Going Wireless?

We all know that USB cables link a piece of equipment to a computer. I’m going to use a digital camera as example. The cable transfers images from the memory device inside the camera to the to the memory device inside the computer. Once there, a few clicks of the mouse, and another cord sends the signal from the computer to the printer, and viola!, you have a picture. Technology has evolved and now we can do all this without the cables. We’ve gone wireless!. Not only do we not need the cable, our camera can communicate directly with the printer, eliminate the need for a clunky computer system.

In the old covenant (promise) God had with his people, the Israelites, a perfectly healthy and unscarred animal had to be sacrificed to make up for sins. It was slaughtered and the blood was sprinkled on the altar by the High Priest, the mediator between God and His people. Now we are under a new covenant, the covenant of Grace. Jesus, perfect and without blemish (sin), sacrificed himself on the cross, and became the once-and-for-all blood sacrifice for everyone’s sins. Because of Jesus, we no longer have to go through a high Priest, nor do we have to offer an animal’s blood to make up for our sins. Jesus made the way for us to go directly to God. That includes all people, not just the Jews – gentiles, pagans, atheists, budists, islamics, and everyone else. Romans 10:9-1 says, “If you declare that Jesus is Lord, and believe that God brought him back to life, you will be saved. By believing you receive God’s approval, and by declaring your faith you are saved.” Jesus is the cord that connects us to God. He is the only way.

I’m going to refer back to the computer and USB cords… Technology has evolved so we don’t need cords and cables to connect one piece of equipment to another. Instead, a signal is transmitted between the pieces of hardware. The camera can communicate directly with the printer. Some cell phones have aps that can send a picture to a printer from anywhere the phone signal can send it! Maybe you don’t need a cord, or even be anywhere near, you still need a connection and a signal. There are many signals to get you interested in God, but there was, is and forever will be only one connection to hook you up with God, and that’s Jesus. John 14:6: Jesus answered him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the Father except through me.”

You can point the camera at the printer and push the send button all day long, but without the connection, you can’t print a picture. Jesus is our only connection to God and His Kingdom (Heaven). There is nothing we can do to get there. We can’t work our way in, and we sure enough can’t buy our way in. Reread the two scriptures, Romans 10:9-10, and John 14:6. Jesus did all the work. Jesus paid our way. He’s the only connection to God. This fact will never change, will never be upgraded, and will never go “wireless”.

CaraBella, Queen of Flynnland

Psalm 30:5, 10, 11, 12

"...Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning."

"Hear me, Lord, and have mercy on me.
      Help me, O Lord.”

You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
      You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
      O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!"


Joy came to me in a fur package.  Her name is CaraBella, Queen of Flynnland.  Cara means beloved friend; Bella means beautiful; the rest is self explanatory.

Cara (formerly Queenie) was surrendered to animal control in Philadelphia late December/early January.  Then the wonderful folks at Second Time Around Rescue, STAR, pulled her from there, had her spayed, chipped, UTD on shots, and listed her for adoption with Petfinder.com.  That is where I saw her photo, and read her bio.  That was on Tuesday, 25 January 2011.  We met her on Saturday, the 29th and she came home with us that afternoon.  STAR thinks she may be 1-2 years old.  She has a German shepherd face and the fur on her neck feathers typical of GSD.  She has erect, pointed ears, but are kinda-of small.  Also, she has a long torso.  All the rest is the unknown breed.  Could be pitbull, lab, or another breed with a broad flat head and big backside.  She is very docile, loud noises don't phase her; she is sweet, and greets with kisses.  Other dogs and cats, well, so far, not so good.  Did I mention she knows how to open doors? 

I am curious to see if she would be a good candidate for a therapy dog.  I am going to wait about a year or so, after we get some good solid OB training (she was not responding to any commands but is doing pretty good on sit).  She walks nicely on the leash for me.  Praise the Lord for that favor!

So here she is, photos from my phone-camera, both taken the first day at work.

waiting in the car, on the ride home:

snozzing, giving belly.  Hard to see from this picture, but her belly is shaved from her spay surgery.

I'll write more about her later.  But, I'll just close with these thoughts I had today, about why God gave us dogs.  A) to demonstrate how we should love unconditionally, quick to forgive, be faithful and loyal  B) the obedience we expect from our dogs is what our Father wants from us, particularly "come"--when He calls us, we should run to Him just as fast as we can.



.

Square pegs and holes in hearts

I remember back in my little kid days playing with this toy, where you had to match the pegs with their same-shaped holes.  The lesson from this puzzle game is that you can’t fit a square peg into a round hole.  Each piece fit in only one specific space.  As hard as a kid can push and jam, or turn the piece around and around, it will only fit into it’s certain spot.

