Just a thought on forgiveness. Forgiveness is for the offended, not so much for the offender. Let me explain…I don’t need to wait to forgive until the person who offended me asks for it.
I need to forgive that person…this will free me from passing judgement, condemnation on the person.
Forgiveness will release bitterness toward others. Forgiveness will bring love.
Oh, does it happen immediately?? Maybe not, 70×7, speak the words, “I forgive you”. Freedom will come.
Then when trust comes, a relationship can be restored, or started. Trust is essential for a relationship. Perhaps even forgiveness will not bring trust, but at least, you are free!!
God’s love happens if I respond or not…shouldn’t we work on that? So difficult to break the walls that we have built around us so that we won’t be hurt again.
Let’s challenge ourselves to truly love and forgive!
Forgiveness February 13, 2009
Looking Ahead February 5, 2009
One month is past in 2009 already. Oh my!! and what has been accomplished. I find I often am so involved in the urgent, I have little time for the important things.
Not so many days ago, I was feeling a bit “funny” because I realized I had worked myself out of a job in Mayette. I mean what I was usually involved in, will now be done by natives. But then I recognized this as a true blessing. After all, did I always want Haitians dependant on us. Of course not!! From the beginning, we wanted to teach and make disciples. That is what Jesus did. He walked and talked the ministry. From there the disciples were called to go. They were the ones who planted “churches” everywhere. So now I know I can rest assured that one part of our goal has been accomplished. We will have a clinic in Mayette. We have a native nurse. We also have a native doctor who will come a couple days of the week to help.
Patrick has been teaching for years. Now some students are the teachers and pastors!! This is so exciting!! God is so awesome. This is like parenting. Parenting is a difficult job. There is no vacation, no time off. There is not even instant gratification. But we keep going, loving and being an example. We depend on God to bring the fruit. Just like in parenting, children can go astray for a time. So it is with making disciples, students walk away, some become rebellious. It hurts. It is painful to see this happen. But we keep on loving, hoping and caring. But there are those who are sincere and become great leaders and workers in the church.
A well known verse Philippians 3:13-14 “But one thing I do: Forgettting what is behind and straining towrd what is ahead. Ipress on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
That is the key…don’t look at what could have been but what will be!!
God be with each of you!!
