Seeking and Giving Forgiveness

Yes, if you forgive others their failings, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours; but if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failings either. Matthew 6:14-15

We say these words every time we pray the “Our Father”: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Somehow it is so much easier to ask for forgiveness than to forgive others. Yet, God holds us to this standard. In fact, he ties our own forgiveness to our ability to forgive others. We must forgive, as Jesus forgave those who were persecuting him even as he hung from the cross. This season of Lent is a good time to try to let go of the old hurts, the grudges we continue to nurse. We can’t do it alone. We need to pray for God’s help.

Dear God,

We know we are creatures in need of forgiveness. Please help us also to forgive those who have hurt us. Amen

- Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur
spiritualwomanthoughts.blogspot.com
momentofbeauty.blogspot.com

Whose Armour?

Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. – Ephesians 6:13.

We are to take up whose armour? Our armour? No, God’s armour. When we put on God’s armour and the devil looks at us, what do you think he sees? Do you think he sees us scared, playing dress up? No, he sees God. He cannot see who is in the armour any more than we could see a small child in a suit of armour. When we put on God’s armour, we are covered by God Himself. And that’s all the protection we need.

- Annagail Lynes

The Women at the Cross

There were 7 women recorded in the four Gospels that were not only there at the death of Christ, but who followed Jesus throughout his ministry. These women were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary’s sister, Salome, Joanna, Susanna, and Mary the wife of Clopas. Women in the New Testament times were looked down upon compared to men, they were not even allowed to be taught religious teachings. However, Jesus changed that. Many of these women listed Jesus had healed from demon possession. He showed them so much love and forgiveness that they dropped everything they had and followed him. Many of them even supported him financially with their own resources. But what touches me the most is how fervently they followed Jesus. And after watching the only man in their life to accept them, forgive them, and love them die on a cross they did not give up. While the 12 disciples went home these women made oils and spices to annoint Jesus’ dead body. Of course, we all know that when they eventually arrived at his tomb he was not there, but angels told them that Jesus had risen. They were then instructed to go and tell the disciples, but the disciples did not believe the women. When Jesus made his first appearance it was to Mary Magdalene. How amazing would it be to be the very first person to see the risen Lord!

I say all of this to encourage you as a woman. Sometimes we feel incapable or weak or not good enough. But Jesus, himself, showed how much he cares and loves us as women. I also think that these women were amazing examples to us on how to fervently follow and deeply love our Savior. I pray that I would have a heart more like them.

In Christ’s Love,

Angela Sanchez

Enriched In Every Way

For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge – 1 Corinthians 1:5 (NIV).

In Him, I have indeed enriched since spending time with God, especially in my speech and knowledge.  I have not arrived, but I better than I used to be.  A mere two years ago, I would have never been able to speak to people or to understand as much as I do about God’s Word.  It is the Holy Spirit who guides and leads me every day toward being the person God created me to be.  To God be all the glory!

- Annagail Lynes

Commit To The Lord

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3

Do you commit to the Lord everything you do? You know He’s not just talking about the big stuff. He’s talking about ALL stuff. God wants us to give Him the controls for everything we do, say, and encounter throughout our days. That means the little stuff that we don’t think matters as well as the big stuff. We need to let God rule over our movie and music choices, our temper with our kids, what we do and don’t agree to take on in our lives, our happiness and attitude as we keep our homes picked up and clean – all of it!

I think sometimes we encounter opposition or our days go a little awry because we are trying to handle them on our own. It’s not supposed to be that way. God is on our side and He wants to help us succeed. So it’s not a “control issue” with Him – but with us! If we could only see that giving Him control won’t restrict us – it will free us.

Stop right now, and bow your head and say a prayer. Commit your day and tasks over to the Lord today.

Dionna Sanchez

http://emphasisonmoms.blogspot.com

Being Kind

Be knd and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32

I’ve been thinking alot this week about kindness.  It seems like there is not a lot of it out there in the world.  Yesterday I was sitting at a red light and it changed and before I could even get started, the girl in the car behind me was honking at me and gestering at me with her hands and really throwing a fit.  I could not for the life of me figure out what I had done?  I had not been daydreaming, I was paying attention, but obviously I was not moving fast enough for her and she was letting me know about it.  I kept thinking how miserable she must be, to act like that. 

I am trying to teach the boys to be kind, not only to each other, which is a real stretch at this point in their lives, but to others.  Carson was telling me about a new boy in his class who started crying his first day of school.  That was foreign to Carson, I don’t think he’s ever cried a day in his life at school, even when he was a baby in pre-school.  He’s always loved being in school.  But this little boy was in a new school, didn’t know anyone and was obviously feeling sad.   I encouraged Carson to be kind to him, to be his friend.