I see how God’s love works the same way.  I’m convinced that there is a space in each person’s heart that is so unique, only God’s love can fit it exactly.  This empty space is such a noticeable void that we know we just have to fill it.  Some people try and substitute drugs, alcohol, money, possessions, sex, -- all the things this world offers, even in excess – yet they still know something is missing, and spend their days and nights trying to fill the void.  I learned the hard way; none of this stuff can fill the spot reserved for Jesus in my heart.  Once I surrendered completely, God’s Holy Spirit filled all the voids, and my former wants and desires are gone.  Good riddance to them, I don’t miss anything!  I don’t miss cigarettes, hangovers, those feelings of being lost, worthless, and life is pointless; and I certainly don’t miss feeling unloved, unwanted, and the nagging thoughts of suicide.  I don’t have a specific scripture reference to back up my theory, just personal experience, and testimony from others.  I see evidence in radically changed lives.

Scripture tell us that God created us for His own good pleasure.  He loves us no matter what.  God loves us so much that He sent us Jesus, His Son, who willingly took the death penalty, and hung on the cross to pay for our sins so that we could have salvation and spend eternity with Him. (John 3:16:  “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.) 

Seriously think about this:  He loves us so much that He died for us, and all He wants from us is to love Him back.  That’s it.  So, do you want what’s missing?  Open up your heart, and let Him in.  Confess your sins, accept His forgiveness, and start your new life.  That empty spot will be filled-in.  His love will permeate your entire being.  And nothing – no thing, no person, no experience, or substance – can compare.

Romans 3:23:  For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

Romans 6:23:  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 10:9-10:  If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

Romans 8:38-39:  And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(all scriptures quoted from The New Living Translation)

Trust

Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the rock eternal.  Isaiah 26:4 NLT

Do not trust in created things – trust in Me. 

I am in control of everything. 

I made my throne in the heavens.  From there, I watch everything that’s going on. 

I know every heart because I made them. 

I open my hand and provide for all my creation, everything they need – food, water, air – everything, I made it and I provide it. 

Is there anything too hard for me to do?  I hung the stars in the sky.  I made the boundary for the waves.  I tore the curtain open so you can come to me.  Just come to me. 

Trust in me.  I am faithful.  I keep my promises. 

Everything on earth will disappear.  The earth and the heavens will one day run from my presence. 

I look at the big picture.  I see the future and the past.  I know what you will think next. 

You can trust me alone.  I alone am trustworthy. 

I alone will last forever. 

I created you

I love you

I will never leave you

I will never disappoint you

nor fail you

as long as you trust in me.

Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory—for all it’s strength, it cannot save you.  Psalm 33:17 (NLT)

Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no hope for you there.  But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God.  Psalm 146:3,5 (NLT)

Forgiven or Indifference?

“and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us…”  Luke 11:4 NLT

Long ago, there was an incredibly deep hurt.  Thanks to the Lord’s gracious gift of forgiving, and time, the wound is healed.  Thoughts are far removed from that dark time; it’s further away than a distant memory.  There is no longer pain, and speaking of it comes rather easily compared to when the hurt was an open, gaping hole.  It was the greatest hurt my heart endured.

This morning I wondered how I would respond if the offender would reappear in my life.  Would I be kind, caring, and hospitable; would I be able to show Christian love?  I believe that if the answer is anything other than a promptly spoken “yes” then true forgiveness has not yet occurred. 

A state of indifference is the lack of emotion.  No love, no hate.  Zero feeling.  Forgiveness means a clean slate.  Forgiveness allows love.  God is love. (1John4:7,8)  God requires forgiveness. (Mark 11:25) 

He is the source of my ability to forgive.  He alone makes it possible for me to promptly reply, “Yes, it is forgiven.”

The Lord is close to the broken hearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Ps 34:18 NLT

The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

Psalm 145:8 NLT

What's on My Mind 11 Apr 2010

Like others that I mentally criticize for doing to me, I am so guilty of putting too much emphasis on a person's appearance rather than on their heart. I am drawn to things and people whose appearance is pleasing, and to those whose personality is pleasing. It's easy to love "lovely" people. But what about the others? The "others" are the ones that Jesus, and perhaps only Jesus, loves. We are commanded to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Jesus loves the lepers, the beggars, the "woman at the well", the tax collectors, the poor, widows and orphans, the cripples, you, and me. If we imitate Jesus, we'll love them too. If we need help, He'll help us; we need only ask. He will grant us that request.

