Forgiven are forgiving...

How are you doing in the forgiving others category?

 

I confess, I have struggled with this over the years.  Not so much when it comes to me or crimes against my person...but definitely when it comes to offenses against those whom I love. 

 

I really put on my big, bad, momma bear self and want to evicerate the offender (check out evicerate in the dictionary...pretty gruesome!).  For a visual, picture the latest Incredible Hulk movie (which, by the way, was the best revamp of that old story to date).  For some of us, there is this satisfying moment when we see wrongs righted, justice executed and criminals punished.  There's almost this animalistic glee inside of us when we see the Hulk transform into this huge, mean, green tool of vengance.

 

We want payback.

We want vindication.

We want the offender to suffer the same pain we have endured at their hand.

 

And, as satisfying as that all sounds, it is wrong.

 

In fact, it is sin.

 

Jesus instructs us: we are to forgive as we've been forgiven.

 

How much have we been forgiven?

Every sin.

Every offensive thought, word, deed and act.

All of it.

Even the ones you harbor deep inside, secreted away from humankind.

 

How much are we to forgive others?

All of it.

All.

No exceptions.

No excuses.

 

All.

 

And, if you're waiting for that person to ask for your forgiveness...before you forgive them...I believe this passage pretty much says we need to forgive whether or not that person asks for forgiveness from us.

 

Really?

Yes.

Wow.

 

Forgive as it has been forgiven you.

 

PlanetWisdom.com Devotionals

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Pray How?: Forgive as Forgiven Posted: 12 Jun 2010 01:00 AM PDT "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. . . . For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." (Matthew 6:12, 14-15) This line from Jesus' model prayer is such a head-spinning contradiction to what many of us know as the gospel. We're saved by faith, right? Not of ourselves? How can Jesus say the Father will not forgive us if we don't forgive others? Theologians suggest it might have to do with the fact that Jesus said this before He had died for all of our sins (including unforgiveness) on the cross. Others say the statement has to do with a break in our fellowship with God here on earth is we refuse to forgive those who hurt us -- not an eternal separation. It's an important question. A more important one: If we understand that because of Jesus, God has forgiven our unpayable debt of sin to the Father -- and amount so staggering we can't even imagine the horror of it -- how could any one of us have the arrogance not to forgive another human being for anything, at all? Forgiven people should be forgiving people. Period. Think: Jesus told a parable about a much-forgiven, unforgiving servant. Which character are you in that story? What can you do about it? Pray: Ask God to so overwhelm you with an understanding of His forgiving grace that any grudge you've got against someone else just feels ridiculous to you. Do: Use Wikipedia or something to look up the current American national deficit. Then call your local library to ask what they charge for an overdue book for a week. Compare and think about the difference between what you owed God and what anyone on earth could possibly owe you.

--
Mary E.Hickcox
www.CalvaryBaptistSM.org
http://mary-neotes.blogspot.com/

Trusting God to Provide

Are you trusting God to provide exactly what you need?

For about a year, my "service engine soon" and "brake" lights have been lit up on my car (intermittently...they would blink on and off if I went over railroad tracks...so Frank thought there might be a short in the wiring).  Every morning as I started up my engine, for the past year, I've asked God to keep my car healthy until we have enough money to get it looked at and/or fixed.  I just had my car serviced a few weeks ago and there was some pretty serious repair work that needed to be done.  Thankfully, God did keep my car together until we could afford to have it fixed.  Now, every morning as I start up my engine, I thank God for watching over me and my car!

 

Don't get me wrong, warning lights on car dashboards are serious things and there for a reason.  If at all possible, you should have your car looked at sooner than later.  For us, it happened to be about a year later.  I fully believe, trust (thankfully) God kept my car going.

 

As many of you know, Frank started a new job at the beginning of the year.  I, being the planner and budget maker, filled out all these beautiful MS Excel spreadsheets on our monthly obligations and how much money Frank needed to make...for us to make it.  We both considered the spreadsheets and did something entirely different than ever before.  We prayed about the job and left our finances in God's capable hands.

