Forgiveness: Your Journey to Freedom

One summer morning, a few days before Independence Day, I walked into one of the classrooms at the preschool where I taught. The children had been shuffled inside after playing outdoors and were obediently sitting on the rug they sat on every morning at this time. As I walked in the classroom with a smile on my face, ready to read a story aloud, I noticed something familiar out of the corner of my eye. As I took a few steps closer, I quickly recognized the red, white, and blue object that had caught my attention. As I stared at the small American flag standing proudly in the corner of the classroom, a strong emotion came over me. How can a simple cloth, made up with stars and stripes, make a grown adult feel like weeping? Was I merely caught up in the spirit of the upcoming holiday? Or could it be that I was experiencing the emotion I feel whenever I'm reminded of the freedom I've been bought by the blood of another?



What a blessing it is when July 4th comes along and America finally celebrates what she should be celebrating all year long: Freedom. It's so easy to take for granted the blessings we experience every day, especially for those who have never lived without it. But for those of us who once were lost and now are found, who remember what it was like before we allowed Christ to set us free from our chains, freedom is the single greatest gift we have ever received.

As I sat down with a Bible in my lap and my head bowed in prayer, I began to ponder the word Freedom in my heart. It wasn't long before I began asking myself, "What is freedom really about? Is it merely a word that gives us a warm fuzzy feeling inside? Is it an unattainable dream or, worse yet, an excuse for crudeness and laziness? Though freedom was purchased at the highest price, has it become nothing more than an excuse for complacency?"

I cried out to the Lord and begged for His forgiveness on behalf of myself and my country! How can we take for granted the greatest gift He has ever given us? I bowed my head once more and asked the Lord to tell me how I can truly live in the complete freedom He has graciously given.

And He answered, "Forgive others as I have forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:32b, paraphrased)

What? What on earth does forgiveness have to do with freedom?

And then it dawned on me: There are few things that bind us in tighter chains than the sin of unforgiveness. You see, unforgiveness has a lot of friends: Bitterness, resentment, jealousy, pain, and anger, to name a few. If we allow these things a place in our heart, we are hindering ourselves from making a greater impact for the Kingdom.

Reverend Bruce Goettsche perfectly described the results of forgiveness versus unforgiveness when he said,

"Forgiveness not only releases us physically and emotionally, it also releases us SPIRITUALLY."

"An unforgiving heart binds the Holy Spirit's ability to work. It becomes a barrier to effective and fruitful ministry. An unwillingness to forgive disrupts our fellowship with God. It steals from us the joy of knowing His forgiveness in our lives."

You see, my friends, when we choose unforgiveness, we are actually choosing to give up a piece of the freedom that is offered us in Christ. We are choosing to be bound by chains. By forgiving others we are not justifying their sin, but are freeing ourselves so that we can begin to heal and move on.

And so, on this Independence Day, I urge you to consider the freedom that you've been offered. Is there anything that you are allowing to hold you back from experiencing it fully? Are you holding on to bitterness, jealousy, hatred, anger, or anything that keeps you from knowing freedom completely? The choice is yours:

What will YOU choose to occupy your heart?

"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." -Mark 11:25

"My chains are gone, I've been set free. My God, my Savior, has ransomed me. And like a flood, His mercy reigns. Unending love, amazing grace." <3>

The Storm

Today, while I was at the Preschool, I started thinking about the weather we've been having lately. It's cool and sunny during the day, but it quickly grows chilly before the sun has a chance to fully retreat. And that got me thinking... isn't that so much like our life as Believers? We do our best to be a light to others in a dark and cold world, but we aren't always spared from the temperature drops. Sometimes, we are soaked by the same storms that unbelievers are. It seems that no one can escape it...not even the President.






I love my 30 minute drive to and from work because I get to enjoy the beautiful scenery without being exposed to the elements (not that there are often "elements" to complain about in San Diego). If I'm cold, I can turn my heater on to 90, or can drop it down to 71 if I'm feeling particularly hot. Nonetheless, it's my perfect little haven for 60 minutes each day that provides a place where I feel..."comfortable". And that got me thinking too...

It seems that there is often an a misconception among Believers that we are somehow spared from the tragedies of life once we accept Christ as our Savior. Perhaps we think that since Christ paid the penalty for our sins and washed them away with His blood, he must have taken all our pain, suffering, and trials along with it. But the Bible doesn't say anything like that. In fact, it states quite the opposite:

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." -James 1:2-4

"Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." -1 James 1:12

"So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world." -1 Peter 1:6 & 7

So what exactly is my point in all this?...





