When you pray, give God your guilt

by Rick Warren

    "Forgive us the wrongs we have done, as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us" Matthew 6:12 (TEV)

We all make mistakes. We all have regrets.  I don't measure up to my own standard for myself, much less God's standard of perfection.  It's not very hard to admit you're not perfect.  So what do we do when we fall short?

I was listening to a psychologist on the radio recently.  A guy called in and was pouring his heart out about how guilty he felt for things he had done wrong.  He asked, "How can I get rid of my guilt?"  This psychologist said: "You can't.  You've got to learn to live with it."  I almost shouted at the radio: "Wait a minute! Give me that guy's phone number!  He doesn't have to go through life filled with guilt!"

There is no reason in the world you have to live with guilt. God has given us a way to get rid of guilt. It's called confession.  God promises that when we confess, He forgives us instantly, totally, completely, freely, and continuously.  If you're a Christian carrying guilt around, it's because you're not taking advantage of what Jesus Christ did on the cross.  The next step in making contact with God is pardon: I give God my guilt.

God wants to forgive you.

    * You don't have to beg for forgiveness -- "God, please, pretty please with sugar on it!"

    * You don't have to bargain - "God, if you forgive me, I will never do it again."

    * You don't have to bribe -- "God, if You'll forgive me, I promise to always read my Bible."

You simply believe God because he says you are forgiven.

If you ever run out of things to pray about, just get specific about your sins and weaknesses. When I talk with God about my weaknesses and sins, I never lack for subject matter.  In fact, I'm always coming up with new material!  There's plenty of things to talk about in my life that need to be changed.

You worship God through prayer when you give him your love, your life, and your worries. And also when you ask him for forgiveness of your sins.

Easter means Jesus paid for our sins by Rick Warren

 Through the blood of his Son, we are set free from our sins. God forgives our failures because of his overflowing kindness. Ephesians 1:7 (GWT)

"Everything you've ever done wrong, everything you're ever going to do wrong, things you haven't even thought of yet, all those sins have already been paid for by Jesus Christ as he died on the cross. "

Jesus' death and resurrection paid for our sins.

There have been a lot of great religious teachers throughout history. They've all had good things to say, but what makes Jesus different from every other religious teacher throughout history is the fact that he died and rose again.

That's of critical importance because it's not the life of Jesus that saves you; it's not the teachings of Jesus that save you; it's his death and resurrection that open the door for your salvation.

Jesus died for your sins. The Bible says we've all blown it. We've all made mistakes. None of us is perfect. That's pretty obvious; I don't measure up to my own standards much less God's. We have all sinned.

The Bible says that justice demands punishment. If you do the crime, you pay the time. If you break the law, you pay the fine. If you get caught speeding, you get a ticket. If you break God's laws, you pay God's penalty and, according to the Bible, "the wages [for our] sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23 NLT).

In other words, somebody has to pay for all the things you've done wrong in life: either you pay or somebody else pays for you. And this is where God says, "I'll do it!" He steps up to the plate. Jesus Christ is sent to earth—God in human form—and he says, in effect, "I will pay for your sins."

Here's the good news: Everything you've ever done wrong, everything you're ever going to do wrong, things you haven't even thought of yet, all those sins have already been paid for by Jesus Christ as he died on the cross: "Through the blood of his Son, we are set free from our sins. God forgives our failures because of his overflowing kindness" (Ephesians 1:7 GWT).

When Jesus died on the cross for you, it showed two things:

   1. It showed how much your forgiveness cost. The highest price you can pay for anything is to give your life for it. And that's what Jesus did. He gave his blood. He gave his life. It was extremely expensive. Grace is free but it is not cheap. It cost Jesus his life, but he paid for your sins.
   2. It shows how much God values you. It shows how much you matter to God. Jesus died for you on the cross. It shows the highest price possibly to be paid was giving a life. 

How much are you worth? Jesus says, with his arms stretched out on the cross, "This much I'm willing to die for you." You may think that you're worthless because of things you've done wrong. But Jesus says, "No. You're priceless. And I'm willing to give my life in order to pay for your sins."

Family

Recently I was looking through some Facebook flair and some of the ones for family were really bothering... to me at least. Some say things like "If you met my family, you'd understand" or "FRIENDS: God's way of apologizing for family" and others. As I was reading those it made me very sad but at the same time it made me feel very blessed that my family is wonderful and even though life isn't perfect we still love each other. It is really sad that people just don't appreciate their family as much as they should. Yes, I know that some families have a lot of issues but no matter what the problem is we should still respect our parents and siblings, even if we don't agree on everything. My family is a  larger family and so we all have different ideas, views and such but we all agree on the major subjects such as our faith. So when I see teens and even young kids being disrespectful to their parents it really makes me sad. Especially in churches and when the teens are supposed to be "christian".

