Nov 08 2011

It's Time To Graduate Jr. High

by Amanda | 5 Comments

We never seem to fully graduate from junior high.

Remember when you always had someone that you were “mad at?"  It was like a list that you kept.  Mine was almost as long as my bangs. 

Usually that person used to be your BFF, and they looked at your boyfriend wrong, so then you were mad at them.

We’d like to think that we grew up, but we’re all really stuck in 7th grade.

Heard this at church over the weekend.

 

"If you want to represent Jesus to the world and you have unforgiveness in your life then you’re doing it in an unforgiving way.  That doesn’t work."

 

No wonder people don’t like church.  I once heard someone say that God has a PR problem because we’re all going around saying things about him that aren’t true.

I wanted to truly know Jesus and make him known but I have people in my life that I need to forgive. Those that hurt me when my marriage ended.  I literally fell on my knees and prayed, "Lord, help me to forgive them."  

Maybe you’ve got a situation like that too in your life, someone you could let go of being mad at and forgive.

To fully understand how much God loves you and forgives you, you have to pick someone in your life who has hurt you then forgive them and love them anyway.  It's not going to be easy, but that is why we rely on God.

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Comments (5) -

11/8/2011 8:20:46 AM
Margaret United States
Margaret
I agree 100%.  I find it difficult to know what that actually looks like.  How does loving the one who hurt you look like?  Let them back into your life full-time embracing them or love them from a distance offering up prayers on thier behalf and in your heart loving them? How do I know they have repented or will not continue to do the behavior?  What does forgiveness really look like? These are the things I am wrestling with.  Anyone else???
11/8/2011 9:33:11 AM
AmyRenee United States
AmyRenee
Thanks Amanda, I needed that. My Ex-Fiancé and I are thinking about reconciling after 2 years of being apart. and I know my family will not be happy about it, but even less than that I have been struggling because I can not forgive his mother for some incredibly horrible things she has done to me, and to our relationship. But if I want to be the representation of Jesus in her life I need to rember to forgive her, not just 7 times but 7 times 77. and  be willing to lay down my life for her. Sometimes I forget how gracious our God was to us, and all he asks in return equates to pebbles in a stream. Thank you!
11/8/2011 9:33:53 AM
Bruce Kuhn United States
Bruce Kuhn
I think it is hard to visualize at the beginning of forgiveness, but in time you will see the picture that GOD will paint. I do believe GOD will show us what unconditional LOVE means by forgiveness. If it is Loving from a distance,or if true repentance of the wrong has happen to bring them back closer in our lives. Real forgiveness is releasing our feelings and emotions to GOD of the wrong 70 x 7 on a continual bases as the wrongs moved away from us. And it brings us closer to GOD.

BLESSINGS,
BRUCE
11/8/2011 11:23:44 AM
Paul United States
Paul
We all as Christians need to get over ourselves.  We think that what we think really matters but what we fail to understand is that what God thinks is what really matters.  God gave His only Son for us as payment for all of the sins we were guilty of.  Yet, we think that offering forgiveness to someone that said something unkind about us is a big deal.

I have suffered through a fair amount of health problems over the past few years and have come to the realization that this life is very short.  If I lived to be 100 it would be as a vapor.  Watch a pot of water boil and see if you can keep track of the steam as it rises.  A very short distance from the pot the steam seems to disappear.  Our job is to leave more than a distant memory after we are gone from this earth.  We are to leave a godly legacy.  We are to leave a legacy that continues on with God’s work.  We will never be able to do that until we step aside and let God reign in not just our hearts but in our action.

So, I challenge you (me too) to just suck it up and do what God wants you to do!
11/8/2011 11:38:07 AM
A United States
A
Forgiveness for me hasnt been about the one that i have forgiven or needed to forgive, but about me and allowing God to heal me.  It has taken years, but i grew up in a very abusive home...verbally, mentally, and sexually.  Because of this life style, i buried my anger and such and much of what happened and was living a "normal" life.  Yet, that really wasnt the case.  When i was 32, God began to shed his light on me and things began to be revealed..it hasnt been easy...but it has been worth it.  Years of God's love, healing, and presence has make  the difference.  I have forgive both my mom and dad.  Interesting part is that I have never confronted either of them.  It has been a process...a layer by layer of healing and forgiving.  Now, im 45.  Am i perfect? No, but im in such a better place b/c God healed me and taught me how to forgive.  It is a victorious and peaceful place on the other side of forgiveness.

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