Our Father in Heaven

Our Father in Heaven
By Anne Simpson

A woman’s view of her Heavenly Father is often tainted by her view of her earthly father. A cold and distant father? A cold and distant God. Likewise, a generous, loving father renders her view of God as generous and loving as well.

How about you? What was your father like? A stern disciplinarian? Strict but loving? Gentle and quiet? Fun-loving and playful? Now, how do you view God as He relates to you on a daily basis? Faithful, but far removed from the details of your life? A stern judge who demands punishment for every infraction? Or a loving God Who guides you through all of life’s valleys and mountains?

It is a heavy burden to place on a human father, that of portraying the Heavenly Father to his children. No matter how loving or wise a father may be, he could never adequately demonstrate the truth of Who our Heavenly Father is and what He is like. Of course, the truth is found in God’s Word He often refers to Himself as our father (Galatians 4:6), and tells us in great detail exactly what He is like and how He feels about us, His children. If you ever find yourself projecting your father’s qualities onto your perception of God, turn to these passages for the truth:

Our Father in Heaven

1. cares for even the smallest of His children.

Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 18:10

2. protects and cares for those who have no earthly father.

A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation. Psalms 68:5

You [God] are the helper of the fatherless. Psalms 10:14b

3. gives good gifts to His children.

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:11

4. is perfect and holy; He never sins.

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:48

Because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” I Peter 1:16

5. meets the needs of His children.

Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Matthew 6:27

For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:32,33

6. is both merciful and just.

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14, 15

7. in His mercy gives us salvation and the hope of eternal life by the sacrifice of His Only Begotten Son.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. I Peter 1-3-5

Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father. Galatians 1:4

8. teaches us about Himself.

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. Ephesians 1:17

9. gives grace and peace.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. II Thessalonians 1:2

10. must discipline His children.

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? Hebrews 12:7

11. deserves glory.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

That you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:6

Anne Simpson, stay-at-home-mom to one toddler and one on the way, loving wife to a loving husband, faithful member of a local church, prone-to-wander child of God

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS-MAKE A WEBSITE

Growing Your Capacity to Love

Growing Your Capacity to Love
By Greg Baker

We’re all born with the capacity to love. After all, we are born in God’s image. For some, that capacity is limited only to self, which usually makes it difficult to love others. In a nut shell, our capacity to love is dependent upon our ability to absorb, accept, and deal with being hurt by someone else.

Loving someone isn’t the euphoria and paradise that so much of our main stream philosophy tends to portray. In fact, the more love you give someone the greater the chances will be that they’ll hurt you. It doesn’t mean that they will do so intentionally, but either way, their ability to hurt you emotionally, psychologically, and even spiritually increase proportionally to the degree of love you show them.

If you truly love someone, you make sacrifices for them. You open yourself up to them and tie parts of yourself to them emotionally and spiritually. This is a big deal. Getting cussed out by a stranger doesn’t hurt near as much as being cussed out by someone you really love.

So, if you love, then you’re going to get hurt. This isn’t something to be afraid of, nor is it something that you should ignore. It is just a fact of life. I would rather love and be hurt than never to love and never to be hurt. Not loving someone does more damage to your spirit and emotions than being hurt by someone you do love.

The benefits of loving people can far out strip the down side of being hurt. If you have enough people that you are loving, you always have people to retreat to when another of them hurt you. But loving people gives you a much more positive outlook on life. It allows you to experience peace with your surroundings and circumstances. Yes, love people. It is so worth it.

HOW TO GROW YOUR CAPACITY TO LOVE

The more pain and emotional trauma you can absorb and deal with the greater your capacity to love others. It sounds like a rotten trade off, but it’s not. If you can’t handle being hurt, you’ll build walls between you and people. You’ll withdraw into yourself, carry a chip on your shoulder, and generally push people away. You won’t experience a close relationship, and it could lead you to begin to hate yourself.

I pastor a Church and I look to love every one that steps in the doors. This means that each of them, in their own way, has the ability to hurt me. I accept that. And, indeed, I’ve been hurt by many of them. But I strive not to take things so personally in life. I try to be a shock absorber. I don’t crack under the pain, I just absorb it and shunt it off.

You keep so many more relationships if you can do that. I can’t recall the times that I’ve managed to strengthen a relationship because I absorbed the pain inflicted on me by someone else. If husbands would learn to do this for their wives, they would have the position and ability to strengthen their marriage to such a strong degree. If wives could learn to do this for their husbands, they wouldn’t feel so alone and find they have a unique position to strengthen their marriage.