 

As I look back over the past 6 months, there is no natural explanation for how we have made ends meet.  I fully believe and trust God has provided every time we were in need.

 

There were moments when either Frank or I would get discouraged...and the encouragement we'd offer to one another was "Trust God.  He will provide exactly what we need!"  We would pray together (nightly) and leave all of our needs in our capable Father's hands.

 

I believe many of us have warning lights in our life.  They may not be as blatant as a lit dashboard in a car...but they are there, nonetheless.  The Holy Spirit is the warning light for the Christian.  When we stress over finances, the Holy Spirit lights up and says, "Trust God."  When we need food, shelter, broken relationships fixed, a job, etc., the Holy Spirit lights up and says, "Trust God.  Ask your Heavenly Father for help.  Wait on Him.  Trust Him to provide."

 

Are you relying on God and asking Him to provide every thing you believe you need?  Why or why not?

 

Read on!

PlanetWisdom.com Devotionals

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Pray How?: Me Want Food! Posted: 11 Jun 2010 01:00 AM PDT "Give us today our daily bread." (Matthew 6:11) It's the only request for anything physical in Jesus' model prayer, and it lands with a thud in our well-fed ears. I doubt many of us have felt the need to ask God for today's food. In fact, it might be more common for us to ask, "Help me not to eat my daily bread so I can lose some weight." If I didn't think I knew where next month's food was coming from, I'd be on my knees asking God for help. I clearly have different financial and security goals for my life than Jesus' prayer suggests. He assumes we're willing to trust God for our survival one day at a time. Are we? In another passage, He tells His followers not to worry about food and clothes. God provides for the birds and flowers, He said; He will provide for you. I love these lyrics from Rich Mullins' song "Hard": "Well, His eye's on the sparrow / And the lilies of the field I've heard / And He will watch over you and He will watch over me / So we can dress like flowers and eat like birds." Think: What percentage of your praying involves asking for material "wants" beyond what you need for today? I think it's cool to talk to God about whatever we want (if we're willing to hear Him say "no"), but can we get out of balance in our asking? Pray: Ask God to help you to be thankful for all the good gifts He's blessed you with today. Ask Him to help you need Him more than any of them. And then ask Him to help you know how trust Him to meet your needs one day at a time. Do: Calculate how many days worth of food you have in your house right now.

--
Mary E.Hickcox
www.CalvaryBaptistSM.org
http://mary-neotes.blogspot.com/

Just Like Living in Paradise...

More on prayer today from PW Devotions!!!

 

Wow!

 

This thought was a great reminder for me:  "[God the] Father, please help me to do Your will while I'm on earth as willingly and effectively as I would if I were in heaven with You. Change my heart so Your will is accomplished in my life with less resistance every day."

Is this how you, child of God, are living your life right now?  If not, why not?

 

What is holding you back from pleasing God, obeying Him and doing His will (not your own will)?

 

Remember, if you have placed your faith in Christ, He is to be the Lord of your life.  And, He goes with you in all places, activities, thoughts, words and deeds.  24/7.  Jesus doesn't take a vacation from us.  Strangely enough, we tend to think we can take a vacation from Jesus.

 

Deep thoughts to ponder today!

 

Read on.

PlanetWisdom.com Devotionals

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Pray How?: As In Heaven Posted: 10 Jun 2010 01:00 AM PDT ". . . your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10) How should we pray? That's what the disciples asked Jesus in Luke 11. So He showed them. The phrase in this verse fits perfectly with Jesus' worldview. He often said that every word He spoke and every action He took came straight from the Father. Jesus' mission on earth was to do the Father's will. Jesus knew better than anyone that planet Earth was out of whack. He'd lived in heaven. He'd seen the difference. Everyone there devoted themselves to obeying and pleasing God. On earth, not so much. We can view this phrase as a plea for God to convert the earth to be like heaven -- and He will do that fully one day. But it also makes sense to take this line personally. Father, please help me to do your will while I'm on earth as willingly and effectively as I would if I were in heaven with you. Change my heart so your will is accomplished in my life with less resistance every day. Think: Can you imagine our planet being a place where God is acknowledge as the king of all? Can you imagine what your life would look like if you never challenged His right to rule over you? Pray: Thank God that He always accomplishes His will in His way and in His time. Thank Him for giving you the chance to be part of His plan, and ask Him to help you willingly obey Him today. Do: Write this phrase on a piece of paper and put it on your bathroom mirror (or somewhere you'll see it every day this week): "What is God's will for me today?"