The storms of life are going to come. Period. And we have an important decision to make: Are we going to sink or swim? We can choose to go it alone or to hold on to our Savior for dear life. After all, isn't He the Giver of Life? Where can we find greater safety than under the shelter of His wings?

"Guard me as you would guard your own eyes. Hide me in the shadow of your wings." -Psalm 17:8

"How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings." -Psalm 36:7

"Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings!" -Psalm 61:4

When the storms of life come, are we going be like the Titanic, which was once thought to be "Indestructible", yet ended up sinking when Winter brought forth its dangerous elements?






Dear friends, when the storms of life come, let us not turn our eyes away from our Savior. Instead, let us embrace our challenges with our heads held high and our hands lifted up towards Heaven...

"Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." -Colossians 3:2 & 3

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I'll praise you in this storm

And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

(Chorus to "Praise You in This Storm" by Casting Crowns)

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"Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see! For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you!"

-Isaiah 60:1

The Waiting Room

When most people hear the words "Please sit in the Waiting Room and wait for your name to be called", rarely is it associated with a feeling of comfort. For many and most, waiting means more time to worry. Whether at the Vet, the Doctor, or the Hospital, for those awaiting the test results of an uncertain future, the Waiting Room can feel like an emotional Death Row. Many would agree that the hardest part of life is the waiting period. We often find the unknown far more frightening than reality itself. Because fear begins in our mind, it's easy to see how the more time we have to think, the more fearful we become.

The Waiting Room theory can be true in our daily lives as well. As the journey becomes more difficult and the road ahead more foggy, we find ourselves in a state of waiting. We question anything and everyone around us, trying to get some idea of what we can expect in the days to come. The problem is, there's only One who knows our future and He's not telling.






Trust. For many of us, trusting God can be likened to walking blindfolded down a dark alley. We don't feel safe unless we can see each step with our own eyes and choose each path for ourselves. We have somehow been convinced that we can make better choices than the One who created us. Although His perspective is Eternal and ours is limited, we have bought the lie that if we want it done right, we must do it ourselves.







While life certainly has its dark alleys, we must not let fear blind us to the truth. As Christ said to His disciples in Mark 4:40: "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith at all?"


What does it mean to have faith?


According to Hebrews 11:1 "Faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see."


So am I saying that faith means trusting God even we can't comprehend His reasoning?


Yes! "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5 & 6)







As President Roosevelt put it, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." How true it is!


So what is the opposite of fear and where can it be found?


The opposite of fear is love. "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love." -1 John 4:18


How does love manifest itself and what are the characteristics of love?


"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." -1 Corinthians 13:4-8a


So where did love come from and what exactly IS love?


1 John 4:7 & 8 tells us: "Dear Friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."







If God is love and the absence if love is fear, than the only thing truly worth fearing is the absence of God in our lives. For those who have received the gift of Salvation we have nothing to fear because we have accepted the Lord in our hearts... God and fear cannot occupy the same space. For those who do not believe, however, their fear is justified for they don't have the assurance of Salvation.







At this point you're probably wondering what Salvation has to do with the waiting period of life. Sure, it's great to have the Holy Spirit to guide us, but that doesn't make it easy to trust when the future seems so hazy. We need something tangible... a sort of promise that trusting the Lord, even when we don't understand Him, produces the best outcome. In these moments, when fear sets in and we wonder what on Earth we're doing, we must look to the Holy Word and rest on the promise of Jeremiah 29:11: " 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' "


Then what?


"Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me if you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:12)







You see, friends, trials are an inevitable part of life. Since we have no choice but to sit in the Waiting Room in anticipation of the outcome, the greatest thing we can do is seek the Lord's will for us during these times. The choice is ours: Sit and wait in fear, or Seek the Lord and trust. Just remember that a question not quickly answered by the Lord may be used to build patience in us. Either way we look at it, we can be assured of this:


"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and the door shall be opened unto you."

- Matthew 7:7

~~ The Beauty of Hope ~~

Hope. A word so powerful that it can mean the difference between life and death. Without hope there is no reason to go on, no reason to try, and no reason to believe that there's anything worth holding on to. Without hope our life is but a passing wind... a flower that withers away into nothingness. Our lives have no passion, no direction, no purpose if we don't have hope. But where can this hope be found?

