Forgiveness – Page 2

August 27, 2020August 27, 2020

Jacob Blake – Sometimes Praising God Is Hard

When you wake up in the morning, what’s the first thing you do? Do you praise God for His goodness? Do you set the tone for praise because of success, favour and blessing? Looking at the events of this past week, months and year, it is so hard to praise God at all times like the Scripture says. To hear another mother crying, for her innocent black son, who was shot 7 times by the police is heartbreaking.

We’re in the eighth month of the worst year on record, many commentators have said. Last year may have had some hardships and difficulties, but this year seems to be on another negative level. However, it’s time to set the tone for a season of praise. Despite all the negatives, Jacob’s family still managed to give God praise.

Today, the Scripture reminds us that the darker it gets in the world, the brighter it’s going to be for God’s true believers. Things may be bad all around you. Murders, shootings and pandemics. People may be negative, complaining and discouraged, rightly so at times, but don’t let that spirit rub off on you, praise your way out of the negatives. The worse it gets the brighter God wants you to shine. Be determined to set a Godly tone of praise for the rest of the year, no matter how bad things get, by praising God and speaking words of faith over every situation!

“I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak His praises.” (Psalm 34:1, NLT)

Let’s Pray
Yahweh, today I have decided to bless You at all times. I will go against my feelings and focus on Your goodness and love. God, I praise You for the faith of Jacob Blake’s family, who lift You up in the face of their tragedy. Please grant him a full recovery. Father, I set a new tone of praise in my life, to replace all of my negative emotions, and I receive Your forgiveness, grace and mercy. Thank You for Your faithfulness to me at all times, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

April 29, 2020April 29, 2020

The Enemy Wants You To Be Bitter

With death, domestic violence, sibling rivalry and race issues etc on the increase during this lockdown, there will be more and more bitterness, and long term unforgiveness and resentment in our society. Bitterness is an extremely destructive force. It can seep into the depths of your heart if you choose not to forgive someone.

Scripture tells us that if we choose not to forgive others, it will even hinder our prayers. Thank God that He has empowered us with the power to forgive and release bitterness! It all begins with a choice. You may have been through unfair situations, but it’s not over until God says it’s over. God always has the final say. He is a God of justice, even today during these hard times. He sees every wrong that’s ever been done to you, and every unfair situation, and He will make it right. Trust Him!

Today, If you will stay in faith and choose to forgive, God will make your wrongs right. He’ll bring justice into your life. Your attitude should be, “it may have been unfair. They may have done me wrong, but I refuse to get bitter. I know my time is coming.” Choose forgiveness, honour God and walk in complete freedom in every area of your life!

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”
(Ephesians 4:31, NIV)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, today I refuse bitterness. I refuse to allow the past or present to keep me stuck. Father, take away my negative feelings towards others. Please help me right now to forgive those who have hurt me. God, I pray blessings on them, that they would come to know Your truth and their lives will be changed. In faith I thank You for setting my heart free, in Jesus’ Name! Amen.

May 2, 2019May 2, 2019

You Can Be Delivered

It’s one thing to be forgiven of sin, however there is still a need for deliverance. God is a mighty Deliverer! You may feel afflicted, overwhelmed or burdened by the cares of life. God is working to bring you out of that difficult situation. It may not be in the way you thought, but you have to trust that God has your best interests at heart.

Consequences and afflictions can take on different forms–sickness, hardship, temptation, a difficult coworker, a friend or maybe a contentious family member. There are so many things that can come against us. Remember, those afflictions are only temporary. Stand in faith today believing that God is on your side. It doesn’t matter what your circumstances look like, why don’t you get up every morning and say, “this is the day that the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it!”

Today, because of life’s afflictions and hardships, you may not feel like rejoicing or being upbeat, look to God with eyes of faithful expectancy, you’ll see your Deliverer is coming. Hallelujah! As you stand and trust the Lord, He will deliver you and empower you to overcome all evil afflictions, and you’ll see His abundant blessings in every area of your life.

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.”
(Psalm 34:19, NKJV)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, thank You for being my Deliverer! Father, thanks for the promise to deliver me from all evil and afflictions. I trust that You have a plan for me to not only be sinless, but to be spiritually cleansed from my evil ways. God, I thank You for Your strength and peace in every area of my life, in Jesus’ Name! Amen.

January 28, 2019January 28, 2019

‘It is all God’s fault’

‘It’s all Gods fault’It’s amazing how quickly even Christians blame God when things go wrong in our lives, even the question ‘Why me God’ points an accusing finger at our Father in heaven.

It’s been part of our old nature since Adam turned on God and blamed him for ‘the woman he gave him’ as being the one who caused the problem of sin. Eve learned the ‘blame game’ all too quickly and pointed to the serpent the real perpetrator.

At least Eve got it right, the only troublemaker; the one who always blames God, the one who is the accuser of the brethren is that old serpent Satan.

