I’ve been hearing a lot about forgiveness lately. It’s even been the topic of teaching at my church. What is so important about forgiveness anyway? Is it really necessary? Well, when we read the Word of God, we can see that it is. 

In Matthew 6:14 we read, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”  And in Mark 11:25 we read, “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop, in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your own failings and shortcomings and let them drop.”

Consider what I heard one person say, that if Jesus had waited for us to ask for forgiveness, we would never have received it. Hmmm, kind of got me thinking.

Oftentimes we need to forgive others even if they do not ask for forgiveness.  When we do not forgive and instead harbor bitterness or anger in our hearts toward someone, it actually interferes with our relationship with God, hinders our prayers, and blocks our blessings!

Consider what the bible says in Luke 6:37b: “acquit, forgive and release (give up resentment, let it drop), and you will be acquitted and forgiven and released.” (The Amplified Bible) 

These verses tell me that God expects us to forgive, even requires it, and He promises to forgive us when we do.  He states that unless we forgive others, we will not be forgiven by Him.  I don’t know about you but I sure want God to forgive me for the things I’ve done wrong!

I also heard it said that a person who will not forgive does not realize what they themselves have been forgiven of.  The bible says that we are ALL sinners and fall short of the glory of God.  Jesus said in John 14:6 that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and that no one will get to the Father (in heaven) except by Him.  That means we must put our faith and trust in Him if we ever hope to meet our Father in heaven.  Jesus took our sins upon Himself on the cross in order that we would be forgiven for those sins. 

Have you put your faith and trust in Jesus?  If not, don’t delay.  DO IT TODAY!

We hear so many motivational speakers say that we need to change our thought life. They say we need to speak positive aspirations to ourselves. Speak what we want to happen in our lives as if it already has happened. They say it is vital to our success in life.

But what does the bible have to say about our thought life? My pastor gave a timely message this morning concerning the things we think about. As I listened and took notes, I was inspired to share some of his points with you.

Pastor Steve has been doing a series for several weeks now on “The Pursuit of Happiness” and today’s topic was “Happy People Pursue Good Thinking.”  He went on to talk about thinking good thoughts, referencing Philippians 4:8-9 which says, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard of me–put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you.”

That’s a lot of happy stuff there.  I decided to look up definitions for each word: 

True:  Consistent with fact or reality; not false or erroneous; steadfast, loyal, honest, just.
Noble:  Possessing outstanding qualities; of high birth or exalted rank; grand or impressive especially in appearance. 
Right: Righteous, upright, suitable, appropriate, genuine, real.
Pure:  Unmixed with any other matter; being thus and no other; free from moral fault or guilt.
Lovely:  Delightful for beauty, harmony, or grace; eliciting love by moral or ideal worth. 
Admirable:  Deserving the highest esteem.
Excellent:  Superior, eminently good.
Praiseworthy:  Applaudable, commendable, creditable, meritorious, admirable.

One thing Pastor Steve said that really encouraged me was that God wouldn’t tell us to change our thinking if it wasn’t possible to do it.  Even when bad thoughts seem to haunt us, if we replace those thoughts with true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy thoughts, we can surely change them!!  We do this by reading God’s word, filling our minds and hearts with His thoughts.  His thoughts and His ways are higher than ours and we can allow His thoughts from His word to permeate our thinking and drive bad, ugly, untrue thoughts away.

Happiness comes when our thoughts align with His thoughts.

Thanks Pastor Steve!

As 2012 comes to a close and we welcome in 2013, should we spend time reflecting on the good, the bad, the ugly of 2012, or should we look ahead to our future in 2013?  Personally, I prefer to look ahead.

Don’t get me wrong, lots of good things happened in my life in 2012.  God has done some amazing things and I praise and thank Him for each and every one!

But, new beginnings are always so exciting.  It is great to look forward into 2013 with great expectations, enthusiasm and hope.  Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever.  I am excited to see what Jesus has in store for me in 2013.

How about you!

It’s Christmas morning and I was reading the account of Jesus’ birth and the beginning of his earthly ministry in the book of Matthew.  As I read chapter 4, verses 21-22, it struck me with the thought of what Zebedee might have felt when his sons dropped everything and followed Jesus. 

Simon Peter and Andrew had just left their fishing nets to follow Jesus, and as they walked along together they saw James and John and Jesus called them to also join Him.

Hear what the word of God says in these verses: “And going on further from there He noticed two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets and putting them right, and He called them.  At once they left the boat and their father and joined Jesus as disciples…”~Amplified version

Notice how the scripture say at once they left the boat and their father.  The scripture doesn’t say they discussed it with their father to ask if he would mind if they left.  It doesn’t indicate whether or not their father approved.  It just says at once they left.

This got me thinking about Zebedee.  Was he distraught that his two sons just up and left to follow this man Jesus?  Was he angry?  Did he call to them as they left, asking what they were doing and why?  Did he question whether or not they cared that they were leaving him with the mess of finishing the work alone?  Or was he happy to see them follow Jesus?  Did he wish them well and thank Jesus for choosing his sons to be disciples?  Did he understand anything about Jesus at all?

