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Forgiveness!

Have you ever noticed how much the Bible talks about forgiveness?  There is verse after verse that tells us to forgive others!  When someone hurts you, you have a choice to make, you can hold on to the anger, hurt, resentment and thoughts of getting even or you can forgive and move forward.

Everyone has been or will be hurt by the actions or inactions of someone else.  It may come from a family member, friend or even a complete stranger.  The things that people say and do can hurt and leave you with anger, bitterness, frustration and an attitude of vengeance.

The Bible tells us to forgive, because we have been forgiven.  If we have been forgiven and truly appreciate our forgiveness, then we will forgive!  When we forgive, we will experience freedom and release, but when we fail to forgive it will cost us!

To forgive means that I make the choice to let go of the resentment that I hold on to and the revenge that I seek.  Forgiveness is the action of separating myself from my thoughts and feelings, so that I can make the right choice about what is best for me and those around me.

Forgiveness helps me to live a healthier life by allowing me to be in control of my feelings, rather than having my feelings control me!  Forgiveness is not always easy.  It is best to understand that forgiveness is a process:

  1. REALIZE that forgiveness is your best option!  Take some time to think about what unwillingness to forgive is costing you and allow these thoughts to motivate you to forgive!
  2. REFLECT and think about how you got to where you are and admit to yourself that you don’t want to stay in this place!
  3. REACT in a positive way and seek reconciliation as much as you can from your side of things!

Above all remind yourself again and again of the forgiveness that has been granted to you by Your Savior.  Forgiveness that we do not deserve and that we cannot earn!  If you’ve got it, then give it!

I’ve got some work to do – how about you?

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Team Work Makes The Dream Work!

Egg Hunt 2009Northwood Easter Egg Outreach – Giving of ourselves to help people find the right direction in life!

This past Saturday the Northwood family showed up at Lake Cunningham with a mission of sharing the love of Jesus in a real and meaningful way. Men, women, boys and girls came out to help set up and everyone worked hard to make sure that people from our community felt welcomed, loved and special!  The event was totally free to the community and was made possible by the generous gifts of the Northwood family.  Everyone had a great time and God blessed with an extra beautiful day.  Thank you to each and every person that gave of themselves to help make this great outreach event a success!

If you want to know what the church looks like, then you need to come out to one of these events and watch our people as they work, sweat and give of themselves to share the love of Jesus.  I just want all of you to know how proud I am of you and how thankful I am to be a part of this team and family!  Thanks for all that you do to help Northwood be the place and people that help people to find the right direction in life!

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Obituary For Someone Else!

Our church was saddened to learn this week of the death of one of our most valued members, Someone Else. 

Someone’s passing creates a vacancy that will be difficult to fill. 
Else has been with us for many years and for every one of those years, 
Someone did far more than a normal person’s share of the work. 
Whenever there was a job to do, a class to teach, or a meeting to attend, 
one name was on everyone’s list, 
“Let Someone Else do it.” Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person 
was looked to for inspiration as well as results; “Someone Else can work with that group.”It was common knowledge that Someone Else was among the most liberal givers in our church.   Whenever there was a financial need, everyone just assumed Someone Else would make up the difference.

Someone Else was a wonderful person; sometimes appearing superhuman. 
Were the truth known, everybody expected too much of Someone Else. 
Now Someone Else is gone! We wonder what we are going to do. 
Someone Else left a wonderful example to follow, but who is going to follow it? 
Who is going to do the things Someone Else did?

When you are asked to help this year, remember — we can’t depend on Someone Else anymore.

Author is Unknown

Telling Stories, Sharing Grace And Loving Folks!