One morning as a young child, I was to learn a valuable lesson about grace. Except I had no idea it was called grace, back in the day....I loved the little lambs frolicking around the farm where we my parents rented a little house. The farmer's daughter's had lambs for Lamb and Calf day and I probably thought I would like that too.This particular morning, I chose a little lamb that I would play with after school. Knowing nothing of the dangers of a thin rope called twine, I tied the lamb to the fence on one end and his neck on the other...
Off to school I went, without a care. My parents told me later in that the lamb indeed had died...he must have chocked and hanged himself on the fence trying to get free. The farmer asked my parents to pay the price for a fully grown sheep. Over 50 years later, I still feel sad that I did that but it was accidental. A child has very little foresight.
As a child; sometimes as adults; we do and say things that we later regret and there is nothing- absolutely nothing- we can do to change the situation. The only thing we can do is throw ourselves at the mercy of God and His grace.
So what actually is this 'grace'?? I have experianced grace as God's unmerited favour. No- it is not overlooking our sin but a way of restoring us after we have acknowledged our mistakes. Restoring us so that we can start again.
Grace is also given to us to strengthen us in our weakness for Jesus tells us My grace is sufficient for you.
There are countless stories in the Bible of Jesus extending grace-not wrath- to men and women who have done things that there was no going back from. In fact, if there was no grace extended, the person may have decided they didn't want to live. Such is the power of grace.
How about you? Have you extended grace to someone who has hurt you?
In John 8 verses 2- 11 is the account of a woman being brought to Jesus as she had been caught in the act of adultery. The teachers of the law who had brought her to Jesus, stood ready to stone her- such was the law at that time. On this occasion- instead of answering their questions, Jesus wrote something on the ground with his finger. Then he asked that those who were without sin to cast the first stone. After this,He wrote something else on the ground. As he did this the men left -one at a time.....until there was only the woman and Jesus.
v 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? "
11. "No one, Sir," she said. Then neither do I condemn you." Jesus declared. "go and leave your life of sin."
This is an example of grace. Restorative grace. The law said she must be stoned. John 1 v 14b Jesus came- full of grace and truth.
I wish I could tell you that I didn't do anything stupid after that episode with the lamb but alas I have blown it several times in my life. Mistakes as a daughter, a wife, a mother,a nurse, a friend... and you too will have your own stories where unless you sought the goodness,forgiveness and the grace of God and accepted it; you would have found it hard to live another day.
What I am so grateful for is that Jesus went ahead of us. He went ahead to the Cross; He went ahead to pay a debt that we could never pay; He went ahead and prepared grace and and mercy for us because He knew in advance that without His grace we might be tempted to give up- such is our disdain, shame and disgust in ourselves at the thought of some of things we have done. He went ahead and planned for us to understand and experiance grace at salvation and He continues to offer grace to those still considering their options. How are you at receiving this grace?
A certain father had two very different sons. They all lived on a farm where we are to conclude that the two sons worked. If you know the story of the Prodigal son, you will know that one day, one of the sons decided he was done with working for his father. He asked- in advance- for his share of his fathers estate. Normally, this share is not given until the death of the parent.
I wonder what was going on in the heart of the son at that time and in the father's heart? The father loved his son very much. He had provided his sons with everything they needed; yet this son seemed to think there was more to be found in Tinseltown.
"I cant wait to get to the Big Smoke" he thought. "I'm out of here".... Out from the Old mans rules...out from getting up early and busting my guts working on the farm.
I'm going to party hard...with my mates...every single day and night!! Woohooo!! Total freedom is where its at!!
V 14: After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country and he began to be in need. V15. so he went off and hired himself out to a citizen of that country who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. Vs 16. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating but no one gave him anything.
Wasteful living! We have all done it- in our own fashion and in some measure. Some of us start waking up to ourselves when we reach a scenario that is as attractive as a pigpen.
The mood changes. Gone is his money... The pumping music, his drunk mates, ladies of the night- they have all lost their appeal and have split the scene. Funny that! While he had money, he had lots of.... 'mates'.
The face of his father comes to his mind.
V17: When he came to his senses...
The son starts rehearsing a speech to his father. He remembers his fathers wise counsel: "Tell the truth and shame the devil."
V18: I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and and against you. v 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men v 20 So he got up and went to his father..
Shame has a way of pounding in our ears and telling us lies. Shame can also motivate us to make new choices if we turn our back on it and tell the truth to ourselves and then to a loving father.
