I believe forgiveness is a choice we make through a decision of our will, motivated by obedience to God and his command to forgive.
The Bible instructs us to forgive as the Lord forgave us:
Colossians 3:13 "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
We forgive by faith, out of obedience. Since forgiveness goes against our nature, we must forgive by faith, whether we feel like it or not. We must trust God to do the work in us that needs to be done so that the forgiveness will be complete.
I believe God honors our commitment to obey Him and our desire to please him when we choose to forgive. He completes the work in his time. We must continue to forgive (our job), by faith, until the work of forgiveness (the Lord's job), is done in our hearts.
Philippians 1:6 "And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus return."
We will know the work of forgiveness is complete when we experience the freedom that comes as a result. We are the ones who suffer most when we choose not to forgive. When we do forgive, the Lord sets our hearts free from the anger, bitterness, resentment and hurt that previously imprisoned us.
Most times, however, forgiveness is a slow process.
Matthew 18:21-22 "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."
This answer by Jesus makes it clear that forgiveness is not easy for us. It's not a one-time choice and then we automatically live in a state of forgiveness. Forgiveness may require a lifetime of forgiving, but it is important to the Lord. We must continue forgiving until the matter is settled in our heart.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
I Am Blessed (Part 5)
None of the blessings I have received from the Lord would be possible if it weren't for my parents. My dad and mom raised my two brothers and myself to honor, respect, and love the Lord with all of our hearts. They are the reason I am the man I am today.
This coming March my dad will have been in heaven for 24 earthly years. Man, I still miss him today. If he had lived he would have been 81 this year. To know my dad was to love him. He loved his wife, his kids, his church, but most of all his Lord. He endured more than his share of sorrows in ministry, but also has reaped the fruits of his labor. He gave 38 years of service to God and to the Church of God. He may never have pastored huge churches, but he sure was a spiritual giant to me.
My mom is still fighting the fight of faith. She's 77 now and a little slower than she used to be. She has gone through several health problems over the past few years, but she keeps pressing on. The thing I can say about her is that she is a warrior of the faith and has not given up the battle. She too bears the scars of ministry, but the seed she invested in my brothers and I lives on in our ministry. She's still a prayer warrior and knows how to get ahold of God in the time of need and we love her for that.
We didn't have a lot growing up, but we always had enough. They both sacrificed many times to help us to go forward with our lives and for that I consider myself extremely blessed.
One day I'll see my pop again and can tell him how much I missed him, but until then I'll try to help mom as much as I can. It's the least I can do to honor the ones who gave so much for me.
This coming March my dad will have been in heaven for 24 earthly years. Man, I still miss him today. If he had lived he would have been 81 this year. To know my dad was to love him. He loved his wife, his kids, his church, but most of all his Lord. He endured more than his share of sorrows in ministry, but also has reaped the fruits of his labor. He gave 38 years of service to God and to the Church of God. He may never have pastored huge churches, but he sure was a spiritual giant to me.
My mom is still fighting the fight of faith. She's 77 now and a little slower than she used to be. She has gone through several health problems over the past few years, but she keeps pressing on. The thing I can say about her is that she is a warrior of the faith and has not given up the battle. She too bears the scars of ministry, but the seed she invested in my brothers and I lives on in our ministry. She's still a prayer warrior and knows how to get ahold of God in the time of need and we love her for that.
We didn't have a lot growing up, but we always had enough. They both sacrificed many times to help us to go forward with our lives and for that I consider myself extremely blessed.
One day I'll see my pop again and can tell him how much I missed him, but until then I'll try to help mom as much as I can. It's the least I can do to honor the ones who gave so much for me.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
I Am Blessed (Part 4)
I have been blessed 3 seperate times in the past 12 years in more ways than I could ever express thanks for.
12 years ago a bundle of joy came into my life by the name of Hannah. 8 years ago another angel came in Gracie. Then 3 years ago Hayden joined the clan. I know now why they call them grandchildren because they sure do make me glad when they are around.