One of the Ten Commandments is "Honor your father and mother". So many teens miss that. One definition of honor is: To hold in honor or high respect; revere: to honor one's parents. 

A study note in my Bible says "But what does it mean to honor your parents? Partly, it means speaking well of them and politely to them. It also means acting in a way that shows them courtesy and respect (but not to obey them if this means disobedience to God). It means following their teaching and example of putting God first. Parents have a special place in God's sight. Even those who find it difficult to get along with their parents are still commanded to honor them"


So my challenge today is to make sure that in everything we do to respect and honor our parents but we won't be able to do it on our own. We will need God's help to stay respectful. 


~Keri

 Love is a choice

by Rick Warren

    "That you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." (Deuteronomy 30:20, NIV)

Love is a choice and a commitment. You choose to love or you choose not to love.

Today we've bought into this myth that love is uncontrollable, that it's something that just happens to us; it's not something we control. In fact, even the language we use implies the uncontrollability of love. We say, "I fell in love," as if love is some kind of a ditch. It's like I'm walking along one day and bamm! - I fell in love. I couldn't help myself.

But I have to tell you the truth - that's not love. Love doesn't just happen to you. Love is a choice and it represents a commitment.

There's no doubt about it, that attraction is uncontrollable and arousal is uncontrollable. But attraction and arousal are not love. They can lead to love, but they are not love. Love is a choice.

You must choose to love God; he won't force you to love him (Deuteronomy 30:20). You can thumb your nose at God and go a totally different way. You can destroy your life if you choose to do that. God still won't force you to love him. Because he knows love can't be forced.

And this same principle is true about your relationships: you can choose to love others, but God won't force you to love anyone.


Merry Christmas everyone!!!!

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey...

"Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey"

Trust and obey. That is it!! Just trust and obey. It sounds so simple but sometimes it is so hard. When you can't see the next step, when everything seems to be going wrong and you can't find a way out, trusting and obeying seems impossible right? But God is always there right beside you. You might not feel that He is there but He is. Just trust! 

*******

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Refrain

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

Refrain

But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Refrain

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

*******

Kindness...

My dad emailed this to me and I thought I would share it.....

Your Kindness Quotient

by Max Lucado

How kind are you? What is your kindness quotient? When was the last time you did something kind for someone in your family--e.g., got a blanket, cleaned off the table, prepared the coffee--without being asked?


Think about your school or workplace. Which person is the most overlooked or avoided? A shy student? A grumpy employee? Maybe he doesn't speak the language. Maybe she doesn't fit in. Are you kind to this person?


Kind hearts are quietly kind. They let the car cut into traffic and the young mom with three kids move up in the checkout line. They pick up the neighbor's trash can that rolled into the street. And they are especially kind at church. They understand that perhaps the neediest person they'll meet all week is the one standing in the foyer or sitting on the row behind them in worship. Paul writes: "When we have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it. But we should give special attention to those who are in the family of believers" (Gal. 6:10).


And, here is a challenge--what about your enemies? With the boss who fired you or the wife who left you. Suppose you surprised them with kindness? Not easy? No, it's not. But mercy is the deepest gesture of kindness. Paul equates the two. "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you" (Eph. 4:32 NKJV).

Jesus said:
Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you.... If you love only the people who love you, what praise should you get? ... [L]ove your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without hoping to get anything back. Then you will have a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High God, because he is kind even to people who are ungrateful and full of sin. Show mercy, just as your Father shows mercy. (Luke 6:27-28, 32, 35-36)


Kindness at home. Kindness in public. Kindness at church and kindness with your enemies. Pretty well covers the gamut, don't you think? Almost. Someone else needs your kindness. Who could that be? You.


Since he is so kind to us, can't we be a little kinder to ourselves? Oh, but you don't know me, Max. You don't know my faults and my thoughts. You don't know the gripes I grumble and the complaints I mumble. No, I don't, but he does. He knows everything about you, yet he doesn't hold back his kindness toward you. Has he, knowing all your secrets, retracted one promise or reclaimed one gift?


No, he is kind to you. Why don't you be kind to yourself? He forgives your faults. Why don't you do the same? He thinks tomorrow is worth living. Why don't you agree? He believes in you enough to call you his ambassador, his follower, even his child. Why not take his cue and believe in yourself?
Be kind to yourself. God thinks you're worth his kindness. And he's a good judge of character.

From A Love Worth Giving
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 2002) Max Lucado

Compassion Sunday...

This is amazing!



~K