SelahV Today

I Don't Know Why, But

God will forgive us.  He will forget that which we have done in rebellion against His holiness.  He will have compassion upon us.

Can anyone comprehend such goodness?

We do not deserve the Grace and Mercy of God's love.  But it is His character to love because HE IS LOVE... and He cannot deny who He is anymore than we can deny who we are.  We are sinners.  When we acknowledge our sinfulness, and turn from our wicked ways, and seek His face and ask forgiveness, God is faithful and just to forgive us.  Then He, through Jesus Christ, will somehow make us righteous in the sight of our Creator and Lord.  I don't know why, I don't know how; I cannot comprehend this mercy and grace.  But I do accept it and will live in it all the days of my life.  May Jesus be praised today and every day forward because:

"He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea." ~Micah 7:19

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." ~~1 John 1:9 Holman Christian Bible

The Worst Offense

It doesn't take much to offend some people today. When terrorists bombed the World Trade Center in New York City, a steel cross arose from the mangled steel and concrete rubble. Workers stored the cross at a nearby church.  Today there is much contention about allowing it to be brought back to Ground Zero Memorial site because it is symbolic of Christianity which could offend those who are not Christian.

Displaying a cross offends. Wishing someone a Merry Christmas offends. Using God's name in public prayer offends.  Ignoring a person we pass in a hallway offends.  Some folks are offended simply because you disagree with their opinions or views.

Others are offended because a friend is offended.

A grief counselor I talked with told me that the hardest thing to forgive is an offense against someone we love or care about.  It's not an offense against ourselves, personally...but one against someone we care about--be that a child, a parent, a friend.  We seem to be able to forgive more easily when someone offends us than when someone hurts those we love.

Peter was quick and ready to defend Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Peter drew his sword and lopped off the ear of Potiphar's servant. That servant was just there doing his job--attending to his master.  Jesus healed his ear, then rebuked Peter's offering of help.

People will bend over backwards and fall on swords to protect a friend or family member...or someone who thinks like they do.  Recently we've seen how offended the public at large was over the death of Caylee Anthony, a toddler in Florida.  Because of the morbid way little Caylee was left in a swamp, and her absence went unreported by her mother, the public took offense for the tiny child.  They were outraged when the mother, Casey, was found not guilty.  They wanted a pound of flesh. 

The same is true with some people when they see a friend or someone they respect placed under a microscope, or criticized--fairly or unfairly.  They immediately come to the "rescue" so to speak and try to explain away actions, words, and even give answers for motive and intent, even though they are not privy to those innermost feelings and thoughts.  If the advocates do not correct their friend's critic, they may go so far as to begin a war of sorts to destroy the offender.  This happens because we take offense for others wherein we have no business being offended.

Sometimes people have no idea how deeply they offend us with words and actions.  Jesus gives us the best example on what to do with them.  Forgive them.  Have mercy.

This is not easy.  It is harder, still, for us to watch the pain and heartache others exact on those we love.  After all, the worst offense is the hardest to forgive.  But oh how necessary for us if we want to live an abundant life--free of animosity, distrust, and bitterness.  If we don't let the offenses go, we shackle our hearts and quench the Spirit of God within us.  How quickly we can fall into a pit of self-righteousness and superiority.

LORD, give us Your strength to break the bonds of unforgiveness in our hearts.  Help us see others as You see them and act according to Your Word.  May all we do and say be that which brings honor and glory to You.  selahV

When We Fail

It's hard to admit failure sometimes--even to ourselves.  We tend to want to explain the circumstances surrounding our failure.  We are tempted to take the sting out of our mistakes by giving facts and, sometimes embellishments, to paint a brighter picture than pure honesty reveals. 

It's strange when you think about it.  The Bible is full of those accounts.  From beginning to end, we see the warts of all the saints later listed in the book of Hebrews as examples of faith.  Yet, today, most folks have trouble simply apologizing for a simple wrong, an irritated mood, impulsive action, or critical spirit.  It's tough to confess bitterness we cannot purge from our hearts, a judgmental attitude we embrace because of it.  It's just so hard for people to say I'm sorry and ask to be forgiven.  Unfortunately, most times that's because we know forgiveness is not easily given or received.

Jacob felt that way when he fearfully returned to meet Esau, the brother he'd wronged after stealing their father's blessing through deceit and scheming. They both lived years and years in estrangement and brokenness.  When Jacob humbled himself before God, he met Esau and there was no problems.  Esau hugged him and forgave him. (Gen. 32)

"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up." James 4:10 NKJV

It's difficult to open up our lives and expose less admirable events in our past, to let the world see we are less than we want to be seen.  It takes a humble person to simply admit a wrong, then grow from it.  I think it takes a virtuous woman to bring glory to God by sharing what she learns from her mistakes.  Amy Carroll is 'that kinda of gal" as she writes devotions and speaks to help encourage others. 

It also takes a meek man to admit an error of judgment the moment the Holy Spirit quickens his spirit to see an area in need of correction. It's refreshing to read where he yields his pride to Christ's control and allows Him to change the direction of his witness.  Brian McMillen is "that kinda guy".  Rather than let a weak moment be his own little secret, he shared it on his blog.  [*see Amy's and Brian's posts below.]