Every man and every woman gets the opportunity to rehearse their own speech. As we go to our earthly and our heavenly Father and speak from the heart, we are released from the shame and become unashamed! If we hold onto our pride and collude with shame, we risk being unforgiven and bound.
What about you ? Have you ever been in a position where you either held onto your pride or you starting rehearsing a speech?
This story is a picture of the love of a heavenly father who loves all of us but puts no pressure on us to come to him.
So where are you in the story of the prodigal son? Do you identify with either son? Do you get a sense that this was really about a fathers love for his children?
In reading the parable many times, I had no sense of pressure or coercion to come to the father for relationship. However that is what our Heavenly Father is actually more interested in. Yes- its one thing to go to our parents and ask for a loan but a parent longs for relationship. At the end of the day, the prodigal son sees it was all a waste of time to indulge in temporary thrills. He wanted his relationship with his father restored.
It all comes down to identity. The prodigal son now had a revelation that he was already a son in his fathers house and had been, all along. The father loved him enough to let him go and try out the temporary things of this world that he believed would bring him life.
The father wasted no time after hearing his sons confession. He asked his servants to quickly bring the best robe and then a ring, then sandals on his feet. He had to celebrate the return of his son. His son now had a revelation that he was and still is a loving Father. Our Heavenly Father also puts on a party when we acknowledge His great love for us and with our free will, recite our prepared speech
The son was beginning to see he had a whole inheritance to step into that was heavenly, invisible and eternal. Is this something you have ever given thought to? His earthly father appeared to be quite rich but a heavenly Father has far more for us in terms of inheritance.We dont know how long it took the son to get to a heart shift from "Give me" to "Father I have sinned against heaven and against you".
The father was so patient and kind towards his sons- both of them- and yet the elder brother changed his tune and resented the attention shown to his brother by his father upon his return. God equally loves the son who remained at home who spurns the love and the inheritance that his father has for him. For those who spurn His love, they still have the opportunity to accept what the father has for them.
It seemed to be unjust to the faithful son who had stayed at home. We do not know how long his brother had been away. Is it possible that this faithful brother was harbouring anger at his brother and at his father because maybe in his mind, this killing the fatted calf was just too unjust??? Or was this about the fact that this son had actually chosen to harden his heart at the perceived injustice of a feast!
Maybe this was the older son getting a revelation of the grace and forgiveness of God.
The last word comes from the father Vs 31. " 'My son,' the father said, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.vs 32. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead(spiritually) and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "
In conclusion, in the parables of the lost coin and the lost sheep, someone went looking for them. These reflect material possessions however how much more valuable is a soul who is found!!!!!! This time, the Father waited for the son to come to himself. That is where God comes in. He waits. And Waits. And waits. He waits for US to make the first move back to Him. He; in His great love for us MUST let us decide if we want to be found. His heart more than desperately wants us to come to Him but He also gave us a freewill. This means we are FREE to do as we WILL.... and that can be for good or bad. We get to choose what we WILL.
What a risk God takes!! All LOVING!!! He allows us the respect, dignity and the honour to CHOOSE for ourselves the bend of our will. God is a perfect gentleman and he will let us do what we want.
In this example, the younger son -of his own freewill- chose to return to the silent but steady love and waiting Father. It would not be love freely reciprocated, if He demanded the affections of our heart.
About Lorraine Goulton
Hi, Im Lorraine Goulton from Masterton North Island New Zealand. I love writing and passionately working on my first work about our Identity in Christ. I know what it is to stuff things up and rehearse speeches. I enjoy shaming the devil!
Married to Colin, we have 7 daughters between us and have 13 granddchildren. Currently working as a Registered Nurse with Wairarapa DHB. Also a volunteer Support Coordinator for Crisis Pregnancy Support-Wairarapa.
https://www.crisispregnancysupport.org.nz/
As a wife and a 32 year old Mum of 4 little daughters, I found myself searching for "I- don't- really- know- who". I had made- what I call- a step towards God at the age of 15 but thought I knew better. Like a prodigal daughter, I went off and did my own thing for several years.
While I was busy avoiding God, He had a plan to love me back to Himself. In fact, He had had that idea for many years.
In the intervening years between 15 and 32, I made a spectacular mess of my life. At 32, another opportunity to allow myself to receive the ( reckless) love that God offers to all of us, arose. The truth is, He sends us invitations every day. Trouble is; a lot of people think that aren't worthy to open the invite.
