On My Back Porch, coffee with my Father: But you don't know what they did to me!

Monday, July 13, 2009

But you don't know what they did to me!

I took this picture while at the Holy Land Experience in Orlando. One of my favorite places to visit. You've got to go there!

Pastor Mark, at Merge Church, has been speaking to us on Forgiveness! OUCH!!

The very word steps all over my little toes, and I know it does yours too.

We want forgiveness, we ask for it, we seek it, we believe in it's curative powers, we read about it, we talk about it, we even sing about it.

My question is how readily do we really extend forgiveness?

I mean from the gut, not just words. The kind of forgiveness that hurts because the offence was so horrendous we carry it around like a badge of honor. I AM MARTYR! The kind of forgiveness that when we let go of the offense we know it will be the end of us.

Col 3:13 says "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

What? You've got to be kidding me, who put that in there? It must be a type-o this can not possibly be...... Forgive as the Lord forgave me???? Do you know what he did to me? Do you have any idea what I went through? Forgive that????

Dear Lord, I forgive....just don't let that so and so come near me or I'll slit his throat, but I forgive, yes sir, I forgive!

UM, NO, forgiveness, is letting go of the offense so it doesn't kill you. It's getting rid of stuff that's taking up space in you that God wants to inhabit.

Unforgiveness is clogging up the works! We need a spiritual laxative, and that would be forgiveness!

When we forgive others from the deepest part inside us, all that stuff comes out and we are cleansed. (Sorry about that, but that's the visual I just got, God does have a sense of humor!)

When we are cleansed, there is space for God to move into places we had roped off and locked up thinking He just doesn't need to be there.

Forgiveness is a choice, a life altering choice, but the bottom line is we can't afford not to forgive. Not just the words, but really forgiving, letting go, emptying out so God can fill us.

Jesus did it all for us on the cross. I think everyone should have to watch "The Passion" to have a somewhat graphic reminder of what forgiveness really is.

Have our experiences been anything even remotely close to the torture He went through on our behalf? I don't think so...

How can we not forgive, when we've been forgiven so much?

Are you carrying offenses around that are killing you? Do you even realize they are there, or have you carried them so long you don't notice the stink?

I know it can be painful to forgive, but I also know not forgiving will cause a slow and gruesome death. It will bring on horrible cancerous growth and depleat us of all our beauty. Is that really how you want to go out?

I don't have a magic bullet to share with you, all I can say is, seek Him. He will give you what ever you need to truely forgive, and He will fill the void left when the offense is released.

You will be set free!

If you need prayer for help, please don't hesitate to let me know. On the side bar there's a place for prayer requests. You can leave me a message in comments, or email me. I want to help if you need prayer.

Blessings,