So being part of Adams race I too would have to blame God”¦

Its Gods fault that I am saved for he give me ‘the faith to believe in the grace that saved me’ Ephesians 2:8

Its Gods fault that I am ‘blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places’ Ephesians 1:3 instead of being cursed with a curse

Its Gods fault that I am healed for ‘Jesus himself took my infirmities and carried my sicknesses and by his stripes I am already healed’ Matthew 8:17 1^st Peter 2:24

Its Gods fault that I am righteous for ‘Jesus himself became sin with my sin so that I would be the righteousness of God in him’ 2 Corinthians 5:21

God’s to blame for if he had left me alone I could have been in hell instead of heading for heaven

God’s to blame for giving me’ life more abundant’ John 10:10

God’s to blame for giving me ‘joy unspeakable and full of glory’ 1^st Peter 1:8

God’s to blame for giving me ‘peace that passes all understanding’ Philippians 4:7

Its Gods fault that I am forgiven for he has promised that if I ‘confess my sin he is faithful and just to forgive me and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness’ 1^st John 1:9

Its Gods fault that’ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ Philippians 4:13

Its Gods fault that I am ‘delivered from the power of darkness and have been translated into the kingdom of his dear Son’ Colossians 1:13

It’s God’s fault that I ‘have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins’ Colossians 1:14

God’s to blame for ‘blotting out the handwriting of laws that was against me, which was contrary to me and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross’ Colossians 2:14

God’s to blame for ‘baptising me in the Holy Ghost and power’ Acts 1:8

God’s to blame for ‘sending his Son who came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief’ 1^st Timothy 1:15

God’s to blame for ‘every good and every precious gift that comes down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variableness neither shadow of turning’ James 1:17

Its Gods fault that I have ‘all things pertaining to life and to godliness according to his divine power’ 2Peter 1:3

Its Gods fault that I have been ‘given exceeding great and precious promises; that by these I might be a partaker of the divine nature’ 2Peter 1:4

Its Gods fault that I am prospering and am in perfect soundness of health even as my soul prospers’ 3^rd John 2

Its Gods fault that I am not poor for in Christ, ‘the wealth of the sinner is laid up for me’ Proverbs 13:22 because ‘he became poor that I might be rich’ 2 Corinthians 8:9

God’s to blame for ‘he daily loads me with benefits’ Psalm 68:19

God’s to blame for he ‘has made me a little lower than the angels, and has given me dominion over the works of his hands; he has put all things under my feet’ Psalm 8:4-6

God’s to blame that I am not condemned for in Christ ‘there is now therefore no condemnation to those who walk after the spirit and not after the flesh’ Romans 8:1

God’s to blame that I am not fearful for ‘God did not give me a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind’ 2 Timothy 1:7

Its Gods fault that I am free for ‘he that the Son sets free is free indeed’ John 8:36

Its Gods fault that all my needs are met, for he has ‘provided all my need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus’ Philippians 4:19

Its Gods fault that I do not suffer from afflictions for ‘the Lord has delivered me out of them all’ Psalm 34:19

Its Gods fault that I am not stuck in ‘a horrible pit in miry clay for he brought me up and set my feet upon a rock and established my ways’ Psalm 40:2

Its Gods fault that I am not poor for in Christ, ‘the wealth of the sinner is laid up for me’ Proverbs 13:22 because ‘he became poor that I might be rich’ 2 Corinthians 8:9

God’s to blame that I am not lost for Christ ‘came to seek and to save me when I was lost’ Luke 19:10 ‘he is ‘my Good Shepherd who gave his life for me’ John 10:11

God’s to blame that I am not orphaned because in Christ, ‘I am adopted whereby I can call God my Abba, Daddy, Father’ Romans 8:15

Gods to blame that I am not depressed for my ‘God has given me the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (depression)’ Isaiah 61:3‘

Gods to blame that I am not weak for ‘through Christ I can do all things for he strengthens me’ Philippians 4:13

Its Gods fault that I am not guilty before God for in Christ I live ‘justified by faith’ Romans 3:28, ‘justified by his grace’

Its Gods fault that I am not afraid of dying for Christ is my resurrection and my life’ John 11:25

Its Gods fault that I am not fearful of judgement for the Lord he is ‘my righteous judge’ 2 Timothy 4:8 the’ judge of the living and the dead’ Acts 10:42

Its Gods fault that I have eternal life and this life is n his Son’ 1st John 5:11

I may be of Adams seed; I may well have his desire to blame God and others when things go wrong but because I am born again of incorruptible seed in Christ 1^st Peter 1:23 I now find it impossible to truly blame God for bad things because he is a good God.

When we turn and blame God or others for our dilemmas, can it be that our speech comes with the hissing sound of a serpent? ‘The accuser of the brethren who has been cast down’ Revelation 12:10

What spirit then would drive us to accuse God of sending evil things such as sickness and disease or poverty? ‘God cannot be tempted with evil neither does he tempt any man’ James 1:13

‘Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:16-17

Jesus himself set the record straight when he said; ‘If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Matthew 7:11

God hasn’t changed; he is still a good God who only gives good gifts and does good things for his children.

So by all means accuse God but at least accuse him of good things for which he truly is to blame”¦

Ps I am sure as you read the scriptures you will find a thousand reasons to blame God, search well and when you find them give him thanks for his goodness; it will change your life”¦

January 22, 2019January 22, 2019

Touched by the Love of God

‘Touched by the Love of God’ Chapter 1

GOD IS LOVE: 1^st John 4:16

‘The love of God never fails; it will never come to an end. Prophecies will fail, speaking in unknown tongues will cease and the gift of knowledge shall vanish away.’ but ‘God’s love will never fail.’ 1^st Corinthians 13: 4-7

To those who would accuse Jesus of doing evil, of causing them harm, allow me to ask; would such love kill an unborn child or take the life of a teenage son or daughter?

Would Jesus destroy the very life he created? Would he send poverty, would he abuse or hurt the very child he formed in its mother’s womb?

Would Jesus crush the broken hearted, would he oppress his own or leave and forsake his own child?