When you looked at the facts, I was a risk to love. I had turned my back on Him for many years; I was doing things that His Word said I should not do and living life the way I wanted to.
In choosing to love me, God would be risking the fact that I may never reciprocate His love.
I had to get forgiveness first as it was guilt, shame and brokeness that led me to His door. I theorised in my mind that if I was forgiven, that I could possibly be loved. However, that is not how it works in the Kingdom of God.
He loves us first!!!
It took me a long time to get my head and my heart around this concept. Except its NOT a concept!! Its a fact!
Ephesians 2 verse 4 But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, Verse 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.
John 3 verse 16: For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
God does not expect us to get cleaned up first- before He will love us and accept us. NO!! He sent His son Jesus to the cross so that our sins and transgressions would be covered by His Blood as God desperately wants fellowship with us. Why?? Because He is our Creator. However, He did give us all a free will and its in the area of our will where we decide if we will accept what Jesus did for us and reciprocate His love. Either way, God will love us with that Reckless love.
Who else CAN love us with a reckless love? Who else knows all about us and loves us anyway forever??? Who else can forgive our sins and be mercifully good to us. We don't get what we do deserve!!
This is my story and the story of millions of people who worked it out that we are loved with an ever lasting love that is absolutely reckless in its nature. He came after me; the lost sheep and He can come after you too.Psalm 13 verse 5: But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord for he has been good to me.
Recently I fell in love with the words of the song the Reckless love of God - I pray you take a few minutes to watch
this song and let the words minister to you.
Lorraine Goulton is unashamedly and recklessly loved by God. She lives in Masterton, New Zealand.
Many years ago, I lost a very close friendship due to a misunderstanding that occurred between us. Although I tried, I was not able to build a bridge to her ever again. I was stunned at her response but I know its not about her response. Its about mine. I just felt sad. Sad that she was choosing that response. Sad she allowed this misunderstanding to break up a lovely friendship. I wonder if she ever forgave me or whether it still stings when she thinks of me?
To be completely honest, I too have drunk at the fount of bitterness from time to time, drinking brine; bringing up in my mind all those things I hold against people. Sometimes I'm only at the fount for a short time, but I'm ashamed to admit that sometimes I'm a bit like Herodias. I am guilty of nursing that "thing." What about you? How long was your longest stay? Looking back, was it worth it?
Herodias had an axe to grind in Mark 6 verse 19. Actually, it was more of an Executioners Sword. She didn't take kindly to what John the Baptist had to say about her being Herods's wife and she wanted to kill him. Such was her desire to kill him that Herod her husband had John the Baptist arrested, bound and imprisoned. I have a feeling she may have been drinking the brine of bitterness...
Mark 6 v 19 writes she nursed a grudge.
Nursing a baby
Having been a nursing mother; way back when my four daughters were babies, nursing (breastfeeding) was a full time job. I demand fed and sometimes it seemed the baby of the day was permanently latched at a nipple. Some days it seemed I couldn't do anything else because baby needed to be fed ALL the time. The beauty was you knew it was a good thing to do for you and baby. I cant say the same for grudges.
The perils of nursing a grudge
Carrying that grudge all day and all night long. Feeding it. Stroking it. Stoking up the fire of that grudge. Defending that grudge. Adding in the ninety parts unforgiveness and hatred. How exhausting! But this is what Herodias did ... And we do it too! Don't we? Go on. Be honest! We take the bait and we nibble on it and the offense grow and grows.
Offense - The Bait of Satan
John Bevere wrote a book called The Bait of Satan which talks about the power of an offense to be the veritable bait of satan. Here we see Herodias captivated by the ever seductive self righteous elixer of bitterness. Addictive at best and self protective at worst.
The tempting allure from the couldron of contempt, misunderstanding and offense provide the perfect conditions for the idol of Herodias's self to be placated. The brine would do its deadly work.. if she waited long enough. She nursed that grudge for- who knows how long -but the moment came when she had drained the dregs of the last drop of this imaginary and invisible brine. Except that drinking the brine of bitterness will be deadly.. for someone.
Unforgiveness is deadly
Verse 21 The opportune time came. A banquet was held for King Herod's Birthday. Herodias's daughter performed a pleasing dance to King Herod and his dinner guests. King Herod who was protecting John and looking after him in the prison was so enthralled with her dance that he offered her anything at all up to half of his estate. The daughter went straight to her Mother to ask her what she should ask for.
