but I don’t FEEL forgiven…
If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].
1 John 1: 9
THOUGHTS FOR TODAY
As a Christian, have you ever had the thought, “I’m no different than I was,” or, “I just don’t feel forgiven”? Maybe you struggle with the same sin patterns that used to control your life. Maybe you find yourself having fallen into the same sins over and over again.
The prophet Isaiah speaks of this struggle and gives us hope when he says: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I [God] am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” Is. 43:18-19
Sometimes I look at my life and see a wasteland of sin-wrecked scars and habits that still remain to some degree. As a non-believer, I lived a life of sin that I am now ashamed of. I was proud and selfish and did what my heart desired. And sometimes those reminders of my past leave me feeling guilty and not really living in the good of the gospel of Christ.
We tend to drag up our old sins, that we tend to live under a vague sense of guilt…we are not nearly as vigorous in appropriating God’s forgiveness as He is in extending it. Consequently, instead of living in the sunshine of God’s forgiveness through Christ, we tend to live under an overcast sky of guilt most of the time. Jerry Bridges, The Gospel for Real Life
Christ’s blood has cleansed us, not so that we should now live a life full of guilt and fear, but to live joyfully and abundantly in the forgiveness which He freely has granted to us. Let us thank God for His forgiving grace and the mercy He extended to us.
I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. Is. 43:25
"Forgiveness" Lyrics
Christian singer Bob Carlisle wrote a great song on forgiveness
Verse 1:
I say I will, but then I won't
Say I do, but then I don't.
It happens every day,
I hate the sinner,
Love the sin.
It's a sorry state I'm in.
I've got to get away.
Every time I throw that stone
The fate I'm sealing is my own.
Do you know how much I need....
Chorus:
Forgiveness - forgiveness
I can't live without.
Forgiveness - forgiveness
That's what love's about.
Forgiveness.
Verse 2:
I say forgive and then forget,
But I ain't learned to do it yet.
You'd think I'd know by now
I know how to hurt someone,
Been on both sides of that gun,
Pulled the trigger anyhow.
When I'm hurting someone else
I only hurt myself.
I've got to let it go.
Chorus:....
A thousand wrongs don't make a right
And nobody wins
When the bridges start burning.
Can't you hear my cry?
quote
If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator.
If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist.
If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist.
If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer.
But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.
Charles Sell
Prayer
Dear lord we pray that you help us to forgive ourselves , Lord you paid the price for our sins
help us to leave it there at the cross and help us to love and accept ourselves in Jesus name Amen
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Where will you Turn?
Where Will You Turn?
Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."
— Job 1:20–21
THOUGHTS FOR TODAY
When tragedy strikes—and it is not a matter of if, but when—it will have one of two effects in our lives. Either we will have our faith strengthened, and we will turn to God for comfort, or we will become angry at God and turn away from Him.
Hardships in life either will make you better or bitter. You decide which one it will be, because character is not made in crisis; it is revealed. It is when a crisis hits that we see what a man or woman is really made of. In the case of Job, we see him being exactly how God said he was: "a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil" (Job 1:8).
Sometimes situations can be much bigger than we are but who elese can you turn to is Jesus
things happen in this life nothing will last forever until we meet Jesus
I have lost many love ones in my life should i be angry with God (NO)
The Bible records a time when many people turned away from following Jesus. So Jesus turned to the disciples and asked, "Do you also want to go away?"
Peter said, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life . . ." (John 6:68). Loosely paraphrased: "Lord we don't always get You. But this much we know. You are the One, and we will keep following You."
This is one of the good things that can come out of crisis and suffering. You turn to God with dependence like you have never had before. Faith will not grow through ease and comfort; it will grow through challenge and difficulty.
QUOTE
Every person in the world, including yourself, will encounter various trials throughout life. Satan seeks to defeat you by tempting you to trust your own wisdom, to live according to your self-centered feelings, and to gratify the desires of your flesh. In contrast, God’s will is for you to be an overwhelming conqueror in all of these tests for His honor and glory.
Biblical Counseling Foundation
PRAYER
Dear Lord help us to keep moving forward to the only one who has given us life and peace in the mist of storms and battles we face everyday . Help be like Job who said Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there....Help father to trust you in all things because we know our Savior lives and cares for us in Jesus name Amen
Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."
— Job 1:20–21
THOUGHTS FOR TODAY
When tragedy strikes—and it is not a matter of if, but when—it will have one of two effects in our lives. Either we will have our faith strengthened, and we will turn to God for comfort, or we will become angry at God and turn away from Him.
Hardships in life either will make you better or bitter. You decide which one it will be, because character is not made in crisis; it is revealed. It is when a crisis hits that we see what a man or woman is really made of. In the case of Job, we see him being exactly how God said he was: "a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil" (Job 1:8).
Sometimes situations can be much bigger than we are but who elese can you turn to is Jesus
things happen in this life nothing will last forever until we meet Jesus
I have lost many love ones in my life should i be angry with God (NO)
The Bible records a time when many people turned away from following Jesus. So Jesus turned to the disciples and asked, "Do you also want to go away?"
