I listened to a lot of sermons yesterday - and I am praying it all sinks in! Actually, it wasn't telling me of my wrongs... it wasn't even calling out any of those... but actually, each one of the messages I listened to yesterday were messages that were to draw us closer to God. I ended up listening to both of Free Chapel's messages yesterday, then we went to church, and watched the afternoon Free Chapel service. The revival has been extended through Wednesday. What powerful services they are! You won't hear it in the news so much, but there are revivals popping up across the USA.
The wind is strong this morning, blowing through the courtyard. I hear our windchimes banging against the house, and occasionally a 'bong'. I think this is from a hurricane, isn't it? Or am I am on the wrong side for that? I saw it on the news last night, but wasn't really listening. But I hear the wind blowing and the clanging of the windchime....glad I have a covering over most of the 'dinger' or whatever it is called. I did! When I put it up, I crochet'd a covering for it cause it is LOUD. It's starting to fall off, though, so need to cover it back up. Mainly now it bangs against the house.
I received some yarn I had ordered last week - will be starting on a new afghan. My little sister won't learn how to do it herself... but has asked at different times that I make someone for a family member or in this case, for a close friend. I don't mind; and this time she offered to pay for the yarn... but I don't mind because it gives me a project. I have another box of the color I need to arrive, which may be today, and then I can get started. Of course they sent the white first. I'm still not real good at making anything; just haven't learned different stitches. But I enjoy making things and giving them away. I've even made a dent in my yarn stash! Unless I have a 'project', I just make baby blankets out of what yarn I have as many skeins are just one of one color. With the baby blankets, I can mix colors up, no big deal.
It's Monday morning and it's 'timecard Monday'. It doesn't take long at all to approve timecards now - everyone is salaried. Some already have approved so I just give the final approval. Others I have to go through calendars and see if they took time off. The thing with salaried people - me included - if we work even one hour, we get paid for the entire day. That means they don't have to put in for time off. Saves me time trying to calculate and figure out hours. When I take off an appointment, I try to get in as much hours as I can. In fact, I have a podiatrist appointment Thursday mid-morning to check out these bone spurs. They hurt when I walk in flat shoes or tennis shoes. If in heels, they don't hurt cause the pressure is off. If I need to have something done, I need to do it before the end of the year since I've met my deductible for the year. Trying to get everything done this year. This is a new podiatrist so will see what he says. Anyway - timecards shouldn't be too bad today. Much easier than when I was approving for the hourly people; they always had missed punches and then messed up PTO hours. Glad I don't have to deal with that. And 'timecard Monday' means we get paid on Thursday! Whoo hoo!
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
That scripture should clear up a lot of questions for some people. They think that they are a 'good person'. Maybe they go to church 'most of the time', or they tithe, or they help people out, or they give to people in need, they are always there if someone needs something.... and many times they - and others - think that they will get to heaven on those merits.
Or perhaps we just are good people. Maybe we volunteer a lot, attend a lot of Bible studies, perhaps even teach a class or two. We are always the first one to help others. Surely we will get in to heaven for that!
Or perhaps we just struggle in life and do what we can. We help when we can. We volunteer when we can. We just 'do what we can when we can'. Surely our efforts won't be lost on God!
Over the years I've had several people tell me that 'you are an angel' or 'because of ........... you are definitely going to heaven!" And many other comments like that. It would be easy to believe them; that because I help others when I can, or I go to church, or I teach a class (or attend one!) or because of many different things - that I can go to heaven because of my 'works'... because I try to put God first. It all sounds good, and it is really 'flattering' to have someone comment that I will go to heaven..... but those things are not what will get me there.
What will get me to heaven is my relationship with Jesus. He has to be first. I cannot say I love God and ignore others. I cannot ask God for forgiveness, and not forgive others. Actually, forgiving others is much easier than forgiving family members. Sometimes it is really hard to let go of the bitterness and anger and walls I build up with some people. I have to pray - lots and lots - to let go of bitterness and anger towards some people. But when I get the breakthrough, there is such peace.
Some people like to play and frolic in their anger, bitterness and unforgiveness. And they like to bring it up - sometimes frequently - to prove a point. They say they have forgiven and let go of the past - and yet - they keep bringing it up which tells me they haven't let it go. When you forgive someone, you may not forget what happened..... but it sets you free from the bondage of unforgiveness.
I refuse to give someone that control over me - I choose to forgive, and in most cases, forget. If it comes back to mind, I just repeat the words 'I forgive ........' and move on. I have to. If I didn't, I may not have any siblings left to talk to! We all have siblings that have hurt us in some way. They will never acknowledge what they have done.... I know... my siblings have never asked me for forgiveness nor said they were sorry they did something..... and their response is not on me. My response is - and I choose to forgive so that I am not in bondage to them. They will not control my thoughts, my feelings, my reactions. I choose to love and to forgive - no matter what.
And doing that doesn't get me in to heaven either! That's works as well! I need to seek God's forgiveness, and in some cases, perhaps even forgive God - and forgive myself. Sometimes forgiving myself is the hardest! But when we do, we are set free. And there is nothing like being free in Jesus Christ.
Take a few minutes and think about any feelings you have against anyone. Perhaps we all just need to say "I forgive ......" and let the offenses go. Give grace. Don't be kept in bondage because of justification of anger. There is so much more life in freedom. Grab it!
Blesings!
No comments:
Post a Comment