The fact that Herodias told her daughter INSTANTLY what to ask for, may indicate that this grudge nursing thing was about to pay off ! To save face, King Herod was under oath to deliver!
Who is watching you?
Hebrews 12 v15 reads: See to it that no one MISSES the grace of God and that no BITTER ROOT grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
We could speculate Herodias's choice to model hatred of John the Baptist to her daughter likely had far reaching consequences to her daughter and her daughter's lineage. This dancing daughter valued her Mothers opinion and when it counted most, her Mother taught her how to treat people who upset you. Off with their heads!
What about us?
Titus 3 vs 3 At one time, we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy,being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness of and love of God appeared, v5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we have done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour v7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we night become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
For reflection
This verse speaks the truth of our human condition BUT it also speaks more about the love of God and what the death of Jesus purchased for us and achieves for us- in an ongoing way. It speaks to all of us that have been brine drinkers and the occasional imbibers.
Jesus is after our hearts. He wants us to take steps towards Him when we believe we have missed the mark. The good news is that He accepts us even in our spiritual immaturity. What can you do to ensure you do some regular spiritual weeding and pull out any bitter roots? Can you believe that you are called Beloved - even at your worst? Can you appreciate that we are required to forgive ourselves? This can be very difficult to do but vital for us to do in order to move on to be the Heirs that we literally are.
Isaiah 1vs 18. "Come now, let us settle the matter," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be as wool.
The Cup of Wrath
Jesus prayed TWICE in Gethsemene- the night before he was crucified Matthew 26 v 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will,but as you will." And again in vs 42. He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
I have heard this "cup" likened to a cup full of the rubbish of every mans sin from the beginning of time; pulverised with the dirt and filth of every vile, wicked and sinful thought, word and deed of mankind. My understanding is that the cup of which Jesus speaks here is about the act of crucifixion-taking on the sin of the world.
I am more than grateful that I came to the fount of Jesus and asked for His cleansing- in exchange for the brine of bitterness. For now, Im fresh out of brine and if I find some I think I will pour it down the toilet. I suggest you do the same. It's deadly stuff.
We can now drink from the Cup of the New Covenant
Matthew 26 v 27: Then he took the cup gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you.v 28: This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins
About Lorraine Goulton
Lorraine Goulton is a budding writer from Masterton, North Island New Zealand. Happily married to husband Colin, she works four days a week as a Registered Nurse. Between them, they have seven daughters and thirteen grandchildren. Lorraine loves baking treats for grandchildren and working on a book about Our Identity in Christ. For the most part, Lorraine is ignoring the fact that her 60th birthday has been and gone and is adopting the motto "If you don't write now, when are you going to!" You will find her on Facebook (scrolling) but when she gets her act together, she will get her website up and running.
Picture the following. There I am, standing behind my book
table during a conference break at a large church. I am a little tired, not
only from being on my feet for some time but also from having to explain to one
person after another that I am the author of those books in front of me and
then having to answer their questions. Now another lady approaches. Once again,
I point out my non-fiction book and briefly talk about my novels. She seems to
listen well but then fires a question at me.
‘Which one would you recommend?’
For a moment, I am dumbfounded. Did I hear what I thought I
heard? Did she really ask me which of
my own books I would recommend? Does that mean she thinks I would waste my time
writing and selling books I would not recommend?
I take a deep breath and try to calm down. She didn’t think
about what she was asking, I tell myself. But how can I best respond? Perhaps I
need to ask her a few questions to see what sort of book she’s looking for. I
try that, but the only further light she sheds is that she would like something
her eighteen year old daughter might want to read. I decide to recommend my
novel featuring my youngest heroine—perhaps that might connect the best. The
lady peruses it, then moves on to my other books. In the end, she does buy one,
although now I don’t remember which.
How would you have responded? I have been asked before which
of my books I like best—and even that’s a hard one to answer. I love them all
for different reasons. Granted, my earlier novels are not my best writing. And
yes, my memoir Soul Friend holds a
special place in my heart because I share my true self in those pages. But I
can’t honestly say which one I like best. Perhaps that is the question this
lady was actually asking, I realise now.
Just a few days earlier, as I sold my books after speaking
at a secular women’s club, I was asked a different and much more heart-warming question.
There I was on this occasion, wondering if I would sell any books, when a lady
came up to me with tears in her eyes.
‘I need that book of yours you mentioned about forgiveness,’
she told me straight up. ‘Which one would that be?’
