Forgiveness-Friday Freedom

bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive Colossians 3:13 ESV

When nothing else could help you and me; God’s love was there. We didn’t deserve his love. The Lord’s love for us is just that great. When we deserved to be punished God provided Christ so He could look past ALL of our wrongdoings. He calls us to do the same. Be honest with yourself. An unforgiving spirit hinders your own life. Let God’s love flow through you and all areas of your life. Be free!

I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more,
But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

Love lifted me!
Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help,
Love lifted me!

Forgiveness-Thursday Thought

bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive Colossians 3:13 ESV

Who are you to hold a grudge against someone for what God has already forgiven them for? I heard this question on the radio last week and it struck me to the very core of my soul. People hurt and mistreat us. They don’t deserve our forgiveness. But God has forgiven them through the salvation of Jesus Christ. When Jesus forgave you He also forgave them. In His sight their sins are forgiven just like yours.

Are you higher than the Lord? Of course not. Whatever anyone has done to you; you must let it go. We all need time to get over things, but you must move on. Jesus is the ultimate leader. He never asks you to do anything He hasn’t done Himself. He has forgiven them and He has forgiven you. You are called to let His love flow through you. God has provided forgiveness for all. Are you better than anyone else?

Forgiveness-Wednesday Word

“And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." ~Luke 23:34 ESV

Powerful words from the Lord Jesus on the Cross. As He was dying the most agonizing death possible, His focus wasn’t on Himself, but on others. Jesus’ enemies had sentenced Him to death, lied on Him, spit on Him, beat Him, and worse. Yet as Christ hung on the Cross He didn’t ask the Father to obliterate and torment His enemies, He asked the Father to forgive them. The love of God was flowing through His heart.

God has called you to let His love flow through you. People have wronged you. People have hurt you. But put the shoe on the other foot. You have wronged the Lord on many occasions. You have hurt Him several times. But He always forgives you. Who are you to not forgive someone after all Christ has forgiven you for? Let it go in Jesus’ name and move on.

Forgiveness-Tuesday Truth

bearing with one another if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive  Colossians 3:13 ESV

An unforgiving spirit binds you, not the other person! We often hold to bitterness because the person doesn’t deserve to be forgiven. But all we do then is make the situation worse for ourselves. On top of being disrespected, lied to, or abused now whenever we hear about or see this person we are enraged. We are allowing the devil to continually pour salt on a gaping wound. And usually the offender has moved on.

Forgiveness is not trust. Don’t forget that. Regardless of what they deserve; you deserve to be free from the bondage of bitterness. Letting go doesn’t mean that you have restored confidence in the offender; it just means that you are choosing to be free. If you really want to get back at someone don’t let what they did have any effect on you anymore! Let it go in Jesus’ name.

Forgiveness-Monday Motivation

bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive  Colossians 3:13 ESV

Life can be unbearable sometimes. People hurt us; knowingly and unknowingly. When we focus on all the ways people have wronged us, and we all have our own list, we let bitterness heap on top of the initial pain. We get offended and we want revenge. ‘Forgiveness’ is a forbidden word in the church. We just don’t want to do it!

Whatever it is; you must let it go. This may seem impossible, but you can do it. As a Christian new life in Christ allows you to be free from the bondage of bitterness and wrath. You don’t have to be bitter. You don’t have to get upset every time you remember what happened. You can be free. Let go, love, and live your best life!

Gold-Friday Freedom

But he knows the way that I take;
    when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.

Job 23:10 ESV

Moses, David, Job, Paul, Peter, and most certainly Jesus all came to understand the purpose of God’s trials. Trials make us stronger. Trials make us cling to God. Suffering makes you a stronger Christian. You will pray more fervently. You will understand the Word more. You will be able to minister to others in a way that was foreign to you in the past. Gold has to be tried with fire to become pure. God sees the greatness in you. The fires in life are transforming you into pure greatness!

“He's preparing me for something 
I cannot handle right now 
(Handle, now) 
He's making me ready 
Just because He cares 
He's providing me with what I'll need
To carry out the next matter in my life 

He's preparing me 
Because He cares for me 
He's maturing me 
Because He cares for me 
He's arranging 
Rearranging me 
He's preparing 
Because He cares for me 
He is training me 
He is tuning me 
He is purging me 
He is pruning me!”

-Daryl Coley

Gold-Thursday Thought

But he knows the way that I take;
    when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.

Job 23:10 ESV

Where would you be without the trials you have endured? Look back over your life. Think about all the seasons in life where you experienced Christ on a deeper level. Most likely these experiences were during a difficult time in your life. That’s just how God chooses to bring us closer to Him.

You would not have chosen to go through any of your trials. Bu when you look back you can understand that God built you up through your pain. When you had nowhere else to go you went to Christ. When there was no way God made a way. When no one else understood; Christ did. Pain is preparation for your calling. Be strong.

Gold-Wednesday Word

But he knows the way that I take;
    when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.