No! Jesus died for the unlovable and the ungodly. He willingly ‘laid down his life for you’ 1^st John 3:16 and for all those who would reject him?

Have you not heard that, ‘while you were still sinners Christ died for you?’ Romans 5:8 Have you not read that, ‘he washed you from your sins in his own blood’ Revelations 1:5.

‘Jesus was despised and rejected of men a man of sorrows acquainted with grief, he carried your griefs and your sorrows,

‘Christ was wounded for your transgressions, he was bruised for your iniquities, the chastisement of your peace was upon him and by his stripes you are healed’ Isaiah 53:3-5

He took your infirmities and carried your sicknesses’ Matthew 8:17 and again he declares, by his stripes you were healed; 1 Peter 2:24, because that’s what real love does.

Jesus ‘died for you when you were ‘without strength,’ ‘while you were still an ungodly sinner, he died for you’ Romans 5:6-8 He loved his own which were in the world, indeed he loved them to the end’ John 13:1

Jesus, ‘left you another comforter’ the Holy Ghost who will teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever he said unto you’ John 14:26

He left you ‘peace so that you need not be troubled’ John 14:27 and Joy that’s unspeakable and full of glory.

He ‘gave eternal life to you’ 1 John 5:11 and to all who would simply, believe.

Jesus healed all that came to him, Matthew 12:15 indeed he healed every sickness and every disease among the people Matthew 9:35

He fed the multitudes, Matthew 15:32-38 and cleansed the leper. Matthew 8:1-3

He raised the widows’ dead son and gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf and a voice to the dumb. Luke 7:12-15

He preached good news to the poor, he delivered the captives and gave recovery of sight to the blind and brought liberty to those who were bruised (downtrodden and abused) Luke 4:18

Jesus took upon himself the sins of the whole world, 1^st John 2:2

He was beaten until his appearance was like no other man, Isaiah 54:14 ‘they made his back like a ploughed field they laid long their furrows’ Psalm 129:3

He was crowned with thorns, spat upon, mocked and laughed at. Matthew 27: 29-31

He was nailed to a cross and even when in agony, even while forsaken (Matthew 27:46) and he forgave the dying repentant thief and, he forgave you and I. Luke 23:42-43 all because that’s what love would do…

Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost, Luke 19:10 he adopted you; indeed he gave you the Spirit of adoption whereby you can call God your Abba, your daddy, your Father and your God. Romans 8:15 Forever!!

Today is the very day that the Lord has chosen to give you a new life, a new beginning and all you have to do is to repent of your sins, ask him to rescue from sins power and to be your personal Lord and saviour”¦

This is your day to be touched by the love of God

‘Touched by the love of God’ Chapter 2

‘God is love’ 1^st John 4:16

It is God’s nature to love; there is not one evil thought, word or action that can come from Gods heart.

He is love personified, he is love in action for true love itself is from him, ‘the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts through Christ (Romans 5:5) such love in Christ died for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8)

It was love that formed man out of the red dust of the garden of Eden and it was love that pursued Adams fallen race all the way to Calvary and on that lonely hill love purchased a pardon for all who would simply believe on Christ.

Some deluded bible teachers would tell us that God sends sickness or that God allows someone to have an accident, how foolish to make such a statement of a good God, a God who is love.

Thank God for his word that never changes, praise God for faithful witnesses like James the apostle who wrote, ‘Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts he any man’ (James 1:13)

I remember one occasion being at a meeting when one young man stood up to give his testimony, he began with words that struck me like a fiery dart; he declared ‘God broke my back and put me into hospital for months so that he could speak to me’

I was stunned and ached against such an accusation for I knew it was accusing a good God of an evil deed. I sought the Lord and he brought me to the scripture above, the young man was awestruck at the word when I revealed it to him and said it was a revelation of truth to him.

Look at the next few verses of James chapter 1 and see that ‘Every man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lusts and enticed’ (v.14) ‘then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin, and sin when it is finished, brings forth death` (v.15) Instead of blaming God we need to look to ourselves and our own actions which bring about accidents and injuries and indeed sometimes sickness.

When we blame God we are as guilty as Adam was when he blamed God for making Eve who Adam in turn blamed for sin.

When we ask, ‘why me God’ we are accusing Him of some evil thing which has touched our lives, when we say God allowed it we do the same thing, it’s time we realized that God is good all the time instead of just singing about it.

God is not into evil works; see verse 16-17 ‘Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the father of lights with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning’

Its good things that come down from above, they come from an unchanging God of light not from the god of darkness, Satan.

Ask your self would you as a mother or father hurt your children in order to teach them something? Would you allow them to get cancer? Or would you allow someone to abuse them? Of course not, then why accuse a good God of hurting those he loves?

Jesus put it this way ‘What man is there of you if a son asks bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish will he give him a serpent?’ If you then being evil know how to give good things unto your children, how much more shall your father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?’ (Matthew 6:9-11)

Does that sound like God wants you to suffer?

No; goodness cannot flow from an evil heart a good tree brings forth good fruit because it is its nature, goodness flows from a heart so full of love that it overflows and gives good things to all that ask. Is sound health a good thing? Then it is a love gift, is sufficient finances a good thing? Are peace and joy good things? Then they are a love gift from a good God.

If you still doubt that God is good then ‘Christ coming into the world to save sinners’ 1^st Timothy 1:15 must surely convince even the most hard hearted that He is love.