When you get hurt, you get defensive. You take a position and start lobbing verbal artillery shells at the object of perceived attack. Instead of absorbing the hurt and looking for a solution, injured people usually make the situation even worse. You start building walls that shuts out everyone.

TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS

1. Don’t take things so personally.

2. Don’t focus on your pain. Instead, focus on the other person and what might be done to fix the relationship. If you can repair the relationship, your pain will be relieved.

3. Think of yourself as a shock absorber. Look for the best in people instead of the worst.

4. Don’t quit because you get hurt. You only got hurt because you cared. That in itself is worth the price.

5. If you handle it right, you have the opportunity to strengthen the relationship.

6. Remember, you’ve probably hurt people too.

The larger your capacity to love, the greater your happiness can be. Oh, you’ll get hurt here and there, but dealing with it right will allow you to retain your joy.

Please visit our website at: http://www.fitlyspoken.org For more books and resources to build Christ honoring relationships, express yourself, and develop stronger communication and social skills.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS-MAKE A WEBSITE

Just Call Me Baby

Just Call Me Baby
By Sherrie Coronas

Mom’s long-lost friend from the old neighborhood let out an ear-piercing scream as they both did a crazy little dance at the entrance of the grocery store. It had been a long time since they’d seen one another — apparently. I quickly scanned the vicinity for anyone I might know, taking a few steps forward to distance myself from the swirling hug that had ensued.

My hope for a quick trip to the store was dashed as they launched into an extended discussion about the whereabouts of Ranelle who used to live on the corner and Joseph from down the street. I strolled over to the magazine rack and started scanning Teen Beat for recent photos of Leif Garrett.

Coming out of the chat-frenzy, mom remembered my presence and vigorously signaled for me to come over to meet Helen. “This is Marissa,” said my mother with overflowing mom-pride. “Marissa is my baby!” she announced to Helen and everyone in the checkout lines with megaphone level volume.

Alright, I wasn’t really her “baby.” That’s just what mom called me in order to establish my birth order in our family of three kids. I’m pretty sure it would be just as easy to say that I was the “youngest” or “this is my third child,” but for whatever reason, mom liked to call me her “baby” despite my objections. So, there I was, the 17-year-old baby captured in a head lock by long-lost Helen. No worries. I figured I’d only have to suffer the embarrassment one more year. At age 18, I would be a bonafide adult and things would change.

My magical 18th birthday was not so magical after all. There was no overnight transformation. I was still under mom’s watchful eye and was responsible for no one other than myself. At age 21, I was taking care of a house, a husband and a stack of bills. Still the world seemed very manageable. I had life under control.

At age 27, we welcomed our first son into the world and adulthood came swiftly in the night. A second son arrived a few years later. Things that I once selfishly clung to — like sleep, money and “me” time — were suppressed and denied on a daily basis. These life-altering shifts in priority were permanent and the adult-sized pressures cumulative.

The lethal combination of a lack of sleep, a colic infant and a cranky toddler created the perfect storm one day in my adult life. Pacing up and down our tiny hallway, bouncing Damon back and forth, the crying simply would not cease.

“It’s Marissa,” I blurted out before mom could finish saying hello on the other side of the phone.

“What’s wrong?” she gasped as her mind raced through worst case scenarios.

“He won’t stop crying again.” I said working into a colic fit of my own.

“I’m coming over now,” declared mom.

Within minutes of arriving mom effectively produced a burp that had eluded me and the colic-one all afternoon and rocked him into a calm and happy state.

“You get some rest now,” said mom with no judgment whatsoever. “I’ll take care of Nick and Damon. Go on…” she insisted. I drifted off to sleep before my head settled into my pillow.

What was it about mom that could bring such instant peace? In a world that demanded so much of me, she was only interested in giving — giving me rest, giving me assurance, giving me love on the toughest of days.

The clock in the bedroom said it was 4:30 p.m. when I awoke. My head seemed clearer and the world appeared less daunting with five hours of straight sleep deposited into my mind, body and soul.

All was calm as I strolled into the living room like a toddler waking from an afternoon nap. Mom was in the kitchen making chili while a load of dirty laundry spun violently in the washer.

“There’s Marissa…there’s my baby,” said mom with a twinkle in her eye. My heart swelled with appreciation for this selfless woman who had called me baby for more than three decades, as I finally understood that the term of endearment described so much more than my birth order in our family of three kids.

