Freedom Unlimited

Not many options in life are unlimited. There is one important area, however, where we can determine how free we will be.

I’ve been studying *Parables” by John White. In Matthew 18:21, Peter asked a simple question, which in his mind had a simple answer. “How often should I forgive someone? Up to seven times?”

Wouldn’t that be easy? You wouldn’t even need all ten fingers to count them off!

Peter was probably shocked by Jesus’ response, but put yourself in his shoes. He was familiar with Old Testament scriptures which said you could retaliate an eye-for-an-eye, or a tooth-for-a-tooth (Exodus 21:23-24; Deuteronomy 19:21). With that mindset, doesn’t Peter’s idea seem generous?

Jesus was an expert at getting His point across. His parables or stories were simple enough for people of all ages and cultures to understand.

I was raised on the King James Bible which said to forgive 7X70, but some of the new translations say 77 times. I’m not going to argue over numbers because the point, as I see it, is this. Jesus was setting the bar high so we couldn’t easily say, “I’ve forgiven my limit. Now I quit!”

Forgiveness is not limited - - - it’s for a lifetime. What kind of life do you want to live? A stingy one, where you’re tied to a scorecard? Or, freedom - - - where you recognize the offense, but choose to forgive and move on.

There’s also a heavenly lesson here, not to be missed. Jesus had already taught about it in The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:12). But now He reemphasized the point with the story of The Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-35).

What could be simpler than His closing line? To be forgiven in heaven, we must forgive on earth (V. 35).

Freedom unlimited is available . . . but the choice is up to you.

*Parables by John White. Life Guide Bible Studies by Inter Varsity Press (ivpress.com), Downers Grove, Illinois. Copyright 1988, 1999. (also available through Christianbook.com)

Pixabay: Sunset, Nature, Boy; geralt.

  

One Special Day

God hears and answers prayer. I know because He’s answered many prayers in my lifetime. But I have one daily request: “God, please put me in the right place at the right time today, whether I’m home or out and about.”  

Here’s how God answered that prayer one day this week.

As I was getting ready to run errands I started to tuck my cell phone in my purse. But I noticed a text message. A friend needed a ride. Could I help?

I called and said, “Good timing! I was just getting ready to leave. What do you need?”

I knew she had a son in hospice care in a city two hours away, but as his fiduciary, she was on a timeline to mail yearly reports. We decided to run her errands, then one of mine, and lunch would be later.

After her second errand, I had to admit I was very hungry. She was too, so we agreed on a favorite quick spot.  Over lunch, she said, “My son is not doing well. I wouldn’t be surprised if he passes away before the doctor’s three-month deadline.”

Shortly after, her phone rang. Her son had passed away, and that meant a lot of quick changes in her day. I said, “My errands can wait. I want to be sure you get these papers in the mail, and I’ll take you to the shuttle when you’re ready to go.”

At the end of the day, I gave thanks to God for answering my simple prayer.  It was such a good feeling to have been free to help her.

You see it was a day I could be flexible; my errands were not pressing. But the day before this, and the day after, I had someone scheduled to do house repairs.

I think my prayer does a couple of things: (1) It’s a way of saying, “Thy will be done . . . ” (Matthew 6:9-10), and (2) it fulfills Philippians 4:6: Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

God answers prayer! I have a plaque on my wall with this reminder:

Yesterday He helped me

Today He did the same

How long will this continue?

Forever, praise His name.

Pixabay: Sun, Cloud, Nature, Sky; kropekk_pl

Honorable Equality

We hear a lot about equity and equality these days. But perfection in these two areas is not possible, for various reasons.

First of all, physical differences create male/female identity. People also differ in their thought processes and emotional makeup.

Another difference appears in gifts and abilities. For example, we have statesmen, nurses, doctors, entrepreneurs, and skilled laborers. They can be either male or female. But while education and training vary from one skill to another, no one person is more important than another.

Consider this question:  Can two people walk hand in hand if they aren’t going to the same place? (The MSG, Amos 3:3). Whether you are a couple or a business or sports team, there must be agreement on goals.

A good leader listens to others, considers what to do, and then shares his plan. With people in agreement, each does his best to help the plan succeed.   