Again, I was a little dumbfounded. Several of my novels
include something about forgiveness—which one had I mentioned in my talk? Then
I suddenly remembered explaining that my latest novel explores the theme of
holding onto anger and bitterness and the trouble that can come as a result. She
quickly agreed that was the one and bought it. And as I signed her copy with my
usual ‘God bless’, I prayed in my heart that she would truly be blessed as she
read it and set free from whatever was troubling her.
I know I need to answer any questions thrown at me at my
book table with patience and grace—and I continue to ask God to enable me to do
that. Still, I’d much rather be asked which of my books talks about forgiveness
than which one I would recommend!
How about you? Have you perhaps asked or been asked some
interesting questions at book tables too?
Jo-Anne Berthelsen lives
in Sydney but grew up in Brisbane. She holds degrees in Arts and
Theology and has worked as a high school teacher, editor and secretary, as well
as in local church ministry. Jo-Anne is passionate about touching hearts and lives
through both the written and spoken word. She is the author of six published
novels and one non-fiction work, Soul Friend: the story of a shared spiritual
journey. Jo-Anne is married to a retired minister and has three grown-up
children and four grandchildren. For more information, please visit www.jo-anneberthelsen.com or www.soulfriend.com.au.
How could one small baby bring peace between men out to harm each other?
That's what Canadian missionary Don Richardson asked himself. He and his college sweetheart Carol had married and then felt the call of God to share the Good News with the Sawi tribes-people of Irian Jaiya.
After many months working among
these volatile warring tribes, one day he threatened them as arrows began flying
outside his house. He cried
out that he'd go and work among other villagers if they didn't quit their
feuding and make peace. Suddenly one man ran off and took his baby son from his
wife. She screamed and
wrenched it away from him. Then another man from the opposition hurried to his
house and took up his baby son. His wife shrieked and wailed but couldn't stop
him when he handed over their baby to a man who he had been fighting. As the man
accepted the child others laid hands on it amidst women's cries.
Shattered by this show of
great emotion Don asked what was happening. "This is the only way to make peace
between us," he was told. "As long as the Peace Child lives we are safe."
Don had the answer. He told them
how God the Father had sent His only Son as a Peace Child between men. Wicked
men killed Jesus, but He rose from the dead because He was God's Son and He lives
forever. So they had no need to do this anymore once they believed in Him
because the sacrifice of His Peace Child lasts as long as Jesus lives. And He
will never die again.
And this Christmas we can thank our
Father for sending His Son to give us His peace in our hearts. May you all know
the blessing of His lasting peace. Remember there is nothing we can add to His
perfect sacrifice, but to accept it and honor Him with our right
living.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM US ALL
Rita is an Australian author of Historical Romances.
What does it look like for ourselves? For our characters? How do we become a friend who will stand the test of time?
Some little friends in my house. :)
Below are some of the facets of a what a solid friendship, a bare friendship, looks like:
Honesty
This is the friend will tell me that a certain item of clothing *cough* makes me look fat is unflattering.
They will point out sin in our lives and gently guide us into a deeper relationship with Jesus. Will say the hard truths even when we might not want to hear them.
~In a story, how could this be played out with a secondary character (the ultra extroverted friend who is honest to a fault, or perhaps a quiet older friend who says something at a low point of a main character's journey to pick them up), or how could the main character develop this trait and show it to someone else?~
Forgiving
We're human. Broken. Flawed. Sometimes, even with the best intentions we can hurt someone else--and they can hurt us.
Colossians 3:13 NIV "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
Doing this requires of us, requires of our characters, to strip away those layers and bare ourselves, to say "hey, I'm wrong. I'm sorry. Please forgive me?". The friend who can live this out can stand the test of time, trials, and silly squabbles. ~What character in your story needs forgiveness? What would it take for your main character to forgive that person? How can you make it harder for them, push those bitter roots to the surface to be dealt with?~
Sacrificial
2 Samuel 24:24 NKJV "Then the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver." (emphasis mine)
A solid friendship sacrifices for the other person. That sacrifice will cost them something, whether it be time, effort, prayers, money, or resources. ~What can your character sacrifice for someone else? What is one thing they would never give up--and what would force them to make that sacrifice?~
Generous
This goes hand-in-hand with being sacrificial. This is the friend who shares their chocolate biccy's (cookies to non-Aussies), shares their troubles--and your own, and would more than likely give you the shirt off their back should you need it.
They never give up. Never give up extending the hand of friendship. Are kinder than they need to. Listen without judgement. Love without ceasing.
