spell.  So it brought me great joy to see him willingly sleeping on our porch this morning.  The prodigal had come home.

So I sat on the edge of the bed willing myself to get up, looking at Bruce and thinking about our own lives.  I wonder if the joy I felt this morning is similar to the joy that God feels when we willingly give ourselves to him.  And I wonder if the jealously and anger I feel when I see Bruce partaking of the temptation that the crazy cat lady has to offer doesn’t some how parallel to the jealously and anger the God must feel when we decide to strike out on our own and indulge ourselves in our own ways.

For me this had been a bright spot in a morning filled with anxiety as I try to figure out how to accomplish 48 hours worth of activities in 8 hours.  Maybe I should learn something from Bruce, and stretch out on God’s back porch, let him handle the stress and bask in the light of his joy.

8Come near to God and he will come near to you.  James 4:8

Have a great Holiday weekend.  Stay close to our God and Savior.

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Argh Teenagers

This is one of those days where I have one pressing thought on my mind.  Its short and sweet:

Argh!!! Teenagers!!

It’s absolutely amazing how frustrating and hurtful it is to watch your teenagers continually dismiss your advice and ignore your suggestions.  It’s really a stress creator – it makes you want to put your fist into the wall or tear something up.

Oh but isn’t it interesting that we continually do the same thing to our heavenly Father.  We disregard his advice for living, we ignore the suggestions, we create our own paths, and I am sure he wants to scream ( hm, that might have something to do with the whole Noah deal).

But what is really amazing is he doesn’t.  Check out John 8.  With the woman caught in sin he says

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

And then in Hebrews 10 he adds:

17…”Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”

So no matter how the day goes today, no matter what befalls, remember these verses, you are forgiven, and that provides quite a lot of strength to deal with the day – even to deal with the teenagers – ARGH!

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Smile and Wave

Today,  I have an interesting engagement.  At times it sort of makes me feel like the penguins in the movie Madagascar “Smile and Wave Boys, just Smile and Wave”.  

But really it’s more than that – even though I am working within some pretty Dilbertesque parameters.   Its really more about helping people.  Without going into too many details about the whole thing, let’s just say it could be very easy for me to take a hands off approach, just smile and wave, keep everyone happy and move on.   But I don’t think thats the difference that we are asked to make in peoples lives.  I have been thinking alot ( like all year so far) about living to make those around me better.   It’s been a little silent mantra of mine so far this year at work.  Today is one of those opportunities when it is what the entire day is really about – making those around me better.

Isn’t that really the way we are called to live every day? (Remember the old children’s bible program acronym for JOY – Jesus Others You)  It seems to me that taking that approach everyday is  pretty good.  Check this quote out:

 
“To do something, however small, to make others happier and better, is the highest ambition, the most elevating hope, which can inspire a human being” John Lubbock quotes (English Biologist and Politician, 1834-1913)

And then there’s this little bit of encouragement from Philippians:

 1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:1-4 (New International Version)

So today, go out and make those around you better.  Find ways to encourage those you come in contact with, and look out for their interests, not your own.