The "F" word

From Captivating on forgiveness:

"We acknowledge that it hurt, that is mattered, and we choose to extend forgiveness to our fathers, to our mothers, to those who hurt us. This is not saying, "It didn't really matter"; it is not saying,"I probably deserved part of it anyway." Forgiveness says, "It was wrong. Very wrong. it mattered, hurt me deeply. And I release you. I give you to God. I will not be your captive here any longer."

Good way to put it. This reminds me of Les Miserables, when the bishop takes Jean Valjean in after getting out of prison, only to have him steal valuables from his house during the night and later have him returned by the police. When they arrive with Valjean, the bishop claims he gave the valuables to Valjean then proceeds to ask him why he had not taken the silver candlesticks as well. After the confused police leave, the bishop tells Valjean, "Now don't you forget, don't you ever forget, you promised to become a new man." He then says,"Valjean, my brother, you no longer belong to evil, but to good. It is your soul that I buy from you; I withdraw it from black thoughts and the spirit of perdition, and I give it back to God."

I love this story because it is such a blatantly obvious reminder of what God has done for us - He doesn't repay us according to our sins and what we deserve. Instead, he gives us the silver candlesticks and buys our freedom with it, offering us eternal life and forgiveness. He buys us back from evil and calls us to be new and honest men. I believe we are all in constant need of reminding of this.

Simple Truths

Read this in Our Daily Bread today and liked it :)

"Nowhere to Hide"

"I smelled something burning, so I hurried to the kitchen. Nothing was on the stove or in the oven. I followed my nose through the house. From room to room I went, eventually ending up downstairs. My nose led me to my office and then to my desk. I peeked underneath it and there, peering back at me with big eyes pleading for help, was Maggie, our dog, our very "fragrant" dog. What smelled like something burning was upstairs, now had the distinct odor of skunk. Maggie had gone to the farthest corner of our house to escape the foul smell, but she couldn't get away from herself.

Maggie's dilemma brought to mind that many times I have tried to run away from unpleasant circumstances only to discover that the problem was not the situation I was in but me. Since Adam and eve hid after sinning (Gen. 3:8), we've all followed their example. We run away from situations thinking we can escape the unpleasantness - only to discover that the unpleasantness is us.

The only way to escape ourselves is to stop hiding, acknowledge our waywardness, and let Jesus wash us clean (Rev. 1:5). I am grateful that when we do sin, Jesus is willing to give us a brand-new start." - Julie Ackerman Link

From the wondrous cross on Calvary
Flows the stream that still avails,
Cleansing hearts and bringing victory
through that love which never fails - Elliot
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It overwhelms me that no matter how hard and far we run, You are always there waiting for us - faithful when we choose unfaithfulness, full of hope when we are hopeless.

To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood. - Rev. 1:5

C.S. Lewis Wisdom

Stole this from my mom's post on facebook heh heh... I always knew she was a smart lady :)

"Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance. The smallest good act today is the capture of a new strategic point from which, a few months later, you may be able to go on to victories you never dreamed of.

An apparent trivial indulgence in lust or anger today is the loss of a ridge or railway line or bridgehead from which the enemy may launch an attack otherwise impossible." -Mere Christianity

"I love how Lew put things. He leaves no doubt of the importance of our each and every decision - no matter how small it may seem to us." - Momma Berndt

The ground that rises up to meet me...

Only you Jesus
you are my answer
my reason
the Giver of my next breath
my source of joy
the rhythm that restarts my beating heart
the air I take in
the ground that rises up to meet me
my light, my hope
the one who brought forth my beginning
the one who writes the mysteries of my journey
and who knows when my last day here will come.

You are the lover of my soul
my future
Jesus you are my promise
the only one that really knows me
the one who wants me always.

You open my eyes
you give me a fresh start
you show me Beauty
you tell me who I am
you are my addiction
my healing
the One I want
the Worthy Lamb
the only one deserving of my affection
the longing of my heart.

So here I am
all of me
for all of You.
Take me up Jesus
everything I have left
take me as Yours today
never let me go
wrap me in your arms
never to leave the place You are!

Change my heart
change my life
teach me things unknown
show me new mornings
speak bigger mysteries of yourself
bigger promises
take me to the depths of your heart
fill mine with wonder
never stop surprising me...

Mighty One
Holy God
King forever
Righteous Son
Perfect Love
Savior of the World
Ancient One
Keeper of history
the Beginning and the End of everything
Sovereign Lord
Majesty
Splendor of the earth
Mine.

-Anonymous