Sherrie is a believer in Jesus Christ, a website writer for her church, a wife of 25 years and a mother of two wonderful sons. She resides with her family on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, where she was born and raised.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS-MAKE A WEBSITE

Money & Marriage: 7 lessons I have learned so far

By Bob Lotich

1. Money issues need to be talked about

Many people try to avoid subjects (or really anything) they don’t like or are afraid of. You have to face the giants. If your finances are a mess, you have to face up to the truth. How can you expect to move a mountain that you refuse to admit exists?

2. Decide what you want to accomplish – together.

In order to succeed financially as a team, you have to have unity. You may not agree about everything, but find those areas that you are in agreement and shoot toward those goals. They will be a lot easier to attain if you are both putting focused energy towards them rather than pulling against each other for your own thing.

3. Realize that you balance each other out

This might not be the case for everyone, but for my wife and I, this was clearly one of the reasons God brought us together. We both bring different financial mindsets to the table and it keeps us in proper balance. If one is a spender and the other is a saver, I got news for you: it is probably by design. If my wife were just like me, we would be living an unbalanced life, probably saving too much for the future and focusing not enough on today. We both bring balance to each other’s life financially. In our case, we both had to make sacrifices to meet in the middle, but because of it we are living more in line with God’s best for us.

4. Support your spouse (yes, even if they have problems)

It is so critically important to cut each other some slack and allow your spouse an opportunity to grow. None of us are perfect and we all have areas to grow in. Part of the growing process involves making mistakes, so if your spouse isn’t being as financially disciplined as you are – cut him/her some slack. If you are constantly nagging your spouse about money (or anything for that matter) it doesn’t give them much incentive to change and it keeps them from being open with you about their failures. Being able to encourage each other when either one of you fails is very important.

5. A budget is necessary

Living on a budget is different for a single person than it is for a married couple. Let me say, I think everyone should use some sort of a budget, but especially married couples. The reason being is that a single person who doesn’t budget ultimately knows the responsibility for the bills, debt, consequences, etc. will fall on them. When a couple lives without a budget they both can be secretly thinking, “well I will let my spouse take care of it,” and things can fall through the cracks. Having a budget creates an unbiased system to hold both parties accountable for their actions.

6. Individual spending money is necessary

It is way too much of a hassle to have to discuss EVERY purchase you make. Each person needs a specific (and small) amount that they can spend however they choose – but just like allowance, no more when it is gone. It has worked well for us to make this cash solely for individual purchases – going out to eat, clothes, buying food for potluck at work, etc – misc things. You can look at how we manage our money, but basically 95% goes to our joint accounts to pay our bills, pay debt, common saving goals, etc. The remaining 5% gets divided between us for our individual interests.

7. Eliminate sources of strife

This was eye-opening to me. When we first got married, we paid for gas for our own car out of our individual spending money. It just seemed logical to me and seemed like it would work fine. We only had a limited amount of spending money for each of us and it would be enough to cover the gas for the week and other miscellaneous things we needed like I mentioned above.

The problem arose when in a very subtle way – we both seemed to be keeping a mental list of how often we drove places together in each other’s car. And of course, we both often thought that we were driving our car more than the other person. We really were not selfish in other areas of our marriage, but that one small thing was causing unnecessary strife. Now we pay for all of the gas out of a joint account – problem solved.

Source:  http://www.christianpf.com/money-marriage-7-lessons-i-have-learned-so-far/

The Power of Well Chosen Words

The Power of Well Chosen Words
By Birdie Courtright

This afternoon I had the unfortunate task of disciplining my seven year old grandson over a name calling incident.

In the process of explaining the importance of selecting the right words, it occurred to me that as adults we often overlook the most gratifying use of language. Words like gracious, noble, honorable, trustworthy seem seldom used these days in our everyday conversations but what great character building words they are.

Do we use our words to tell our friends they inspire us using adjectives like these? Definitive words help us to rise, don’t they? All too often those kinds of words fall out of use in our daily vocabulary. More often our sentences are rushed, and simpleskimming over the surface with out making so much as a ripple in the listener’s soul. Sometimes they are brutal and caustic.

God gave us the gift of language to express something extraordinary. Well chosen words launched intentionally from one heart to another establish bonds, create character, soothe, heal, edify, build, and bring comfort. The greatest power of any individual is contained in the words they choose.

