learning how to forgive

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Comment by ALCEDES D. JONES SR AKA AL JONE on January 29, 2012 at 11:25am

Today's Bible Verse:

Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (ESV)

Today's Inspiring Thought: Seasoned with Salt

I meet many Christians who haven't read this Bible verse, or so it seems by their ungracious, unsavory speech. If I'm honest I'll have to admit, I haven't always practiced this virtue. But, if we truly want to grow spiritually, we'll begin to consider the spiritual flavor of our speech.

So, what does it mean to have our speech seasoned with salt? Salt enhances the natural taste in foods so that we want to eat more. It also makes us thirsty. Our speech ought to be fresh and inviting, full of spiritual flavor, causing others to be desirous, hungry, and thirsty to hear more.

Comment by ALCEDES D. JONES SR AKA AL JONE on January 28, 2012 at 10:29pm

Wow I just received this and i just had to share it ,much love

Courageous Fathers

Instead of the normal Feed Back article for today, I have chosen to share a short movie review and commentary written by a colleague, Giacomo for another website.  As I read the commentary, I knew I had to share it with all of you and pray that you will be as touched as I was.

I have also seen the movie and found the message to be hard hitting and convicting.  As a father, I know I made a lot of mistakes and the movie and commentary below make me wish I had a chance to do many things over again.  My kids are now grown.  One earnestly seeks after the Lord and keeps Him as the focus in her house.  The other, well let’s just say that we continue to pray for her and her daughter.  Perhaps had I seen this movie or had this Resolution when she was younger, things might be different.

Therefore, please, please, PLEASE pray right now before you read any further and ask God to work in your heart, open your eyes and ears and help you become the father Christ wants you to be.  Then read the commentary below and if you haven’t seen the movie, I can’t urge you enough to buy it and watch it several times and then prayerfully you will print out the resolution, sign it in front of your family, ask some close friends to hold you accountable and see what a difference it will make in your life and the life of your children and wife.

By Giacomo

Where are the Courageous Fathers?

Last night I watched the movie Courageous with my wife, daughter and son-in-law.  It was a great movie and I would highly recommend it to everyone.

Without giving anything away, the message of the movie had to do with being the best father you can be and doing it biblically.

In the movie they mention a variety of statistics that reflect the negative effects a fatherless home has on the children.  It results in increased use of drugs, gang participation and committing crimes.  I’ve seen a number of studies over the years that indicate children from a fatherless home are also more likely to get divorced themselves.

Being a father is not just creating a child.  There are responsibilities that come with being a father, and many of these responsibilities do not belong to the mother and should never be left to the mother to fulfill.

One of the title characters in the movie realizes just what those responsibilities are and makes the decision to write a resolution, sign it and then asks his male friends to hold him accountable to that resolution.

What happens next?  You’ll have to watch the movie and see for yourself.  For those that are interested in the resolution, it is printed below.

Men, do YOU have the courage to print this resolution out, sign it and ask your friends to hold you accountable to it?

THE RESOLUTION

I do solemnly resolve before God to take full responsibility for myself, my wife, and my children.

I WILL love them, protect them, serve them, and teach them the Word of God as the spiritual leader of my home.

I WILL be faithful to my wife, to love and honor her, and be willing to lay down my life for her as Jesus Christ did for me.

I WILL bless my children and teach them to love God with all of their hearts, all of their minds, and all of their strength.

I WILL train them to honor authority and live responsibly.

I WILL confront evil, pursue justice, and love mercy.

I WILL pray for others and treat them with kindness, respect, and compassion.

I WILL work diligently to provide for the needs of my family.

I WILL forgive those who have wronged me and reconcile with those I have wronged.

I WILL learn from my mistakes, repent of my sins, and walk with integrity as a man answerable to God.

I WILL seek to honor God, be faithful to His church, obey His Word, and do His will.

I WILL courageously work with the strength God provides to fulfill this resolution for the rest of my life and for His glory.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. – Joshua 24:15

Heirs of the Covenant: Leaving a Legacy of Faith for the Next Generation

This practical plan for integrating Christian education into all of life shows what happens when believers seek to leave a legacy of faith for the next generation–and to live for Christ today.

True Christian education offers far more than secular education methods sprinkled with Bible stories. It teaches people of every age to think and live Christianly. And it makes teachers of us all. Whether you’re a parent or grandparent, a Sunday school or Christian school teacher, or a youth leader or pastor, you are responsible to help develop the community of believers into a unified, vibrant fellowship; to draw families together in committed relationships that extend beyond generational lines; and to live out God’s covenant with His people in a way that makes authentic Christianity come alive.

