Forgiveness

I think forgiveness looks a little funny to us compared to how God sees it.

This is a rock I took a picture of while we were out four wheeling. See it has a certain design not specific or so much of a pattern but it looks cool I think.

Matthew 26:28
This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

I look at it and think "ok, God has a plan here" just like when I look at my life. It's not perfect at all and there are many things that this rock has been through because you can see its layers but there is a reason for every layer.

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

Sometimes I forget what The LORD did for me. I mean he didn't just die on a cross for me. God turned his face away from him because he took all of our sin on him. I don't even want to know what that felt like. I think I would rather face a thousand deaths.

Matthew 27:46 (New International Version)

⁴⁶About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

I am learning that this not forgiving other people thing is holding me back from seeing the true face of God. So now taking the steps to get rid of my unforgiving heart are not as easy as I thought. How do you even know or remember what is forgiven and what is not. I only know what is fore front in my mind right now and that obviously needs to be dealt with.

Dad smiles.

Jayden smiles.

Jayden goes in for the kiss!

Pictures Of Jayden and Family

The Holy Spirit

I was just inspired to write after reading a blog of a friend of mine.

Luke 11:9-13

So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks the door will be opened.

Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will you give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

How many of us believe the words here in the living word of God? I have to be honest I didn't even know they were there until just a year ago and I have been a Christ follower for 23 years. I think something very important that I was missing out on and that I still am is "for everyone who asks received". You mean I just have to ask for it? I think that asking for The Holy Spirit everyday is a way to start your day.

Isaiah 11:2-3

The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him--

the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,

the Spirit of counsel and of power,

the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD--

and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.

How many of us put limits on the Holy Spirit? Why? There is so much more. If we just ask to have his wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, how much more would we understand the word of God if we just read it and ask. Then I think we would understand how The LORD wants us to live in this world and not of it and to live by the spirit and not of the flesh. I think this takes a lot of practice but how do we not break away from it? It is so easy to get sucked into the ways of this world, or is it? Just some thoughts.