Sometimes when we follow Jesus we have to walk away from others in our lives who are not willing to follow Him.  That doesn’t mean we just leave them behind and forget about them. We need to let them know that Jesus is worthy of our worship and our commitment to follow Him no matter what.  We need to tell them what Jesus has done for us and what He can do for them.  We need to show them the love of God, but we also need to be faithful to One who called us NO MATTER WHAT!

Will you be faithful to follow Jesus no matter what?

Heard a co-worker say this recently when excited about something she wanted to happen.  Got me thinking.  Do we only pray when we want or need something, or do we pray just to tell God we love Him, we appreciate Him, we are thankful for all the many blessings He has put in our lives?

Pray, Pray, Pray, Pray….Yes!  But pray about everything: what you want, what you need, even what you already have!  Pray for direction.  Pray for guidance.  Pray a prayer of thanksgiving and a prayer of praise.

Our God is worthy!

1 Thessalonians 5 “¹⁶ Always be joyful. ¹⁷ Never stop praying. ¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

Voices in my head.  Voices in my ears.  Voices in my heart.  How do I sort them out?

God says that He speaks to us in a still, small voice, but how do I hear it above all the other voices that come at me each day?  I went to my Joyce Meyer Everday Life Bible and looked to see what verses she listed for Hearing from God. Listen to what the bible says in these verses from the Amplified version.

Deuteronomy 28:1 If you will listen diligently to the voice of the Lord your God, being watchful to do all His commandments which I command you this day, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.

Psalm 40:6 Sacrifice and offering You do not desire, nor have You delight in them; You have given me the capacity to hear and obey [Your law, a more valuable service than] burnt offerings and sin offerings [which] You do not require.

Psalm 95:7-8  For He is our God and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.  Today, if you will hear His voice, vs 8:  Harden not your hearts as at Meribah and as at Massah in the day of temptation in the wilderness.

Psalm 119: 129-130  Your testimonies are wonderful [far exceeding anything conceived by man]; therefore my [penitent] self keeps them [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].  vs 130:  The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple.

Jeremiah 7:23  But this thing I did command them; Listen to and obey My voice, and I will be your God and you will be My people; and walk in the the whole way that I command you, that it may be well with you.

Matthew 7:24-25  So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will  be like a sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock.  And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

Matthew 13: 19, 23  While anyone is hearing the Word of the kingdom and does not grasp and comprehend it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.  This is what was sown along the roadside.  vs 23: As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the Word and grasps and comprehends it; he indeed bears fruit and yields in one case a hundred times as much as was sown, in another sixty times as much, and in another thirty.

John 10:5, 27  They will never [on any account] follow a stranger, but will run away from him because they do not know the voice of strangers or recognize their call.  vs. 27: The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me.

Romans 10:17  So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself).

James 1:22-25  But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].  vs 23: For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully on his [own] natural face in a mirror; vs. 24: For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like.  vs 25: But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience).

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

When you read these verses together, you can see a common thread of listening to God through reading His word, of being obedient to His word, His commands, His ways.  We must not harden (close) our hearts to what He says in His word.  We must not listen to strangers, those who do not know God and His word.  We must listen for His voice.  We must obey Him.  We must be doers of the Word.  We must sow the seeds of our life on good soil, which is the Word of God.

In doing all these things, He will give us ability, understanding, and a harvest in our lives.  Then and only then will we be able to hear His voice above all the other voices that come at us each day.

When I call, give me answers God, take my side!  Once in a tight place, you gave me room; Now I’m in trouble again: grace me! hear me!

You rabble–how long do I put up with your scorn? How long will you lust after lies?  How long will you live crazed by illusion?

Look at this: look Who got picked by God!  He listens the split second I call to him.

Complain if you must, but don’t lash out.  Keep your mouth shut, and let your heart do the talking.  Build your case before God and wait for His verdict.

Why is everyone hungry for more?  “More, more,” they say.  “More, more.”  I have God’s more-than-enough, more joy in one ordinary day than they get in all their shopping sprees.  At day’s end I’m ready for sound sleep, for you, God , have put my life back together.

Psalm 4, The Message

God has been teaching me how to better deal with conflict, at home, at work, even while resting, and especially with difficult people.  I was reading an article by Lisa TerKeurst where she makes the statement, “Am I trying to prove or improve? In other words, is my desire in this conflict to prove that I am right or to improve the relationship at hand?”

Boy, that really puts it in perspective for me.  So often we are so concerned with the fact that we feel we are right, we lose sight of the value of the other person we find ourselves in conflict with.  I especially find it most difficult when I feel so certain that I really AM right and yet the other person remains unwilling to budge.  I have really had to work at leaning on the Holy Spirit to help me simply shut up!

I have learned that sometimes it is better to simply be quiet, let the subject rest and trust the Holy Spirit to move on the other person’s heart.  Along the way, however, I have often been surprised at the way He has moved on my own heart as well!!

God has taught me that I don’t always need to be right.  I don’t always need to strive to make my point known.  I don’t always need to speak.  Sometimes I just need to allow Him to move in my life situation and help me improve the relationship instead.

To God be the Glory!