Tag: Forgiveness

The Imagery of Snow

On By vickleaIn Scripture, Song2 Comments

I have to be honest and confess here and now that I don’t like snow. For me, it’s too cold, too slippery, too dangerous to walk on for my unsteady legs. When we moved to Maine, I often told people that Harry had moved us to hell and it was cold. We had almost two hundred inches of snow the first winter that we were there, with snow reaching our second story windows, and that was not an exaggeration at all. We lived there for four years (I called it surviving) and God taught me a lot of lessons there, mostly about not being so self-centered and thoughtless. That being said, I never really appreciated the snow there…it quickly became brown (or yellow) and a real mess to walk on or drive in during the eight months it was present. However, now that I am aged and no longer living in the frozen north, I can reflect on the imagery of snow and appreciate what the Scriptures say about it.

Scarlet is a deep and vivid red color. If it spills on anything, it will definitely be noticeable. So, when I think about how my sin is scarlet, covering my entire life, that is a brutal picture of reality. There is not one part of my former life that my sin did not affect. But thanks be to God who provided His Son to cleanse me completely from my sins! I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior on February 28, 1973, and my life was completely changed. Not only did I leave my sins behind, but I was no longer stained by it. God looked down and saw whiteness, not red. The red was in the blood that His Son shed. The white is as pure as snow.

I still don’t like snow—the cold, the danger it presents. But I do like to see it now, especially when it is freshly fallen and a pristine white. No small animal tracks, no dirt, just white as far as the eye can see. That is an advantage of living rurally…there is no traffic and until we move our car to go out, there are no tire tracks, ruts or mud. Everything is white…an indescribable color that glistens in the sun and reflects the soft light of the moon. That is how God means for us to be, glowing in the reflection of His Son, totally clean from all of our impurities, the sin that separated us from Him.

One of my favorite old hymns when I was a new Christian was “There’s Power in the Blood.” At the time, I didn’t really understand all of the words but I liked the music and I enjoyed raising my voice in song with the others who clapped and sang along as the church band played. These days, I still enjoy this hymn; however, I don’t see it as a song to raise the enthusiasm of the crowd but as a song that acknowledges the sacrifice of our Savior and the demonstration of the powerful love of God. Do I sometimes mess up and sin? Yes, unfortunately. I am still a sinner saved by grace. But the good news is that each time I choose the wrong way, God’s Spirit corrects me, I confess and He washes me clean. I praise the Father who provides such wonderful grace and mercy that I can share my image of snow with you and pray that the power that is in the blood will also cleanse you from sin as you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. The imagery of snow will long be with me, not the mountains of snow in Maine, but the acres of snow that I sometimes glimpse in my front yard. Pure, untouched and shining for God…just like I want to be!

There’s Power in the Blood

Forgiveness

On By vickleaIn Scripture1 Comment

You would think that I am asking for the sun, moon and stars when I ask that my siblings try to get along with each other. But there is this thing called forgiveness that is the obstacle. For many years, I have been the only sibling talking to everyone. As a second child of five, that is a somewhat precarious position for me at times and often stressful. I have talked to each sibling, explaining to them that the cost of forgiveness is not to the person that they aren’t forgiving but to themselves, but my pleas are to no avail. The offenses seem petty but I am sure that they are not to the one offended. Nevertheless, I still keep trying to get everyone together. I keep telling them that it’s going to be really sad for the first time for them to see and talk to each other in decades may be at my funeral and I won’t be there to see it.

People in today’s world don’t understand that holding a grudge, no matter how small, affects you physically, mentally and emotionally. God knew that and used Paul to instruct us to forgive. After all, God forgave us so who are we to hold a grudge against anyone? Give people grace…that’s what God gives us. Allow them to make mistakes and then forgive and move on. The burden of not forgiving is heavy and the price may never be known. So, go to bed each night with forgiveness on your lips and in your heart. Let God carry the burden to carrying out justice if it is needed. That’s not my monkey or my circus, so I personally refuse to demand that God let me do His job. What a presumptuous thing that would be!

Need a Do Over?

On By vickleaIn Scripture1 Comment

Do you recall when you were a child and playing a game and something happened to cause you to perform badly? Maybe a leaf blew across your field of vision or a small child was yelling on the swing set and distracted you. So, when you tried to kick the ball, you missed because you were not paying attention. That’s when you would call out loudly that you needed a “do over.” Usually, because you were playing a game meant to be fun and with friends, they would grant your wish and you would get to do the whole thing again, this time with better results.