--
Mary E.Hickcox
www.CalvaryBaptistSM.org
http://mary-neotes.blogspot.com/

Agendas, Requests and Vending Machine Prayers

When my son was quite young, we began praying together every night before he went to bed.  Also, he understood we thanked God for each meal.

 

I "caught a clue" one time (among many), when I had him leave a message for his grandparents on their answering machine.  He had rushed through his message and ended it, "in Jesus name I pray, amen."  His grandparents really treasured that message.  After that, I began to discuss with him why we prayed, what it meant and the importance of Whom we are praying to.

 

I think many of us still think in "magical words," "rote phrases," and repetition when we pray.  I wonder if we'vve lost sight of the fact we are praying to our "Abba," heavenly Dad.

 

Would you talk to your earthly parents this way:  Oh mama, I really want that dress. Please give me that dress.  I really need that dress.  Did you see the dress I really want?  Mama! Mama! Mama!  The dress, at the store, on sale...is what I want.  Dress! Dress! Dress! I want that Dress.  Please give it to me.  Please give me the dress.  Mama!  Oh Mama! Can I please have the dress!? Please! Please! Please!?

 

Or, how about your friends:  Hey Debbie!  Oh Debbie!  Please listen to me now.  Right now, I need you to listen to me.  I really want you to hear me.  Debbie?  Oh, Debbie! Can you hear me?  Are you hearing me?  Listen, listen, listen!  Debbie! Pay attention to me.  I need you to listen to me and what I have to say.  I have something to say that I want you to listen to.  Please listen to me Debbie! 

 

So, how about it?  Would you talk that way to your parents or friends?  Then why do we talk to God in that way?  Why do we think/feel we need to bombard Him with words....rambling...babbling....nonsensical words?

 

I used to think praying was kinda like a vending machine.  If I insert so many prayers, I'll get the answer I'm wanting/looking for.  Notice, it was my will, my desires, my agenda I was wishing the magical words of repetitive prayer would fulfill.

 

Someone once said, " Prayer is to align us with God's will, not our own."

 

Read on to see what PW Devotionals has to say on this important subject!

PlanetWisdom.com Devotionals

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Pray How?: Stop Babbling Posted: 08 Jun 2010 01:00 AM PDT "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." (Matthew 6:7-8) Some idol worshippers believed their gods were more likely to give them what they wanted if they prayed by the hour. That is, some would chant the same things over and over and over and over and over, hoping to impress their gods with their dedication or desperation. Jesus said our God doesn't need that from you. He's not running a word count on your prayers to measure how serious you are. In other words, we can keep it simple. Tell God what's on our minds and believe that He heard us and will answer (one way or another). It's another act of faith, isn't it? Jesus said the Father already knows what we need. He doesn't require us to write it on the board 900 times before He responds. Does that mean we should never ask the same request more than once? Or more than once a day? I don't think that was Jesus' point. In fact, one of His parables encourages the practice of repeatedly knocking on the door until you get an answer. He's talking here about senseless and/or superstitious repetition of prayer. But He doesn't want us to stop talking to Him, just to be in the moment, to be present with Him in the conversation. Think: Do you ever catch yourself praying without really thinking about it? What does it say about our prayers if our minds don't have to be involved with the words we're saying? Pray: Ask God to help you not to fall into mindless repetition when you pray, but to be real and present when you talk to Him. Do: To avoid falling into the pattern of mindlessly saying the same thing to God over and over again, try making a "cheat sheet" of talking points before you pray. Make a list of things you want to say to Him, then pray through the list. Come back to it when you find yourself distracted by other thoughts.

