Healing Past Hurts: Embracing Suffering with Faith and Hope
As Christians, we are not immune to suffering or past hurts. Our experiences can leave deep wounds that, if left unchecked, can blind us to joy and hinder our journey toward spiritual fulfillment. However, as Christians, we have a unique hope that transcends our past pain, pointing us toward a peace that surpasses all understanding.
Revenge or Forgiveness? - Philemon Pt. 4
The very center of Paul’s appeal for forgiveness is the reflection of Christ’s call for us all to forgive. While he could appeal to his authority over us and say, “I am God and I command you to forgive!” the Lord doesn't do that. He appeals to our relationship with him, his love and compassion for us, and tells us to emulate that forgiving relationship into the lives of others.
The Beauty of Forgiveness
If we intentionally make it our aim to forgive our “enemies” as Jesus did, what would your community look like?
Gorgeous. Stunning. Attractive. Dazzling. A bright light in a dark world!
Beautiful.
The Character of a Forgiver - Philemon Pt. 3
If you were the one who had been wronged and now true reconciliation was possible how would you respond? What would it look like if you held all the cards and the one who hurt you had his future or his very life in your hands?
Building a Culture of Forgiveness - Philemon Pt. 2
While Philemon gives no doctrinal commands to us today, it practically demonstrates for us how to apply the principles for biblical forgiveness and reconciliation in the middle of a messy culture from the first century until today.
A Community of Forgiveness: Philemon - Part 1
What I love about this book is that Paul teaches us by example that estranged relationships still matter. Christ’s work of reconciling us to God, forgiving us of our sins, is beautifully reflected in our relationships when those who bear His name work towards reconciliation wherever possible.
Giving God Dead Leaves
Several years ago, our youngest children got themselves in trouble when I caught them doing something they knew I had explicitly told them not to do. Our four-year-old daughter was troubled that I was upset over her disobedience. She decided she would give me a present to help smooth things over. She went out into our backyard and gathered a bouquet of dead leaves from off the ground. She presented them to me proudly and then said, "Are you happy now, Mommy?”