The other morning, Chase was starting to make funny faces when one of the little girls that lives across the street came to the bus stop for the first time.  He’s played with her for several years, but she’s never ridden the bus before and he was surprised to see her.  And his way of showing that was to make a face at her.  Well, that didn’t stop her, she marched right up to him and looked him right in the eye and that was that.  Kids are funny.  But I encouraged Chase to not make faces at little girls, cause they will grow up to be big girls and they won’t think it’s so funny later on.

Paul encourages us in Ephesians to be kind and compassionate to each other.  In Galatians he tells us that kindness is one of the fruits of the spirit.  The author of Proverbs tells us that a kindhearted woman (and I’m sure a man fits the description as well) gains respect.  There are example after example of the kindness that Jesus showed to others, during his time on earth.   

I know an act of kindness can make my day … let’s make someone’s day today!

Father, thank You for instilling this into my heart.  It’s so easy to go along with the world.  To be rude back to someone when they are rude to me.  But Lord, I don’t want to be like the world.  I want to be like You!  Help me to be kind and compassionate, regardless of my own circumstances. 

I love You Jesus!

In Your Name I pray,

Amen

God Bless You!

Joyce

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Better Than Superman

He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. – Psalm 91:15 (NIV).

When we call upon God, He answers us.  He is with us in trouble.  God is not afar off.  No, He is not too busy to be concerned when we are in trouble.  He is ready, willing and able to help us.  All we have to do is call.  And He is better than Superman because He is our real Hero.  He is able to move heaven and earth to save us, His children.

- Annagail Lynes

M & Ms

It was Martha.  Not just any Martha calling, mind you, but Martha the Motor Mouth.  “M &M.”  She’s the kind of person who button-holes you by the lapel, opens her mouth and chews your ear for thirty minutes or more before she takes another breath.  I should’ve left the answering machine on, but I was expecting another call and lifted the receiver when it warbled.  (It seemed like a good idea at the time.) 

“Hello?”  That was the last syllable I managed as I listened to M&M fill the phone line with nothing.  Well, that’s not entirely accurate.  I half-listened, semi-comatose, as I roamed around the house folding laundry, doing dishes and brushing the dog while Martha rattled on.  And on.  And on.  I sagely seasoned the one-way conversation with an occasional “uh-huh,” but I don’t think M&M noticed. 

It was a typical M&M conversation – she talks, I listen.  I have to.  I can’t get a word in edgewise.  I confess stirring up a pound of relief with a generous dose of annoyance when I finally managed to extricate myself from “M&M.”  Until I read “the Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth… he hears their cry and saves them … (Ps. 145:18-19, NIV.)  That got me thinking…

How many times do I rush into the Throne Room of the Most High, jabbering a mile a minute?  How often do I “motor mouth” my list of the day’s wants, wishes, needs, and reminders to Him before coming up for air?  Closer to home, think of it this way: When was the last time you found a quiet place and some undistracted moments and just listened?  How long has it been since you turned off the answering machine and picked up the receiver?  When was the last time you focused solely on the Shepherd and heard His voice?  “my sheep hear my voice…” (John 10:3) 

It takes a regular meeting time and a quiet place.  An open Bible.  An open heart.  Less M&M and more ears.

Kristine K. Lowder

http://www.HEvencense.wordpress.com

Navigating female friendships with candor, faith, and hope.

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He Is Our Every Thing

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: – Ephesians 1:3 (KJV).

Jesus is our Healer.  He is our success.  He is our prosperity.  He is our wealth.  But those gifts cannot be separated from the Giver.  We must magnify the Giver above everything that we need.  We should turn our focus back on Jesus and not on what we require.  We have every thing in Christ.  He is our every thing.  It is when we focus on Him that everything we need manifests in our lives.

- Annagail Lynes

This Glorious Light

“He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, and I will live to enjoy the light.” Job 33:28

I love this verse. Every time I read it I imagine myself confined in a dark, cold, small, consuming pit when Jesus’ hand reaches down and pulls me out. Once out I see the bright light and feel the warmth of the sun. I am surrounded by green fields and I dance in circles…for I have been freed.

This is how I should be living each day. This is how I want to be living each day. I have been saved and God has given me so much good light in my life that it consumes the darkness that I sometimes find around me. I am free and I will live the rest of my life enjoying that glorious light.

In Christ’s love,

Angela Sanchez