Surely a glimpse of the cruellest of deaths, a mere glimpse of Calvary’s butchered saviour would open the eyes of the most blinded of eyes”¦ for there even the most foolish could not help but be touched by the Love of God

‘Touched by the love of God’ Chapter 3

Love and Compassion go hand in hand, if love is the glove then compassion are the fingers that reach into the dark recesses of human misery and sets men and women free.

Compassion is not pity for pity is a source of many fine words while compassion works to remove suffering whatever its root.

In Psalm 86 David writes about the Lord’s nature saying; ‘ For you Lord, are good and ready to forgive; plenteous in mercy to all them that call upon you’ ‘But you O lord are full of compassion and gracious, longsuffering and plenteous in mercy and truth’

God’s word reveals our sinful nature but it always balances it with good news about a loving God who forgives all our iniquities and heals all our diseases (Psalm 103:3)

Every time the psalmist bemoaned his sinful nature, every time he spoke of his sufferings he spoke of Gods great mercy (Psalm 86:13) and reminded himself of Gods compassion, his grace and long suffering.

Love is like that, I mean true love; it always is willing to forgive and to show mercy and compassion, true love does not hold grudges, it runs to help the wounded even though they are suffering at their own hands.

Psalm 103 tell us that when we deserved death, love redeemed our lives from destruction, when we deserved wrath it crowned us with loving kindness and tender mercies (v.4) when we deserved Gods anger and wrath he poured out mercy and grace (v.8) for as high as the heaven is above the earth so great is his mercy toward them that fear him’ (v.11)

In the Old Testament we see a Father who loves his children, who would do anything to save them from their sins, a Father who gave them a blue print for living while warning them that departing from it would cause them great pain and death.

In the New Testament we see the Son Jesus doing exactly the same because ‘He worked the works of God who sent him (John 9:4) in the same measure as the Father loved, he loved, he showed the same mercy and grace, he revealed the Fathers compassion and healed the sick and fed the hungry.

Matthew (9:35) records that, ‘Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people’ that’s what love does, it heals the sick, it never walks away shaking its head or hides its eyes from the hurts of others. Love reaches out and touches the deepest need of every human being; the need to be loved, the need to feel wanted; the need to be counted worthy of someone’s time.

Compassion goes deeper than the physical needs of the human soul; it digs deeper and goes to the root of the problem desiring to bring us total freedom.

Jesus was ‘moved with compassion on the multitude because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd’ He had fed the people who had come seeking his help but the thing that moved him most was their spiritual hunger, their need of salvation, their need of a saviour.

Religion offers laws instead of grace and mercy, manmade offerings of impure grace and purchased mercy, it offers freedom in chains, shackled liberty and false hope.

Christ on the other hand shows compassion,

In Matthew 15:32 we read that ‘Jesus called his disciples and said ‘I have compassion on the multitude, for they have been with us three days, and have nothing to eat, I will not send them away fasting in case the faint in the way’

That’s what compassion does, it does more than just talk, it feeds the hunger in every heart, it meets a person’s deepest desire and fulfils his greatest need, the need to be forgiven and to be loved.

Compassion like love cares nothing for itself, it cares only for the needs of others,

Compassion is the divine nature of God revealed in Christ and in every believer whose heart has been melted by Christ’s love,

Compassion is an unworthy sinner being touched by the love of God

November 9, 2018November 29, 2018

‘The Cross a Moment in Time’

[waveplayer ids=”15007″]

The cross as you have never seen it before, inspired by God’s word and poduced by David Robinson

It may be empty since its last victim but it still whispers to every nation and in every tongue, ‘Come unto me’ pointing to ‘Christ the way the truth and the life for no man comes to the Father except through him’ John 14:6

There is no saviour here to adorn its boughs with glory, but there is an image of what a man would be without a Fathers love and a saviours sacrifice

The moment when death died and its last victim purchased eternal life for all who would put their truth in Christ’s blood bought salvation we can shout:

Thanks be to God, ‘I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me’ Galatians 2:20

July 12, 2018December 21, 2020

I’m White, Privileged With a Message on Racism That The World Is Missing

Racism is a pretty controversial topic, especially in the world we live in today. Among Christians, things can get especially dicey, as the rest of the world’s eyes are just staring and waiting for us to make a mistake.

Remember in Matthew 22:39 when Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself?” Right there, the Bible is directly telling us that to loathe someone based solely on the color of their skin, is a sin. But I didn’t always understand that.

It’s easier to admit to sin when everybody else has done it, but here I am today doing something that’s far from easy; I struggled to love my neighbor as myself. It wasn’t how I was raised, but the environments I was around in every single job situation planted seeds of hate into my heart. I pushed away when God started to deal with me about it. I’d say things like, “I’m not racist. I have diversity in my life. I’m not a hater.”

Yet all the while, I wouldn’t speak up when my coworkers at a freelance writing gig would tell racist jokes, sometimes I’d even play along just because “everybody else was doing it.” I worked for almost eight months for an internet political publication; an environment that was toxic waste disguised as candy. Some of the articles I was assigned to write were satirical and entertaining, but then there was a vast majority that I was told to write, that made ugly and cringy remarks about other races, cultures, and people in general in ways I wasn’t comfortable doing. But like an idiot, I didn’t refuse to do the work; I played along in hopes of gaining everybody’s favor.

After a while, all the jokes and satirical remarks started to become more than just horseplay; I started to really believe the things I was being told and dwelled on how much I didn’t like people who weren’t like me. Still, when God would deal with me about it, I would shove it off and say that “I just wasn’t like that.” That it was all fun and games. I was living a lie.