Sometimes, in our Christian walk, we need a “do over.” We need to press into God and appeal to His mercy and grace, deeply and sincerely repentant for messing up and asking for the grace to do that thing you messed up again. Maybe it was the opportunity to speak to someone about the Lord and you blew it. Maybe it was the chance to be kind to someone in need and you ignored the whisper of the Holy Spirit to reach out. Whatever you missed out on, God is the God of second chances. He is the God of the “do over” , not because we deserve it but because of His great love and mercy for us. He shows us grace, His unmerited favor, and allows us to try again, and again, and again. We just have to be willing to admit that we have blown our chance, missed an opportunity or sinned once again when we really didn’t want to. Distracted by the things of this world, it’s hard sometimes to stay focused on the important things that God has for us to do and the changes He wants to make in us so that we become more like Him. But when we straggle behind or go in the wrong direction, God is right there, waiting for us to request a “do over” so that He can lead us back on the path He wants us to be on.

Just when we think that God cannot possibly still love us and continue to forgive us, He does. We confess, repent and He is always faithful to His promise to forgive. Even better, He grants us a “do over” so we may get the chance to see that person again and tell them about Jesus or do participate in a ministry that we neglected previously. Whatever it is, God is in the business of providing grace to His children. It’s one of the ways He instructs us and expects us to extend that same grace, mercy and forgiveness to others.

I don’t ever want to get to the point where I cannot receive instruction from God and His Word. I have had a lot of “do overs” in my lifetime, but none has been as important as the ones when I know for sure that I have disappointed God and I need to go back and try again. I have learned a lot from those experiences, mostly about being more aware and striving to do things right the first time. Nevertheless, because I am still a disciple in training, I still need His grace and mercy every day. I need a “do over” more frequently than I would like, and I am always thankful that God graciously provides those opportunities for me.

The Goal Is Restoration

On By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

Many Christians today think that their mission in life is to point out the sins of others and insist vocally and emphatically that the sinner needs to get back on the right track with God. Now, I am not against evangelism, but the goal is always restoration, not turning the person against God for all time. In the same way, when we see Christians sinning, we are not to get that haughty “holier than thou” attitude, being supercilious in our approach to them. Rather, the goal is restoration!

There are some really important words in this Scripture verse, most notably another believer, gently, humbly and careful. Let’s examine these words together. This verse is directed towards helping out another believer, not evangelizing and striving for new converts. It is almost impossible to get someone to follow Jesus by pointing out how sinful they are. Generally, their response is to walk away. But when talking to another believer, you should be honest about the sin you have noticed and I think what you should be pointing out is how it is affecting them mentally, physically and emotionally as well as spiritually. But you have to do this gently, with a kindness and love that only comes from the Father after many days of thoughtful prayer. Finally, you have to be careful because the temptation to sin is there for everyone, so you don’t want to fall into the trap of sin while you are trying to restore your brother to a right relationship with God.

We don’t forgive the sin; God does. We are called to forgive the person who sins, thus restoring our relationship with them just as they need to restore their relationship with God. Our relationships on earth are vertical (with God) and horizontal (with each other). Thus the cross is an excellent symbol of the restored relationships that we are supposed to always have.

It isn’t hard to see the sin in others, but it is very difficult at times to see your own shortcomings. That’s why it is imperative that you spend time in prayer, clean yourself up from your own sins and then, when God tells you the timing is right, approach your fellow Christian in humble love and tell them what you see happening. Remember that the goal is restoration, not to chase them farther away from God!

Return to God

On By vickleaIn Scripture3 Comments

One of the things that I most enjoy doing is going on short trips, enjoying my time in a new place and then returning home to all that is safe and familiar. I like visiting others, but I really like being at home, with my comforting things all around me. To put that in a spiritual perspective, God cries out to us constantly to return to Him. There are so many who wander from place to place seeking some kind of peace and acceptance from the world. But the only real peace and acceptance comes from our Father who has created us and knows what is best for us.