How about you?  Have you made an error in judgment?  Do you wish you could hit replay on a moment of your life?  Is there someone you know who needs your encouragement, who needs a pat on the back, a hand up, or hand outstretched?

If you see yourself somewhere in this post--perhaps just a mediator for another's relationship--I pray God gives you courage to deal with it, wisdom to counsel, and abundant compassionate  love to express. If you are hurting because you have not forgiven yourself for past mistakes, I pray you're able to turn it all over, let it go, then live in the righteousness of Christ without regret.   selahV

POSTS WORTH READING:

STAY by *Amy Carroll ~~~ THAT KINDA GUY by Brian McMillen

When Love Can't Win

Love does not win us all.  Love is poured out upon us with unmeasurable reward.  Yet, we all won't receive it or accept it.  We won't all respond with eagerness.  Some will reject it.

It won't matter how you wrap it up.  Or how often you leave it on the doorway.  Some people will not accept charity.  Why?  Pride. 

My husband tells a story of a man who was near death.  He asked the man if he knew where he would spend eternity if he died that night.  The man said, "in hell".  My husband asked if could share the way to escape that fate and the man allowed him to share Jesus and His attoning grace.  Yet, when my husband asked him if he wanted to accept this priceless free gift of God's saving love, the man said no.  Tears of remorse trickled down his aged face.  He told my husband, he just couldn't do that.  He carried a burden too deep--a sin he believed unforgiveable.  He couldn't accept the grace and mercy God offered him.

My husband was heartbroken.  It didn't matter that God loved that old man.  The man would not give his heart and soul into the nail-scarred hands of freedom and peace.  Love did not fail...it stayed at the door knocking.  The old man just wouldn't open the door.

Do you know someone who believes their sin is too black to be forgiven, their past too filled with blackness to ever be cleansed?  I pray you are able to share God's love in such a way they understand His goodness and mercy. May God so pierce their pride, that humility pours forth in tears of gratitude and praise.  May they let go and let God do the work in them they cannot do themselves.  selahV

CRITICISM AND CONDEMNATION, Let It Roll

When we hear it, witness it, or feel it....sometimes, we need to simply ignore it.  We shouldn't let the devil get a foothold into our minds.  Negativity is not worth the time we give to analyze it, question it, or try to understand it. 

Like raindrops, we need to let some stuff roll off our backs, wipe away from our faces, and place in the hands of God.

We all have some of those folks in our lives who treat us with disdain.  Some see our names, hear our names, or read our names, and hairs stand up on the back of their necks.  They are not going to give us one benefit of the doubt.  They are not going to listen to a word we say.  They have already made up their minds that whatever we do or say is disingenuous, duplicitous, or suspect.  They are eager to rain on our parade.

In other words--it doesn't matter if the skies open up and a host of angels begin to laud you--some folks are going to plug their ears and close their eyes.  You are not going to be liked by some people.  No one can ever accomplish that feat.  Remember...even Jesus had his critics.  Some people followed him around trying to nit-pick every word He said.  His adversaries waited on the fringe of every crowd (sometimes mingling within), to entrap a disciple--to denounce him, or call his actions into question.

In my husband's ministry of nearly 23 years, I can readily call to mind the handful of those kind of people who tried to destroy the work we were doing.  While some managed to cause a great deal of aggravation at times, they did not succeed in destroying us--nor the work we did. God was in the details.  It took me a few years to discover that naysayers, and irritating forces are few in number.  There really is no "they".  We allow the few to become an imaginary host by focusing all our energy and attention on the squeaky wheel.  Sometimes no matter how much grease you use, the wheel will keep on squeaking.  Some wheels are just made that way.  It's life. You have to focus on those folks who are receptive--who want your love, who want your help, who appreciate the Light you bring and the sunshine you offer.   

Sometimes you just have to forget the offenses, forgive them, and go on.  Don't miss the rainbows.  Sing louder.  Smile wider.  Praise more.  Laugh often.  Dance in the rain, even if others want to hide and hover beneath their umbrellas and miss the blessings the Lord has beyond the storm.  Just be happy, anyway.  selahV

HOW DO YOU KNOW FORGIVENESS IS REAL ?

Ever wonder if forgiveness is real?  The Lord taught me something about forgiveness and mercy last week.

Today I wrote in my newspaper column, Common Matters, about some incidents we've had with vandals on our street.  I probably will never know who did the things to us and our neighbors.  I was pretty angry when I saw a giant "BK" on the hood of my car, and a giant "HK" sprayed on my driveway.  I called the police and the officer told me that "BK" meant Blood Kill.  "Gang slang."  It kinda curdled my morning breakfast.  Many in my neighborhood are retired folks, and elderly widows.  They live on fixed incomes and many have to pay for repairs to their property.  I wanted the police to do something.