Job 23:10 ESV

Broken. Confused. Misunderstood. Lost. These are just some of the feelings that Job went through during his test. As he lost his possessions, children, health, the understanding of his friends and wife Job’s mind had to get flooded with anxieties. Job’s sense of reality was skewed and he didn’t understand God’s love totally. Job was in a hard place. Yet in the midst of all that he proclaimed that the trials would purify him just like gold. In spite of all that he didn’t know he clung to what he did know about God.

It is OK to admit that you’re tired. It is fine to confess that your trials are wearing you out. It is even OK to say that you’re not sure what God is doing. But a true child of God never has to question His love. In light of all that Christ has done for us we know that He would never give up on us now. So whatever you are enduring must be for your good. Trust and believe that!

Gold-Tuesday Truth

In this rejoice, through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

1 Peter 1:6-7 ESV

Nothing makes us cling to God more than suffering. You wish that wasn’t the case. I wish that wasn’t the true. But oh well. That’s just the way it is. Think about your normal Bible study routine (if you even have one). Think about your normal prayer schedule. No matter how often you do either; for most of God’s children we increase both when we suffer.

When we realize that no one else can help then we turn to God. We were made to cling to Him voraciously. The trials you are enduring are a good thing; if you are allowing them to purify you. Jesus wants to spend more time with you. Christ wants to saturate your mind with His Word. God wants to purge your spirit so that you can walk into your divine calling. 

Gold-Monday Motivation

In this rejoice, through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

1 Peter 1:6-7 ESV

God has plans He wants to accomplish through each of us. However like any other job we must be qualified for the task. God chooses trials and suffering to push us towards our calling. Peter here uses the example of gold. Gold is heated to remove the impurities so that the gold can be pure.

God sees the greatness inside of you and He wants to make you as pure as possible. God wants to use you to bring praise, glory, and honor to Him. He does this by trials. Although you may not enjoy the trial, appreciate what Christ is doing in you in the trial. Suffering with Christ is a good thing.

Keep Going-Friday Freedom

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 ESV

Even when you can’t see anything worth praising God for; praise Him. Even when you don’t feel like praising Jesus; give Him the praise. When you hear the enemy telling you to throw in the towel, remember who God is. He loves you and He cares about you. God always delivers in His promises. Your next level is coming. Your victory is on the way. Praise Him in advance and keep going!

Be not weary in well doing
Know that in time it will come to pass
And if you set your eyes on things above
And know that God is working on your behalf

The race is not given to the swift nor strong
Victory belongs to those who keeps on moving on!

~Hezekiah Walker

Keep Going-Thursday Thought

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 ESV

Who else can we trust? The situation in the picture above will end very badly, but the opposite is true when we trust God. Following God’s will can be extremely frustrating at times. He often leads us to do the very thing we don’t want to do. God will have us around the same folks we are desperate to get away from. Christ calls us to the hard jobs. But He ALWAYS rewards His people accordingly. Who else can we trust like that?

Look back over your life. Think about the most trustworthy person you know. Even that person has let you down before, but not Jesus. God always comes through on His promises. If He says you will reap in due season, then you know it is true. Now you just have to wait until when that season is. You can trust God or you can try your way. Which one sounds better to you?

Keep Going-Wednesday Word

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 ESV

This is a picture from The New Yorker outside Amanda Berry’s home. She was one of the three women rescued in Cleveland, Ohio last week after a decade of captivity. For ten years she and the rest were stuck and all hope seemed to be lost. She stayed strong and waited for the right moment to escape. After ten years she is now free. What if she had given up on herself and the situation?

Along with the ‘missing’ poster you can see a ‘welcome home’ banner. You may feel right now that you are stuck in something. You may feel like you are bound in a situation that has no good end in sight. But stay strong. If Amanda Berry can endure captivity for ten years you can endure whatever God has allowed into your life. Don’t give up on yourself, your situation, or Jesus. Your victory celebration is on the way. Keep going.

Keep Going-Tuesday Truth

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.  Galatians 6:9 ESV

In doing God’s work we know a reward is coming. We just don’t know when. Working for Christ can be so difficult. We see other people living easier lives. We see lazy Christians who also seem to be on easy street. We sometimes just look up and ask God ‘why?’ But one thing we know about God is that He is faithful. We know we can trust God at all times.

God always comes through; just in His own timing. Look back on your life. Every time you kept your focus on God He always delivered on His promises. So don’t worry about when God is going to come through; just know that He is. Some days when you can’t feel Jesus speaking to you let that be your motivation. If you just keep working hard God will do what He does best; make a way out of no way!

Keep Going-Monday Motivation

 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 ESV

Most of us have goals. When we get to know Christ at a deeper level He places certain tasks on our hearts. God shows us step by step what the calling is for our lives. Sometimes in trying to reach His goals we can get tired and frustrated. God puts us in uncomfortable situations and adverse environments. We don’t know how long it will take to do what we feel He is calling us to do. At times we just want to give up. Don’t give up.

In any situation Jesus always tells you exactly what you need to know; nothing more and nothing less. God always comes through in His perfect timing; not yours. Jesus always does things in His perfect way. All you must do is trust Him and be obedient. God would never tell you to do something that He would not equip you to do. If you know God has put something on your heart keep working at it. Everything will work out in God’s perfect timing! You can trust the Lord.