Peter said, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life . . ." (John 6:68). Loosely paraphrased: "Lord we don't always get You. But this much we know. You are the One, and we will keep following You."
This is one of the good things that can come out of crisis and suffering. You turn to God with dependence like you have never had before. Faith will not grow through ease and comfort; it will grow through challenge and difficulty.
QUOTE
Every person in the world, including yourself, will encounter various trials throughout life. Satan seeks to defeat you by tempting you to trust your own wisdom, to live according to your self-centered feelings, and to gratify the desires of your flesh. In contrast, God’s will is for you to be an overwhelming conqueror in all of these tests for His honor and glory.
Biblical Counseling Foundation
PRAYER
Dear Lord help us to keep moving forward to the only one who has given us life and peace in the mist of storms and battles we face everyday . Help be like Job who said Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there....Help father to trust you in all things because we know our Savior lives and cares for us in Jesus name Amen
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Staying on track
Staying on Track
Hebrews 12
God Disciplines His Sons
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
The Christian life can be likened to a race with a predetermined course and a finish line in eternity. Each believer has a personalized route specially designed by the Lord. Our goal is to stay on track and run with endurance, but the path can be discerned and negotiated only by focusing on Jesus. Because He ran the race perfectly and finished His course, He can show us the way.
As with any long-term race, the course is full of obstacles that threaten to trip or sidetrack us. Temptations lure us to what we imagine are lush green pastures, while busyness can lead us down rabbit trails that end in exhaustion. Worry and fear grab hold of our minds, and emotions take us places the Lord never intended for us to go.
Although sins present the most obvious hindrances, other obstacles and detours are subtler. Anything that takes precedence over our relationship with the Lord can send us down the wrong path. Because involvement in the daily activities of earthly life is necessary, we can easily let our families, jobs, and pleasures distract us from a wholehearted pursuit of Christ. Surprisingly, even God's blessings can become obstacles in the race if we start to pursue them more than we do the Lord.
We must remember that the goal isn't to focus on the path or to try and find our way; instead, we're to fix our eyes on Jesus. He is not only our guide but also our destination. And He will welcome us home with open arms when we finish the race and cross into eternity.
Ever heard christians say this problem i have is so much bigger then i have
it could be sexual sin or others you care not want to mention because of the shame ...Maybe you feel like a loser but deep down in side you really want to follow God word and plan for your life but feel so disconnected from God
Deep inside you want to be a warrior a fighter , The good news is Hold on because when all hell is breaking through God plan will Reveal if you do not give up .
Keep staying on track and he will guild you through .
quote
I think of all the questions that I ask the Lord, and then I think of my stubborn streak against Him; I think of my inability or refusal to learn. I think of how many times God shows me the way of righteousness and how I turn away. I think of my faltering and failing steps and my outright rebellion against Him – even as a believer. Oh the patience of God and the riches of His forbearance and grace!
Harry L. Reeder III
Prayer
we all come out many walks of life please help us to move those mountains that get in the way of following you , I pray lord you give me grace and forgive me for my sins in Jesus name amen
Hebrews 12
God Disciplines His Sons
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
The Christian life can be likened to a race with a predetermined course and a finish line in eternity. Each believer has a personalized route specially designed by the Lord. Our goal is to stay on track and run with endurance, but the path can be discerned and negotiated only by focusing on Jesus. Because He ran the race perfectly and finished His course, He can show us the way.
As with any long-term race, the course is full of obstacles that threaten to trip or sidetrack us. Temptations lure us to what we imagine are lush green pastures, while busyness can lead us down rabbit trails that end in exhaustion. Worry and fear grab hold of our minds, and emotions take us places the Lord never intended for us to go.
Although sins present the most obvious hindrances, other obstacles and detours are subtler. Anything that takes precedence over our relationship with the Lord can send us down the wrong path. Because involvement in the daily activities of earthly life is necessary, we can easily let our families, jobs, and pleasures distract us from a wholehearted pursuit of Christ. Surprisingly, even God's blessings can become obstacles in the race if we start to pursue them more than we do the Lord.
We must remember that the goal isn't to focus on the path or to try and find our way; instead, we're to fix our eyes on Jesus. He is not only our guide but also our destination. And He will welcome us home with open arms when we finish the race and cross into eternity.
Ever heard christians say this problem i have is so much bigger then i have
it could be sexual sin or others you care not want to mention because of the shame ...Maybe you feel like a loser but deep down in side you really want to follow God word and plan for your life but feel so disconnected from God
Deep inside you want to be a warrior a fighter , The good news is Hold on because when all hell is breaking through God plan will Reveal if you do not give up .
Keep staying on track and he will guild you through .
quote
I think of all the questions that I ask the Lord, and then I think of my stubborn streak against Him; I think of my inability or refusal to learn. I think of how many times God shows me the way of righteousness and how I turn away. I think of my faltering and failing steps and my outright rebellion against Him – even as a believer. Oh the patience of God and the riches of His forbearance and grace!
Harry L. Reeder III
Prayer
we all come out many walks of life please help us to move those mountains that get in the way of following you , I pray lord you give me grace and forgive me for my sins in Jesus name amen
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