What do you do when you don't know what to do?
PRAY!
What do you do when you do know what to do?
PRAY!
PRAYER isn't just a church thing.
PRAYER goes wherever you go,
because GOD is wherever you are.
Because PRAYER is a conversation
between you and GOD.
As JESUS is sitting on the right hand of the FATHER
HIS ears are open
to HEAR all PRAYERS.
JESUS speaks our language.
JESUS is our MEDIATOR~
"For there is [only] one GOD, and [only] one Mediator
between GOD and mankind, the Man CHRIST JESUS,
who gave HIMSELF as a ransom [a substitutionary sacrifice to atone]
for all, the testimony given at the right and proper time" (I Timothy 2:5).
You and I have a MEDIATOR.
JESUS is for you.
"Therefore there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior]"
(Romans 8:1).
JESUS is so for you, that HE went to the CROSS to die for you.
And all HE asks is for you and I to
BELIEVE HIM.
TO BELIEVE
that the moment you come to
the CROSS
you are
100 % FORGIVEN
for all that you did or didn't do in the past,
for all that you do now in the present,
and
for all that you may do in the future.
FORGIVENESS is so powerful
because it is
GOD'S
GRACE
&
MERCY
&
LOVE
all
WRAPPED IN JESUS.
JESUS got off the CROSS
to
RISE from the DEAD
to be
SEATED at the RIGHT HAND of GOD
to be our
MEDITATOR,
who
LOVES EVERYONE
with a
LOVE that never stops giving~
"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:24).
You are FORGIVEN IN CHRIST.
ONE AND DONE!
FORGIVENESS is the GIFT that keeps GIVING.
And oh how it is a GIFT that I know I need,
because as long as I am breathing
I will fall short of everyone's expectations
as I fall short of my own expectations.
And when I really fall short,
when I don't even know that I am falling short,
FORGIVENESS opens the door to
GRACE.
GRACE is a precious jewel.
GRACE to RECEIVE.
GRACE to pass on.
"For it is by GRACE
[GOD'S remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to CHRIST
that you have been saved
[actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith.
And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort],
but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of GOD" (Ephesians 2:8).
The power of GRACE
that makes you become so HUMBLE
that you just have to get on your knees
and shout
THANK YOU GOD.
And then JESUS takes those words
and whispers them in
OUR FATHER'S ears
and speaks your name,
"_____________ said THANK YOU!"
And then the eyes of your HEART open wide
and
THE PEACE that transcends all understanding overwhelms you whole being
that you just have to RESPOND
and say
I AM SORRY to those who you have hurt
and
TO FORGIVE those who hurt you
and
TO FORGIVE yourself for all your short comings.
Therefore,
I am SORRY to all those who I have hurt.
I FORGIVE all those who have hurt me.
And
I FORGIVE myself.
Because I
RECEIVED THE GIFT OF FORGIVENESS,
a GIFT that feels
JESUS WRAPPING HIS arms around me,
holding me so tight
that I have to SURRENDER
my pride,
my self-righteousness,
my defensiveness,
and oh so much more.
Have you RECEIVED HIS GIFT OF FORGIVENESS?
Are you LIVING IN THE JOY OF HIS GIFT OF FORGIVENESS?
Will you become
" For GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS one and only SON,
that whoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have eternal life"
(John 3:16),
so that you LIVE in the sweet spot of
HIS FOREVER LOVE,
and that my friend is
"WHERE FORGIVENESS IS"
(listen to the song below)