There's a scene in the movie, Forrest Gump, where five year old Jenny is outside playing. She stops and prays, "Dear God, turn me into a bird so I can fly far, far away..." We learn that Jenny's daddy is sexually abusing her and even though he gets arrested and she's finally away from her physical abuser, her pain doesn't end there.
Years later, as an adult, she is visiting Forrest. Taking a walk together they come across the old shack where she grew up and where her abuse had taken place. Without uttering a single word she begins to pick up rocks and throw them at that shack! She then takes off her shoes and throws them, too.
It's at this that Forrest responds, "Jenny, sometimes there just aren't enough rocks."
Left undealt with, the old pain in our hearts turns into a scar, but is never truly healed. Maybe we've buried it so deeply we think it's gone. But it really isn't. Jenny buried her pain, but never really dealt with it.
Do you have a pain buried deeply wthin your heart that you're scared to look at again? Have you forgiven the person(s) who caused you this pain? Forgiveness is part of the walk of faith we take as Christians. The good news is that we aren't alone.
Jesus invites us to walk with him in this life, and that walk of faith is sometimes very much like the walk He took heading down the Via Delarosa and up the hill at Calvary. Our walk in life is full of many hurts, regret, pain, anger and even shame. We can feel alone and abandoned at moments, just as I'm sure our Lord must have felt. We stumble and fall. We want to give up because that road is sometimes so difficult. But not only is Jesus with us every step of the way, It is HE who welcomes us to the foot of the cross. He offers us mercy, love, acceptance, and complete healing. He is standing there with arms wide open.
If you've been dealing with a lifetime of pain, it's time to let it go and bring it all to the cross. Let Jesus make you whole, and love you completely. Only Jesus can heal us from every pain! Bring him your heart...
Because in this lifetime, friends, there just aren't enough rocks...
Showing posts with label forgiveness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label forgiveness. Show all posts
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Beware the Wolves...
This post might best be described as one of my very few rants.
Biblical integrity. What does that even mean? If someone were to throw that question at me, as I walked down the street, I would say that it means, having a life standard based on God's word, and trying (even though I fail a lot) to be righteous in His eyes. Now, if I had a few more seconds to think about the word, "integrity", I might also say that it's important to have the same set of standards in every aspect of my life. Even my business life. Because, for some weird reason a lot of us Christians think that our business lives and those which we choose to associate with can be neatly cut away from our personal lives, where a Biblical standard is usually present.
But is that possible? Sure. Is it righteous? I don't believe it is.
"But Lisa, doesn't the Bible speak of forgiveness?--And by my loving association, my prayers and my general goodness might rub off on this person, and make him see the error of his ways!"-- Yes and No. I wish we were that awesome, but unfortunately our mere presence is not going to change a person who is choosing to live in a sinful lifestyle, while rationalizing to the world that it is "of God". Should we pray for them? YES! Of Course!! Should we forgive them, even though they have not repented?--- OOOH good question!--Glad you asked!
The Bible says that we are to forgive as God forgave us (Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13). God forgives us when we repent (Mark 1:15, Luke 13:3,5, Acts 3:19). He does not grant forgiveness to those of us who are stiff-necked and refuse to repent. We must recognize our sin and repent to receive and enjoy God's merciful forgiveness. God requires repentance and so must we.
In every aspect of life there are three elements we deal with: The spiritual, the biological and the psychological. This is how God created us. When we deal with humans, there is always going to be these elements present. We must use prayerful discernment, and maybe look back at the person's history to glean a little information about what makes them tick before we enter into a business or personal relationship with them.
Many times we want to see all things in life as spiritual. And, yes, there is always that element. We are spiritual beings. But God also created us to be physical beings. Sometimes the character traits present in a person are less spiritual in nature and a little more biological or psychological. Example: If a friend has diabetes and forgets to eat after he takes his insulin, he might get shaky and sweaty and start to feel very ill. This is not a spiritual--pray it away--scenario. As much as I would like to lay hands on my friend and pray that these symptoms go away, using intellect I would instead recognize this as a biological event, and give my friend a glass of juice or a candy bar to even out his blood sugar.
Biological and spiritual are a bit easier to decipher. But what about psychological? Some Christians want to continuously morph our God-given psyche with the spiritual. But, again, this is how God created us. Sometimes we have psychological events or psychoses that need to be dealt with on that level.