--
Mary E.Hickcox
www.CalvaryBaptistSM.org
http://mary-neotes.blogspot.com/

Where's Your Prayer Closet?

How's your prayer life?  Is it vibrant, robust and active?  Or, is it silent?

When was the last time you got alone with God, perhaps on your knees, and poured out your heart to Him in prayer?

I want to encourage you today to begin again!  If you've fallen off the "prayer wagon"  lately, don't beat yourself up...begin again!

If you are having a tough time praying in secret, whip out some paper and try writing out your prayer.  I know, for me sometimes, this is a great way to get my focus back onto God and off of me. 

If you are having a hard time believing God hears you when you pray...tell Him that.  Pour out your heart to the only One who understands you intimately.  Cry out to God.  Confess those things (sin) which are keeping you at a distance from God.  He is faithful.  He is just.  He is the only One who forgives us and cleanses us from all sin (unrighteousness, not right living).  Check out 1 John 1:5-10.

Read on to see what PW Devotionals has to say about prayer!

I love you all and pray for you daily!

Pray How?: Secret Prayers

Posted: 07 Jun 2010 01:00 AM PDT

"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matthew 6:6)

We're all about prayer this week. More specifically, we're all about Jesus' Matthew 6 teaching on how we should do this thing called "prayer."

First step: Pray for God's ears, not other people's. Praying in public makes some people nervous. I don't really blame them for saying silly things to God in those moments, but you can sometimes tell they're worried about "sounding right" to the people around them. They work in a few churchy phrases because they've heard everyone else do it. Jesus told his listeners to do their praying behind closed doors -- in secret.

Why? For one thing, it weeds out all the wrong motives. The Jewish religious leaders gave each other spiritual brownie points for style and form in their public prayers, but they were missing the point of talking to God. When you're alone, you know you're not impressing anyone with your prayer-talk. You're more likely to talk to Him straight out of your own life, not out of someone else's prayer fashion handbook.

Of course, you're not going to pray in secret unless you're convinced God is listening. Prayer in secret is an act of greater faith in the God who cares so deeply about you. Jesus promised that our invisible Father listens and rewards those prayers. You don't need to step up to the microphone for Him to hear and answer you.

Think: If you ever pray in front of people, do you pray any differently than you do when you're alone? Are you ever tempted to try to impress people with your prayers? How likely are you to pray when nobody is looking?

Pray: Ask God to help you talk to Him more often when nobody else is around.

Do: Got a closet handy? Try praying in it today. No, you don't really need to pray in a closet for God to hear you, but trying it once or twice might make you more aware of how you're talking to God.

--
Mary E.Hickcox
www.CalvaryBaptistSM.org
http://mary-neotes.blogspot.com/

Live Like They're Dying

How's everyone being (yeah, you read that right...not doing, but being)?  Been a while since I sent out any devo emails.  Sorry!  We've been uber busy lately with driving off to see Frank's Aunt in Vegas, then prepping for Pismo, going to Pismo...and now, we're baaaack!  Yeah!

If you weren't able to join us this year for Pismo...you may get a chance in 2011 to go with us.  Lots of opinions, rumblings and expressed desires to make that our summer camp for 2011 (even before we've gone and checked out Hume Lake in a month)!

So, if somone knew you were going to die, would you want to know?  That seems like a silly question, doesn't it?  We're all going to die, eventually, some day.  Unless, of course, the Lord Jesus returns and blows that rad trumpet calling us up "yonder!"  Given the choice, I'd vote for the rapture as my preferred venue of departing this blue marble we call, Earth.  What about you?

Today's Devotional is from Dare2Share.  It is really timely (ar..ar..ar...) in light of school ending (for some of you), series finales, etc.  Frank's the math genious in our family, so, he probably already knew we have 86,400 seconds in each and every day we're living.  I'd never really thought about it, actually.  My brain must be wired weird cause I think more in "moments in time" rather than in actual second-hand, tick, tick, ticking time.

