work

I think God gave us work to do because that is part of his nature. We can look at a beautiful sunset, the delicacy of a flower, the magnificence of a tree or the intricacies of the eye and marvel at God’s work. But I think we need to remember that he created us do do work as well. We are supposed to be the caretakers of what He created and that means taking care of each other as well as the planet.

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Gratitude

I’ve often wondered if we would appreciate the sun if it didn’t rain; or peace if there weren’t conflict or light if there weren’t darkness. Maybe some of the lessons we are supposed to learn in the school of life come from those contrasts. Perhaps, like Paul, we need to be so secure in God’s love that we can “Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens….” Ist Thess. 5:18

I like the way this old hymn says it.

God hath not promised
Skies always blue
Flower -strewn pathways
All our lives through
God hath not promised
Sun without rain
Joy without sorrow
Peace without pain
But God hath promised
Strength for the day
Rest for the labor
Light for the way
Grace for the trials
Help from above
Unfailing sympathy
Undying Love

Forgiving

The other side of being forgiven is forgiving. “And forgive us our debts (sins) as we forgive our debtors (those who sin against us )”. Matt. 6:12

FORGIVING

Forgiving sets us free.
It is the most important step
in healing a broken heart
It initiates the process for recovering hope.
It is the catalyst
that enables us to look to the future
and away from the past.
It allows us to learn
from hurtful experiences
and not wallow in them.
It delivers us from self absorption.
It lets us wipe the slate clean.
It enables us to let go and go on.
It lifts the burden of anger, bitterness and regret
and replaces it with peace and joy.
It is the ultimate expression of Love.

It is how God showed his love to us.

It places no expectation on the forgiven.
It merely says to the forgiven one
that there is hope that they, too,
can learn to love.

Remembering

Once a year, in November, our church has a “remembering” service. It has to do with remembering those that have passed on. So, I am sitting here tonight remembering my mom and how long she prayed for my step dad who, just before he died at the age of 98, made his peace with God. His final words were, “Going home tomorrow” – and that’s exactly what he did. I like to think that mom was there to welcome him.

FORGIVEN

To BE forgiven
means that
the one we have wronged
has chosen not to seek revenge
or even justice.
We are given a chance to start over;
To live our lives with nothing held against us.

To RECIEVE forgiveness,
we must admit that we are guilty.
We have to recognize
the wrong we have done.
We need to be truly sorry for
the disappointment, tears and heartache
we have caused.
We must want to right wrongs and make restitution.
True repentance
opens our hearts bringing cleansing and healing

It allows forgiveness in.