God wants to show us mercy and compassion. His desire is not to punish us. I have been asked by non-Christians how a loving God could send people to hell. My answer is always the same. He did not create hell for people. It was created for Satan and his demons. But if man chooses to go the way of sin and turns away from God, refusing to repent, then God has no choice but to allow them to go to hell. It is man’s choice, not God’s. In the book of Joel, God is crying out for His people, all those whom He has created, to repent and turn to Him, to change their hearts. God’s cry is not one of vengeance or waiting for us to mess up so He can punish us. His cry is a heartfelt one of sincerely desiring us to change so that we don’t have to suffer eternal punishment and separation from Him. God provided a way to be with Him always through His Son Jesus Christ, but it up to us to return to God. Just as we find comfort when we are among our familiar things at home, we can find comfort in the arms of our Heavenly Father who made a way for us to return to Him.

May you have a blessed and peaceful Ash Wednesday as you ponder the sacrifice of the Lord and the eternity with Him that is granted by His sacrifice. If you need to do so, may you return to God!

Just As and Every Effort

On By vickleaIn Scripture1 Comment

It’s easy to be kind to people who are kind to us, but it’s a challenge sometimes to be kind to those who don’t treat us so well. But God’s Word tells us to treat all kindly and, more importantly, to forgive each other JUST AS Christ forgave each of us. It’s also easy to hold a grudge and then justify it because the other person’s actions were reprehensible. Fortunately, Jesus does not hold grudges, and we are to follow His example. “Just as” means in the exact same way as Jesus did. He even asked God to forgive His tormentors, even as He was undergoing excruciating torment on the cross. I have never been lead to a cross and nailed there, but Jesus was, for me and for you. If He can forgive in those circumstances, I am certain that I should be able to forgive the petty things that others do to irritate me. Even the things that I give great weight to and decide that I am justified in not forgiving, God tells me that I’m to forgive all because that is what Jesus did.

In another version, the “make every effort” is translated as “pursue.” In my youth, I pursued good grades, making every effort to get straight A’s on every report card. I was single-minded and totally focused on that goal. God exhorts us to make that kind of effort in living in peace with everyone. We are to show that we are holy, that is “set apart”, from what the world is doing and how they behave. Those who are pursuing peace should definitely be seen as different in this world of cultural wars.

Have a blessed day and remember to forgive “just as” Jesus did and to pursue peace with all. Your life will be better for it!

Grace and Truth

On By vickleaIn Scripture1 Comment

This is the reason that we celebrate the birth of Jesus. He came in the flesh to be a man on earth and walk among mankind. It was like the Lord God came and stepped into the neighborhood and decided to make His home there. He brought to the earth grace and truth. Grace is what saves us; it is God’s undeserved mercy that takes away all of our sins so that we can stand before Him, righteous and clean. We did nothing while He did it all for us on the cross. The truth that Jesus brought is what sets us free. We are freed from the curse of the law, freed to come before the Lord God as many times a day as we want, without going through a priest or a lot of ceremony. We can have a conversation with our Heavenly Father because Jesus showed us the truth of how to have a relationship with God. We just have to confess, repent and be the person He created us to be. In my devotional two days ago, this verse was the central focus and the video that I watched from the YouVersion inspired this post. One of the things the speaker said in the video stuck with me, “Lean on His grace and live by His truth.” It is in the leaning and the living that we find the pathway to eternal life and thus we have the reason for the season!

Have a blessed and wonderful Christmas Eve as you ponder Jesus’s birth, life and sacrifice which left behind His grace and His truth for each of us to enjoy forever.

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No Condemnation

On By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

I don’t know about you all, but I personally have a tendency to kick myself repeatedly and hard about my shortcomings, especially the things I can no longer accomplish because of my physical problems. For example, since I will be staying in Maryland doing childcare again, I have been very anxious about what I cannot do for the toddler in my care. It’s hard for me to keep up with his activity level, so I have just been doing the best that I can and praying that God guards him from danger.

When I take time to ponder what’s in my heart (anger at the woman who let my son down again for the second year in a row) and to repent and ask forgiveness for my unrighteous feelings, I know that God doesn’t condemn me. He knows what is is my heart and how I long to go home to my normal routine. God doesn’t condemn me because of me and my actions or thoughts; He doesn’t condemn me because of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. It is truly finished, so that I can feel confident in my ongoing relationship with the Father.

Have a blessed day, knowing in your heart and mind that God does not condemn you but forgives and welcomes you as a beloved child. Not perfect, just forgiven!