On most tombstones, loved ones are remembered with short phrases, "beloved mother," "faithful friend," "loving husband," etc.  Also, there are two dates: a birth date and a death date.  Inbetween those two dates is a dash (or hyphen, if you will).  When you think about it, that dash represents the living a person did inbetween those two dates.  How can a life be summed up in a dash?  How will your life be summed up?

Today's Dare2Share Devotional wants us to look at everyone around us with an eternal destination posted on their foreheads:  Those in Christ are "bound for heaven."  Those without Christ are "bound for hell."  Read on.

I hope to see each and every one of you tonight at Youth Group!!!

Oh, by the way, if you can't make it tonight...be sure and set your alarm so you get up on time for Worship & Fellowship in Sunday!  And, if you haven't heard, we have a new Pastor!!!  Praise God!

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Live Like They're Dying

Did you hear the one about the three buddies who were talking about death and dying? One asked, "When you're in your casket and friends and family are mourning you, what would you like to hear them say about you?"

The first guy says, "I would like to hear them say that I was a great doctor of my time and a great family man."

The second man says, "I would like to hear that I was a wonderful husband and school teacher who made a huge difference in our children of tomorrow."

The last guy says, "I would like to hear them say...LOOK, HE'S MOVING!!!"

Maybe you've also heard the song by Kris Allen called Live Like We're Dying . It's a powerful reminder to, well, live like we're dying.

For example:

Yeah, we gotta start

Looking at the hands of the time we've been given

If this is all we got and we gotta start thinking

If every second counts on a clock that's ticking

Gotta live like we're dying.

 

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to

Turn it all around or to throw it all away

We gotta tell them that we love them

While we got the chance to say

Gotta live like we're dying.

In a semi-dark and serious way, I would like to remind you that life is fatal because no one gets out alive. The statistics on death are very impressive - 10 out of every 10 people living on earth will eventually die.

Unless Jesus comes back, of course, but since we can't control that, what we should control is how we approach each and every one of the 86,400 seconds that God grants us in a day.

In the song, Allen encourages us to tell people we love them and live with no regrets - which is good advice - but to truly live like you were dying involves much more than that.

Ironically, to truly live like we're dying means that you should live like they're dying...

Who are they? Everyone! They are your friends and your enemies, your family and the foreigners, your teachers and coaches and delivery people and cashiers where you shop.

They are anyone and everyone that God puts in your path...and you need to remember that they are dying.

Not just physically, but spiritually as well. Everyone on the planet has a terminal spiritual disease called sin that has separated us from God. It not only destroys our lives now, but separates us from the God who made us.

But the amazing news is that we carry the cure! We who have trusted in Jesus Christ know the most powerful message of salvation in the universe, because it has saved us from the penalty and power of sin.

The question is...what are you going to do with the cure? Let me challenge you with the words of someone who absolutely and totally lived like everyone around him was dying:

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23, NLT).

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes (Romans 1:16, NLT).

Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn't preach the Good News! If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust (1 Corinthians 9:16-17, NLT).

And God has given you this sacred trust as well. So each day remember that you

Only got 86,400 seconds in a day to

Turn it all around or to throw it all away

We gotta tell them that we love them

While we got the chance to say

Gotta live like we're dying.

Trust me, the best way to tell someone that you love them is to tell them about the Someone who loved them so much that He died on a cross to pay the penalty for their sin, and now offers the free gift of eternal life and love to anyone who believes. Living a life for THE Cause of Christ is a guaranteed life of no regrets.

We gotta live like they're dying!

This week, take some time to sit down in the mall or at a park alone. As you look at all the people around you and passing by, picture a sign right above their heads that says "bound for hell." Pretty soon you'll realize what Paul was feeling when he said that he is not ashamed of the gospel.

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:18-20).

Snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear-hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh (Jude 1:23).

I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ (Philemon 1:6).

© 2010 Dare 2 Share Ministries

 

 

--

Mary E.Hickcox

www.CalvaryBaptistSM.org

http://mary-neotes.blogspot.com/