I quickly found that the concept of selective expression is one not easily grasped at the age of seven.

I attempted to clarify for my grandson that calling his sister a monkey face wasn’t nearly as effective as gently exposing how he feels about her using carefully selected words To test my theory, he turned to his eight year old sister and calmly said “I don’t like you at all and if Grandma wasn’t here I’d hit your monkey face.” Upon hearing his statement, his sister stuck out her tongue and replied, “You’re ugly!” Exasperated, I resorted to the method my grandmother used to teach us the power of well chosen wordsa bar of soap to the lips is a memorable teacher.

We still have some work to do to eliminate the biting verbiage of sibling rivalry. As for myselfI’m glad to have had this moment of reflection today. What I tried to teach a seven year old, is a lesson I need to value more.

Today, I want to choose my words purposefully. I want to pull them from a deeper place in my heart and send them on a mission. I want them to land with sudden impact and transform into something more beautiful. I want to create portraits for my friends with syllables they will remember. Language is to be lavishly exploited when it is harnessed to well chosen words and left to fall silent until they are intentionally mined, polished and set free as the gift God intended them to be.
_________________________________________________________________________________
‘May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Oh Lord, my rock and my redeemer.’ (Ps. 19: 14 NIV)

Birdie Courtright is a freelance writer and real estate professional who enjoys sharing her faith with others through personal glimpses of God at work in her own life.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS-MAKE A WEBSITE

11-Year-Old Hangs Himself

It is normal for us to feel that no child should ever proceed their parent in death.  Whether the cause is illness or senseless violence the pain is still severe.  It was heart-wrenching when I heard Sirdeaner Walker describe finding her 11-year-old son, Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, hanging from an extension cord in his bedroom last Monday night after he had endured another day of taunting at New Leadership Charter School, where he was a sixth-grader, she said.

I don’t even think I knew what suicide was at 11-years old.  He would have turned 12 on the 17th.  She described her son as a happy child who had recently come under a great deal of stress due to enduring bullying at school, including daily taunts of being gay, despite his mother’s weekly pleas to the school to address the problem. This is at least the fourth suicide of a middle-school aged child linked to bullying this year.

In an unrelated incident another 11-year-old boy, Jaheem Herrera, in Atlanta suffered similar abuse.  His younger sister found him hanging in his bedroom last Thursday.  Norman Keene, the fifth-grader’s stepfather, said the family knew the boy was a target, but until his death, they didn’t understand the extent of his suffering.  “They called him gay and a snitch,” he stated.

Victims of bullies become anxious, insecure and cautious, suffer low self-esteem and rarely defend themselves or retaliate. Often they feel isolated and withdrawn. The most common reason cited by youth for why someone is targeted for bullying is because the person does not fit in.

Even if your child isn’t a victim, it can be beneficial to have a discussion about this topic. Who knows? Your child might become a protector of someone being bullied, or he may even decide to show compassion to a bully who feels guilty about how he’s treating others.

Most importantly, we should start at home by modeling Christlike attributes and behaviors before them.  This foundation will establish both accountability and respect for others.

Educators’ advice to parents on how to combat bullying:

> Talk with and listen to your kids —- every day. Engage in frequent conversations about their social lives.

> Spend time at school and recess. Research shows that 67 percent of bullying happens when adults are not present.

> Be a good example of kindness and leadership. Your kids learn a lot about power relationships from watching you.

> Learn the signs. Most children don’t tell anyone (especially adults) that they’ve been bullied. Learn to recognize warning signs such as complaints of headaches or stomachaches, or avoiding recess or school activities.

> Create healthy anti-bullying habits early. Coach your children what not to do —- hitting, pushing, teasing.

> Help your child’s school deal with bullying effectively. Zero-tolerance policies don’t work. Ongoing educational programs that help create a healthy social climate do.

Source: Education.com

More Recommended Resources:

State Laws on Bullying

Cyberbullying

No More Bullies: For Those Who Wound and Are Wounded By Frank Peretti

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Monkey See, Monkey Do!

Monkey See, Monkey Do!
By Pam Ford Davis

Over and over, we are told by educators that things are more often “Caught than taught”. By repetition and example children experience much of their learning. With a background in childcare, I saw this time after time.

With children from twelve to twenty four months, they often mimicked what I did, such as coughing or blowing my nose! When they begin talking, it seems like they are turning into parrots!