~What act of generosity can your character perform to highlight a strength/weakness? At a low point what generous action would give your main character/s the courage to get back on their feet and face their trials?~
Christ-filled
We are all at different parts of our journey with Jesus. A faith-filled friend will be growing in his/her own faith--and will encourage us in our own journey. As iron sharpens iron, they will sharpen us.
Through all of this, Jesus is the perfect friend. He loves us in all our weakness, through all of our trials. His love never fails us. The music clip below shows this.
I leave you with "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" sung by Alan Jackson. May we focus on Jesus, thank him for His hand of friendship, and strive to maintain bare, Christ-filled friendships. :)
Lucy Morgan-Jones is a stay-at-home mum to four precocious children by day and a snoop by night, stalking interesting characters through historical Colorado, and writing about their exploits. She enjoys meeting new people from all over the world and learning about the craft of writing. When she can be separated from her laptop, she is a professional time waster on facebook, a slave to the towering stack of books on her bedside table, and a bottler, preserving fruit the old fashioned way so she can swap recipes and tips with her characters.
Her home is in country Victoria, Australia where she doesnot ride a kangaroo to the shops, mainly because four children won’t fit.Represented by Chip MacGregor of MacGregor Literary, she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, and Romance Writers of America.
Revelation 12:10: "For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down."
We’ve all made mistakes in the past. We’ve all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God as Romans 3:23 tells us.
However, when we confess our sins, God forgives us. He doesn’t remind us of our past over and over. He doesn’t shame us and expect us to walk around with our heads down.
Psalm 103:12 says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” God forgets our sins. He loves us and gives us a chance to start over.
Satan, on the other hand, accuses us before God “day and night.” When we battle thoughts that tell us how awful we are and what terrible things we’ve done, that is the enemy of our soul accusing us.
When we feel ashamed with thoughts of how we should have handled a situation a different way, the devil is accusing us.
He doesn’t want us to accept God’s forgiveness, nor does he want us to live in the peace of Jesus Christ. He wants us to think God couldn’t possibly love us.
The day will come when the devil will be “thrown into the lake of burning sulfur.” He will be “tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).
Meanwhile, “the accuser of our brothers” wants to torment us day and night with shame. Once we confess our sins and accept God’s forgiveness, we can move forward in our lives. We know the devil hates us, but we also know God loves us.
Dear God, help me listen to you instead of the devil. Amen.
Yvonne
Ortega is a Licensed
Professional Counselor, Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner,
Clinically Certified Domestic Violence Counselor, an international bilingual
speaker, Stonecroft Ministries Regional Speaker Trainer of Virginia, and
eleven-year breast cancer survivor. She is the author of Finding Hope for Your Journey
through Breast Cancer (Revell) and a contributing author to The Embrace of a Father (Bethany
House) and Transformed (Wine Press). She has also been published in several
magazines online and hard copy. Her website is www.yvonneortega.com. Yvonne hosted a
blogtalkradio program on breast cancer, addiction, domestic violence, and other
types of trauma at www.blogtalkradio.com/hope-for-the-journey.
Archives are available.
If you are not well known as an author or don't really have a platform eg music or speaking then maybe it's not a good idea to use your own name if you want web surfers to find you. Now if you're only wanting to reach friends, family etc then that doesn't apply.
What is your passion or your expertise? A blog title which alludes to that would be a great help to help those interested in that to find you.
If possible address that subject. And do it regularly.
As I write romance, I figured my blog should be about that. Hah! As not many folk would find me by name, I decided I'd spell it out so, http://inspirationalromance.blogspot.com came to be. But should I only stick with interviewing authors who write in that genre? Yes I do that, but decided I could also include real life stories of men and women who believed God had a real part in leading them together. And so many have opened their hearts and shared their unique situations. Some have even shared failed experiences, but where forgiveness and Christian grace rebuilt their relationship. These have been touching stories. I love stories that resonate, that we can relate to. I also ask experts in the field to share their advice on the expectations of marriage. These have been extremely helpful.
But with all this I felt discouraged because I didn't get many comments.Was I wasting my time? Who was I to write about such things? I weighed up the idea of quitting, but one day I hit the overview button and came across the stats. I could hardly believe what they told me! Viewers from all over the world were reading my blog; USA, Australia, England, Russia, Germany, and several Muslim countries were there. I'm up to 11,000 viewers in the past year. I gave thanks to the Lord in the discovery of an audience of real people out there.