Bring light and love into the lives of those who know only darkness.

Matthew 22:37-40 (nlt)
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

Ephesians 5:1-2 (nlt)
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

1 Corinthians 13:13 (nlt)
Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

JUST A TASTE AND...

"Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!" Psalm 34:8

...you get this unexplainable, indescribable, inexpressible, joyful feeling way deep inside; something so good you want to get up and dance around, shout-out from the highest place, stop strangers on the street and tell them, "Hey, you gotta give this a try". A burning desire to praise Him and pray and give thanks develops because your heart is so over-flowing with thanks and gratitude. All you can think about is God and Jesus and how much He loves us. You develop an insatiable desire to saturate yourself with the Word and pray without ceasing. This is kind-of what a "taste of the Lord" is like; an introduction of how awesome it is to feel God's love in your heart. The more you pursue Him, the stronger this feeling gets. Could this be JOY ?

I PRAISE YOU, O LORD

I will praise you all of my days
and honor you in all ways.
My heart desires,
like a burning fire,
to tell others what your word says.
No greater joy
than what you placed inside.
No words are sufficient to employ
in an attempt to describe
how tall and how wide
your arms reach out
to embrace us and draw us to your side.
Praise you in the morning,
praise you at night.
Seek you when I’m mourning,
find you with delight.
Praise you with voice,
praise you with pen and paper.
Every day, every night—rejoice!
You are my God, my redeemer, my maker.

Psalm 86:11-13 NLT
Teach me your ways, O LORD that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you. With all my heart I will praise you, O LORD my God. I will give glory to your name forever, for your love for me is very great. You have rescued me from the depths of death.

A NEW YEAR, A NEW LIFE

I saw a commercial on the tube the other night in which an actress, popular in the ‘70’s, gave her testimony. She started out by saying that this was the first New Year’s Day in many years that her resolution was not to loose weight. Then after some clever editing, a new clip came on the screen and the same beautiful woman said this year is the second year; the first clip we was last year’s recording. Her dialog was very emotional and she was choking back tears as she spilled her heart out to the TV audience. Her success, she told, was due to the commercial weight loss program for which she was the celebrity spokesperson the past few years. She spoke with a high level of conviction and persuasion as she promoted the program and urged the viewers to pick up the phone and join right then in order to get the special limited time pricing plan. She said that I, too, could have a new life, and find freedom from my extra pounds by learning and developing better eating habits. I, too, could be transformed into a new person. The way she fanned away at her eyes brought tears to mine.

Here’s the thing: I do feel passion and conviction about my transformation. Yes, I lost a few pounds and feel better, physically. However, the most incredible change isn’t physical; it’s what has happened to my heart that I want give testimony about. I do have a new life! I am a new person! It’s nothing I can take credit for; it’s all because of God. My old life is gone, and a new one has begun [2 Corinthians 5:17]. I’m giddy with excitement; I feel like jumping up and down; singing, and dancing around and around.

With the guidance from God’s word, love and support from new-found brothers and sisters, and close communication with my Savior and my Creator, life is way better than I ever thought it could be. I’ve discovered what joy is. I experience peace regularly. I know why I am still alive, and why I was born in the first place. I’ve gotten an introduction to what I believe God’s will for me is. I accept and embrace the fact that I am not in charge. I am totally at a loss for a way to sufficiently say thanks to God for saving me, for loving me, for choosing me and forgiving me. I’m so glad Jesus doesn’t expect me to repay Him for the sacrifice He made for me; He’s happy to have my heart. I gladly give it all up; my heart, my soul, and my strength, in total surrender and complete submission.

Psalm 32:1-5 [NLT] 1 Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! 2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! 3 When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. 4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. 5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.

RE-GIFTING

Isaiah 9:1-2; 6-7

1 … but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory. 2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. 6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!


It has become acceptable and even expected for a person to exchange and/or return an unwanted gift. That’s what a lot of folks do on the day after Christmas. Stores seem to be just as crowded on the 26th of December as they are on “Black Friday” and merchants wrap up the shopping season with that last blast of bargain hunters. If you don’t like what someone gave you, it’s no problem; just take it back and exchange it for something you’ll like better. Your gift-giver may even considerately include the specific “return” slip from the store to make the exchange more convenient for you. What a concept! Re-gifting, however, is tacky and not acceptable. If you get caught re-wrapping a gift and giving it to someone else, or horror of horrors, giving it back to the person who gave you the gift, well, imagine the embarrassment!