Eventually, the publication went out of business, and I went on to pursue other writing opportunities. I was upset at the time, but now I thank God that he took me away from all that stress.

It was at a church conference that God started to deal with me again. I realized that though I wasn’t as “extreme” as people you might see online, I was enabling it, writing and promoting it, and thinking those thoughts. God told me that he did not call me to be a hater, and during the altar call I ran, fell to my knees and poured my heart out to Him and told him how sorry I was. I know that He has forgiven me, and restored me to a place of love rather than hate.

I’m telling you all of this because I know I’m not the only one who has struggled in this area. I didn’t like the person I let the world turn me into, and God didn’t either. God has commanded us to love, not hate.

Today I am not the same person I was when I began my pursuit of writing. God took away the ugly sin and created a beautiful testimony; one that I will not shy away from. Am I ashamed of all the ugly things I published during my first writing gig? Absolutely. But it is a reminder of who I was before God totally transformed my mindset. I am no longer addicted to outrage, hatred is not in my heart; instead, God’s love has completely and totally transformed me.

God wants to deal with you about some stuff too; stuff that may not necessarily be easy to admit to yourself that you’ve done. But once you’re honest with both yourself and God, and ask for His forgiveness, it will radically change your life.

June 9, 2018

God and Hamilton: How Stories Transform Us

Why do audiences love Hamilton so much? Why do people pay thousands of dollars for tickets? Why do nearly a hundred thousand people line up in the digital lotteries each time new tickets go on sale? What is it about this musical that connects so deeply with people?

Part of the answer lies in the truth that stories hold a unique power to transform our lives.

I’ve spent the last three years of my life researching and writing about the spiritual themes found in Alexander Hamilton’s life and the Broadway musical he inspired. My book, God and Hamilton, which released this week, wrestles through these different themes. But more than any individual theme, I continued to be struck by how story inspires, challenges, and motivates us to live a more fully human life.

Brene Brown writes about the power of story. She suggests that “Story is literally in our DNA”¦.we are hard-wired for story.” She tells about how studies show that when we engage in a story our brain releases chemicals that help us connect, empathize, and make meaning of this world.

Other studies in the field of neuroscience point to this same truth. They have found that when we watch a story, our brain activity jumps significantly. If we watch a scene in a movie about someone swimming in a race, the parts of our brain that fire when we actually swim are active. They call this phenomenon “transportation.” The idea is that when we watch a story we get transported into it. We begin to feel like what is happening in the story is actually happening to us.

In Hamilton, there are so many important themes that transport us into the story. We see the incredible initiative Hamilton takes throughout his life, as he sings about “not throwing away my shot.” That example motivates and challenges us. We feel inspired to be that kind of person as well, the kind of person who takes advantage of our opportunities, who doesn’t throw away our shot.

Or we watch a scene where Eliza Hamilton forgives her husband for betraying her in his affair with Mariah Reynolds. We are moved by her forgiveness and challenged to follow her example. Will we be the kind of person that forgives, no matter how difficult it may be? Will we offer grace to those who betray, hurt, or wrong us?

So many reasons exist as to why Hamilton impacts audiences so deeply. But the transformative power of story is part of the answer. We watch or listen, to the story Hamilton tells, and find inspiration, encouragement, and hope to live a more fully human life ourselves.

May 26, 2018January 15, 2024

The Squeezed Orange of a Psychiatrist

A psychiatrist was preparing for class and decided to take an orange with him. He began to talk to a bright young man in front and asked him, “If I squeeze this orange, what will I get?”

He looked at the Psychiatrist and answered, “Juice, of course!”

The Psychiatrist said, “Don’t you think I could squeeze apple juice from the orange?”

Laughing, he said “No.”

“What about grapefruit juice?”

He said, “Nope.”

The Psychiatrist asked again, “What would I get from this orange?”

“Orange juice, of course.”

He repeated his question, “Why? Why would I get orange juice from an orange?”

He answered, “Well, it is an orange, and that is what it has on the inside.”

The Psychiatrist nodded and said, “That’s right! Let’s think that this is not an orange, but it is you.

Someone puts pressure on you and says something you don’t like.

You get offended. Fear, bitterness, hatred, and anger come out of you. Why did this happen?”

The boy answered, “Because those things are on the inside.”

Now we have to consider what’s inside of you and me, because Matthew 15:18 says,

“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.”

Jesus was squeezed and forgiveness, love, and mercy came brusting out of Him.

He taught us that regardless of people insulting, beating, humiliating, and treating Him worse than a criminal that we should afterwards show love and forgiveness! It was under the mighty impulse of love that Jesus took our place in the universe and invited the Ruler of all things to treat Him as a representative of the human family.

He identified Himself with our interests, took our guilt and its penalty, and offered in our behalf a complete sacrifice to God.

Jesus identifies His interest with ours. He represents Himself as personally affected with all that concerns us.

If we are wronged, maligned, treated with contempt, our sufferings are registered in the books of heaven as done unto Him.

If we would become like Christ and receive His fashion of character, we must in little things train the soul to daily progressive sanctification. Acts make habits and habits constitute character. There is no fear of overlooking great things, but there is peril in overlooking and undervaluing little things.

Let’s be filled with that love that comes from God, and let’s live each day by His side.

Now the question that we must ask ourselves is: “What comes out when we are squeezed?”

