You want to, but you can’t. You want to release the person, but you can’t. It seems to grip you in every part of your being.
We use the term “unforgiveness” to describe a daunting inability to forgive another person in your heart. Unforgiveness holds you hostage and keeps you from moving forward with your daily activities. It may even build strongholds in your life with a demonic element that won’t let go.
When you release the person in forgiveness, you yourself become free. You release yourself from bondage. Remember that forgiveness can be immediate, but trust must be rebuilt over time. It won’t be as simple as returning to business as usual. Give it time. Allow time for trust to be rebuilt.
Yes forgiveness is a must. Then, take time to rebuild trust in the relationship.
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You may not think so. In fact, you may have been thinking of hanging up that celebration hat permanently. For you, celebration may simply be a fleeting memory, never to return again.
The Israelites were a celebrating bunch. Much beyond their regular festivals throughout the year, there were such opportunities whenever they wanted to. But what’s there to celebrate?
They celebrated their relationship with God through the fellowship oferings. These were also called peace offerings (Lev 3). They celebrated their relationship with God and with each other. These were also offered along with sin offerings – indicating that they celebrated the restoration of their relationship with God.
No matter what you have done or where you are in life, God is waiting and longing for you to turn from your situation and return to him. He is waiting to celebrate a restored relationship with you! -
…if you trust me. There is no better way to affirm trust in those you lead. Leave them alone to do what they’ve been asked to do.
If there is constant interference, or constant checking-in with them, there is a problem. They will surely interpret that you don’t trust them to do their job faithfully.
Trust breeds faithfulness. When they feel trusted in doing a particular task, they’ll be more focused and motivated. People want to be faithful. Trust them and leave them alone to do the task. Just hang around close by. In case they need help, they’ll call on you.
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Why do you do what you do? If it weren’t for the relationships in your life, would you be doing those things? Actually, there may not be much meaning to the things you do if it were not for relationships.
When the people of God brought offerings to God, they were to add salt, which represented the covenant relationship they had with God. There was a clear statement that they were to offer salt with all their offerings (Leviticus 2:13). Every offering they made to God had to be done for the sake of the covenant relationship.
Why do you do what you do? Because of relationships. Think of every activity you do during the day. They are all connected to relationships with others in your life, and ultimately for relationship with God.
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Vision germinates in the heart. It seems hearts that suffer pain will often be ignited with vision to help others in pain. Such vision will surely make an impact.
For many, their pain simply sets them on a lifelong journey of seeking relief for themselves. They may also become bitter in the process as they find their efforts are futile. Their efforts to find comfort simply takes them nowhere.
But when pain inspires vision and you begin to help others, you also begin to find comfort for yourself. People find more comfort in comforting others than when they set out to seek comfort for themselves.
What’s your pain? Find others in similar situations and reach out to them. Allow your pain to inspire vision to touch others.
Pain inspired vision seems to fly!
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What a bold step it would have been to walk past your neighbors and friends with a bull in tow as you walk toward the temple to confess your sins.
People might ask: “Hey, where are you going with that bull?”
Answer: “Well, uh, I’m on my way to confess my sin.”
Question: “What did you do?”
Reply: “Never mind.”
Confession of sins was a public matter in front of people who know you. Even when they got to the temple, there might be people who know them. As they wait in line for their turn to offer the burnt offering for sin, people who know them would see them and might ask the same question as others: “What did you do?” Or, they might ask others: “What did he do?”
The reason we don’t do this public thing is because Jesus did this for us publicly. He walked down the streets of Jerusalem – but not with an animal for sacrifice, but his own body as a perfect sinless sacrifice for our sins. The one perfect sacrifice that was sufficient for all our sins. Thank you Jesus.
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Is it possible to have everyone take on the responsibilities of Leaders? That was God’s plan in Exodus 19:6. The nation of Israel were to be a kingdom of priests.
Every individual as a priest. No one would have to be instructed regarding what they should and should not do. Each person takes responsibility for themselves.
Obedience is not forced. They obey just because that’s what’s within them. It’s the right thing you do. What else should a leader do?
Responsibility is everyone’s business. No one says “That’s not my job,” since everyone is a leader. It’s everyone’s job. It’s everyone’s responsibility. How else would leaders respond?
How can you expand this idea further? Share it in the comments below.
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My phone rings. I see the name. I know they need something. Otherwise they never call.
They may need a variety of favors: someone’s phone number, help with some task, or they need money. And as much as possible, I try to help.
After all, Jesus said “Freely you have received, freely give.”
Others connect just to stay connected. Some call and simply ask about us, our children, ministry, and how we are doing overall.
Some will even speak words of blessing over us. Others pray for us over the phone. Those are refreshing phone calls.
Go ahead – refresh someone’s heart today.
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Never underestimate your own vision. It’s vital and gets you up and moving in the morning. Don’t sacrifice yours for anything.
Our vision keeps us together and working for a common purpose. Without a common vision, we’d be scattered without direction.
His (God’s) vision for us represents his purpose for our existence. Without it, we’d have no significance. Life would have no purpose.
Yours, ours and His vision must converge to produce greater results than you’d ever imagine.
Words like Convergence, synthesis, collaboration, and synergy come to mind in a special way. Imagine the beauty of combining your vision and our vision with the Divine vision.
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The agony is unbearable. You don’t have an answer for those who question your faith and even your salvation – because of your suffering.
You’ve prayed endless prayers and sought out specialists who would pray with a “special anointing.” Confession and heart searching continues even now. But your pain and suffering continues.
The Israelites suffered for over 400 years in brutal slavery. After being released, God pointed out an important significance for them. They were to remember their slavery and have compassion on others. God’s instruction was clear:“You shall not oppress a sojourner. You know the heart of a sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 23:9, cf. 22:21)
Compassion – it’s often connected to your own pain and suffering. Look for opportunities to express and live our that compassion. It’s costly. You paid a great price. Jesus paid an even greater price.
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