There is also more to walking in agreement? While using our gifts to help one another, we are also to love and honor each other (Romans 12:6-8, and 10).

Every team needs a leader. In marriage, the husband is to be head of the wife, but he is not to be a tyrant. He is to love his wife as Christ loved the church and was willing to give His life for her (Ephesians 5:23-28).

My husband and I worked through a rough patch after I stopped telling him what I thought and he stopped asking. We were looking for housing in a new ministry when I started to cry. He asked, “What’s wrong?”

I said, “The Lord gave me a warning to share with you but I didn’t do it because I thought you wouldn’t listen anyway.” He was shocked, and said, “Well, share it with me now,” so I did.

He said, “Promise me you will always tell me what you think, and I promise to listen before I make a decision.”

It was a fresh start. This honoring of one another became mutual submission out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21). That set us on a renewed path for a happy marriage of fifty-two years. Praise the Lord!

Let’s aim for honorable equality, doing it as unto the Lord, not just unto man (Colossians 3:23-24).

  

Perfectly New

Isn’t it fun to get something new? You open a package knowing the item has never been used and you get to enjoy it.

I find it interesting that God built the idea of “new” into His Creation. Each day begins with a new sunrise. Every seven days we start a new week, basically every thirty days a new month, and every twelve months a new year!

Cartoonists like to draw "Father Time." At the beginning of the year, he is pictured as a baby. But by the end of the year, he’s gray-bearded, old and scraggly. Perhaps people feel that way, too, as they make new-year resolutions to improve life.

You’ve probably heard life is what happens while you’re making other plans. Plans are good, but life is full of surprises. All we can control is how we will respond to unexpected challenges.

Read the heading on my blog and you’ll see I believe in “new.” To me, it’s a gift that Almighty God offers in many ways.

First, is the gift of salvation: Forgiveness of sins and eternity with God by accepting His gift of Jesus, who died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for sin. We are born again (spiritually this time), and no more animal sacrifices are required (John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:17). We have a fresh start.

Then we are to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). How? By going to church and reading our Bibles with a heart to obey God’s Word.

One day this old world will be replaced. God will create a new heaven and a new earth (2 Peter 3:10-13). But, to me, there’s even a better “new!” Here’s a scripture I live by:

Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed,

For His mercies never fail. They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness! (Lamentations 3:22-23 BSB)

Read a little further, and you’ll find that in God we have hope, and He is good to those who seek Him.

With that in mind, I'd say we have good reasons to enjoy a perfectly NEW year!

The Best Christmas Gift Ever

I admit I’ve always had trouble coming up with a “Santa” list. We kids knew Mom was the one behind our Christmas gifts, so Santa was never an issue. The budget was tight, but I never felt we lacked gifts.

My husband’s family was really into gifts under the tree. They didn’t have to be expensive, but to my dismay, they always wanted a “Santa List.” I was no better at it then, than I am now. I’ve always enjoyed gift cards because I can spread them out over the year. Their reaction was, “What’s the fun in that?” But they gave me grace.

Christmas is a special season. It’s fun to receive, but also to give. My financial circumstances have varied over the years. But I still remember a principle of giving that I learned one Christmas when dollars were hard to come by.

As a lady spoke about giving, she mentioned Paul. While encouraging Corinthian believers' giving to help Christians in Jerusalem, he used the Macedonian Christians as an example. He said their giving would be judged by what they had, not on what they didn’t have. For some reason that set me free. I didn’t have a lot to give, but I could give something! (2 Corinthians 8:1-15. I was reading my NIV at the time).

He followed up with more words about cheerful giving (2 Corinthians 9:6-11). So, here’s the challenge: How many ways can you give cheerfully this Christmas Season, whether rich or poor?

I’m thankful God didn’t ask, “What do you want for Christmas?” I would never have known to ask for such a wonderful gift as Jesus, even if I was convinced that God is love and has my best interests at heart (1 John 4:7-10).

He took it upon Himself to bless us with the best gift of all time. It’s famously recorded in John 3:16:  For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

He gave to the world . . . to you and me . . . to all countries and cultures . . . and to all generations!

People react differently to this gift. Some fail to respond because they consider themselves unworthy. Some are too proud to ever admit they need a Savior. Others hold off because they’re determined to earn God’s gift.

