03/03/2010
PONDERING FORGIVENESS
“AND BE YE KIND ONE TO ANOTHER, TENDERHEARTED, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, EVEN AS GOD FOR CHRIST’S SAKE HATH FORGIVEN YOU.” – Ephesians 4:32
AS OF LATE, I have been pondering the subject of forgiveness. I see more and more how hard it can be to forgive someone when it comes to down to your personally being hurt. It’s so easy to look on a situation that another person is in and say “Just forgive and forget!” Even perhaps, it may be a situation that we are involved but for whatever reason does not bother us that much – big deal! But then it when comes down to US – when we personally are hurt, it’s not so easy to do. Yet, I realize that forgiveness is SO important to God. Jesus stressed the subject of forgiveness several times:
“FOR IF YE FORGIVE MEN THEIR TRESPASSES, YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL ALSO FORGIVE YOU: BUT IF YE FORGIVE NOT MEN THEIR TRESPASSES, NEITHER WILL YOUR FATHER FORGIVE YOUR TRESPASSES.” – Matthew 6:14-15
“TAKE HEED TO YOURSELVES: IF THY BROTHER TRESPASS AGAINST THEE, REBUKE HIM; AND IF HE REPENT, FORGIVE HIM. AND IF HE TRESPASS AGAINST THEE SEVEN TIMES IN A DAY, AND SEVEN TIMES IN A DAY TURN AGAIN TO THEE, SAYING, I REPENT; THOU SHALT FORGIVE HIM.” – Luke 17:3-4
“…LORD, HOW OFT SHALL MY BROTHER SIN AGAINST ME, AND I FORGIVE HIM? TILL SEVEN TIMES?
JESUS SAITH UNTO HIM, I SAY NOT UNTO THEE, UNTIL SEVEN TIMES: BUT UNTIL SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN.” – Matthew 18:21-22
I DON’T THINK CHRIST was focused on a specific number of times to forgive someone, so much as just having a spirit of forgiveness – abounding forgiveness. Although we might not be able to “forget”, it is still important that we forgive.
I AM REMINDING my own self of this as much as anyone else – perhaps more so. It’s so easy to get mad – for a reason – and it’s natural, but it’s God’s will that we don’t hold a bitter attitude or grudge. When we forgive others, I think maybe it benefits us just as much as the person who did us wrong! A forgiving spirit is healthier and happier!
“FORBEARING ONE ANOTHER, AND FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, IF ANY MAN HAVE A QUARREL AGAINST ANY: EVEN AS CHRIST FORGAVE YOU, SO ALSO DO YE.” – Colossians 3:13
02/24/2010
FORGIVENESS
“EVERY PERSON should have a special cemetery lot in which to bury the faults of friends and loved ones.”
~ And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. ~ Ephesians 4:32
01/16/2010
FORGOTTEN SONG
“A FRIEND IS someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.“ – Anonymous
01/13/2010
HOW IS YOUR PRAYER LIFE?
JUST A THOUGHT . . .
WHEN WE PRAY, we are talking to GOD – the CREATOR of the universe, our Maker, the King above ALL kings and LORD above ALL Lords! And when we pray to Him, we aren’t just saying words – we are “communing” with Him.
OUR PRAYER LIFE needs to be something more than every night before we go to bed, “Now I lay me down to sleep . . .” You get the picture! Prayer is more than a set time and place. It’s not using particular words or talking in a certain way. Prayer can be constant. Prayer is from the heart and the mind. Prayer is communication with our heavenly Father.
YES, PRAYER IS kneeling beside our bed each morning, asking God to be with us in the day. But prayer is also talking to God in your heart and in your mind throughout the day. When a problem DOES arise, asking for His guidance and His help in the situation. It is sharing with Him your joys and your sorrows. It is throwing your cares on Him because He WANTS you to! It is praising Him. It is remembering how good He is and how blessed you really are.
