Last week, the theme in church was ‘forgiveness’ and the pastor said something that really made me think - “forgiveness isn’t fair”. To forgive or to be forgiven does not result in fairness or justice. So often we refuse to forgive because another has treated us unfairly and we’re waiting for fairness or justice. He also said “forgiveness is a choice” and doesn’t have any prerequisite, not even an apology or remorse from the person who has wronged you.
Then and there I decided to forgive my ex-wife actions that have caused me great pain and for which I have been carrying anger for a long time. She has never apologised or expressed remorse to me. But this wasn’t about her, this was about me. I didn’t want to carry this burden any more. I prayed for the spiritual strength to truly forgive, not just for a few minutes in church but permanently, once and for all. As I declared this and prayed, a heavy load lifted from my spirit. It was as if I has taken a bag filled with stones off my shoulder and set it down on the ground. I even felt the relief physically.
During this week and even through contact with my ex, I have continued to have this feeling of lightness in this matter. I can now confidently say this is once more ‘thing’ I have gotten rid of. It is finished.
What damage we can do with our words! One day I was all ready to “have it out” with my husband on an issue that was burning within me. But God stopped me. The Bible verse at the top of the page of the devotional I was reading for that day told me in no uncertain terms to watch what I said and to refrain from speaking rashly.
Who knows what harm I would have caused had I blundered on without heeding that warning? James tells us that our tongue is “a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (3:8, NIV). But the tongue can also soothe, encourage or instruct. With our words we can bless or curse, build people up or belittle them, praise God or spread discontent.
In Proverbs we read, “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life” (10:11). Therein lies the key. The righteous—those who are in right relationship with God—surrender to God, asking the Holy Spirit to guide them in what they say, to accomplish God’s purposes. As we let the Spirit direct us, self-control—part of the fruit of the Spirit—will grow in us. Then the words we use under the Spirit’s direction will truly offer life to those who hear them.
This is a great video on a simple way to improve your health.
23 and 1/2 hours: What is the single best thing we can do for our health? (by DocMikeEvans)
Earlier this year with my personal life in turmoil, I traveled to Sedona, Arizona, a place of wilderness and amazing beauty, to pray, to reflect and to seek God’s guidance. As I reread God’s assurances that He will never leave us nor forsake us, I asked God for His reassurance not only through words but through experience. On one memorable day I had two experiences of God’s promise.
The most significant experience, thought I didn’t recognise it as a sign from God until later in the day after the second sign, was on a six mile hike through a beautiful canyon. Now the hiking guide book that I was using states that it would be very rare to encounter any snakes while hiking, as snakes are afraid of humans and are long gone before we get near to them. Nonetheless about two miles from my car, as I turned the corner on a very narrow trail, I heard a very loud sound. I stopped dead in my tracks and looked down at a coiled 4 foot rattlesnake with its rattle vibrating loudly. Now rattlesnakes are extremely venomous and the advice if bitten is to get to a hospital within 30 minutes. Considering that I was an hour from my car with no cellphone coverage, I think it would have been a bit more than 30 minutes for me. I quickly took two steps back and spent the next twenty minutes observing and waiting for this snake to leave the trail so I could get by safely. The second experience was later in the evening. As I left the cinema after a movie, I took my car keys out of my pocket. A minute later as I approached my car, I heard a voice behind me say “Excuse me sir”. I turned expecting to see someone asking me for money or offering to sell me something. Instead it was a teenage boy holding something out to me. ”You dropped this in front of the cinema”, he said. ”Thank you very much” I said as I gratefully took my apartment key from him. He had picked up my key and followed me to my car to return it.
It was only later in prayer before going to bed that I realised the spiritual significance of what had happened to me that day. Maybe some would see these events as interesting but meaningless. To me this was God saying loudly to me that whatever trail I’m on, He is walking beside me and will protect me and provide for me. I’ve often read this in His word but now, after asking, I’ve experienced it by His grace.
Simplifying my books
As far back as I can remember I have loved books. As a child, if I received a book as a present, I would beg my parents to let me stay home from school so I could read my new book.
In the past five years, I’ve moved house seven times and changed countries twice. Each time I’ve transported boxes upon boxes of books. With a house move in prospect again in a few months, I decided this time, I’m moving without my books.
A year ago I stopped buying physical books and restricted my purchases to digital books available on Amazon Kindle. But still, over the years I accumulated over a hundred physical books and at a glance could see the phases of my life reflected in my book collection. So giving up my physical books was never going to be an easy process.
To make it a little easier to bear, I broke it into three phases over several weeks. Phase one was taking the 60% of my collection that I wasn’t really,really attached to and giving them to charity shops. Phase two was taking the 30% that I really wished I could keep and giving them to my local library; this way I can visit them if I really want. Over the next two weeks I will be having a final read of my most treasured books and then phase three will be giving them to my library. Phase three will be difficult but I cling to one little security blanket; all but two of these books are available on Amazon Kindle, so if I really miss them I can always download them and take them with me. I doubt I will be though, because there are so many new books I want to read.
All that is required
And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