Parents will be quick to realize that their children repeat what they have heard at home. With a smile, the usual comment is “I’ve got to be more careful about what I say!” They copy parents;they copy their older sisters and brothers.( That is a real bonus with potty training.) A favorite is to copy animals; they love to get down on the floor,on their hands and knees, and bark like a dog, or ROAR like a lion!

At the childcare ministry where I worked last, a boy had observed how the friendly janitor pushed the large broom or mop down the long hallway. A short time later his mom said he had a toy broom in a friends house, and pushed it all around the room, using the same motions he had seen before!
From my personal “Memory Treasure Chest”, I want to share one example of our oldest grandson, Justin, who was three years old at the time.( He is now preparing for his high school graduation.) My husband and I were at the military base housing of our daughter, her husband, and their son. I think it was his third birthday celebration. He had gone outside with his grand daddy.

When my husband sat down on a curb area, he heaved a heavy sigh. Grandparents do a lot of that! Right away, Justin sat down beside him, and gave out a loud sigh! It was a valuable lesson for both of us, that we have not forgotten. THEY DO COPY US! “Monkey See, Monkey Do!”
Even if you have no young children or grandchildren of your own, you would be surprised at how many children may be watching you. It might be at church, or at a grocery store, maybe even at a doctors office. Mind your P’s and Q’s!
With those in our families, we are instructed to share our faith in God. (Deuteronomy 6:4-7) Lovingly repeat stories of Jesus at home, or in the car…in the morning, as they are getting up, and at night, before going to sleep.

Remember, they learn by repetition. Just as we teach them the alphabet by the simple “ABC’s song;” they can learn of Gods’ love with “Jesus Loves Me.”

Now, at nearly sixty years of age, I still remember the love of Jesus, shown to me through the lives of a godly grandma and grandpa. We must not forget…”Monkey See, Monkey Do!”

I am a wife of over 40 years, mother and proud granny. I was born in N.Y. State, currently reside in central AL. With a past career in Radio announcing our family lived across the nation, later worked in the child care ministry. Now, I am living the dream of writing. All things are possible!

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS-MAKE A WEBSITE

Handling Conflict

Conflict is inevitable, natural, and even healthy! What is unhealthy is unresolved conflict allowed to fester and become a sore in the side of an otherwise productive team. In Acts 15 we see conflict both within and outside the team, but in both cases it is resolved productively. Here is one suggested process for handling conflict.

5 Stage Process for Handling Conflict 1. P ray through the subject of the conflict, alone. Ask God to help you discern the reasons behind it, the needs of those involved and how you may have contributed to it. 2. E xplore each other’s positions thoroughly, listening carefully to each others’ views on the subject of the conflict. Bear in mind that the conflict may be about personalities and needs, rather than the subject matter. 3. A pproach possible solutions together, bringing to the fore the commonality you have. These may include desire to see God glorified, the team goal, concern for each other’s happiness. 4. C ollaboration is better than compromise. Praying together can be a powerful way of seeking agreement. ‘I will listen to what God, the Lord will say, he promises peace to his people, his saints.’ (Ps 85:8) 5. E xpel any resentment you still hold. Make peace with them! (Mt 5:24)

Pause for Thought :   Use the approach above to try to resolve any conflict that you are aware of within the team. You may find the list of questions and meditations below helpful.

Approaching Conflict Situations Five questions to reflect on and pray through, when in conflict with another person : 1. What does the Lord appreciate about this person? Can I see those qualities in them? 2. Why am I taking my position? Is that true, or is there something behind it? 3. What is important in this situation? 4. What alternative solutions are there? Which of them could I live with? 5. How have I contributed to this situation? Is there anything I need to ask the Lord to help me repent of?Five passages for meditation :    ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbour as yourself. I am the Lord.’ (Leviticus 19:18)   ‘Do not say, ‘I’ll pay you back for this wrong!’ Wait for the Lord, and He will deliver you.’ (Proverbs 20:22)   ‘Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.’ (Proverbs 10:12)   ‘My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.’ (James 1:19)   ‘Tell your people to slander no-one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility to all people.’ (Titus 3:2)

Source:  http://www.teal.org.uk/et/page8.htm

Forgiveness: How to Forgive Yourself

Forgiveness: How to Forgive Yourself
By Robert Moment

No matter what the occasion, we often find ourselves looking for the best gift possible to give those we care about. We want to find some token of our affection to give them that says, “I care about you.” Of course, the best gifts to give those around us aren’t those that can be bought in any store. To show how much we love others, we need to let go of the hurt and pain that they have caused and forgive them. Love and forgiveness along with second chances are the best gifts we can possibly give to others.

