Never go Fishing with Moses

Forgiveness

I listened to a powerful sermon about Forgiveness.

When we are hurt and angry at someone and we hold onto that 

anger it can eat away at our hearts.

Over time it can make us very bitter.

We hold onto this anger because we want some kind of control 

over this person who wronged us.

(Sometimes that person doesn't even know that we are hurt or angry with them)

And what we don't realize is that over time

that hurt and anger becomes a wall.

And this wall separates us from God.

(How can we expect God to forgive us if we don't forgive others?)

And as we cling to this anger and hurt 

and as we build these walls

We don't realize that we are building a jail or prison.

Not to hold and punish that person who wronged us...

But it becomes a prison we put ourselves in.

And when we forgive

those walls come tumbling down

and we release ourselves from this prison

There is a beautiful song about this by Matthew West:

You can listen to it here:

Even more beautiful is the story behind the song...

You can see it here:

So if you are now or in the future in that situation 

where you can't forgive someone....

pray on it

remember this song

pray some more

and then just let it go..

I have done this and it really is like a rush of sweet fresh air filling a stale room

and you feel a sense of freedom and peace wash over you.

I pray for you to forgive those who have wronged you.

My Newest Favoritest Song!

"Losing" By Tenth Avenue North

Hope you Love it!!



The Parable of the Sower

This is one of my favorite Parables:

When Jesus told the above story to the crowd, 

His Disciples asked "What does it mean?"

(see Luke 8: 12-15)

His answer was something like this:

The Seeds are the Word of God.   We receive God's word from reading the bible, 

going to church, talking to other Christians, etc.   How we Grow in His Word depends on how we "plant" the "seeds" of God's Word into our hearts.

Like the 1st group of seeds that fell on the path and were trampled and consumed by birds, sometimes the Word of God is heard by people, but the devil comes and steals God's word so people do not understand and will not be saved.

Like the 2nd Group of Seeds that fell to the hard earth unable to make roots, God's Word is heard by some people who get very excited about the word, but they don't grow deeper in their understanding of God's word and when life becomes difficult, they fall away from Him.

Like the 3rd Group of seeds that fell to the earth, made roots and grew but then were over taken by the weeds,  these are the people who hear  His word but don't allow God to take control of their lives, they let their desires to lead them (they worship other idols---money, fame, beauty, etc) and these other idols choke the Word of God from them.

Like the 4th Group of seeds, some will hear His Word and allow God to control their lives.  They worship and follow God and grow big and strong in His Word and spread His Word to others.  They "bear fruit" by serving God.  

How do you Grow in the Lord?  It may be immersing yourself in the Bible, other Christian books, listening to Christian music and socializing with other Christians so that you grow in Him. 

When you are ready to "bear fruit" and spread His word, this can be done in many ways.  God will guide you when you are ready.   Some people like to just go out there and talk about God.  For me (and some of you) it is through blogging that I share God's word.  For others it may be inviting friends to your church, Sunday school or youth group.    

I pray that all of us are like this 4th group....I pray you let the Word of God grow strong in your heart, take root and thrive.  Never stop learning about Him and when you grow stronger in Him, begin to spread His word in a way that God puts into your heart.

Passion Flower on Animal Jam

I see from my AJ Friends' blogs that the new item this week is

The Passion Flower

It is called a "Passion" flower not having to do with Romance,

but having to do with the "Passion of Christ"

which is the last week of Christ's Life

clipped from another website:

According to Wikipedia.com and Brighthub.com, the description of its association is as follows:

The unusual shape of the flowers has led to the plant being associated in Christian symbolism with the passion of Jesus; the three stigmas representing the three nails used to nail Jesus to the cross, the ovary and its stalk represent the chalice of the Last Supper, the five anthers represent the five wounds, the corona represents the crown of thorns, the ten 'petals' (actually five petals and five sepals) the apostles (save Judas the traitor and Peter the denyer); the old leaves also represent the hands of those who persecuted Him, the young leaves are the point of the lance used to stab Him, and the tendrils the whips of those who beat Him.

I thought that was pretty interesting, hope you do too!