Hannah is growing into a beautiful young lady that I'm sure will break plenty of hearts. She favors her mother more every day and has talent just like her mom. She's my first grand and words cannot express just what she means to me.
Gracie is a girlie girl. She likes the frills and fancies and she too will be a heartbreaker. She is all girl and doesn't mind you knowing it and I love her for that
Hayden Colt is the spitting image of his dad growing up. He is full of energy, loves his sisters, and especially likes to stay at his grandparents house. In fact sometimes, it's hard to get him to go home. I sure do miss him when he leaves.
God has been good to me in so many ways, but He broke the mold when He gave me these three little ones to enjoy in my older years. I will do my best to leave a legacy for them to follow and I praise the Lord every day for these gifts He's given me. I truly am a blessed man.
12 years ago a bundle of joy came into my life by the name of Hannah. 8 years ago another angel came in Gracie. Then 3 years ago Hayden joined the clan. I know now why they call them grandchildren because they sure do make me glad when they are around.
Hannah is growing into a beautiful young lady that I'm sure will break plenty of hearts. She favors her mother more every day and has talent just like her mom. She's my first grand and words cannot express just what she means to me.
Gracie is a girlie girl. She likes the frills and fancies and she too will be a heartbreaker. She is all girl and doesn't mind you knowing it and I love her for that
Hayden Colt is the spitting image of his dad growing up. He is full of energy, loves his sisters, and especially likes to stay at his grandparents house. In fact sometimes, it's hard to get him to go home. I sure do miss him when he leaves.
God has been good to me in so many ways, but He broke the mold when He gave me these three little ones to enjoy in my older years. I will do my best to leave a legacy for them to follow and I praise the Lord every day for these gifts He's given me. I truly am a blessed man.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
I Am Blessed (Part 3)
Almost 13 years ago both a beauty and a blessing came into our family. We knew the Burrell family many years ago while pastoring in the same city. How ironic that years later a Ms. Candace Burrell would steal the heart of our son and become a part of our family. She not only completed him, but she brought a wonderful change into our household.
Candy has one of the greatest voices you will ever hear anywhere. I tried to get her to try out for American Idol because I know she could have won. That's how great she is vocally. Yet to me it is her compassion and caring attitude that she has for the less fortunate, those that are hurting, and those that are in need that show her true qualities. Not only is she beautiful on the outside, but she has a beautiful spirit on the inside as well.
She has proved herself as a loving wife, a devoted mother, and as a valuable asset to our family. I don't think that Shane could have found ayone else that we could love as a daughter-in-law like we love Candy. She's just great!
Candy was raised as a PK as well, but she has never allowed that to stop her from caring about others. She proved that recently on a missions trip to Alabama in mnistering to victims of the devastating storms that affected the area. Her concern for people spiritually is that they just be real and understand that you can't put God in a box. That's the kind of daughter-in-law every pastor ought to have. I'm just glad she is a part of my family. God truly blessed us when He allowed her to meet and fall in love with Shane.
I am blessed because of my wife, Becky, my son, Shane, and my daughter-in-law, Candy. I would be a very lonely man without them by my side. So I praise God for His blessings on me.
But wait....you haven't read the best part of the story yet..........!
Candy has one of the greatest voices you will ever hear anywhere. I tried to get her to try out for American Idol because I know she could have won. That's how great she is vocally. Yet to me it is her compassion and caring attitude that she has for the less fortunate, those that are hurting, and those that are in need that show her true qualities. Not only is she beautiful on the outside, but she has a beautiful spirit on the inside as well.
She has proved herself as a loving wife, a devoted mother, and as a valuable asset to our family. I don't think that Shane could have found ayone else that we could love as a daughter-in-law like we love Candy. She's just great!
Candy was raised as a PK as well, but she has never allowed that to stop her from caring about others. She proved that recently on a missions trip to Alabama in mnistering to victims of the devastating storms that affected the area. Her concern for people spiritually is that they just be real and understand that you can't put God in a box. That's the kind of daughter-in-law every pastor ought to have. I'm just glad she is a part of my family. God truly blessed us when He allowed her to meet and fall in love with Shane.