That told me viewers read but don't always comment. What an encouragement. I hope this will encourage you as you share your thoughts, ideas, advice or stories. Who knows who will be uplifted by your blog?
* Rita Stella Galieh is an Australian author of two published novels with books II and III of a trilogy in the pipeline. She continues looking for more material for her weekly blog.
If it’s true you gain wisdom through
mistakes, well then, I must be a sage. In fact, I think I’ve earned the golden
chalice for acumen in this past week alone. The reality is, I’d go back and
relive the last several days if I could, where yearning exists for a do over.
I said and did a few things that left me
eating crow. Most often I’m a disciplined
person, but if somebody is incessant enough and pushes long and hard enough on
the right buttons I have the potential to explode like that unpleasant loose cannon where anything goes. This
is not something I’m proud of, and, writing with an open and honest heart, happens
rarely. However, if/when it does it is dreadful.
After tossing and turning at night
over a particular incident that caused an unsolicited chain reaction, I called
two go-to people hoping to glean a bit of the old, “It’s okay, that’s not so
bad” solace. Instead, I heard, “Oh, wow, you shouldn’t have said that. You did
what?” along with detecting through the receiver a hiss of air sucked between clenched
teeth. I hung up feeling worse.
Droopy, I began missing my dad. If my
dad still lived, he’d first hear me out over the episode. Though he was a Godly
man, he possessed an irreverent sense of humor (something he passed down to me
in good measure thank you very much). So then he’d proceed with, “Here’s what
you should have said. . . .” At that point, he’d paint a much worse
(ridiculous) picture of the scenario and my specific role in it, bringing the
both of us to roaring laughter at our humanness. Then he’d wipe the tears of
amusement from the corners of his eyes and finish with, “Ah, you’re all right
kid. Just do better next time.” I always walked away as if I could face life
again, somehow redeemed.
Not able to correct the mistakes I’ve
made, even after profuse apologies (sometimes you just can’t take back what
you’ve said or done no matter what), I crawled under a rock, as they say, feeling
its weight on my back. Then I remembered the voice of my dad, much like the
unconditionally loving and forgiving Heavenly Father, hearing it again as if right there
beside me: “Ah, you’re all right kid. Just do better next time.” It caused me
to resurface. I stood, and today my knees aren’t as wobbly as they seemed
yesterday.
You’re
right, Dad. I’m gonna be all right - and I promise to do better next time.
Today, I am wiser than I was yesterday.
Tomorrow, perhaps I’ll prove wiser than I am today. I could keep wishing for
the obliteration of past mistakes, but where would the wisdom be in that?
A former dancer turned novelist, Tessa
is the author of (appropriately), The
Unforgivable, and the upcoming fantasy romance novella, Wind’s Aria, with more in the works. To
see just how many times she canput her foot in her mouth, stop over at www.TessaStockton.com
paying special attention to her Blogette.
A documentary recently aired on the Public Broadcasting Service about the subject of forgiveness. Forgiveness: A Time to Love and a Time to Hate, a brilliant film directed by Helen Whitney, didn’t claim to have all the answers, but in the wide variety of circumstances covered, it posed the question: Can we forgive?
I found it fascinating and evocative, covering a miscellany of scenarios worldwide—from a bank robbery turned murderous to a nation’s social-cleansing genocide. How people forgave, as individuals and as a whole, spattered from personal reflection and prayer to the language of anger and righteous indignation.
Some found it possible to forgive heinous acts against humanity, while others believed that once a line is crossed, a boundary of human rights violated, there is no forgiveness…it becomes unforgivable.
I felt for the victims. The circumstances proved crushing. Yet, when a former perpetrator in South Africa had a spiritual conversion and experienced great remorse for the deeds he once undertook, he journeyed to the home of a man whom he tortured during apartheid. There, he asked for forgiveness from the family of this man whom he essentially killed. I could comprehend the anger when the family lashed out. However, when one of them struck the perpetrator in the head with a glass bottle, I experienced an emotive sensation almost tangible—like a stab in the heart. Yes, I grieved for the repentant one.
In the film, a scholar, from a religious perspective, made a statement that when someone infringes upon human life in such an appalling manner, such as torturing or slaying, God offers no forgiveness for that person. His or her crime, though potentially instilling great guilt and shame, is unforgivable.