For those of us who have come to know the Lord on a deeply personal level, our joy in Him overflows! We bow our hearts in prayer, meditate on His Word day and night, and see Creation as His divine artwork. We smile as we watch the rain fall from the sky and remember His promise when we see the rainbow that follows the storm. In these things we find hope. Although life has it's troubles, and some may seem unbearable, at the end of the day we have the assurance of Eternity to hold on to. Our hope is found in Salvation and "nothing can separate us from the love of God that is found in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:38 & 39).

But what about the broken? What about the souls so deperately in need of a Savior? What about those who would give anything to hear the message of Salvation? Oh, if only we'd look past the outer appearance. The Holy Word tells us that "man looks at the outer appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7) I long for His Eternal perspective.

How convicted I was this morning as I listened to "Does Anybody Hear Her?" by Casting Crowns. How many times throughout my life have I walked past another and been completely disgusted at their lifestyle? How many times have I chosen not to speak to someone new at church because of the way they were dressed or how they spoke? It breaks my heart as I consider how many people never came back because they felt so judged and alone. If only I would have reached out...

Forgive me, Lord, for forgetting that Your desire is that none should perish. Forgive me, Lord, for overlooking the very hearts you have brought into my life to touch. Lord, give me Your eyes so I can see the tears behind the smile. Give me Your ears so I can hear the silent cries of the broken. Give me Your touch so I can reach out to the lost. And give me Your heart, Lord, so I can love the unlovable.

But is there hope for us to change? Is there even a chance that we will leave behind the pedistal we've built for ourselves and choose instead to seek the lost? And when we find them, how do we convince them of the hope that is found in Christ alone? What if they reject us? What shall we do then?

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." ~Romans 12:12

And what shall we do then, Lord? Where will you lead us and for how long must we endure the rejection of the world?

"And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us." ~Romans 5:2b-5

But what if we see no results? What if we keep praying, keep hoping, keep perservering and still cannot see if we are making a difference?

"For faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." ~Hebrews 11:1

Oh Lord, at times I grow so weary of resisting the enemy. My human body limits me... my spirit is willing but my flesh is weak. Where can I find the strength to go on when my flesh refuses the journey?

"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." ~Isaiah 40:31

I see it clearly now, Lord. Your desire is that I should plant seeds, but it's up to you to water them and make them grow.

"Other men see only a hopeless end, but the Christian rejoices in an endless hope."

~ Gilbert M. Beeken

Give Me Your Eyes

How bittersweet it is when I find a touching song. My heart breaks, my soul longs for more, and my spirit feels a contentedness in nothing but the arms of my Savior. No matter how much we love another, it never compares to the perfect love that God has for us. Not just His children, but the blind and the broken of this world as well. His impartiality is amazing and I wonder if I will ever understand it.







Do you ever sit in a coffee shop, take a walk in the park, or stand in line at the airport and take a moment to look at the people around you? Not just a glance, but a peering into the soul? I'm brought to tears nearly every day as the Lord allows me to look into the heart of perfect strangers. I never fail to be touched beyond words as the struggles, the fears, and the dreams of another flash before my eyes. It's like watching a silent film with the actors sitting beside you tell you each thought and feeling they had during that part of the movie.


A washing came over me this morning as I spent my quiet time with the Lord. I awoke with a burdened heart and I knew instantly what the cause of it was. Sometimes it's a guessing game and it takes much prayer to determine the cause. This morning, however, the answer was clear as crystal.


Falling down on my face as my eyes filled with tears, I asked the Lord to forgive me for my selfcenteredness. How I waste my time trying to make things work out my way instead of allowing God to lead my every step. It is a constant battle and I often wonder if I tire the Lord with my stubborness. If I know that God's plans are better than my own, why do I keep pressing to do things my way? My plans fall short and I always end up wishing I had done things His way.

I ran across a song today that reminded me how much the Lord has changed my view of people. I used to look at them with no empathy and with little consideration about anything besides what was happening in my life at that time. Over time and the closer I have grown to God the more the way I see the world has changed. He has healed my vision so that I now see others and life's situations through His eyes. Although I now stand at the crossroad of life I stand without fear for, although the way is unclear to my human eyes, I find comfort in knowing that the Holy Spirit will show me the way.

Dare to trust the Lord in all things. It's worth the sacrifice. It's worth the journey. It's worth the search and worth the praying. It's worth everything.

