FORGIVEN

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17

We serve a great and loving God whose offer of grace and forgiveness creates new hope and new life. We come to learn that His love is endless and His faithfulness in care for us is grounded in truth exampled and proclaimed by countless witnesses. Even when we walk way from God, He continues to reach out with His offer of new beginnings.

As we are forgiven...let us forgive!

Truth about Forgiveness Cont'd

He who cannot forgive another breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself...George Herbert

In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can't get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others...Matthew 6:14-15 Message

Where are you stuck with forgiveness? What event, person or idea creates the problem?

Forgiveness is constructive as we travel the journey to Christian perfection...

Truth About Forgiveness

The Sovereign Lord says, "I will remove form them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh". Ezekiel 11:19

This forgiveness stuff is definitely a thing of the heart. I realize how much I struggle to embrace true forgiveness for myself and for others. It so easy to compare myself to others always finding someone worse than I which allows me to minimize how much God has forgiven me. My Spirit screams...Please open my heart, Lord, and show me how to forgive! I'm not strong enough to do it on my own

Dear God, soften our heart where hardness impairs our relationship with you and our neighbors. Restore in each of us a healthy spiritual heart. Amen

FORGIVENESS

The path to salvation following the Roman road...

The Scriptures tell us, "No one is acceptable to God"...Romans 3;10

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...Romans 3:23

Adam sinned, and that sin brought death into the world. Now everyone has sinned, and so everyone must die...Romans 5:12

But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful...Romans 5:8

So you will be saved, if you honestly say, "Jesus is Lord," and if you believe with all your heart that God raised him from death. God will accept you and save you, if you truly believe this and tell it to others. The Scriptures says that no one who has faith will be disappointed, no matter if that person is a Jew or a Gentile. The is only one Lord, and He is generous to everyone who asks for his help. All who call out to the Lord will be saved...Romans 10:9-13

FORGIVENESS IS OUR GREATEST NEED!

Forgiven our sins we must forgive others.

Please open my heart, Lord, and show me how to forgive. I’m not strong enough to squash my hatred—they’ve wronged us so much…my hatred is so heavy that it could crush me. Touch my heart, Lord and show me how to forgive...Immaculee Ilibagiza author: LEFT TO TELL...Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust

To Know Love

I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you...John 13:15

To know love, open your heart to Jesus. To show love, open your heart to others.

As we are awakened to the ingathering love of God, the brokenness that divides us from ourselves and others begins to mend.

Pray without ceasing...

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests...Ehesians 6:18a

God, source of my strength, keep me praying all day long...Amen

Ambassador...Who me?

We are Christ ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you. We urge you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, "Be reconciled to God!" 2 Corinthians 5:20 NLT

Truth...There are some days that I just don't feel like it! That is being an ambassador...

I met Malcolm Boyd, writer of Are you Running with me, Jesus? while in LA attending the Kaleidoscope Institute, Media and Faith seminar, at the Episcopal Cathedral Center of St Paul last week. I had an extensive conversation with Malcolm about Professor Gates' encounter with police, Malcolm's work as a spiritual director, and his long served participation in the civil rights movement, which led me to purchase of this book, considered by many a spiritual classic. The opening poem spoke to me and now I share it with others who may not just feel like it today:

"It's morning, Jesus. It's morning, and here's that light and sound all over again.
-I've got to move fast...get into the bathroom, wash up, grab a bite to eat and run some more.
-I just don't feel like it. What I really want to do is get back into bed, pull up the covers, and sleep. All I seem to want today is the big sleep, and here I've got to run all over again.
-Where am I running? You know these things I can't understand. It's not that I need to have you tell me. What counts most is just that somebody knows, and it's you. That helps a lot.
-So I'll follow along, OK? But lead, please. Now I've got to run. Are you running with me, Jesus?
...Malcolm Boyd