This practical plan for integrating Christian education into all of life shows what happens when, day by day, week by week, generation by generation, the church leads its people into the privileges and responsibilities of covenant living. Regardless of your role in God’s Kingdom, Heirs of the Covenant will motivate you to leave a legacy of faith for the next generation–and to live for Christ today in your home, church, and community.

Endorsements:

Susan Hunt’s plea for improved theological education of all God’s children is a timely challenge. She shows how the entire church must be involved–parents, Bible school teachers, and church staff–and provides practical ideas to stimulate thought. I commend her work highly. – James M. Boice, Pastor, Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, PA

Susan Hunt takes the redemptive message integrated in all Scripture from the academic’s desk to the elementary classroom, kitchen table, and child’s bedside. It’s biblical theology for all of life! – Bryan Chapell, President, Covenant Theological Seminary

Comment by ALCEDES D. JONES SR AKA AL JONE on October 18, 2011 at 5:04pm

HI EVERYONE WE SERVE AN AWESOME HEAVENLY FATHER ,I COULD TALK FOR HOURS ABOUT MY LIFE AND HOW I HAVE TO FORGIVE OVER AND OVER, BUT IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT GOD THROUGH JESUS DID FOR US IT IS A SMALL THING TO FORGIVE ,BUT THAT IS HOW I FEEL ABOUT LIFE, I'M ALMOST FINISH A GREAT BOOK TO ME ENTITLE THE HEALING POWER OF FORGIVENESS BY GEORGE FOSTER ,I THINK IT CAN HELP A LOT IF YOU ARE HAVING A HARD TIME IN THIS AREA OF YOUR WALK,AND HERE IS A VERY POWERFUL PRAYER THAT I TRY TO TAKE TO THE THRONE OF GRACE EACH MORNING BEFORE I GO TO WORK ,I EVEN POST IT ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE ,

Father in heaven, today I release every care, concern, offense and disappointment to You. I choose to keep the peace that You have given me. I look forward to today knowing that You are with me and leading me in victory in Jesus’ name! and O Heavenly Father I cover all of my sisters and brothers all over the entire world with this humble prayer and asking that you manifest their heart desires to each and everyone of them and me too according to your will, and O Heavenly Father if we did anything that was displeasing to you on yesterday I repent with all my heart for me and them for we thank you for being a Father who forgive and give us second chances, O Heavenly Father through the name of your son,Jesus who is our big brother and high priest amen

Comment by irma diaz on November 30, 2009 at 1:55am

HELLO I AM SAVE SO I THINK WHAT MAKE ME HAVE DOUGHT IS 2 YEARS ADO MY SON 38YEARS OLD CAME HOME DRUNK AND HE AND MYSELF GOT INTO A BIG HEATED FIGHT ..HE BEAT ME REALY BAD IJUST NEED TO KNOW HOW DO I FORGIVE HIM WITH ALL MY HEART BUT IM HAVEING TROUBLE WITH FORGIVEING.....I PRAY TO GOD FOR DIRECTION CAUSE IM A MOTHER THAT VERY HURT.....HE GOT 5 YEARS THIS HAPPEN FEBUARY 13,2007 AND I FEEL LIKE I GOT LIFE SENTANCE....
THANK YOUALL FOR HEARING ME OUT...........
ILUHTTSDTTSEA.....IRMA,,

Comment by Alvin S. Foote on October 26, 2009 at 1:22pm

The bigest part about forgivness is forgiving yourself, once God forgive you and you forgive yourself then your on the road too recovery, this is what I believe.

Comment by Angie/Shinetoday on October 23, 2009 at 9:36pm

Amen! The Bible warns so sternly about the "root of bitterness" and not to let it take hold. So much so it says don't even let the sun go down with out forgiving. So many say I forgive you but then the very next day they still have anger and bitterness, it's a stronghold and yes, it can open a door to the demonic. I watch a woman going through exorcism that had a childhood of sexual abuse and let the root of bitterness get in. The exocist told her to repeat the words I forgive my abuser,,and nothing happened,,because she couldn't..it was just words. Then Bob Larson told her to tell God she wanted to forgive but she couldn't and to tell God she needed His help to forgive. That was all it took...years of anger and pain and hurt were all released and so were the demons possesing her and this woman had such a sense of peace and contentment..her first words she could speak were Jesus, yes Jesus. Its hard to understand how bad the demonic can drain a soul so badly, but when you see this kind of peace in them after an exorcism..it is like tons and tons of bricks have been lifted off their shoulder....it's like they are finally getting a chance to have a life..and one of peace.