God gave us a gift greater than anything we could ever hope for. He gave us His son, Jesus. “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him” [John 3:16-17 NLT]. This unique gift keeps on giving. We receive the gift of salvation when we take Jesus into our hearts as our personal savior, confess our sins and repent, and confirm our belief that Jesus is God’s son who died on the cross for us and rose from the dead three days later. We receive the fruits of the Holy Spirit: “…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…” [Galatians 5:22-23]. We receive these precious gifts, not because we are worthy or are entitled, but because God loves us.

God’s gift of love has no end. It’s impossible to measure or weigh. It’s not intended to be contained or withheld. “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light” [Luke 8:16]. We are given an abundance to share with everyone we see and all who hear our voices. We’ll never run out because we’re always refilled. Jesus said, "Love your neighbor as yourself” [Matthew 26:39]. It’s okay to re-gift love; we’re encouraged to give it to others.

Thankful for What I Lost

Psalm 100 -- A psalm of thanksgiving.
1 Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth! 2 Worship the LORD with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. 3 Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

God wants to provide for us always, to give us what we need. He also provides for our wants. We come before Him and make our requests known to Him. When we receive His blessings, we are thankful and acknowledge the gifts are from Him through His mercy and His mighty love for us. Not because we deserve them, but because He loves us. At this time of year, we might think about it more often because of the Thanksgiving Day holiday.

We generally give thanks for the things we have. The gift of Jesus and my salvation, good health, loved ones, faithful friends, prosperity and possessions are a few examples of what I am thankful for. However, this year I am giving thanks for things I don’t have; things God has taken away from me.

1.0 Fear: I am no longer afraid of what will happen to me. I know that God is right there beside me. He keeps me safe in His loving arms, protecting me from all harm and evil. Psalm 27:1 “The LORD is my light and my salvation--so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? Isaiah 43:2 “ When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." He will be with me, always. Difficult and painful events are going to happen. I’m going to go through times of discipline, just like any child does. Whatever it is, I know I won’t be alone. I know He’s going to be there right beside me, and when necessary, carry me through. Psalm 31:24 “So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the LORD”! When it is time for me to rest, I know that it will be for just a while. 1Thesalonians 4:16-17 “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” I will be called upon along with the others and we’ll make the journey together with Jesus to be with our heavenly Father for eternity. Jesus told Nicodemus that whoever believes in God’s son will not perish but will have everlasting life (John 3:16), and He said that those who are victorious like He was, those that hold on to their crown, will sit with Him on His throne just as He sat with His Father on His throne (Rev. 3:21).

2.0 Worry / Anxiety: There is simply no point in worrying. It accomplishes no good. It changes nothing and surely does not add a single day to your life. Worry is an expression of faltering faith. Matthew 6:31-34, [Jesus says] “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” What outcome will be different by worrying and stressing over it? Not one. God allows difficult events in our lives. No one is exempt. Not even his own son, Jesus, was spared. The good thing is that we don’t have to face these crisis alone. He is there for us, to comfort and strengthen us, and to bring us peace. Everything happens according to God’s plan for us. He determines if things will go this way or that way. The apostle Paul says in Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” In Philippians 4:6-8 he says “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

3.0 Bitterness / Resentment: Ephesians 4:31-32 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” God has given me a way to overcome all of the bitterness I once had in my heart. He gave me the divine gift to forgive and forget. Because of His grace, I was able to forgive those who hurt me the most. I am free from the control they once had over me. If any one of them would come to me for help, I would do for them as God would lead me to; to extend love and compassion just as I would to anyone else. God loves them just as much as He loves me. What I do to the least of them, I do to him. Matthew 25:40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!"

4.0 Importance of material possessions: “Stuff” I have no longer holds the same importance to me as it once did. I used to think I needed a lot of things, such as a dining room, an up-to-date kitchen, an additional bathroom, a four-wheel-drive vehicle, more jewelry, so on and so forth. We live in a society where a person’s worth is measured by their possessions. Big houses, expensive automobiles; the boy with the most toys has the most friends. Praise God, He’s shown me that everything here on earth is only temporary. Our real riches can be found only in Heaven. Matthew 6:19-21;24 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. [24] “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other. You will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Anything that we put ahead of God is an idol. If you spend more time chasing after possessions than you do pursuing a relationship with Jesus, the possessions become idols. Isaiah 44:19: “The person who made the idol never stops to reflect, Why, it’s just a block of wood! I burned half of it for heat and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a god? Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?” Anything that keeps us from God is an idol. That includes activities, and yes, even our job. Ephesians 5:5 “You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.” Nothing can be more important than God. He wants to be first, above everything, before every one. Our first role in this life is as His children. Then we are spouse of s/he, or a parent, or a doctor, or a secretary or a student.