May 8, 2018November 25, 2018

27 Beautiful Bible Verses for Every Woman in Need of Love, Reassurance and Strength.

“The remedy for discouragement is the word of God. When you feed your heart and mind with its truth, you regain your perspective and find renewed strength. “Warren Wiersbe

We all yearn to feel the sense of belonging, loved and appreciated. God is love, He’s the best source of inspiration and we can all learn from Him. Are you looking for scriptures that reflect your emotions or inspire you? Look no further and may these Bible verses help you to see life from a different perspective. May you find strength and experience supernatural peace and comfort. Stand in the promises of God.

1. “God is within her, she will not fall.”Psalm46:5

2. “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.”Proverbs31:25

3. “The Lord is my strength and my shield.”Psalm28:76

4. “I loved you at your darkest.”Romans5:8

5. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. “Joshua 1:9

6. “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. “Proverbs 31:26

7. “Under his wings you will find refuge.”Psalm9:1

8. “Don’t worry about anything, instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done.”Philippians4:6

9. “By the grace of God, I am what I am.”1 Corinthians 15:10

10. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not onto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path.”Proverbs3:5-6

11. “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his Promises to her!”Luke 1:45

12. “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”Psalm139:14

13. “Do everything in love.”1 Corinthians16:14

14. “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”1 Peter3:3-4

15. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”Joshua1:9

16. “Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea-the LORD on high is mighty.”Psalm93:4

17. “Perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created” Esther4:14

18“I am complete in Him.”Colossians2:10

19. “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.”Proverbs31:10

20“For the spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”2ndTimothy1:7

21. “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.”Psalm143:8

22. “You are loved more than you will ever know by someone who died to know you.”Romans5:6

23. “For I know the plans I have for you,”Jeremiah29:11

24. “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”Exodus14:14

25. “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”Joshua1:5

26. “All beautiful you are, my darling; there is no flaw in you. “Songs of songs4:7

27. “Whenever you feel unloved, unimportant, or insecure, remember to whom you belong.”Ephesians2:19-22

“Snuggle in God’s arms. When you are hurting, when you feel lonely, left out. Let Him cradle you, comfort you, reassure you of His all-sufficient power and love “Kay Arthur

May 8, 2018

God’s Secret of Dealing With a Mean Boss

Before I knew this secret I dealt with mean bosses in one of these ways:

Arguing back.
Complaining about them to coworkers.
Finding ways to work less.
Quitting the job”¦only to find that they were in the next job in another person’s body!
And yes”¦indirectly telling them I would love to punch them in the face after work.

I’m not proud of this. But that was before I knew the secret. When I learned the secret, it revolutionized my life. This secret made every obnoxious boss putty in my hand. I will warn you: this secret will forever change you.

If you think you’re ready for it”¦keep reading.

Jesus Hinted at the Secret

Jesus knew how powerful the secret was”¦and yet He only glossed over it. He didn’t delve into it. He didn’t elaborate on it. He just threw it out in the middle of a conversation:

And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. (Matthew 5:41 NKJV)

He knew everybody wouldn’t want it – so He made it available to those that did.

Before I tell you more, please understand this: You can’t change your boss. You’re not supposed to. You’re supposed to change you, and as you change so will your boss. Until I understood that I could not find the secret and you won’t until you do.

So what is the secret?

It’s simple: going the extra mile.

When Jesus shared the secret, He related it to an oppressive custom of the day.

It originated with the Persian government and was later adopted by the Roman government. Under this custom, the king’s messengers had the power to take horses, camels, and men into service against their will. Couriers and messengers were staged in specific locations by the king; if someone were to pass the location the courier rushed out and “compelled” them into service.

Simone of Cyrene was later “compelled” into helping Jesus with His cross.

Rather than quarrel and complain about the treatment Jesus advised otherwise: don’t just comply with the request but exceed expectations in a spirit of love and service. And that’s what I did:

If she asked me to do four things I did eight
If she asked me to have something done by 1:30 pm I had it finished before lunch!
If she needed something done in 20 minutes I did it in 10!

And I did it all with a smile on my face!

Little by little her gruff exterior towards me (I can’t vouch for anyone else) softened, and my influence with her grew. I changed my response to the problem”¦and ended up changing the problem!

The Benefits of the Secret

You benefit by the law of comparison. Most people don’t go the extra mile. They go the first mile and complain all the way there! Some don’t even finish the first mile! When you go the extra mile the spotlight of attention shines favorably on you. And after a while, you soon become indispensable to those around you”¦especially superiors”¦and indispensable employees are always paid more than dispensable ones!

You develop greater leadership qualities. Going the extra develops the habit of the personal initiative–a trait necessary for ANY kind of leadership. As you employ the extra mile your brain looks for more ways to become helpful. Soon you stop waiting for people to tell you what to do–you just do it. You no longer wait for things to happen, you make them happen!

God makes sure you’re compensated fairly. At the end of the day whether we’re salaried or self-employed: we write our own checks! We do this with the service we give to a boss, company, or clients. But even though we write our checks, God is still the Boss. And if the Boss sees you going above and beyond, you can know that He’ll reward you fully.

What do you think? Are there any other benefits of using this secret? What has been your experience with it been?

May 3, 2018May 5, 2018

How Forgiveness Can Make You Love Again

I’m bringing you on a personal journey: mine. I strongly believe we can all learn from one another and I hope by sharing this story, it will make you ask yourself some questions. This is the goal of making you rethink your current situation.

