Category: forgiveness

Peace Is A Priority

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God …will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7)

Number one priority for actively pursuing peace involves being in harmony with others. Though that is not always possible, so I’ll share another scripture which says, (if possible, live peaceably with all) Romans 12:18. That takes a little pressure off of me because sometimes it takes time to heal from being hurt, to forgive or be forgiven before I am able to find that peace. Hate is a strong word, but I am going to use it in expressing my feelings on discord, “I hate it.” Having unresolved issues with someone is one of the worst feelings I could have. I’ve lived my whole life as a people pleaser until recently. I have learned my mental and emotional well being is very important to me and I have made a deliberate decision not to allow anyone to steal my joy purposely amongst other things. My focus for peace is about more than people though. I have hobbies, different ministries I am involved in, home projects, etc. obviously all these things take time. This requires prioritizing because if I don’t life becomes total chaos,and chaos is definitely not peace. I have become intentional or as Charlie Brown in the caption above said, “I make deliberate life choices.” The beginning of this year I received a word which I have written about before, “Intentional.” One of the things I have been intentional about this year is protecting my peace at all cost. I had to take a step back and look at some of the different ministries I was involved in and let a couple things go to free up my time to better the other ministry work as well as give me a break here and there. I’ve gotten rid of things in my home that were making for unnecessary workload, when I had more than I could do already. Did some scaling back on monitarial things that weren’t necessary. Took a sabbatical from social media. Stopped taking every call/text that came across my phone. Busyness can really rob you of your peace. On a spiritual note regarding peace, I have found that humility is huge. You know you can just be quiet, you don’t have to fight about things, that’s never the solution anyway. Being right in a disagreement is overrated anyway, conflict always results in loss of peace. I think that’s called being PRIDEFUL. So I would rather choose peace over trying to be right about my opinion. Like another Blog I wrote; Mind Your Own Biscuits and Life Will Be Gravy …that’s Peace right there now, just say’n. Keep to yourself and don’t allow other people to bring you into their drama. They say, experience is one of life’s greatest teachers, but the Word of God is the best teacher. Do it right the first time and you won’t have any regrets.

What regrets are you experiencing right now? Do you need to seek after or pursue peace? Do you need to unload some things from an overburdened lifestyle? What do you need to be deliberate about to receive peace in your life?

Band-Aids Don’t Heal

“He was wounded for our transgression, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

Some wounds bleed longer than others. Some heal overnight, but I have found in my life, many take time and simply covering them up with whatever your band-aid may look like NEVER works. Back in the day my band-aid was “self-medicating,” some days that looked like drinking alcohol, just to relax you know; that’s what I would say to whomever might be watching. Some days it was a little bigger band-aid, a drug of choice, just so I didn’t have to feel the pain, again that was my coping mechanism. Coping is not a form of healing, nor are band-aids. Bandages are used only to stop the immediate bleeding while confronting the cause of the injury and finding the appropriate prescription, the one that actually brings healing. I’m definitely not suggesting or promoting that you use alcohol or drugs or any other thing to stop the bleeding. I only shared that as an example of what I did before I knew how to stop the bleeding and receive my healing in the correct way. Unfortunately I see people everyday doing just what I did and it is heartbreaking. I still bleed at times when I’ve been wounded, but now I address the wound differently. I take it to the “Lord Who Heals,” He can and will heal both my body and soul and He does it through compassion and authority, not by the other things I mentioned above. Wounds can be physical, spiritual, and emotional and Jesus can heal everyone of them if we will go to Him with faith believing that He can and will, if we will receive our healing. Faith says, yes He can; belief is receiving what He will do. Jesus is the healer of both the physical body and the “sin-sick soul,” offering us peace, comfort and forgiveness. Your bloody mess may be caused from sin, and you need forgiveness. Are you bleeding out to the point that others are wearing it to? I try to be transparent in my writings, in my past I was the person that bled all over innocent people. I let the bleeding go for so long that everyone around me had to feel my injury. And you know what? I found out in several different occasions that sin was holding me back. Sometimes it was the kind of sin like we all know; doing the wrong thing, but more times than not it was the sin of guilt, shame and unforgiveness. I needed a savior, I needed a real physician, I needed HEALED! As most of us dealing with any kind of hurt or injury we find that rarely is there complete restoration, just temporary relief, Jesus offers us complete restoration; wholeness. His atonement on the cross covered both the forgiveness of our sins and healing in our body. Doctors are part of God’s plan for our healing just as direct intervention in response to our faith, so I am not saying that we stop seeing doctors and only believe by faith for our healing. We must use wisdom to know if what we need requires immediate assistance or can we call out directly to God for our healing. Even when seeing doctors of all kind; physical, mental even spiritual advice, always pray to the One who directs the steps of the hands you are putting your life in. For their gifts and talents were given by God to begin with, He is working through them. Jesus is considered the ultimate healer, operating above and through the skills of earthly doctors. I’m not a doctor, I’m not Jesus, I’m not a Preacher, I am a believer. I talk to God about EVERYTHING, He is my Healer, my Savior, my confidant, I share my deepest, most intimate problems with Him. I know He is trustworthy, for He is not man that he should lie, He is always listening, always present with me, I am safe with Him, He doesn’t share my private information with anyone. And He doesn’t mind cleaning up my bloody mess, matter of fact, that’s just what He does.

Lord God, my Father, my Savior, my Healer, my Comforter in times of pain and suffering. I pray that whoever is reading this, whatever the pain or suffering is they are going through, that you Lord would meet them right here, right now, let them feel your Holy Presence through this prayer. I ask in the name of Jesus the Christ that you would remove all sickness; mental, physical, spiritual and emotional from them. Restore them completely, bring hope and comfort to them knowing that You are who You say you are. You are the Great Physician. If there be any unrepented sin in them I ask they bring it before you right now. Cleanse them from all unrighteousness. Cause the bleeding to end, and the healing to begin. It’s in Your Name, I ask all these things, Amen.