5.0 Control: I’ve always known I am a better follower than a leader. I can, and have been, in the control position over numerous situations and instances. I’ve had management positions in jobs that I’ve held. I can make sound decisions quickly when the need arises. I have the ability to effectively delegate responsibilities to others. I was allowed to take control of my own life when I moved out of my parents home at the age of 18. I still went back to them for support on a regular basis; however, I made my own decisions. I paid dearly for many of them. After I surrendered to God, everything changed. I heard about the concept of total submission. Of course I was apprehensive, but then I gave it a try. I held out my hands and said, “Here I am, Lord. I’m all yours. Use me to do your work. Do with me according to your will.” Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Each morning, I give myself to Him again. Freely, willingly, eagerly and thankfully. Life has been so much easier. Life has been so much better. Ezekiel 36:26 “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.” I let the Lord lead me in everything I do, and ask Him to control my thoughts and feelings, and to protect my heart from the evil one and what he tries to put in my head. I don’t want to go through another day, not one, ever, without God being in control. Psalm 25:10 “The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness, all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.” I’ve become so dependent on Him, I can’t and don’t want to go it alone.

The changes in me are remarkable. I am so different than I was six months ago. All inward changes have been gradual and many more are yet to come, but the result so far shows a totally transformed person. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone, a new one has begun.” He gave me the strength to quit smoking after 30 some years, and took away every desire for drugs and alcohol I once had. He’s taken away doubt, jealousy, anger, envy, emptiness, loneliness, deceitful talk, prejudice and replaced them with the fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him or everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”

Release and Forgive

Proverbs 19:11 (CEV)
“It's wise to be patient and show what you are like by forgiving others.”

Praise Song
This is how if feels to be free -- The Good guys

How wonderful the peace of mind
that comes when we receive the divine
gift to release and forgive.
Oh, how good it is to live
in freedom from holding onto grudges, and anger, and hate
against people we once loved, or a best friend, or a soul mate.

It’s like being furloughed from a prison;
or seeing with a new vision.
When we are no longer bound
to this invisible force so profound
that it stands as a case
against us, keeping us from God’s mercy and grace
He’s extending to us to claim.

The practice of forgiving others is our gain.
For over us, they’ll no longer have control.
Our forgiving them breaks the hold they have on our heart, mind and soul.

When we forgive,
we are free to live.
Only then can we ask God to forgive us,
and he does. We reflect back on how life was
before and wonder why
did we hold onto all the junk and bitterness. We cry
happy tears
because for the first time, in perhaps years,
we are at peace.
I praise you, God, and thank you for this blessed gift of release
and forgive.

Ephesians 4:31-32 (New Living Translation)
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Un-hardened Heart

heart didn’t want to feel that way.
everyday, still say,
“love you”.
heart didn’t feel right anymore,
no longer warm, the way it used to.
heart turned cold.
now that love is old,
no longer new,
heart doesn’t spark
like it used to.

words like “you, I hate”
at night, when it was late,
would hear the other say.
when full, go to bed.
hurtful things said
so much
heart-skin grew tough.
every night,
closed eyes, closed ears.
no tears after so many years.

oh what joy! Jesus filled heart with love
Father in heaven above
said, “all sins are forgiven”.
heart had to forgive
in order to freely live.
heart surrendered to the Lord.
saturated with the word.
a new creation.
the old, gone.
heart sings a new song.

even so, cloud still covered the sun.
“Father, can this battle ever be won?”
it’s an illness,
a disease.
“get some help, please”.
heart still loves him
not on a whim
betrothed.
with cloud over them they married.
that burden both carried.
suffered together, raging storms weathered.
calm seas sailed on happy days.
the Lord said “do not part, don’t go separate ways.”

“Lord, heart needs to feel something
inside, deep within.
not cold, numb, emptiness.”
for them, heart did pray,
every night. every day.
Father spoke;
heart felt a poke.
“remove that plank from your own eye.
stop pointing out faults, for shame,
not long ago, your indulgence was the same.”

“when one cheek feels the burn
give the other, sideways turn.
it’s at these times you must love the most”
battles fight, the lord said he will;
keep quiet and be still.
one short phrase
uttered on a dark rainy day
“un-harden this heart, Father.”
a cold stone,
revived love once known.

praise God for un-hardened heart.
praise the Lord! gone, the rough part.
faith so strong, so real.
every worry, every care,
given up, for him to bear.
God un-hardened heart.
His spirit never to depart.
filled with his love,
His light to shine
in heart, for all time.