Thursday, September 29, 2011

Jesus is the HERO of my story!

As I was doing a Beth Moore bible study this morning, God led me off on a study of my own.  I had no idea what it was going to be about or why it was happening, but I just went with it! I'm not exactly sure how I got from the book of Daniel to the book of Isaiah, but I took great comfort in the forty third chapter.  One verse that really stuck out was this,

I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, 
for my own sake, and remembers you sin no more."  
 Isaiah 43:25

Isn't is great God loves us that much?? He doesn't even remember our past sins!! More on this in a moment.

In my Beth Moore study she talked about what God's desire for my life is.  What is God's desire for us...John 15:8,16 says, (v8) "to be my disciples." (v.16) "You did not chose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go out and bear fruit..."  It's humbling knowing GOD CHOSE ME! He gave me specific gifts to do his work.  One is definite-- he gave me a singing voice.  I know He can give  more than one gift, and I know there's more to me than just singing...so what is it?? I've been praying for several weeks now trying to figure out what it is, and what am I supposed to do with it. After reading these verses in John I knew God wanted to share something with me.  I started digging deep and he revealed to me I have the gift of showing mercy!! It has always come so easy to me...growing up I often thought maybe I was too soft; after all most people around me where not so willing to show mercy. 
  • Mercy-- compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence; Have mercy on the poor sinner.
I can't share personal stories with out permission of the other party, but one thing I would like to share (what I think compassion should look like) is Osama Bin Laden.  On 9-11 there people in the Middle East standing in the streets singing and dancing over lives lost.  What's equally heartbreaking to me, though, is the night I heard Osama Bin Laden was dead the things I heard on TV and was reading on facebook.  I was glad to hear they got him (dead or alive) because it needed to be done.   War is ugly and even God says it's necessary at times.  But here is a man who didn't know God and had just lost his life.  I was cheerless... We are to mourn as God does, for his people, even the lost.

Now back to our God who doesn't remember our sins.  If you ask for forgiveness you not only receive it, but he remembers it no more!  It comes easy for me forgive and forget. Yes, even forget.  I was really put to the test a couple of years ago.  Even though it took a long time (longer for me than usual) I was able to forgive and ask for forgiveness.  I really have to stop and think about the whole situation to remember details, but I choose not to.  Some say that's foolish and I could get burned again.  I say we are to be just like Jesus and we are to forgive as many times as it takes.  If I harbor resentment from the past it would make it hard to forgive in the future.  Also, I think if we are to be like Jesus- we should forget just as God does.  He tells us in Isaiah 43:18 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past."
I don't write this to toot my own horn or to brag, but to encourage you. Forgiveness sometimes is a slow process....it doesn't have to be- it's a chose.  Don't let Satan have a stronghold on your life by holding on to bitterness. If you want mercy you have to show it.  I leave you with this last verse:

"This is how my heavenly Fater will treat each of you
unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
Matthew 18:35 

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