Forgive and move on

"To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence.."
- Ephesians 1:6-8

What I wanted to talk about tonight is forgiveness. It's absolutely necessary to each of us to forgive, and be forgiven. God forgave us of every sin we've committed, even before we do them!! When we forgive others it opens up our very souls to accept God's forgiveness - the part where you feel his presence and comfort and the washing away of your sins to remove guilt and shame - that's we need to feel.

This is also the process we need to take when forgiving others. Now..forgiveness should be asked for, but it's not always asked is it? Sometimes we feel like people have wronged us, some have, but never ask for forgiveness. This raised a question to me..how many times have I wronged someone, including my Saviour, and have not asked for forgiveness? Many times. Forgiving someone is hard, but if we don't we harbour feelings of regret, hurt, anger and bitterness. Those very things block up our connection with God, they slowly consume us. So take some time each day to let go and forgive others.

Ask for forgiveness. When you feel the need to be forgiven there is a good chance you should ask for it. When we need forgiveness from others and God, it can also consume us with very different feelings of regret, hopelessness, failure, loneliness, and undeserving feelings. This can create a wall between us and others and God. We suddenly feel as though we are not good enough to enter into the presence of God (even though we have accepted him as our Saviour and he filled that gap so we could..) or hang out with our "good" friends. Perhaps we even feel like we can't get back on track because we have failed so many times before.

This is not the case my friends. When God forgives us (which we should follow..) he accepts us. He takes our sin and forgives us. Although there is a consequence for our actions, our Lord washes away our sin, he doesn't throw it back into our faces.

So no matter how many times you fall, remember, ask to be forgiven. Let those things go. Start over, die daily, move on and use your time wisely to rebuild this foundation that starts with God. He's molding you daily. Trust me - he knows what's going on in your life. So when you get that feeling, the Holy Spirit pulling on your heart strings, cling to it! It's God saying "I'm here, it's ok, you're forgiven, now live.."

Let's do this, one day at a time

ps. Sorry I failed on the collage. I'm in the process of moving and I think it'd probably be best if I do that project after I move.

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What do you fill your frame with?

What do you fill your frame with? Is it full of memories of a good times, friends, family, parties, bad times, your friends, models, celebrities, inspirational photos or old photos?

If your life were photo frame - what is it full of?

Do you fill your life with a bunch of in-the-moment times? Or do you fill it with long lasting memories. When you look in your frame of life does it make you happy or satisfied? Sometimes I'm afraid that I, myself, create this collage of some epic life and future in my frame. It's all created by my hand, it's beautiful, full of life, creative, loving, flawless, slightly selfish and completely fictional.

I like to see who people could be, and snap that image of them in my mind and put it right in my frame. I create this fictional person - who they are perfectly capable of being - who anyone could be. But when I do that I totally miss who that person really is. They could be absolutely great as they are!! And I miss out on all the small things! Or, they could be completely opposite. They could be this person that does small things to deceive you. Or maybe they are just growing like you are. And you shouldn't put some immense pressure on someone to fit your frame. Just as it is to pressure on your life.

Have goals, know what you want, but don't stress yourself out on living some perfect life to fit this frame you've built up. The only thing you need to focus on filling your life with, is God. I mean God created you, your life and everything so I'm pretty sure he is capable of making a beautiful collage in whatever frame you have. Just seek him and he'll start filling it up.

So here is my challege to myself and also to any of you. Show me what's in your frame right now! Don't pull anything from t \he past or put your goals up, just show me you. That's what I'll be doing this weekend. I will show you next week, what's in my frame.

Isaiah 55:8

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

See what he brings to your life..it may be different than your arrangement..

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Just a little reminder..

There are always going to be times when we fail. Whether it was just slipping up on a temptation or epically diving face first into failure and never coming to the surface because we feel some sort of disappointment or guilt. All these feelings are okay. That's part of our convictions and things that the Holy Spirit will bring to your attention and lives as we grow closer to God.

But what about those times when we are on the right path and everything seems to fall into place - then we goof up? That one time that seems to throw you off of your progress. Put you down or pull you down. Make you feel like maybe what came before wasn't progress, if it were then you would not have fallen a step back? Even the tiniest things can make us feel this way.

So, what should we do? Of course we need to speak to God about these things and part of that communication is reading his word. Just a little reminder - God speaks to us in many ways and his word is direct and without error..it's not a coincidence that you pray for answers and forgiveness and God shows you what he's done, quite literally in his word. So don't be afraid to search out the answer to a question or feeling or conviction through the Bible..you may just find what he wants you to look for..

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

I thank God that he made a way for me to come boldly to the throne of grace(God giving me things I do not deserve). That those sins I've committed and will continue to throughout my life are forgiven and were forgiven the moment he died for my sins before I even contemplated them. When I think about that throne of grace and God's mercy(God not giving me things I do deserve) I feel a little bit less disappointed with myself but encouraged that he provides me with help, in time of need - knowing that there will be days when I will need help. He's got it all under control.

So get the Lord's spanking, realise he does things in your life because he loves you, wants you to obey him and make good choices, tell him you're sorry, as for his forgiveness and then wipe away the tears, wash your face and go outside and play. (I may or may not have implemented some of my own childhood in that one..)

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There's always time

I was just thinking..maybe, just maybe..this time would be different. And it will be. Did you ever stop to think that this time will happen and God will build you, make a case and plea it, stop that addiction, reveal his power, provide, make an end meet, make a way, be a way, take away the wrong way - and even put up a sign or two to direct you, comfort you, love you..maybe this time it's happening to show you, create something new, teach you, let you teach, reach you and let you reach, give to you and take away, prepare you, use you, bruise you and heal you?

Maybe this time around, we could give God our time, our times and in return have the time of our life, because we know..without a shadow of a doubt..he's our Saviour and this time is his, when we die, there will always be time, an eternity where there is only peace, love, joy and happiness..and above all walking by our Saviour's side.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-14

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

..I was just thinking..

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