You see, like many of you, I come from a broken family. There was a lot of violence in my daily life. No child should ever grow up in that kind of dark atmosphere, but sadly a lot of them, do!

I am an only child and I learned very quickly what “hate” felt like.

My dad was a hard-working man who spent more than 80 hours a week at work while my mom stayed home with me. I realised pretty young that I wasn’t wanted and nothing would ever be good enough, no matter how hard I tried.

She beat me every single day. Put me in diapers and made me parade in front of the big window in the living room when friends would walk by. She would scream and swear, shout for everything and nothing at all. She would pick up the phone and act as if she was talking to the police, saying I had been a very bad girl, then made my suitcase and put me in front of the door. We were “waiting” for the police car to come and get me. I was going to jail. That’s what she told me many times and every single time, I was certain I was going to jail forever!

I spent many days in my teens wishing her dead! No, I wasn’t a Christian at that time and knew nothing about God. And the fact that my dad wasn’t present didn’t help at all. He was trying to escape the madness so he stayed at work as much as he could. And when he came back, he drank himself into a coma accompanied by my mom.

That’s why I learned to drive at around 12 or 13 years old. I could drive them back at our house all the while my dad passed out in the back and mom sitting in front. At 16, I was already a very experienced driver!

Life eventually went on, and I moved out at around 20. I had a nice job and a decent apartment apart from the fact that the bathroom ceiling in the shower fell on my head! But that’s another story…

I was at least finally away from the beast! Through the years, she remained an angry and frustrated woman. But still, she could show some love on some occasions and it felt good when she did. Surprisingly, when I was sick, she was the best mom ever! But she went back to her old self as soon as I started to feel better.

Things changed and fast

In my forties, my dad got sick. The first time, I was on the road with my then boyfriend (we were driving tractor trailers in the United States), and my dad told me, over the phone, he had prostate cancer. I was in Las Vegas, very far from home.

After being operated on, dad beat cancer only to get some more bad news a few years later, that he had stage IV colon cancer. My dear father stayed strong during the battle. He fought so hard because he didn’t want to leave my mom behind. He knew she was very dependent on him. She didn’t even walk 20 feet outside to go get the newspaper. She knew nothing about paying bills, could not drive and was afraid of her shadow. Dad knew all that, and the more death’s door was knocking the more he became very angry and frustrated.

They eventually spoke frankly to one another and forgave each other. One morning dad asked mom to call the ambulance, he knew it was time for him to leave home. Mom could no longer take care of him.

She told me, it was the hardest thing she ever had to go through. They embraced each other very hard, dad was put on a stretcher and outside, he waved saying with all his strength, that he loved her very much. That was the last time they spoke. A few hours later, I went to the hospital and he could no longer recognize me or her.

My mom found herself all alone for the first time in her life! She fell into a deep depression and started to change. She went from a strong and very intimidating woman to a frail and very scared one. Everything changed so fast. I didn’t have time to deal with my dad’s passing that my mom was transforming herself into someone I didn’t know.

Five years later, she was diagnosed with dementia and had to go to the hospital emergency because of liver cirrhosis. She stayed in the hospital almost 2 months and came very close to dying. Even the doctor thought it was a miracle she had not.

That’s where the story changes and you see the greatness of God. In 2011, I was a believer, so every time, I went to see mom, I would pray with her. Pray at home, in my car, everywhere and constantly. I asked God to please help me forgive her so I could have a few moments with her before he decided to come and get her.

I was able to have one year with my mom. One day, I spoke to her in her hospital bed and told her how I felt about her old self. She didn’t remember how she was, to the point that she was now a new woman. She spoke differently, she laughed always and was loved by everyone at the hospital. She was an extremely loving person.

After I was done talking to her, I promised her I would never abandon her. She asked for forgiveness and accepted my apologies. That day, we stood there in that hospital room hugging for hours. I was blessed enough to spend one year with that new mom. Even if she forgot things and could not remember where she lived or who my husband was, I didn’t care. I had been blessed by God in a big way, and I was able to have one full year with the loving woman. I know if I had not been keen on forgiving her, I would have missed the boat and would probably live with a lot of regrets.

The day she died, I was with her, alone in the room. The Holy Spirit told me to go to her quick. I took her hand, she squeezed it very hard, smiled and I stroke her hair, telling her how much I loved her. She let out 3 breaths and she was gone.

I drove one hour to go back home and I was crying all the way back. Not just because she was gone, rather for the privilege I had to be with her that last year.

The act of forgiveness had made it possible for me to love my mom again. Love her dearly and sincerely. Plus, it made it also possible to give her pure love, while she was on her way home.

Love waved goodbye, and love reached out to welcome her.

-Smile.

April 26, 2018January 15, 2024

Pray Without Ceasing: What Does it Mean?

What does it mean to ‘pray without ceasing’? Is that even possible? Many Believers have asked this question, perplexed at the command- because that is what it is, a command. We know that we are to obey God in all things, so how can we possibly ‘pray without ceasing’?

I think that we can all agree that it is impossible to physically pray without ceasing. By physical I mean lifting your voice to the LORD in prayer, raising your hands to Him, getting down on your knees to pray- you get the picture. There is no way that we can physically do it because then we would never get anything done. You cannot attend a lecture and concentrate on what the lecturer is saying if you’re too busy praying, you would not be able to have a conversation with your spouse if you were deep in prayer, neither would you be able to attend parent meetings if all of your time was devoted to prayer. These are just a few things you wouldn’t be able to do- I’m sure that you could think of a hundred more other things, but you get the picture, right?