Take a look at the people around you. The Lord has caused each of them to cross your path for a specific reason. Where your instincts are to judge, choose instead to pray. Where your instincts are to be angry, choose instead to smile. Where your insticts are to ignore, choose instead to reach out. Where your instincts are to hurt, choose instead to be kind. Where your human nature tells you to retaliate, choose instead to love. And where your flesh tells you to turn a blind eye to the pain around you, choose instead to see.

Give me Your eyes for just one second

Give me Your eyes so I can see

Everything that I've been missing

Give me Your love for humanity

Give me Your arms for the broken hearted

Ones that are far beyond my reach

Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten

Give me Your eyes so I can see

Father, give me a heart like yours.

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Brandon Heath - Give Me Your Eyes <~~ Be Touched

The Greatest Question Ever Asked

If you're anything like me you probably get a kick out of the hilarious questions that seem to find their way out of a child's mouth. I myself find it hard to keep from laughing when I hear some of the thoughts that swim around in their little heads. I've had to work at keeping a straight face when such questions arise because, if you haven't noticed, kids take their questions and your answers to those questions very seriously.






Who among us hasn't, at one time or another, been asked the age old question "Why is the sky blue?" or, better yet, "Where do babies come from?" Although there is only one answer to each of these questions, you will find that rarely is the true answer ever articulated. In fact, it's become the norm to respond with a false answer. Here are some typical responses a child receives in regards to the second question:

While I'll admit that I found the above responses quite humorous, it also made me question what it is about the Truth that makes it so difficult to tell. Do we purposely give children false answers because we get a kick out of knowing they'll believe every word we say? Is it that we ourselves aren't sure what the real answer is? Or could it be that we don't find the Truth to be as interesting as the answers we make up? Whatever the case may be, I can't help but think of the words found in John 8:32:

"Then you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

Perhaps the reason I so deeply consider this subject is because I have always been a Truth-seeker. It makes me smile as I recall the times as a child when I would ask my parents "why?" after every question they would answer. By the time I got to the eleventh "why?" my parents would say, "You're just playing games. Go outside and play." Every time they would say this I would end up walking away frustrated and confused. I longed to know the true answers to my questions. It hurt me to think that my parents were keeping the answers from me when I wanted desperately to know the Truth.

I recently received an e-mail from a Christian teenage boy who asked me and three other women what our opinion was on girls wearing bikinis. Were we for or against them? Do we think it's wrong or do we think it's not a big deal? My heart went out to the boy as the three women proceeded to tease him about the way he worded his question, the fact that he wasn't knowledgable about different styles of swimsuits, and the fact that he was letting the question bother him in the first place. My heart broke as he told the women that he was now embarrassed that he asked. The Lord burdened my heart to write him a private e-mail sharing with him what the Word of God says about the topic and to tell him that I wish more people would seek the Truth like he does. The words of my e-mail were Spirit-filled and full of Scripture. The boy responded to my e-mail by telling me that this was exactly the answer he was looking for and thanked me profusely for sharing it with him.

I don't tell you this story to elevate myself, for the words were the Lord's alone. I share this with you so that you may consider the importance of questions and the value of the Truth. How I pray that we make the choice, from this day forward, to adopt a Biblical worldview and to hold to the wisdom found in Scripture, even when it's inconvenient. Who has ever made a difference by doing what was easy or convenient? It's those who dare to start brushfires in the minds of others that will find that the only thing left standing in the end is the Truth.

May we cherish every time someone asks us "why?" and may we also come to realize that every answer we give may determine whether someone walks in the darkness of the world or the light of God's Truth.

"Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened for you."

~ Matthew 7:7

Kansas City Teaser

There's rarely a good excuse for taking so long to write a new post, but if I tell you that I've been visiting family out of state does that count? I could probably get away with that one as long as I don't tell you that the place I stayed had 4 computers with internet access. Oops. :P

I'm going to keep this teaser short and sweet... a first for me!

Chris and I had an absolutely tremendous time with my family this past weekend. The response we received was beyond our deepest prayers. The blessings have been endless and I can't wait to share with you in person exactly what happened and what was said!

My oldest sister Heather received a really nice camera for Christmas last year and asked if she could take some photos of Chris and me. We went all over Kansas City and enjoyed the many locations. The only downside was that it was VERY windy that day, so I look a bit "wind blown" in my pictures. Oh well! She took hundreds of pictures of us, so it will take a while before she can get them uploaded. In the mean time, I have two pictures to tide you over! More to come, along with many more details about the trip!

"God reserves the very best for those who leave the choice to Him."