When is forgiveness fun and...not so fun?

Have you ever had fun forgiving someone?  I know, weird question.  

My fun forgiveness memory was when someone I ended up knowing ran into the back of my car on Tuscarawas st. in Canton.  I got out of the car, saw it was a past patient, we hugged, I looked at the car...looked at her, and said. “eh don’t worry about it.” She put her bumper in her trunk and we got out of there.  Forgiving her wasn’t that hard for me because my monte had 195000 miles on it and the extra cracks and dents didn’t really change the appearance that much. That time, forgiving was fun and easy.

Paul tells us to “examine ourselves” during this time.  In other words, look into our hearts and see if anything needs dealt with.  Perhaps one of your issues today is forgiveness.  Maybe the pain, betrayal, and sadness are just too great and feelings are too raw making forgiveness seem impossible.  If so, I want to remind you that Matthew 19:26 states, “With God All Things are Possible” and we are told in 2 Timothy 1:7 that the spirit God gave us gives us power, love, and self discipline.  We have the perfect example of Christ forgiving others when He was being crucified and he cried out in prayer, “Father forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing”

Another example can be taken from a modern day hero named Victor Marx.  Victor Marx goes after the source of sex traffickers in the US, has befriended juveniles who are at highest risk of crime, and now lives in Iraq where he runs an organization that rescues kids who have been orphaned and kidnapped.  Victor Marx attributes being able to be who he is today because he forgave two of the men who would do beyond terrible things to him as a kid.  His forgiveness of them allowed him to move on.  His terrible experiences; being able to endure different methods of torture, toughened him and have given him the ability to go places most would not even think of going.  Those experiences have made him better instead of bitter.  This is a very good representation of Romans 8:28- “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Communion is the perfect time to deal with the impossible feelings in your heart.  We are reminded that Christ makes the impossible possible. Sometimes learning to forgive is a process and takes time.  Hang on!  Keep coming to the cross.  Keep praying for help.   

Prayer:  Father, thank you for making the impossible possible through Christ.  Open our eyes and help us see how forgiving others will help us and those around us heel.  Give us the strength and courage to forgive and help those around us become better.

Chase the Lion and Dare to be a Daniel

Mark Batterson wrote a book entitled, "In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day."  Around 2007, a buddy of mine recommended it to me.  I read the book and listened to a six or seven series podcast series Paster Batterson put on while I would run the bike trail at quail hollow.  The idea of chasing the lions in my life became one of my creeds.  In other words, welcome trials.  Welcome challenges.  Then, go after those challenges with everything you've got!

Another creed I was taught as a kid was "dare to be a Daniel."  My mom always told me to "dare to be a Daniel" from the time I am early enough to remember.  The lesson here was to go against the flow.  Don't be afraid to stand up for what is right and represent the Lord.  In addition, Daniel was very gifted.  He was refined.  Daring to be like Daniel was a charge to be the best I can be and grow strong, fearless, and build great character.

Here is an image from Mark's book:

8-29-17. Six Battles Team Transformation

Great 5 min podcast on Battles Every Man Must Win

Our monthly challenge:

Notes from the evening.  

We enjoyed sharing about a third of our adoption story at church

God’s Call for Your Life: Truth vs. Feelings

Noooooooo!

We were at an Elvis Presley play last night.  There were two characters that had fallen in love with one another.  The young lady asked the young man, "have you ever kissed a girl before?"  They slowly leaned in toward each other.  There was a pregnant silence in the auditorium as they grew closer and closer and Liam suddenly yelled, "NO!!!"  The auditorium suddenly filled with laughter.  I wonder if he will feel the same in about 10 years?  I love that little guy!

Fall On Your Knees!

O Holy Night-  Have we ever fallen to our knees?

This morning, we are going to do things a little different.  The worship team will keep playing.  Sometimes, I feel a need to fall to my knees, and I am wondering if there are others here who may feel the same.  If you feel a need and are physically able, I invite you to get on your knees, bow your head, and close your eyes.  There is no pressure.  If you are unable to go to your knees you may do so in your spirit.  Invite to kneel.  Bow heads and close eyes.  Father, we fall to our knees because you give us:

• Jesus you give us a new start and hope and we don’t deserve it.  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In your great mercy you have given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”‬‬ 1 Peter‬ 1:3‬
• Jesus you give us an abundant life here on earth and for eternity and we don’t deserve it. Your scripture reminds us: ‬‬ “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; but you have come that we may have life, and have it to the full.”‬‬‬‬ John‬ 10:10‬
• Jesus you give us confidence and we don’t deserve it:  Your scripture encourages us to ‬approach your throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. ‬‬‬ Hebrews‬ 4‬:16
• Jesus You give us forgiveness and power over evil when we don’t deserve it.  You remind us when we were dead in our sins and in the uncircumcision of our flesh, You made us alive with Christ. You forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; You have taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, You made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.‬‬ Colossians‬ 2‬:13-15‬ 13

How Much Should We Give?

How Much Should We Give?

When it comes to graduation parties, weddings, birthdays, and Christmas, one big question Amanda and I always ask each other is how much should we give?  The goal is to find the right balance between going overboard and not giving enough.  Is it possible to go overboard when it comes to giving?   Communion is a time to remember a time when God went overboard for us through His son.  He gave the ultimate gift of His son.  A gift with no limits.  He gave it all!  He gave it all, so that we can have it all!  As a result of His gift to us, we are blessed with the holy spirit, a new start, hope, confidence, unity, forgiveness, and power over evil. We receive an abundant life and eternal life.

●     The gift of Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit: John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

●     The gift of Jesus gives us a new start and hope. 1 Peter 1:3 -Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”

●     The gift of Jesus gives us confidence:  Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

●     The gift of Jesus gives us unity :1 Corinthians 10:16-17 16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.

●     The gift of Jesus gives us forgiveness and power over evil.  Colossians 2:13-15 13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

●     The gift of Jesus gives us an abundant life here on earth and for eternity. John 10:10   “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

●     The gift of Jesus gives us eternal life.Colossians 3:2-4 NIV “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

Let’s pray.  Father, thank you for Jesus.  Because of you, we have the Holy Spirit, a new start, we have hope, confidence, and unity.  Because of you we have forgiveness and power over evil.  Father, you give us an abundant life here on earth.  Thank you for the gift of eternal life.