HOW IS YOUR PRAYER LIFE? Don’t let it become a form or even a “duty”! May it be the language of your heart to God. Let your communion with your Father flow freely throughout your day. You will truly be blessed! Cast your cares upon Him. Keep up your prayer life!!!
11/02/2009
WINNING FRIENDS
“YOU CAN WIN MORE FRIENDS with your ears than with your mouth.”
Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. – James 1:19b
THE CONSECRATED LIFE column is hosted by Miss Felecia V and appears bi-weekly each Monday, featuring thoughts on a deeper, more personal relationship with God in a life consecrated to His service.
08/17/2009
HOW IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?
HOW IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?
~FROM “THE CONSECRATED LIFE” COLUMN~
“NOW THE SPIRIT speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their consience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving: . . . For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all those that believe.” – 1 Timothy 4:1-3,10
IN OUR RELATIONSHIP and walk with God, we often have to make sacrifices. It may be sacrificing our self, our way, our plans . . . it maybe sacrificing our pride, doing something we don’t particularly want to do. Sacrifice goes beyond “mere obedience” – it is an extra effort on our part. Sometimes the sacrifice may not be absolutely NECESSARY in order to stay saved – at other times it may.
WE HAVE A CHOICE of whether or not to make those sacrifices for God. We have a choice to make good decisions or bad. When we make a wrong choice or a choice that is simply to please self, it becomes easier to keep making those bad choices. Each time we do it, it becomes a little easier to make the wrong choice. On the other hand, as we make choices to serve God and sacrifices for Him, it gets easier and easier. Christ tells us in His word that “His yoke is easy, His burden light”.
ARE YOU SATISFIED with your relationship with God as it is right now? Is it becoming “hum-drum” to you? When we let ourselves get slack and become dissatisfied with our relationship with God, we open the door for the enemy to come in and take advantage because we are now opening ourselves up to other relationships that can take His place. We have to be so careful!
ON THE OTHER HAND, you can be passionately in love with God! You CAN be satisfied in your relationship with Him! It can be personal and real! Don’t let the enemy distract you, from your love service to your Maker!
HOW IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP with God? Are you content? Or have you let the enemy bring you down? Have you let his negative words take seed in your mind? Ask God to draw you close to Him! Ask Him for a deeper, more personal relationship! Remember that sometimes in our relationship with Him, we need to make sacrifices in order to make it the best relationship possible! He wants to have this kind of relationship with you because He loves you!
HOW IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?
~Thoughts taken and inspired from August 16th’s Sunday AM message~
THE CONSECRATED LIFE column is hosted by Miss Felecia V and appears bi-weekly each Monday, featuring thoughts on a deeper, more personal relationship with God in a life consecrated to His service.
04/29/2008
A FATHER’S LOVE
Hey Girls –
Sorry about the lapse – things have been kinda busy around here, as you can imagine. Here’s a devotional sent to me by a friend. It’s geared to boys, but we can all get the lesson in it. Whether it’s true or not, I don’t know – but it carries an amazing message!
~Nastya Andreyevna
A FATHER’S LOVE
DO YOU KNOW THE legend of the Cherokee Indian youth’s rite of passage?
HIS FATHER TAKES HIM into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone.
HE IS REQUIRED TO sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience because each lad must come into manhood on his own. THE BOY IS NATURALLY TERRIFIED. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man!
FINALLY, AFTER A HORRIFIC NIGHT, the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that HE DISCOVERED HIS FATHER SITTING ON A STUMP next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm. We, too, are never alone.
EVEN WHEN WE DON’T know it, our Heavenly Father is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us.
WHEN TROUBLE COMES, all we have to do is reach out to Him.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Just because you can’t see God, doesn’t mean He is not there.
‘For we walk by faith, not by sight.’
~ 2 Corinthians 5:7 ~
12/27/2007
A BROTHER’S CONFIDANT
Hello Girls!