But what about yourself? Have you thought about giving yourself the gift of forgiveness this year? Are you ready to be free and ready to move ahead into a life of graciousness and love in the future? If you are, you must forgive yourself for the mistakes you’ve made and that can be a difficult thing to do! It’s easy to try and hide our mistakes and not think about them, but what we hide has power over us; it can sit there in the back of our minds and fester, eating away at our self-assurance and our sense of God’s love for us, making us wonder if we are truly worthy. We have to let go of our mistakes and forgive ourselves just as God forgives us. And He does forgive us, completely and with no reservations!

“You are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful.”

Nehemiah 9:17

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

Luke 6:37

When you are ready to forgive yourself, there are six steps that I’ve found very helpful in helping me on the path to self-forgiveness. Perhaps they will help you in your struggle to let go of you past mistakes and embrace forgiveness:

Six Steps Toward Forgiving Yourself

1.Take out a sheet of paper and write your name at the top. Now take some time to think about all of those things you’ve never let go of in your past that you haven’t forgiven yourself for.

2.Write down what those transgressions are and who you hurt; how you hurt them, etc. Was it verbal or physical abuse? Dishonesty? Neglecting someone you cared about? Betrayal? Rejection? Theft? Rape? Lying? Addiction? Adultery?

3.Write down how you feel about yourself because of these unresolved feelings over your past mistakes. Be very honest with yourself. Although you may have made amends or been forgiven by others, do you still feel unworthy? God knows how you feel and He sees your heart. Express on paper how you feel and let the emotions flow release them!

4.Decide to forgive yourself. Forgiveness is not a feeling but a decision of the will and one of the greatest Gifts from God. He has told us to forgive and that He will give us the power to do so but it all begins with the decision to do so.

5.Take your list to God and acknowledge your forgiveness to Him. “Lord, I come to You today and give up my unforgiveness. I forgive myself for ____________________. At this moment, I choose not to hold these offenses against myself, but put them into Your Hands. God, heal my emotional wounds and help me to be able to move forward without regrets and help me to let go of the past and start fresh. God give me the ability to offer upliftment and comfort to someone else with the same comfort you have given me. I release my past sins of ____________into Your Hands.”

6.Destroy the list in private. This visual exercise can be very freeing. Whether you decide to shred it, burn it or tear it up and scatter it in the trash, imagine your past mistakes being destroyed and floating away in the same manner.

This is what it means to be “born again.” The Lord doesn’t want us to dwell on what has happened before our lives as Christians are about who we are now and in the future, walking in forgiveness and love. So give yourself a wonderful gift that is free of charge and yet priceless this year forgive yourself!

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

Alone with You in this moment of meditation and prayer, I release any unresolved feelings of resentment or regret.

Help me through this process of healing.

I release to you any unresolved feelings that I have toward myself. I understand that not forgiving myself is disobedience toward you.

Forgive me for any pain that I have caused in the lives of others. Forgive me for not letting go of the past and moving forward in love.

I experience now the relief of forgiveness to the depths of my being.

Heavenly Father, I acknowledge and give thanks for Your love that strengthens me, comforts and soothes me emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually.

In the complete fullness of Your Love, I can and do forgive myself.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for healing my heart and bringing Joy and Meaning back into my life.

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
This is a new beginning releasing the past and embracing forgiveness. Forgiveness opens the door to the enrichment of all our relationships so that they flourish with understanding and love. With the forgiveness we express today we open the way to a brighter future.

Robert Moment is a Christian business coach, speaker and author of newly published book, God Will Always Be There for You. Robert is passionate about empowering individuals on how to experience God’s love, power, joy, peace and prosperity. Visit http://www.ChristianInspirational.org

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS-MAKE A WEBSITE

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Sexual Assault Awareness Month of Action

Every 2 minutes another American is sexually assaulted; 80% of victims are under the age of 30. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please know that the assault is not your fault and that you are not alone. In the event that you are sexually assaulted, find a safe place, and contact the police immediately. To speak with someone who can help you through the aftermath, and accompany you to the hospital, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE) or visit the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline at rainn.org.

The month of April has been designated Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). The goal of SAAM is to raise public awareness about sexual violence (focusing on sexual assault and rape) and to educate communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence. To find an event celebrating Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month in your community, visit: http://www.rainn.org/about-rainn/events

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