Obedience......

I know that I know that I must follow through with this and when I do, joy and peace will be given and found.  Why?  Because I've had God knocking on the door of my heart many times since I've surrendered to live my life for Him and when I do, He blesses me with joy and peace. 

I am sorry.

I am sorry for having hurt you.

I am sorry and I hope (pray) that you can find it in your heart to forgive me.

That is it, in a nutshell.  I am sorry.

I've been holding on to some things that have happened in my 47 years of life, things that happened years ago, things that happened not so long ago.  I give it to God and I find myself sometimes taking it back from Him and holding on to the hurt.  Not always, but often times, yes.  The blessing for me is that I KNOW every time I ask God to forgive me for one thing or another, HE DOES!  That is who He is.  That is what He does! So for me that is the easy party, to ask God to forgive me, but when it comes to you, it is hard because you have free-will and the choice to forgive or to withhold forgiveness.  To be kind or to be nasty.  To draw me close or to push me away and reject me.  To forgive and let it go or to nurse the grudge and hold it close/tight fist-ed. 

Yesterday Pastor Jon said something so profound it was like God was speaking directly to me!  "God is good.  We are not!"  Yolanda, I am good, and you are not and neither is anyone else.  NO ONE IS GOOD!  God alone, God alone! 

This morning as I ran my long slow run, God and I had a mighty fine time together.  I love how this has become my alone time, no interruptions, just He and I.  I was talking to my Heavenly Father about how Pastor Jon's words had impacted me and that I needed to ask for forgiveness from every person I know.  Because if your receiving this, you and I have been or are in a relationship.  Have been is because hurts have happened perhaps from me to you, perhaps from both of us towards one another and rejection has happened.   If we are still in a relationship, then I would like to thank you for loving me in spite of those hurts and seeing something that God sees as well, a sinner saved by grace.  Also, the only one that has not sinned or hurt anyone, is The Deity.  Every single one of us have hurt others and have been hurt by someone. 

It takes great courage to be vulnerable and to live on purpose to be intentional. 

Colossians 3:13 NIV  "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

Ephesians 4:32 NIV "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

I am thankful for the "common thread" that is found between you and I (if you've accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior) is the BLOOD OF CHRIST. 

Father God, thank You for speaking to my heart wherever I am at in my day to day life.  Thank You for giving me the courage today to be obedient and share this with those that I love and care about.  Thank You Father for forgiving me and giving me a heart to then be able to forgive others.  Lord, I desire for others to allow the BLOOD OF CHRIST to spring forth forgiveness in their hearts as you've done in mine and to not be used as a pawn for the enemy by refusing forgiveness and enforcing rejection and manipulation.  Father, that we would forgive one another today, yesterday and every tomorrow.  Lord, thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ and the HOPE that comes from knowing You and serving You.  Amen.

Shining the Light of Christ through what seems like a simple act but one that takes much courage and a heart of obedience.   God is good, and I am not.

Yolanda