What a great God have we! He is the God of fairness, truth and justice. We can forgive each other's injustices against each other and know that, also, God will forgive us of our sins.
There is one sin, however, that is not forgiven by God. I remember, as a kid in confirmation, of being so afraid to "blasphemy" the Holy Spirit. I tried to imagine what I could do to cause that. What could possibly be so bad! How could any heart be beyond repentance? You may have run into people with hearts of stone, but whoever you, or I, think may have crossed that line to commit "blasphemy of the Holy Spirit" through their actions and words, it is best to leave the judgment to God. Only He knows the true hearts of men.
"Matthew 12:30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.
(The Unpardonable Sin) 31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come."
Those who have hurt me are forgiven by me; I have put them in my prayers. I cannot walk with God when there is bitterness and unforgiveness in my heart. Our God will be our Deliverer and He will bring true justice. If I, by not forgiving someone, cause that person to lose his or her soul to Satan, then what righteousness have I? All of God's children are precious in His sight. If He forgives their sin, can I do less? If they are not repentant, that is between them and God.
"Matthew 10:27 “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."
When Jesus sent out the disciples he told them:
"Matthew 10:12 And when you go into a household, greet it. 13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!"
May we all be worthy when the Holy Spirit comes to us. The choices we make are for eternity.
God be with us.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Anger
Did someone accuse you falsely or someone you loved? A year and a half ago someone accused my grandson of causing destruction and then insinuated that I lied when I said that he did not do it. Everytime I see this person, I see red! Its not that I dwell on it, as it is not in my mind until I see him.
Last night I went to a meeting and our accuser was also there. As I sat in the meeting I realized that this anger that I had was poisoning me. There was a hard ball where my heart should be and I did not think I could make myself look kindly. I tried to dismiss it, but could not make it go away.
When the meeting was over, a kindly neighbor lady came and talked to me, and the bitterness in me dissolved to a great degree, and then others joined us. When I left I was able to be remotely kind to the person that falsely accused us. This is where prayer and forgiveness is going to have to take over. What kind of relationship do we have with our God when we can't see beyond our own anger?
We are told in Colossians 3:8
Is it possible to keep ourselves holy? Our God has great confidence that we are able to do so and instructs us to do so in Colossians 3:12
May we all find love for one another. God help us all.
Last night I went to a meeting and our accuser was also there. As I sat in the meeting I realized that this anger that I had was poisoning me. There was a hard ball where my heart should be and I did not think I could make myself look kindly. I tried to dismiss it, but could not make it go away.
When the meeting was over, a kindly neighbor lady came and talked to me, and the bitterness in me dissolved to a great degree, and then others joined us. When I left I was able to be remotely kind to the person that falsely accused us. This is where prayer and forgiveness is going to have to take over. What kind of relationship do we have with our God when we can't see beyond our own anger?
We are told in Colossians 3:8
But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
Is it possible to keep ourselves holy? Our God has great confidence that we are able to do so and instructs us to do so in Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
May we all find love for one another. God help us all.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Warmer weather ahead
According to the weather forecast, by tomorrow we will begin to have our highs above freezing. Earlier in the week, it predicted Friday's temp at 32 degrees and now it is predicting a high of 41 with a high mostly in the 30s for the next 10 days! We can all sure use some warm weather.
I saw an interview on tv the other day, where a reporter was interviewing a boy of about 8-10 years old. She commented on his red ears and he said he couldn't even feel them. I couldn't believe that no one immediately put something over his ears!!!
When I was a young kid, I remember one particular winter that we had a blizzard. It was very cold and I don't know if this was that same "cold snap" where the temperatures dropped about 30 degrees within minutes and our cats that weren't in shelter froze in their tracks.
On this day, the sheep had disappeared during the blizzard and Uncle Pete had gone to find them. When he didn't come back, my Dad took the pickup and went to look for him. Dad went down the road and was going up the road on the other side of the field when the pickup stalled. He walked back to the house, which was about 1/2 mile. His ears froze on the way to the house. He was in such pain that day. One of his ears was enormously swollen. Later when I heard the term "cauliflower ear", I recognized it to be his condition. Eventually, he lost all hearing in that ear. He had wore a cap with flaps, but that was not enough.
Uncle came back. The sheep had drifted down the bottom of the valley, where the creek ran, and into the neighbors.
Whether you got little ears, like a kid, or are an adult, frigid weather will freeze all that is not protected. I pray that the Lord comes back soon and makes the world right so that there will be no hurting or freezing cold child.
As kids, we walked the 1/2 mile to school. I remember on so many occasions having frostbitten hands with white blotches on them and how they stung when they were warmed up. Bundle up your children - winter has no mercy. God be with us.
I saw an interview on tv the other day, where a reporter was interviewing a boy of about 8-10 years old. She commented on his red ears and he said he couldn't even feel them. I couldn't believe that no one immediately put something over his ears!!!
When I was a young kid, I remember one particular winter that we had a blizzard. It was very cold and I don't know if this was that same "cold snap" where the temperatures dropped about 30 degrees within minutes and our cats that weren't in shelter froze in their tracks.
On this day, the sheep had disappeared during the blizzard and Uncle Pete had gone to find them. When he didn't come back, my Dad took the pickup and went to look for him. Dad went down the road and was going up the road on the other side of the field when the pickup stalled. He walked back to the house, which was about 1/2 mile. His ears froze on the way to the house. He was in such pain that day. One of his ears was enormously swollen. Later when I heard the term "cauliflower ear", I recognized it to be his condition. Eventually, he lost all hearing in that ear. He had wore a cap with flaps, but that was not enough.
Uncle came back. The sheep had drifted down the bottom of the valley, where the creek ran, and into the neighbors.
Whether you got little ears, like a kid, or are an adult, frigid weather will freeze all that is not protected. I pray that the Lord comes back soon and makes the world right so that there will be no hurting or freezing cold child.
As kids, we walked the 1/2 mile to school. I remember on so many occasions having frostbitten hands with white blotches on them and how they stung when they were warmed up. Bundle up your children - winter has no mercy. God be with us.
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