However, the words ‘without ceasing’ may not mean what you think. The Greek word for ‘without ceasing’ is adialeiptos. It doesn’t mean non-stop like we may assume, but it actually means ‘constantly recurring’. This changes things, doesn’t it? Instead of trying to pray constantly, all the time and all day, what we can do is interrupt our moments with intervals of recurring prayer. Perhaps this idea of recurring prayer still confuses you, so I’ll break it down even further.

Prayer should be a way of life for every Believer. We understand prayer to be an act of communication with our Father- we are essentially talking to Him and with Him. What is wonderful about praying to our Heavenly Father is that we can talk to Him about anything and we know that He will be listening. I believe that GOD wants us to involve Him in every aspect of our lives, whether you are traveling to work, trying to bake an elaborate birthday cake or hiking up some mountain. Think of Him as a parent (an all-powerful and all-knowing parent!); many of us enjoy telling our parents about what is going on in our lives. Some of you have parents that will call you every day just to find out what you’re up to! They do it because they love you, not to irritate you. Perhaps your parents are not as interested in your life, but GOD sure is. When He created us, He didn’t make one type of person, He didn’t give us the same type of personality, features or talents. He made us all different and unique, and He is interested in what we are doing with what He has given us. I’ll let you in on something: GOD loves spending time with you! So how do we punctuate our moments with intervals of recurring prayer?

We need to be continually in an act of prayer. For example, when we see a beautiful sunset, we should give thanks to the LORD for being able to witness such a thing. When you arrive safely at work, knowing that many others around the world have probably just died in an accident, you thank Him for His protection upon your life. Perhaps you’re writing an exam, so you speak to Him and ask Him to help you remember what you’ve studied. Do you get the picture? In so doing this, all of life’s thoughts, actions and circumstances become an opportunity for you to commune with your Heavenly Father. In this way, you constantly set your mind “on the things above, not on the things that are on earth“ (Col 3:2).

Let me take this one step further. From the Scriptures, we learn that we have a physical body, and we have a spiritual body. Let’s examine some Scripture pertaining to this: I pray GOD your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ (1 Thess 5:23), and, For the Word of GOD is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and the joints and marrow (body), and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb 4:12). To tell the truth, I get incredibly excited when I talk about this! We also know that there is a spiritual realm co-existing with the physical realm (I have firsthand knowledge of this). We know this because of the number of heavens spoken of in the Scriptures. Go and take a look for yourself- I urge everyone to not just take my word for everything stated in any of my articles but to search the Scriptures for yourselves.

This all brings me to this one Scripture: What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also (1 Cor 14:15). What on earth, Paul? Pray with your spirit? Oh yes! I firmly believe, that when you have studied the Word of GOD, memorised scriptures, living by faith and not by sight, depending on the Holy Spirit to guide you in all things, seeking GOD with your whole heart… then you will be more aware of your spirit body, but only under the control of the Holy Spirit. We should never ever seek to have control of our spirit bodies as those in the occult do. It’s what they call the third eye. By this eye, which is really your spiritual eyes, they can willfully see what is going on in the spiritual realm. Only GOD should allow you insight into the spiritual realm for His purposes. Make no mistake: being in control of your spirit body will lead you away from GOD. If you do have control over your spiritual body, I urge you to repent of that right away and to ask GOD for forgiveness, or at least seek Him on this; let Him reveal to you why it is so dangerous, but be careful that the father of lies (Satan) does not fool you either.

You can pray in the spirit- Paul would not have said it if it were not so. You may be walking about, talking to people etc., but your spirit can be praying. Just remember, your spirit can only know what you know, so make sure to study GOD’S Word and memorize Scripture.

Ending Thoughts: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph 6:12). I cannot cover everything about our spirits, the spiritual world, our spiritual weapons etc all in one go- it’s too intensive for that. Let me tell you this though: events take place in the spiritual realm before they manifest in the physical realm. Remember to use the Word of GOD in your speech- the spiritual realm is waiting on your words.

April 15, 2018July 22, 2020

What was Jesus one commandment?

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Think of how these two commandments, given to believers in the New Covenant, exactly encapsulate and fulfill the Ten Commandments given to those who were operating under the Old Covenant.

The first commandment is very great and the second is reciprocal to the first. In loving God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind a person will naturally love his neighbor; therefore, such love will also be imparted to his family, his country, and the world.

The New Covenant commandments (there are only two) of love are superior to the Old Covenant commandments. They are positive, whereas the law was negative. In the New Covenant, the commandments of love are superior because they are complete by the finished work of Jesus Christ. They are superior because they begin at the heart and lead us directly to our need for the Holy Spirit to guide us in our Christian walk.

We must not love God only with the heart, but with the whole heart. The whole heart is opposed either to a divided and detached heart or to an inconsistent and an inactive heart. The whole heart is focused on the loving and pleasing God. It is our indispensable duty to love God. To love God is our great natural duty. Man would more naturally love God than himself, were it not for sin.

Loving God with our whole heart is impeded by self-love, love of the world, spiritual apathy and carelessness of spirit, the love of sinful behaviors whatsoever or a disproportionate love of things which are lawful.

The great guiding influence of the Christian life is to be our love for God and others. Unfortunately, Christians often spend so much time in following the traditions of men, man-made standards and religious rituals that they have little, or no, time to attend to anything else. There are only two requirements: love God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind and love thy neighbor as thyself. If you take care of that, everything else will take care of itself.