I sincerely apologize for our lapse over the past 2 1/2 weeks – I guess you all can understand the hecticness of the holidays, and besides, I have been without a computer for the past 2 months, which makes it rather difficult:-) I know it is the middle of the week, but I hated to skip a whole ‘nother week, so here is something for you all. Again, it is rather lengthy, but very thought provoking, and I highly recommend taking 5 minutes to read this and evaluate your life. This article I found is geared toward siblings, but I think everyone can get something out of it. I hope you enjoy!
Much Love and a Happy New Year!
~Nastya Andreyovna
Sibling rivalry, according to the Bible, has plagued the family and been a source of tension and conflict from the very beginning. As we look over the pages of Scripture, it is not difficult to see where the root of this ungodliness springs. Most all sibling rivalry seems to have its foundation in jealousy, pride, selfishness, self-seeking ambition, and a lack of love.
One can easily see that Cain was jealous of Abel (Gen. 4: 2-16), and that Joseph’s brothers were unloving, as they were only interested in their own portion in life. Joseph in return was unkind and not understanding of their feelings. Jacob also had a severe selfish, covetous, and unloving spirit in his actions toward Esau (Gen. 25:29-34). Miriam and Aaron’s pride led to contention between themselves and Moses. Numbers 12:2 tells us, “And they said, Hath God indeed spoken only by Moses? Hath he not spoken also by us?” Or in other words, they demand equal rights and status with him. Given its repetitive portrayal in Scripture, the Lord must certainly hold this subject of sibling relationships to be of the utmost importance for our instruction.
Over and over again these Biblical narratives on sibling rivalry are presented, showing us that jealousy, pride, selfishness, self-seeking ambition, ungodly competitiveness and a lack of love lead to anger, resentment, and hatred . We then see that this sin, when not dealt with, will ultimately lead to a life of sorrow, bitterness, and in the end, destruction.
My point is simple: as we read these stories, we must bear in mind that they are important and that they have been divinely placed in Holy Scripture for our instruction (2 Tim. 3:16). By them our Lord teaches us that discord stems from sin in our hearts, and only when we root out that sin, can our relationships begin to heal. We must constantly compare and contrast these great men and women of old with our own relationships, learn from their examples, implement changes as necessary, and above all, learn to love even when it is hard. Proverbs 10:12 says, “Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.” All of these well known examples can be applied to relationships between either or both genders.
I would particularly like to address the brother-sister relationship, more specifically, one in which the sister is the somewhat older sibling, as in my own case.
It seems that as I reflect upon my own childhood, that I had a double-dose of all the afore-mentioned negative tendencies that lead toward dissension, particularly pride and self-centeredness. I felt that it was my job to protect my younger brother, and he, as the younger sibling, should heed my advice and respect my judgment unquestioningly. After all, I thought I was the smarter and more mature of the two of us. When presented with a task or problem, I would have already logically evaluated a given situation and sensibly come to the only correct solution. So, why would I need his input? I am sure one can see how this could stress any relationship, especially given the fact that my brother and I are only 18 months apart. You see, I now realize that I was unconsciously striving for a position of what one might call dominance within our relationship. I was continually discouraged because my brother, even as a young boy, possessed the inborn desire be a leader, unpolished though it was. I became inwardly angry and resentful, as I was denied that which I thought was owed to me. This led me down the path of bitterness toward my brother and created a heaviness in my soul. I had unintentionally sacrificed our relationship upon the alter of my own selfishness and pride, and consequently devastated our natural camaraderie, affection, and fidelity. It is no wonder that we grew apart, only tolerant of each other’s existence.
As I think back, I wonder if the heaviness I felt during those early years may well have been attributed to the Holy Spirit, not only convicting me of my selfishness and desire to be esteemed by my younger brother, but also, the cultivating of my heart for future lessons. One of the tools our sovereign Lord used to soften my bitter and hardened heart was this seemingly insubstantial excerpt from Noelle Goforth’s book, Daughters of Destiny. It is entitled, “The Brother’s Confidant.”