Thankful for My Intercessor

On By vickleaIn Scripture3 Comments

Many years ago, my husband and I attended a Bible training school called Youth with a Mission. I don’t recall a lot that we studied there, but at least one truth we learned and book that we studied stuck with me through the years. The title was THE INTERCESSOR by Norman Grubb and it relates how to be an Intercessor like Rees Howells, a man of God who made a difference by praying for others. If you want to perhaps purchase the updated version, here is a link to do so:

Christian Book

The reason this book made such an impact and stayed with me is that this true story of a man who believed in prayer and made a difference with his petitions to God was amazing to me. Since then, I have strived to be an Intercessor for others, but I have never reached the heights of Rees Howells, not even close.

Today in my devotional, the verse that jumped out at me was about Jesus’s being my intercessor.

I cannot imagine Jesus sitting at God’s right hand and speaking up on my behalf, but that is what the Holy Bible says that he does. The tense used is one of the present ongoing tense, not past, not done, but rather still happening. I remember when I was a child that my father was my mediator with my mom. She had a heavy hand of punishment and I seemed to be always in trouble for one infraction or another. It was my father’s soothing voice that calmed her down and prompted her to think before she dealt out severe blows to my legs. I still got punished, but the punishment was not half as severe as when daddy wasn’t there to intervene. Now, I can put that into the context of Jesus speaking to God on my behalf and letting the Father know that I am His and the price has already been paid for my salvation. Yes, I still mess up, and there are consequences to actions, but Jesus’s intercession is there and the Father has shown me mercy and grace over and over again.

If you get a chance to read THE INTERCESSOR, remember to put it into the context of Jesus interceding for you, on a daily basis and every time you need it. He is right there, always ready to go to bat for each of us because He loves us so much. Yes, He is the King of Glory, He is the Lion of Judah, and He is also the Great Intercessor who speaks to the Father for us, always operating with unfailing love and forgiveness. I want to be like Jesus, in Intercessor for others, and I am thankful for His example and His sacrifice that makes Him the Intercessor for me and for each of His children who know Him as Savior.

May you be blessed today with the knowledge of how dependable an Intercessor Jesus is for you and be confident in His love, grace and mercy.

Thankful for My Intercessor

On By vickleaIn Scripture1 Comment

Many years ago, my husband and I attended a Bible training school called Youth with a Mission. I don’t recall a lot that we studied there, but at least one truth we learned and book that we studied stuck with me through the years. The title was THE INTERCESSOR by Norman Grubb and it relates how to be an Intercessor like Rees Howells, a man of God who made a difference by praying for others. If you want to perhaps purchase the updated version, here is a link to do so:

Christian Book

The reason this book made such an impact and stayed with me is that this true story of a man who believed in prayer and made a difference with his petitions to God was amazing to me. Since then, I have strived to be an Intercessor for others, but I have never reached the heights of Rees Howells, not even close.

Today in my devotional, the verse that jumped out at me was about Jesus’s being my intercessor.

I cannot imagine Jesus sitting at God’s right hand and speaking up on my behalf, but that is what the Holy Bible says that he does. The tense used is one of the present ongoing tense, not past, not done, but rather still happening. I remember when I was a child that my father was my mediator with my mom. She had a heavy hand of punishment and I seemed to be always in trouble for one infraction or another. It was my father’s soothing voice that calmed her down and prompted her to think before she dealt out severe blows to my legs. I still got punished, but the punishment was not half as severe as when daddy wasn’t there to intervene. Now, I can put that into the context of Jesus speaking to God on my behalf and letting the Father know that I am His and the price has already been paid for my salvation. Yes, I still mess up, and there are consequences to actions, but Jesus’s intercession is there and the Father has shown me mercy and grace over and over again.

If you get a chance to read THE INTERCESSOR, remember to put it into the context of Jesus interceding for you, on a daily basis and every time you need it. He is right there, always ready to go to bat for each of us because He loves us so much. Yes, He is the King of Glory, He is the Lion of Judah, and He is also the Great Intercessor who speaks to the Father for us, always operating with unfailing love and forgiveness. I want to be like Jesus, in Intercessor for others, and I am thankful for His example and His sacrifice that makes Him the Intercessor for me and for each of His children who know Him as Savior.

May you be blessed today with the knowledge of how dependable an Intercessor Jesus is for you and be confident in His love, grace and mercy.