4GIVEN

It’s hard to forgive but it’s necessary in terms of reciprocity. The bible is clear in Matthew 6:14,”If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.” I read an article in CNBC where a man literally gave his ex half of everything he owned. This disgruntled ex-husband, who goes by the name Der Juli online, posted a video to YouTube showcasing him cutting chairs, beds and phones in half for his ex-wife. Did this guy do the right thing? Of course not! His retaliatory actions only temporarily satisfied his fleshy appetite. When you chose to forgive you release the offender from the offense and by releasing the offender you are also releasing yourself. Forgiveness releases our anger, fear, pain and resentment and opens our hearts to joy, peace and love. Yes, others may have done things that have hurt or harmed us, and they are responsible for those actions. But these individuals are not responsible for how we live the rest of our lives. We are responsible for that. On a side note, forgiveness does not always equal, “Welcome back into my life”, to the person who has betrayed, harmed or abused you. Sometimes it can, and that can be a good thing. However, there are times when it is neither wise nor prudent to do so. But you can still free yourself from the burden of pain, anger, fear, hate, bitterness and resentment either way. Nelson Mandela said when asked why he was not resentful for his imprisonment, “Resentment is like a glass of poison that a man drinks; then he sits down and waits for his enemy to die.”
  

It is better to have Jesus and not need Him than to need Jesus and not have Him!!
#commit2Jesus2day

If you or someone you know is going through a difficult season right now please note that God doesn’t allow us to suffer without purpose. In Psalm 139:16 David said, “All the days ordain for me were written in Your before one of them came to pass.” The Message transliteration put it this way, “Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you,The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.” It should be comforting to know that God carefully, intentionally, skillfully, and specifically purposed everyday of our lives. What doesn’t make sense today will eventually make sense and even if it never make sense, one day it will all make sense. So don’t stop fighting the good fight of faith. Don’t retreat or surrender. Continue to be steadfast and immovable, ever abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain.(1 Co 15:58) We have all heard it said that God will make a way but according to our subject text, He has already made a way…. we are merely waiting for time to manifest destiny.  

TBT FROM 2010: Got Dead Weight????  
Releasing dead weights requires letting GO!! Dead weights are or is anything that weighs heavy on your heart, mind, and spirit. The heaviest of dead weights are typically SIN and DISAPPOINTMENT. DON’T allow your dead weights to crossover into your NEW BEGINNING. We all fall short of His GLORY (no ones perfect and will never be) and if He can cast all of our iniquities, sins, and transgressions into the sea of forgetfulness not because He had to but because He chose to….why not YOU?? God has called us to freedom and liberty so take Him up on His offer and watch your life be a little lighter!!