Recently, an individual who had read my book, The Unforgivable, asked me about degrees of sin—if I honestly did not believe in Degrees—which is a chapter title in the novel. My answer is still no—I don’t believe in degrees of sin, just as I don’t believe in degrees of holiness. This person countered, “Really? Seriously? When someone has hurt others in that capacity, you truly believe there’s forgiveness for them?”
Forgiveness is the basis of Christianity. When Christ died, he looked to the one beside him, a vile and corrupt individual but who had a repentant heart, and he forgave him, granting him peace and eternal salvation in paradise. Jesus himself was beaten and struck down, body broken, crucified—a slow and agonizing way, by the way, to send someone into the afterlife. Yet, there, in one of his last breaths, he said, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34
Biblically based, nothing is unforgivable but this one thing, which, as Craig S. Keener supplies in The IVP Bible Background Commentary, “Jesus thus regards blasphemy against the Spirit—permanently rejecting his identity (Matthew 12:18) as attested by the Spirit's works (12:28)—as the worst of sins.” A complete rejection on one side will bring about a complete rejection on the other. Everything else is gravy.
Forgiveness…
Really.
Seriously.
“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” Romans 3:23
A former contemporary dancer, Tessa Stockton, who was also active in politics and human rights groups, now writes Christian political intrigue novels. The Unforgivable is her first book in the Wounds of South America series. www.TessaStockton.com
I have recently returned from a trip to our beautiful, Australian island state of Tasmania, home of another member of ICFW, Mary Hawkins. I had been invited to speak at a conference there, so took the opportunity to set up a few more speaking engagements and interviews while there and also to enjoy some sightseeing with my husband. Our time away was therefore a mixture of ‘work’ and play, both of which I found very enjoyable.
Now I have deliberately chosen to use inverted commas around the term ‘work’, because in one way, my speaking engagements, interviews and book-selling opportunities hardly seemed like work to me. I love speaking. I regard it a privilege to share something of God’s love and grace and forgiveness and understanding and peace and so many other things in this way. And I’m happy to be interviewed about my writing journey and my novels. I even enjoy the hours spent preparing my various talks. It is very different from writing my novels – and yes, at times I resent being pulled away from what my characters are about to do or say – but I still enjoy piecing a good talk together and hopefully hearing what God wants me to say.
Yet all this speaking, setting up engagements, getting to the various places and liaising with those involved can be draining too – particularly if one is already quite tired and also in pain. All through our trip and a few weeks prior as well, I suffered from severe sciatica in my right leg, making walking, standing for long periods and even driving quite uncomfortable. I was glad we had planned some rest days in between speaking engagements so I could try to relax completely. And God showed his great faithfulness in that I felt I was given strength just when I needed it to deliver my input and share what he had placed on my heart to share with passion and conviction. I got there in the end. People were apparently blessed and challenged – and I even managed to sell quite a few books in the process!
On returning home, however, I have found it so easy to slip into discouragement, as I catch up on various chores and deal with the many emails that have piled up. Was it all worth it, I wonder? Did the effort and expense involved outweigh the ministry that resulted from my speaking, not to mention the number of books sold?
But then I realise whose voice I am listening to. That discouraging voice certainly doesn’t belong to God, but rather to the enemy, who, as Scripture tells us, is a liar, an accuser, a deceiver and a destroyer. I should know by now to close my ears to that voice and instead to choose to believe the encouraging, comforting words God longs for me to hear. And as I do, I know God is assuring me I did my best, that yes, it was definitely worth it, even if I did not make any great monetary profit, and furthermore that people will be challenged and changed as they continue to read my books. And I am humbled and so grateful.
Yet I also realise that God is challenging me to press on, to continue to serve him in the unique way he has given me. Having ‘put my hand to the plough’, I am not to look back but to keep working and writing until God tells me to stop. And I am reminded of and encouraged by Paul’s words in Philippians 3:13b-14:
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining forward to what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
May you also be encouraged in your own writing journey to continue to press on and run the race God has called you to run. Whatever the cost, it’s so worth it!
Jo-Anne Berthelsen grew up in Brisbane and holds an Arts degree from Queensland University. She has also studied Education and Theology and has worked as a high school teacher and editor, as well as in local church ministry in Sydney. Jo-Anne loves communicating through both the written and spoken word and currently has four published novels – ‘Heléna’, ‘All the Days of My Life’, ‘Laura’ and ‘Jenna’. She is married to a retired minister and has three grown-up children and two grandchildren. For more information or to contact Jo-Anne, please visit her website, http://www.jo-anneberthelsen.com/.