Thick Skin

You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn him the other also. And if anyone sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. (Matt. 5:38-40)

Tough hide and a tender heart. True love is an essential component of thick skin. God guards our hearts and gives us the power to forgive those that have wronged us. I’ll just let you in on a little secret, it is going to take Jesus residing in your heart to be able to do this. This is a supernatural kind of love that comes from Him. It is our greatest defense against feeling overwhelmed when being criticised or having someone attack us personally. We need thick skin to not hold a grudge or try to retaliate. “Jesus said love your enemies and pray for those that persecute you.” (Matt. 5:44) You are developing thick skin and a soft heart all at the same time when you pray like that. Prayer doesn’t just change the situation, it changes us. I have prayed for people for long periods of time, years even, not feeling like it …sorry, but true. But then one day God replaced the grudge, animosity, with compassion. Regarding prayer; just keep doing it, the weaker our prayer life, the thinner our skin, and the harder our heart. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak (Matt. 26:41). Prayer will change the attitude of you heart if you don’t give up. I also am not saying that this anger will not creep back in at times, that’s why we have to learn to master this thing called prayer, temptations to fall back in our old ways are always there. Learn to leave a closed door closed. Here is a little prayer you can pray for yourself to help you walk with a spirit of humility and compassion.

Lord Jesus ….Forgive my hardness of heart and my selfishness. I am weak, but you are strong. Strengthen and protect me from my natural ways of responding to situations. Teach me how to walk in the Spirit rather than in the flesh. Grant me your peace, wisdom, love and compassion. Wash away my sins with the blood you shed for me by the Holy Spirit, make me more like Jesus every day. Please give me thick skin and a soft heart, especially when my natural impulses flare up under pressure. In your holy name I pray. Amen.

Com’n In A Shout’n

Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre! (Psalm 149:3)

Sunday morning worship is the BEST. I’m not a good singer nor do I have instrumental talent, that’s why I love Sunday morning worship, these people on stage do. They are prayed up and anointed to bring the congregation into His presence. I’m not shy when it comes to worshipping my Lord and Savior. I throw up hands, I will jump, sway, stomp a foot all the while thanking God that no one else can hear me, but Him. Now at home or in my car it’s a whole different story, I let it rip. I’m all in. I love that no matter what I sound like, to God it is beautiful and He delights that my heart is focused on Him and He thinks this is the sweetest sound ever. Isn’t that just like a father? Always seeing the best in his child even when no one else can. Sometimes I just can’t help myself, I get this beating in my heart and overwhelmed sense of gratitude, for how much He loves me. I become so humbled before Him for all the goodness He has done for me, I mean geez …He saved my life! He set my feet upon a rock, He turned my life around, broke the chains that once had me bound, brought joy in the morning after nights of darkness, delivered me from SOooo many things, healed the deep wounds within me, gave me a reason to live, He set me FREE! It makes me want to SHOUT! I feel new strength and hope once I have been in His presence through worship. That is my best description of “JOY.” Nobody can love me like that and I’m gonna let Him know! You know God doesn’t just love to hear us sing praises to Him, it is a declaration of our trust in Him. It shows Him our surrender when we will humble ourselves and worship Him. He actually views it as an act of obedience, adoration, and a pleasant offering. God “inhabits” or dwells within the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3), affirming His presence. It shows Him that Jesus Christ really does dwell within us. So if you ever see me shouting praises to God, just know God is rejoicing over it.

Four Petals

This is a symbolic reminder of the Passion; the cross at the crucifixion; Christ’s sacrifice.

Spring is here and the dogwoods are in bloom, I captured a few photos on a recent ride through the woods. Dogwood flowers symbolize rebirth, resurrection, and Christian faith. Also, representing love, purity and strength. The four petals represent the cross, the center represents the crown of thorns and the reddish notches on the tips of the petals symbolize the blood-stained nails from the crucifixion. As one of the first trees to bloom in the spring, it represents renewal and new beginnings. Due to its bloom time, the flower is used during Easter to celebrate resurrection hope. The Bible does not specify the exact type of wood used to build the cross of Jesus Christ. Olive or oak were common and readily available in the Jerusalem region during Roman times and the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox tradition suggest the cross was made of three woods: cedar, pine and cypress, yet there is no direct historical evidence that the dogwood was present in the region in any sizable quantity. What I have found is a folklore surrounding the dogwood tree. The dogwood was the largest and strongest of forest trees, hence it was chosen as timber for the cross on which Jesus was crucified. After resurrection, Jesus took pity on the dogwood’s sorrow at being used for this purpose. He decreed that henceforth the tree would remain slender and twisted, unable again to be used as an instrument of execution. You will not find this story in scripture, it is for those who find poetic clarity in its imagery, seeing the dogwood blossom as a allegory that draws attention to Calvary. What we can find in scripture despite the legend are some biblical truths: Christ’s Sacrifice-“[He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His stripes you are healed.] ( 1 Peter 2:24) There was a cross. [Joseph who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate asking for the body of Jesus, Pilate ordered it be given to him. Joseph then took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone in the entrance of the tomb and went away] (Matt. 27:57-60) there was a tomb. After the Sabbath, the first day of the week,[ Mary Magadalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. There was a great earthquake, for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it] (Matt. 28:1-2). Verses 5-6; [The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen. Come see the place where he lay”] and there was a resurrection day. And there we have an empty tomb and a risen Jesus! And a beautiful dogwood tree in the early spring reminding us of Christ’s sacrifice for us.