Simplicity and Forgiveness

So many problems could be avoided in life if we would simply tell the person that we’re upset with that there is something wrong. Most of the time in life it seems that someone is angry about something for months and the person they’re upset with doesn’t know until the thing explodes. Life could be even more simple if people would just forgive others in the first place. Unforgiveness and grudge holding is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die. Furthermore, if the person we’re upset with doesn’t know that they have hurt you, how can they fix it? There are some people in my life, who are adults, who refuse to talk to me when something upsets them. It’s as if they expect me to read their minds! Don’t do this to your friends, family, children or your spouse. It’s childish behavior and it does not lead to reconciliation. Go to the person who has offended you, tell them why you are offended, and then choose to forgive them. It’s simple, it’s right, and it will bring you peace.

I leave you with a few verses on forgiveness:

The Bible tells us to forgive others. Not when we “feel” like it, not because we want to, but because He has forgiven us and He has commanded it. Jesus tells us that we should forgive an unlimited number of times (Matthew 18). We are told to “put up” with one another: ^“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:12-14)

We are told to forgive because we have been forgiven. 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” And in Mark 11:24-25 “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Luke 6:37 tells us “Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

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Fruit of the Spirit Boot Camp

I am attempting to write a book! Hopefully one that will be publishable.

Last night I was lying in bed thinking, and not sleeping. Somehow I got to thinking about why there are so many poorly-behaved children in the world. I realized that one of the problems was that a parent’s reason for having children was very important. It seems that many women just “get pregnant”; no plan, no goals, nothing. They have children because it’s what happens when you’re married, or because they just want children. Then I wondered, what is my reason for having children? My answer: to bring up children who are intelligent, well-mannered, and will someday be productive members of society who reflect Jesus to those around them. I want to create good adults. I wondered how I might do this, ways to instill these good characteristics into my children, and to help them show the fruit of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control). I thought, “A devotional might be a good thing to do, but there probably aren’t many out there, so I’d have to create one for them. I’ll probably home school my children, and we’ll work on these things. Going over one attribute per day doesn’t really make the concept stick. Maybe a week on each fruit? There are 9 fruits in the Galatians passage, so I could do one a week, and maybe even do it over the summer; it would fit perfectly.” Then I had an epiphany: I could write this! I can make this into a devotional for children that is geared toward learning these wonderful attributes over the summer. So that’s what I’m going to do!

Please feel free to leave any comments about what you might like to see in this book, and please check in on me every once in a while. Thanks!

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