Tag Archives: michael joe

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?

What This World Needs!

If you are a Christian – then do me, yourself and others a favor – start acting like it!  According to Romans 6:1-23, you can’t live any ole way that you want to!  You can’t be a Believer and continue to live in sin!  When you accept Christ, the Bible teaches, that you die to sin.  If you died to sin, then you can’t continue to live in sin!  We like to place the blame on others for the problems in this world, but we need to take a good, long, hard and honest look in the mirror.  What many of us would see in that mirror is a pretender or poser – someone who is just going through the motions without any real commitment!  (I know you think you are committed and that you have convinced yourself that you are and that everything is okay!  It’s not your opinion that matters – what does Jesus say about your commitment?  BE HONEST!)

Jesus Christ came and died for our SALVATION!  Salvation is so much more than just getting out of hell and into Heaven. Salvation is about a relationship that last for eternity.  Salvation is about living a new and better life.  Salvation is about living daily in the forgiveness and power of a relationship that can change your life by allowing your life to matter and make a difference to others!

What this world needs is for people that say they are Christians, to really be Christians by living the life that Jesus has made possible through His death and resurrection!  Stop wasting God’s grace!  Live the life that you were created to live!  Get your eyes off of yourself and others and focus on Jesus!

Give God Your Best!

Promotion is God’s business!  Stay faithful right were God has placed you!  Give your best today! 

This world almost pushes you to push yourself.  Much of our energy is spent on our trying to get ourselves to somewhere that we think the world says that we have to be to be successful.  Stop trying to get yourself to whatever place it is that you think you have to be to be happy.  Happiness is not found in our arrival at a destination, but in our learning to appreciate the journey that God allows us to travel.  Learn to enjoy the journey -one moment at a time, one day at a time! 

You are where you are today and that is where God has you!  Remember that God has a perfect plan for your life.  Don’t get in the way and mess that perfect plan up.  Stay faithful to Him and trust Him to grow and move you to where He wants you to be.  Wherever you find yourself today – GIVE GOD YOUR BEST and know and trust that HE WILL TAKE CARE OF THE REST!