But wait . . . there’s more  . . Jesus is only one of God’s good gifts! You’ll find others listed in Psalm 103:1-5. Just remember that saying “thank you” is an important part of receiving any gift.

Determine now to create a personal quiet time this Christmas. Enter into God’s presence and thank Him for the best Christmas gift ever (Psalm 100:4-5).

MERRY CHRISTMAS

May it be joyous, lively, entertaining, and satisfying.

It’s up to you . . . act . . . don’t just react!

 SPECIAL NOTE: Look for my next blog on January 05, 2025.    

Praise in Retrospect

Memories are a powerful force in our lives. Good memories lift us but some are not so enjoyable. We are advised not to let our thoughts run wild. We are encouraged to choose our thoughts and make them good ones. (2 Corinthians 10:5; Philippians 4:8).

Praise is an important part of worship, and that includes praise for His answers to past prayers. In Nehemiah 9, the people stood humbly before God while Ezra blessed God and gave praise for things He had previously done for them. 

To this day I give God praise for His mighty acts in my life. Let me share briefly in retrospect: God delivered me from breast cancer in 2007 after nearly a full year of treatments. He answered my prayers for a Christian husband in my last year of college. In forty years of ministry, He helped me accomplish each item He laid on my heart. I also praise Him for faithful church workers and volunteers who helped me fulfill His will.

Even as I write these things I am lifted and encouraged. Scripture says Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, and that God’s word stands eternally firm in heaven (Hebrews 13:8; Psalm 119:89). What a hope we have in Almighty God.

Did you know you have a God-given assignment to share with the next generation? (Exodus 3:13-15; Psalm 145:4). God makes it clear His mighty care is for every generation (Psalm 100:5, 102:18, 145:4-6).

When reading your Bible, don’t you find encouragement in the praises given for God's marvelous works, in both the Old and New Testaments?

Praise in retrospect is important. Some people like to share family legacy stories and oral histories. Other people share through art, music, writing, movies, or wireless communications.

How would you like to pursue this? The options are as endless as your creativity and your desire to praise God.

Pixabay Illustration: Writer, Thinking; Mohamed_Hassan. 

  

You Can Never Go Wrong With This

From childhood, we are trained to do something that is not only good for others but good for us. It's the simple act of saying, "Thank you."

*Robert Emmons, a psychology professor at the University of California, Davis, conducted extensive research on the practice of gratitude. He shares two key components: 1) It’s a way of affirming the good and/or positive things you have received or that are around you, and 2) It’s a way of recognizing that others have played a role in providing goodness in your life. It builds relationships and reduces isolation.

Everyone likes to hear words of appreciation . . . even God!

Are you familiar with Psalm 100? It speaks of joy and gladness, getting us off to a good start. But it also tells us how to enter into God’s presence, and why.

Psalm 100:4-5 (BSB)

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving

And into His courts with praise;

Give thanks to Him and bless His name.

For the LORD is good

And His loving devotion endures forever;

His faithfulness continues to all generations.

It’s been a long time since I read **Corrie ten Boom’s book Tramp for the Lord, but I’m thinking when she and her sister were in a concentration camp in Germany, their bunks were filled with fleas or bedbugs. As irritating as they were, her sister reminded her to be thankful it was those little creatures that made the guards less inclined to come in.

Thankfulness for little things counts just as much as being thankful for big things.

Every day is a day to give thanks. It ranks right up there with Paul’s admonition to be loving, compassionate, patient, and forgiving. But here’s the challenge . . . he says to “clothe yourself” in these character traits (Colossians 3:12-15).

There’s nothing automatic about choosing what to wear or even how to live our lives. That’s why I consider the ability to make personal choices one more thing for which I’m thankful.

Remember . . . you can never go wrong with an attitude of gratitude.

*Be Grateful, Be Sincere, and, Above All, Be Human, by Jason Kiger, STAR News, November 2024, Peer Support Program, page 13 (Column 2, Paragraphs 2, 3, 4).

**Tramp for the Lord, by Corrie ten Boom and Jamie Buckingham; Jove Books, Copyright 1978; paperback, I saw a used copy available on Amazon.

Pixabay Illustration: Note, Thumbtack Reminder; Clker-Free-Vector-Im...