I am blessed because of my wife, Becky, my son, Shane, and my daughter-in-law, Candy. I would be a very lonely man without them by my side. So I praise God for His blessings on me.
But wait....you haven't read the best part of the story yet..........!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
I Am Blessed (Part 2)
Becky and I had been married for 7 years when Shane came along. My dad was so proud of him that he was walking up and down the hallways at the hospital in Shelby telling everyone about His grandson. It was almost 9 days before I got to hold him due to an infection he had. What a bundle of joy he was.
I have many fond memories of his childhood watching him grow into the man he is today and I am very proud to say that he is my son. If I have any regrets in life it is that I did not spend as much time with him as I would have liked due to the demands of the ministry as he was growing up. It's those things that can really cause a preachers kid to either turn out good or bad.
You see they see both the good and the bad things that happen to a pastor and they also feel the blunt of them. I'll never forget the time that we had a boys group at church that did stuff that we as a family didn't like to do. My idea of camping is to stay in a motel. He begged me to not have to go into that group, and finally I relented because I saw how much it was affecting him. There were a lot of things that bugged him growing up, but he never rebelled against his mom and me. He was a fine young man and I appreciate his efforts to honor his parents as he was growing up.
He is still assisting us in a lot of ways. He tried his best in ministry to do what God wanted and seemingly things never did work out as he planned, but he has been an encourager to us in our ministry even to this day. I am very proud of him as a man of God, a husband, and a father to my three grands.
He's just one more reason why I am blessed today.
I have many fond memories of his childhood watching him grow into the man he is today and I am very proud to say that he is my son. If I have any regrets in life it is that I did not spend as much time with him as I would have liked due to the demands of the ministry as he was growing up. It's those things that can really cause a preachers kid to either turn out good or bad.
You see they see both the good and the bad things that happen to a pastor and they also feel the blunt of them. I'll never forget the time that we had a boys group at church that did stuff that we as a family didn't like to do. My idea of camping is to stay in a motel. He begged me to not have to go into that group, and finally I relented because I saw how much it was affecting him. There were a lot of things that bugged him growing up, but he never rebelled against his mom and me. He was a fine young man and I appreciate his efforts to honor his parents as he was growing up.
He is still assisting us in a lot of ways. He tried his best in ministry to do what God wanted and seemingly things never did work out as he planned, but he has been an encourager to us in our ministry even to this day. I am very proud of him as a man of God, a husband, and a father to my three grands.
He's just one more reason why I am blessed today.
Monday, October 3, 2011
I Am Blessed (Part 1)
You have probably heard the old saying, "Behind every good man there's a good woman." Well, I am here to tell you that should be changed to, "Behind every good man there's a better woman." When God blessed me with my companion almost 40 years ago I believe that He broke the mold.
Becky has endured more than her fair share of heartaches as a pastor's wife. She has suffered with me when people left the churches we pastored for the wrong reasons or when I have had to deal with problems in the church. She has cried more than a 1,000 buckets of tears over precious folks the Lord has called home, those who have gone through tremendous sickness and trials, and with those who have found Christ as their Savior at the altar. She has been my right arm, my encourager, and my strength throughout all of my ministry.
She is the perfect wife, the best mom, the greatest grandmother, and someone I am glad the Lord allowed me to spend my life with. I would be nothing without the Lord and very little without her. As the old saying goes, she completes me.
Have we ever been at odds with one another? Sure we have. Have we always agreed on everything? Absolutely not! But at the end of the day we show how much we care and put the past behind us. That's why I have been truly blessed with the lady that lives with me who has sacrificed so much to see the Kingdom of God go forward.
So on this Monday when most of the pastors I know lament over what could have been on the day before, I just thought I would thank the Lord for His blessings on me. Thanks again for Becky...because You knew I needed her more than anyone else to share my life with me.
