Fantastic Friday #1054 - Forgive

Forgive

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14

They should be the ones to ask for forgiveness because they were in the wrong. Why should I forgive them, they are the ones who started this whole mess. Does this ring a bell, or have you experienced a time when you were so angry that you couldn't forgive or ask someone for their forgiveness? This last week I heard a sermon about a mediator named Abigail, if you have never heard this story, it is worth the read and can be found in 1 Samuel 25. Abigail not only mediated a conflict but there was forgiveness in this story and we too often overlook these small acts of forgiveness. God wants us to forgive each other and the perfect example is how He forgave us. Each day when I run across people that make me angry, or upset me because of their incomprehensible acts, I don't stop to forgive them for their shortcomings, or don't reflect upon my own actions that may need to be forgiven by them. It's no surprise that God in the scripture above discusses how compassion, kindness, gentleness and patience lead to a heart of forgiveness. Take a moment this week to see who you need to forgive, or who you need to ask for forgiveness. Lift the burden off your shoulders and provide a way to reconcile your anger or misunderstanding. I guarantee that your heart will be lifted and you will experience a spirit of peace.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #1053 - Heat Blessing

Heat Blessing

3 All you people of the world,
you who live on the earth,
when a banner is raised on the mountains,
you will see it,
and when a trumpet sounds,
you will hear it.
4 This is what the Lord says to me:
“I will remain quiet and will look on from my dwelling place,
like shimmering heat in the sunshine,
like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.”
5 For, before the harvest, when the blossom is gone
and the flower becomes a ripening grape,
he will cut off the shoots with pruning knives,
and cut down and take away the spreading branches. Isaiah 18:3-5

It has been terribly hot where I live, and I often think of how blessed we are that we have air conditioning that cools the buildings we work in and the homes we live in. Not everyone is so lucky, and I honestly don't think about those individuals often because it doesn't hit home with how blessed we are and I certainly don't take enough time to thank God for all our blessings. When there is so much pain and suffering in the world, I wonder how long God will remain quiet until it is time for Jesus to return. While we don't know when or how, we need to be ready for His return, and maybe by focusing on the things of this world that are good and in how we are blessed, this will shine a light on His true blessing that is coming. Take some time in or out of the heat this week and thank God for all He gives us, and ask him to give us the hope and encouragement in our time prior to His return.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #1052 - Flowing

Flowing


15 Look down from heaven, your holy dwelling place, and bless your people Israel and the land you have given us as you promised on oath to our ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey.” Deuteronomy 26:15


This week I got to experience a fast flowing river on a tube and it was quite the exciting adventure. What I did notice as I was floating was how beautiful God's creation was, even in Oklahoma. We tend to go through life's stream and not pay attention closely to what is happening around us, so to sit and think about God's creation kind of slowed things down for me. When we slow our lives down and ponder more on God and what He has for our life, it can make a lot of things quite clear. Looking back on some challenges we have had this year, I have found that God has blessed us and I know that I need to slow down for what He wants me to see. So as your day flows past you, put your hand in the water and slow yourself down to see what God has for you.


Have a great weekend.

Matt