Hello again, Fellow Seekers of the Living God!

Checking in with you month to month about my journey in seeking the God of Love, the Water of Life, the Bread of Life has been a real opportunity of spiritual growth for me.

It has been a process of value clarification as I think, read, ponder and pray over what I value on this journey.  I am finding more and deeper meaning in scripture that directs be on a better path.  I am the one receiving a blessing!  And so it is with the gift of Forgiveness.  Forgiveness in the Christian experience is most valuable to the forgiver than the forgiven.  Jesus teaches us to forgive those who have hurt or harmed us and with that comes the blessing of freedom; “And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us” Luke 11:4. 

There are hundreds if not thousands of books, poems, and even scientific papers on the benefits of forgiveness and forgiving.  As I have read only a few of these, I have come to learn the difference between forgiveness and forgetting.  I have experienced the benefits of the healing that comes when only through the power and grace of Jesus I can offer up forgiveness.  More often than not it is a hard thing to do.  It is only by God’s grace that as freely as we have received - freely we should give.  Sometimes, forgiveness takes time. Some experiences have hurt or harmed us very deeply and a simple, “I forgive you” does not address the complex trauma that we have incurred.  What about the forgiveness of those who are no longer living?  Perhaps facing the prospect of offering forgiveness is too painful, so we keep tucking the pain into our pockets over and over again.  At some point, the heaviness of our saved pain holds us captive as it can immobilize us so we cannot move forward.  For such experiences, I encourage you to choose a trusted friend, a pastor, or a counselor to help open those doors and step into that space of forgiveness with support and affirmation.  And remember, Jesus always walks with you.

Freedom; 1 John 1:9, Matthew 6:14-15, Psalm 32:1-11

Once in not enough – yes, even repeated offences need forgiven;

     Matthew 18-21-22, Matthew 7:12, Mark 11:25

Restoration – Not retribution, Not resentment, Not judgement;

     Proverbs 17:9, Luke 6:37, Ephesians 4P:31-32

Grace; Colossians 3:12-13, Psalm 130, Psalm 103:9-12, Psalm 51

I forgive You, I forgive Myself; Matthew 6:12, Romans 3:23, Romans 12:19, Luke 6:36

Vengeance be abandoned; Leviticus 18:19, Psalm 42:10-11, Romans 12:19-21

Empathize; Romans 12:15, 1Peter 3:8-9, Matthew 7:12

Now I can move on to healing: Psalm 25, Psalm 32, Psalm 143, Psalm 25:11

Sincerely,
Fellow God Seeker

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