Then a few days later, the vandals struck again.  But only my house was hit.  This time they pulled up our mailbox from the ground and threw it in the street.  I didn't call the police.  I thought, "why bother?"  Then I began to think, what could anyone do unless they caught them red-handed, in the act?  It really irritated me.  It annoyed me that someone would do this to me and my neighbors.  Then the Lord told me to pray for them.  And I prayed for the safety of my neighbors and our property.  But I felt no peace about the situation.  "Forgive them, for they know not what they do" came to my mind.  I began to pray for the unknown vandals.

I realized they need my prayers as much or more than my neighborhood.  I prayed the Lord would send someone into their lives to help them before their vandalism escalates into something worse.  I realized that unless someone reaches them, to help them get at the root of their acts of violence to "things" of others, more than likely the thrill of getting away with vandalism will move onto violence toward people or animals.  Things they did last week on my street can be easily repaired, though costly to some.  Yet, the greater cost will be to those unknown vandals if they are not helped to move beyond their destructive acts.

I was able to use Goo Gone to remove the paint from my car.  It works great.  And just as the Goo Gone removed all evidence of the vandals' sin from my car, Christ can remove all evidence of sin from their hearts.  Praying mercy upon them is the least I can do.  The more I prayed mercy upon them, the easier it was to forgive them.  As I forgave them, mercy filled my heart for them.  They will never know this side of heaven that they are truly forgiven, but God knows.  Sometimes folks who need our forgiveness never know they are forgiven, but letting go of what they've done to me, I believe, helps me as much or more than them.  Don't you? selahV

HE LIED

In front of others, he lied.  He lied about where he'd spent the last three years of his life.  Three times he lied.  As the Son of God looked on, Peter lied.  He denied ever knowing Jesus, the one he'd called Master, and Lord.  How could he do such a thing?  Peter was a leader in the inner circle of disciples that Jesus taught.  He stood with Jesus as He was transfigured.  He saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead.  He saw Jesus feed thousands with a little boy's lunch.  Yet, Peter lied.

Abraham lied, too.  He lied about his wife being a sister and he told Sarah to lie about him being her husband.  Caused quite a stir in Egypt.  Yet, God blessed him with descendants that outnumber the stars.  Jacob lied.  David not only lied, he had others set up an innocent man to die on the field of battle so he could have the man's wife.

I've wondered sometimes why God shows us these fallible saints of old to share His message with us.  Perhaps to illumine the magnitude of His grace?  I think so.

Sometimes it seems as though professing Christians fail to exercise the grace God has shown us we should exercise.  Sometimes we forget how much grace He pours out upon us each day and how much undeserved mercy we have in Christ.  It's hard to understand how some people can be so hateful to others.  It's hard to comprehend how some are deceived into believing they're better than another when they put another Christian down and shovel dirt upon him when his name is brought up in conversation. 

Have you ever done anything in public or in private that would bring shame upon yourself if the world were to know?  Have you ever lied? Do we walk into church each Sunday and give the impression to those around us that we walk a bit straighter than another by our lofty words and testimonies?  Do we ever teach what we don't do ourselves?  Does our pride in our own integrity and faithfulness make us any better than another who seems less faithful or honest in our eyes?  While we try to live as Christ taught us, we fall prey to our own flesh again and again.  In Him is our righteousness.  In Him is our justification.  In Him is our forgiveness.  Without Him we falter and fail.

Yes, Peter lied.  Did Jesus confront Peter?  Yes.  Did He beat Peter over the head with the knowledge of Peter's denials and sin?  He did not.  In fact, He singled Peter out to hear of His resurrection.  He told the women at the tomb to go tell the others and "Peter".  Jesus told Peter to "feed" His sheep.  Jesus forgave Peter, restored him, and used him to build His church.  Such grace is ours in Christ.  He has forgiven us.  He continues to forgive us.  May we live in His example and do likewise with others.  Seventy-seven times.  selahV 

STOP CASTING STONES

They brought an adulteress before Jesus to have her stoned.  Jesus said, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." John 8:7b

Has someone brought someone before you to judge?

To condemn?  Are you holding a stone?

 
How dare they?  Outrageous.  How could they?  Can you hear those words whispered in your ears?  Are you irritated?  ...offended by some sinner before you?  Does your skin crawl?  Have they hurt someone you love?  Does their sinfulness keep you awake at night--writing, typing, tweeting, texting, crafting ways to let their sin be known to others?  How low can people stoop?

Superiority.  Self-righteousness.  Judgment.  Hatred.

Are you without sin?

Please.  Throw down your stone.

Do you know someone who is being repeatedly stoned?

Do you know someone who is holding the stones?

Who are they to cast a stone?  Who are they to batter, blast, and cram stones down another's throat?  Are you holding a stone?  Put it down. Drop it. Toss it aside.

"Go, and sin no more." 

POWERFUL ACTS OF FORGIVENESS

Watch the Lifetime Movie on your computer.  AMISH GRACE.  Story of the little girls murdered by their local milkman.  Moving.  Heartwrenching.  And beautiful expressions of God's love and grace.  To watch the whole movie on your computer, just go here (/link).  selahV