FORGIVENESS

THE FAINTING SOUL REVIVED

Spurgeon- 'The fainting soul revived'

God does not resent our ingratitude--
"My child, my poor child," he says,
"though you have gone and spent your substance;
though you have been feeding swine;
though you are all black, and foul and filthy--
yet you are my dear child still,
and my heart yearns towards you."

Without a word of rebuke, or even a taunting look,
as soon as ever a poor sinner comes back to the Father's
house, the Father's arms are round around his neck,
and the kiss of pardon is pressed on his cheek.

"I remember you well," he says;
"I have blotted out your sins like a cloud,
and your iniquities like a thick cloud."

This is just like when we sin against another and ask forgiveness we are to act like God and forgive. When we don't except forgiveness we are not one with God. When someone hurts you, even when it is harsh we are still to forgive. It is sure hard at times but I look at myself and how I have sin against others at times and my God forgives me. He has blotted out out our sins, we should forgive thoses that sin against us. I am not saying forget because it is hard to forget being human still, but forgiveness gives us such freedom...and it may free thAT person that sinned against you to feel free to go on with their walk.

O LOVE THAT WILT NOT LET ME GO

O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
O light that foll’west all my way,
I yield my flick’ring torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.
O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.
O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.

Romans 8:28-39

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among any brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, "For Thy sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered." But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

THE BATTLE FEILD

~ There is not a place which a believer walks in--which is free from snares. Behind every tree--is the tempter with his barbed arrow! Behind every bush--is the roaring lion, the Devil, your great enemy, prowling around, looking for some victim to devour! Under every piece of grass--hides the deadly adder!This present world is the battlefield; Heaven is a place of complete victory and glorious triumph. This present world is the land of the sword and the spear; Heaven is the land of the wreath and the crown. This present world is the land of the garment rolled in blood and the dust of the fight; Heaven is the land of the trumpet's joyful sound--the place of the white robe and of the shout of conquest.Oh, what a thrill of joy shall shoot through the hearts of all the redeemed, when their conquests shall be complete; when death itself, the last of foes, shall be slain; when Satan shall be dragged captive at the chariot wheels of Christ; when He shall have overthrown sin and trampled corruption as the mire of the streets; when the great shout of universal victory shall rise from the hearts of all the redeemed!"He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever!" Revelation 21:4

~C.H. Spurgeon~

TODAY'S CHURCH

Nicky Cruz - Today's Church is Just the World With a Christian T-Shirt on!

WHO IS SOVEREIGN?

I am God and there is no other; I am God and there is none like me declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, "My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose." ( Isaiah 46 9:10)

The Sovereignty of God is such a comfort to a christian. In good times and trials we know God has planned it and decreed it. What ever we go through God has purposed it and is right there with us through it. What really bothers me is that folks actually believe that we have some control over our lives, that we purpose it to happen and then God decrees it? When God said"I am God and there is none like me declaring the end from the beginning", He meant He is Sovereign over our lives. Now you are asking, "Did God declare Evil" and I ask you what about the cross, was that not the most evilest event to ever happen and was it not God that ordained that to happen? Yes!

Daniel 4:34-35 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth;and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”

I think if you question it then you are saying that there is a power greater then God, you are saying He is not on the throne. When a person says that they willed their own salvation they are saying that God's power is not great enough to draw them to Christ, that He needs their permission to become His child.

John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
1 John 4:19 We love Him because He first loved us.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

And a favorite verse of mine....
Ephesians 2:1-5 And you [He made alive], who were dead in trespasses and sins, (2) in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, (3) among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. (4) But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, (5) even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

*Believers are saved by God's mercy & grace, NOT by man's (freewill?) choice.*

When a person takes credit for their salvation they are denying the Sovereignty of God, they are taking God off the throne and sitting there themselves. Why do folks hate this doctrine so much, because it takes the power out of their hands and places it where it truly belongs. I am so comforted to know that God is in control of my life. I am so comforted to read of men and women in the bible that went through horrific events in their lives and trusted in the Sovereignty of God, Knowing, He has a purpose in the end that He would be glorified. The affliction of so many fellow Christians that suffered in the name of Christ and trusted that "The lot is cast in the lap,but every decision is from the Lord." God decreed that Job would suffer, Paul, John the Baptist and mostly Jesus Christ and each time it brought Him Glory!

Folks when you are going through a trial realize that God is using it to bring Him glory, be joyous that He is right there with you and the pain you may be experiencing will one day shine in heaven and you will hear those words "Well done good and faithful servant"? - Matthew 25:21."

God is absolutely sovereign. "Our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he pleases!" (Psalm 115:3).

God is Holy, so we know in the end what ever happens it is good!

CAST YOU BURDENS

Matthew "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Sometimes in life, pain can be so real, loneliness can so real, rejection can be so real. For some their suffering is daily. The pain of a desease, the pain of lossing someone one close, the pain of wanting to be loved and being rejected. You watch around you and see old folks walking a few steps and having to sit down because their bodies ache and there is no one around to help them, their families have left them to fend for themselves, you look into the eyes of little children and there is such emptiness because they see no hope in their future, you see children and adults being picked on becase they are different. You see folks reaching out to others and being rejected.You seen children being rejected by their parents and you wonder how they survive it knowing that your parent should be thier protecter yet their left to fend for themselves.

I wonder sometimes how I could make it through life's turmoils if I did not have Christ to cry out to. There have been times in my life that rejection is so real and without Him to go to, I don't what I would do? He is my Rock when I feel weak, he is my strength when I feel at my wits end, my friendship with Him is everlasting. I know He has me in this place for a reason, He is refining me into His image and making me realize daily how much I need Him.

"Casting all your care upon Him--for He cares for you!" 1 Peter 5:7

"He will feed His flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in His arms, holding them close to His heart." Isaiah 40:11

BURDENS

"We must recognize the difference between burdens that are right for us to bear and burdens that are wrong. We should never bear the burdens of sin or doubt, but there are some burdens placed on us by God which he does not intend to lift off. God wants us to roll them back on Him - - to literally "cast your burden", which he has given you, "on the Lord". If we set out to serve God and do His work but get out of touch with him, the sense of responsibility we feel will be overwhelming and defeating. But if we will only roll back on God the burdens He has placed on us, He will take away that immense feeling of responsibility, replacing it with an awareness and understanding of Himself and His presence. Many servants set out to serve God with great courage and with right motives. But with no intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ are soon defeated. They do not know what to do with the burden, and it produces weariness in their lives. Don't caste it {your burden} aside, but put it over onto Him and place yourself there with it. You will see that your burden is then lightened by the sense of companionship."
~ Oswald Chambers~