Motherly Love

A mother's love comes close, but there is nothing like the love of Jesus!

God Knows-Friday Freedom

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

Matthew 6:26-27 ESV

God knows all the things we do not. Don’t let that frustrate you. Let that comfort you. Not only does Jesus know all that we do not; He knows the purposes behind everything. They are His purposes. God knows why you’re going through this pain. The Lord understands how losing a loved one will make you better. Jesus can see how your tragedies will eventually be your triumphs; if you just trust Him. God knows and God cares. Just trust Him!

Even though I can't see 
And I can't feel your touch 
I will trust you lord 
How I love you so much 
Though my nights my seem long 
And I feel so alone 
Lord my trust is in you 
I surrender to You 

So many painful thoughts 
Travel through my mind 
And I wonder how 
I will make it through this time 

But I trust You 
Lord it's not easy 
Sometimes the pain in my life 
Makes You seem far away 
But I'll trust you 
I need to know you're here 
Through the tears and the pain 
Through the heartache and rain

I'll trust You!

~James Fortune

God Knows-Thursday Thought

A man's steps are from the Lord;
    how then can man understand his way? 

Proverbs 20:24 ESV

Who knows more; us or God? Every time a situation comes up we try to do it our way. When that doesn’t work, then we go to the Lord. Usually we don’t like what He says and we continue to do it our way. Then the inevitable happens. We fall flat on our faces. Broken and humbled we finally submit to the Lord’s plan. In hindsight we realize He was right all along.

Do you believe that Jesus knows more than you? Then live like it. God knows your life’s plan. God made your life’s plan. Seek Him first in your decisions. Understand that His mind is greater than yours. Even when He tells you to do something that seems ridiculous; just listen to Him. God knows and He cares. Do you really know Him? Do you live like it?

God Knows-Wednesday Word

There is a way that seems right to a man,
    but its end is the way to death. Proverbs 14:12 ESV

Sometimes we think we know, but we just don’t. Think back to childhood. There were so many times where plans just made sense to our undeveloped minds. As a child Bugs Bunny had me to believe I could dig a hole straight to the other side of the world. Really all I was doing was messing up the front yard! So parents have to step in and be the voice of reason. The same pattern goes through the rest of life; high school counselors, academic advisers in college, supervisors, mentors, and the like. We rely on those with more knowledge and experience to lead us into success and tell us the right thing to do.

Think back to all those times where you thought you knew, but you didn’t. Where your knowledge is limited; God’s is infinite. He’s the ultimate Father, counselor, advisor, supervisor, and mentor. Even though your plan just seems so right, God sees what you can not. His blocking you may just be a blessing. No matter what you think you know, God knows even more!

God Knows-Tuesday Truth

A man’s heart plans his way,

But the Lord directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9 NKJV

We were not meant to run our own lives. As much as we want this to be true; it is not. Society and our flesh drive us to be independent from everyone; even God. But that’s just not how God operates. He created us to be in an intimate relationship with Him. In that relationship God wants us to depend on Him for everything.  Even our plans must be submitted to Jesus.

Do you have plans you want to accomplish? Hand them over to the Lord. He knows more than you do. God sees and knows everything taking place in the world right now. Therefore He knows what the best way is to reach your goal. What seems like a hindrance or a rejection may just be God blocking you from failure. When you don’t understand remember that God does. Let Christ direct your steps!

God Knows-Monday Motivation

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV

The way God works is way beyond our thinking. Now at first that can seem kind of upsetting. We have a desire in us to want to know everything. Not knowing how something is going to play out can be stressful. Not knowing why things are happening is confusing. We just want to be in control! But God didn’t make us to run our own lives. And in the midst of all that goes on we can trust Him.

You may not know what is taking place in your life, but if you are a Christian, then you know God. He is all you need to know. Trust that The Lord thinks and acts on a plane that is infinitely higher than your realm of understanding. Whatever you don’t know; He does. Whatever you can’t understand; He can. All the things you can’t fix; He’s fixing them right now. God knows and He cares. You can trust Jesus!

God Chose You!

Don't give up on God. He is still working on you. The trial you are in has been allowed by Him!

God Loves You-Friday Freedom

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.  In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.

1 John 4:7-9 ESV

God loves you. He loves you beyond human comprehension. The love He has for you is so great that He laid His life down just for you. And now He desire for you to have new life in Christ. Experiencing God’s love will transform your entire life. His love will flow through you to other people. You will be able to show humility. You will be able to show compassion. You will be able to forgive. You will be able to forgive (said it twice on purpose)! God loves you!

“You saw all the way into the future

And knew all the wrong I would do

Yet You still went and laid your life down

Yet to sinful me You still remained true

Man, I love You Jesus

Because You first loved me

I don’t deserve to know You

Not even worthy of saying Your name

But You stick closer than a brother

A loyal God, You still remain

Man, I love You Jesus

Because You love me selflessly

You know all about my faults. You know all about my wrongs

Even the ones I try to hide

I struggle and I fight, when I know that You are right

I know You love me, but I don’t know why!

Man, I love You Jesus

Because You still love me”

-H.C. Armstrong