Becky has endured more than her fair share of heartaches as a pastor's wife. She has suffered with me when people left the churches we pastored for the wrong reasons or when I have had to deal with problems in the church. She has cried more than a 1,000 buckets of tears over precious folks the Lord has called home, those who have gone through tremendous sickness and trials, and with those who have found Christ as their Savior at the altar. She has been my right arm, my encourager, and my strength throughout all of my ministry.
She is the perfect wife, the best mom, the greatest grandmother, and someone I am glad the Lord allowed me to spend my life with. I would be nothing without the Lord and very little without her. As the old saying goes, she completes me.
Have we ever been at odds with one another? Sure we have. Have we always agreed on everything? Absolutely not! But at the end of the day we show how much we care and put the past behind us. That's why I have been truly blessed with the lady that lives with me who has sacrificed so much to see the Kingdom of God go forward.
So on this Monday when most of the pastors I know lament over what could have been on the day before, I just thought I would thank the Lord for His blessings on me. Thanks again for Becky...because You knew I needed her more than anyone else to share my life with me.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Making The Right Choice
Making the right choice is not always easy. Sometimes what we choose causes us to feel like a loser rather than a winner.
Have you heard the story about an angel who suddenly appears at a faculty meeting and tells the dean of the college that, in return for his unselfish and exemplary behavior, he will be given his choice of infinite wealth, wisdom or beauty. Without hesitating, the dean selects infinite wisdom.
"Done!" says the angel, and disappears in a cloud of smoke and a bolt of lightning.
Now, all heads turn toward the dean, who sits surrounded by a faint halo of light. At length, one of his colleagues whispers, "Say something wise."
The dean looks at them and says, "I should have taken the money."
Though wealth is highly regarded in our world, I rather suspect this fictitious academic made the better choice. Wisdom, like many other virtues, is usually more difficult to obtain and can be far more satisfying.
When our hearts are empty, we collect "things." On the other hand, when our hearts are full, we tend to lose interest in most of the "stuff" of life. The "things of the heart" become all important. Things like love and joy and peace. Or wisdom. Or hope. Or faith.
And the wonderful truth is that these gifts are given freely to any who will take them! None of us has to live without love. There really is joy to be found in this life. And we can know peace - now.
-No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in today. Take heaven!
-No peace lies in the future that is not hidden in his present moment. Take peace!
-The gloom of this world is but a shadow. Behind it, yet within reach is joy.
-There is a radiance and glory in the darkness, could we but see, and to see we have only to look. I beseech you to look.
-Life is so generous a giver.
You have already been offered things even finer than infinite wealth. Will you grasp them and make them yours by choice today?
Have you heard the story about an angel who suddenly appears at a faculty meeting and tells the dean of the college that, in return for his unselfish and exemplary behavior, he will be given his choice of infinite wealth, wisdom or beauty. Without hesitating, the dean selects infinite wisdom.
"Done!" says the angel, and disappears in a cloud of smoke and a bolt of lightning.
Now, all heads turn toward the dean, who sits surrounded by a faint halo of light. At length, one of his colleagues whispers, "Say something wise."
The dean looks at them and says, "I should have taken the money."
Though wealth is highly regarded in our world, I rather suspect this fictitious academic made the better choice. Wisdom, like many other virtues, is usually more difficult to obtain and can be far more satisfying.
When our hearts are empty, we collect "things." On the other hand, when our hearts are full, we tend to lose interest in most of the "stuff" of life. The "things of the heart" become all important. Things like love and joy and peace. Or wisdom. Or hope. Or faith.
And the wonderful truth is that these gifts are given freely to any who will take them! None of us has to live without love. There really is joy to be found in this life. And we can know peace - now.
-No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in today. Take heaven!
-No peace lies in the future that is not hidden in his present moment. Take peace!
-The gloom of this world is but a shadow. Behind it, yet within reach is joy.
-There is a radiance and glory in the darkness, could we but see, and to see we have only to look. I beseech you to look.
-Life is so generous a giver.
You have already been offered things even finer than infinite wealth. Will you grasp them and make them yours by choice today?
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