A good sister’s love always holds a cherished place in the grateful memory of the brother! Many men have found a sister’s love their ready and cheering resource. His confidence is set in her counsel and he is satisfied with the assurance that it will be uprightly and considerately given. How intimate is the friendship of such a sister! What a reliance for warning, excitement, and sympathy has each secured in each! How many are the brothers to whom, when thrown into circumstances of temptation, the thought of a sister’s love has been a constant, and holy presence, rebuking every wayward thought!
The relation of brothers and sisters forms another important element in the happy influences on the home. A boisterous or a selfish boy may try to domineer over the weaker or more dependent girl, but generally the latter exerts a softening, sweetening charm, the brother animates and heartens; the sister mollifies, tames, refines. The vine-tree and its sustaining elm are the emblems of such a relation – and by such agencies our “sons may become like plants grown up in youth, and our daughters like cornerstones polished after similitude of a temple.”
Sisters scarcely know the influence they have over their brothers. A young man once testified that the greatest proof to the truth of Christian religion was his sister’s life.
At first I was cynical. All of that flowery language seemed silly and the ideas they conveyed abstract. Me…my brother’s confidant? The thought, though still abstract, took root in my mind and I longed for that kind of a relationship. Could I really ever have any influence over my brother? I was filled with wonder and a sense of new responsibility as I read, “Sisters scarcely know the influence they have over their brothers.” As I reflected upon what I had read, my thoughts turned inward. Had I been influencing my brother for good? Would he think of me in time to come as a “ready and cheering resource,” or as a “constant, and holy presence?” But most importantly, could my brother see the “truth of Christian religion” in my 
life? As I pondered these things, I knew that I fell desperately short. I also knew that this was the kind of sister that I desired to be, and I purposed to change. Philippians 2:3 affirms, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in the lowliness of mind let each esteem other better then themselves.” I learned that trying in strife never gets us anywhere in life. I made a conscious effort to put away my self-centeredness and purposed to try to look at things from my brother’s point of view, to ask his opinion, and to try to do some things his way and not just my own. I began encouraging my brother to be the leader and I refocused my efforts into supporting him in that role. I purposed to be open with him, to be there if he needed a friend to talk to, and to serve him by helping him pursue and accomplish his goals. It was really amazing. I felt like the weight had lifted from my shoulders and a fog from my eyes. Of course, our relationship did not change overnight, but I am very happy to say that it did change. Matthew 23:12 tells us, “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.”
My brother and I are now the best of friends and each the other’s most trusted confidant. As I have watched my brother grow into such a strong and godly young man, and as God has blessed him with wisdom that surpasses his age, it is hard to even think of him as being younger. He has become to me the best of counselors and truest of friends.
I am so happy that God revealed to me the folly of my willfulness and foolish pride. My hope is that these experiences will equip me to be the virtuous wife scripture has called me to be. Dear ones, we are not always going to agree with our husbands… and they are not always going to have perfect consideration for our feelings, and yet God has called us to reverence and obedience, with “chaste conversation coupled with fear.” It is so important for us to learn now how to humble ourselves, put away our pride, and to learn to defuse a situation before it can escalate. Proverbs 13:10 teaches us that, “Only by pride cometh contention.” How many marriages would be happier and more God-honoring if we all could simply embrace the above stated Philippians 2:3? Dear ladies, if we do not lay our pride and willfulness at the foot of the cross while we are still young, we may well carry them into our marriages. God has given us our brothers for a reason and yes, they can at times be a difficult trial, but God knows this and it is He who has willed it so. Remember Jeremiah 29:11 which proclaims, “For I know the plans I have for you; declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” May we always be grateful for our brothers and bear in mind that in many ways, these early years are the God ordained and orchestrated training grounds for our future happiness.
But this, ladies, is not the only glorious blessing that is to be gained! We as sisters can return this favor to our brothers by helping to affirm and prepare them for their future roles as leaders, and heads of their own households. When we treat our brothers like men, it can only encourage them to maturity in Christ. And you, my reader, may well be the tool that God has ordained to inspire your brother to become the man that God has created and called him to be. We need to always remember that “all things work together for good, to them who love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28).
“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” ~Prov. 17:17