Example: I would advise any friends who come upon a business associate who projects so much charisma that he is almost the equivalent of a human "Pied Piper". Look up narcissism, and see how these people tick. There are quite a few of these types running businesses. Be cautious in your dealings with people who have this type of psychosis. They are easily believed, and make people WANT to be a part of their world. Use prayerful discernment in these relationships, because they will make you think that you are their best buddy until they get tired of you OR you question their actions. At that point get ready to be dumped! A narcissist must only surround himself with others who think he's as awesome as he believes he is. The relationship is never about you, or even God-- it is always about them. How great they are and how they can make your life, business, etc. better by using their Midas Touch.
Might I add that I fully believe it is OK to not befriend everyone. It is OK to be selective and use wisdom to choose who we associate with. Jesus was not buddies with everyone. He selectively choose the men (and women) who He wanted on his team. We must also follow His example, and choose wisely.
Jesus was not a pushover. If we are to use Him as a life example, then we must first agree on that. Don't be a pushover, either. Pray for a measure of wisdom.
Biblical integrity. What does that even mean? If someone were to throw that question at me, as I walked down the street, I would say that it means, having a life standard based on God's word, and trying (even though I fail a lot) to be righteous in His eyes. Now, if I had a few more seconds to think about the word, "integrity", I might also say that it's important to have the same set of standards in every aspect of my life. Even my business life. Because, for some weird reason a lot of us Christians think that our business lives and those which we choose to associate with can be neatly cut away from our personal lives, where a Biblical standard is usually present.
But is that possible? Sure. Is it righteous? I don't believe it is.
"But Lisa, doesn't the Bible speak of forgiveness?--And by my loving association, my prayers and my general goodness might rub off on this person, and make him see the error of his ways!"-- Yes and No. I wish we were that awesome, but unfortunately our mere presence is not going to change a person who is choosing to live in a sinful lifestyle, while rationalizing to the world that it is "of God". Should we pray for them? YES! Of Course!! Should we forgive them, even though they have not repented?--- OOOH good question!--Glad you asked!
The Bible says that we are to forgive as God forgave us (Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13). God forgives us when we repent (Mark 1:15, Luke 13:3,5, Acts 3:19). He does not grant forgiveness to those of us who are stiff-necked and refuse to repent. We must recognize our sin and repent to receive and enjoy God's merciful forgiveness. God requires repentance and so must we.
In every aspect of life there are three elements we deal with: The spiritual, the biological and the psychological. This is how God created us. When we deal with humans, there is always going to be these elements present. We must use prayerful discernment, and maybe look back at the person's history to glean a little information about what makes them tick before we enter into a business or personal relationship with them.
Many times we want to see all things in life as spiritual. And, yes, there is always that element. We are spiritual beings. But God also created us to be physical beings. Sometimes the character traits present in a person are less spiritual in nature and a little more biological or psychological. Example: If a friend has diabetes and forgets to eat after he takes his insulin, he might get shaky and sweaty and start to feel very ill. This is not a spiritual--pray it away--scenario. As much as I would like to lay hands on my friend and pray that these symptoms go away, using intellect I would instead recognize this as a biological event, and give my friend a glass of juice or a candy bar to even out his blood sugar.
Biological and spiritual are a bit easier to decipher. But what about psychological? Some Christians want to continuously morph our God-given psyche with the spiritual. But, again, this is how God created us. Sometimes we have psychological events or psychoses that need to be dealt with on that level.
Example: I would advise any friends who come upon a business associate who projects so much charisma that he is almost the equivalent of a human "Pied Piper". Look up narcissism, and see how these people tick. There are quite a few of these types running businesses. Be cautious in your dealings with people who have this type of psychosis. They are easily believed, and make people WANT to be a part of their world. Use prayerful discernment in these relationships, because they will make you think that you are their best buddy until they get tired of you OR you question their actions. At that point get ready to be dumped! A narcissist must only surround himself with others who think he's as awesome as he believes he is. The relationship is never about you, or even God-- it is always about them. How great they are and how they can make your life, business, etc. better by using their Midas Touch.
Might I add that I fully believe it is OK to not befriend everyone. It is OK to be selective and use wisdom to choose who we associate with. Jesus was not buddies with everyone. He selectively choose the men (and women) who He wanted on his team. We must also follow His example, and choose wisely.
Jesus was not a pushover. If we are to use Him as a life example, then we must first agree on that. Don't be a pushover, either. Pray for a measure of wisdom.
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