Monday, January 31, 2005
Is it Possible to Forgive and Forget?
Why is Forgiveness so important?
Love's greatest expression and greatest challenge.
Why is Forgiveness so difficult?
Remember, forgiveness is :
NOT minimizing the wrong.
NOT denial or disregard the consequences.
NOT reconcilation (it takes only one to forgive, two to reconcile)
NOT amnesia - not forgetting the wrong at once, but the bitterness fades.
NOT ignoring your righteous anger.
What is true forgiveness?
Giving up my right to get even or hold a grudge (Eph 4:31)
Letting go of bitterness.
Breaking the shell of a killer
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/153212_ridgwaymain19.html
Why must I forgive others?
He forgave us - it mirrors God's character (Eph 4:32)
Because God commands us in order to experience the wholeness of forgiveness.
For our own release.
How do I forgive others?
There is no innate talent.
Read books, pray, counseling.
Suggested : "Overcoming Hurts and Anger" by Dwight Carlson, "Forgive and Forget" Lewis Smedes (click title link above), anything by David Augsberger.
Love's greatest expression and greatest challenge.
Why is Forgiveness so difficult?
Remember, forgiveness is :
NOT minimizing the wrong.
NOT denial or disregard the consequences.
NOT reconcilation (it takes only one to forgive, two to reconcile)
NOT amnesia - not forgetting the wrong at once, but the bitterness fades.
NOT ignoring your righteous anger.
What is true forgiveness?
Giving up my right to get even or hold a grudge (Eph 4:31)
Letting go of bitterness.
Breaking the shell of a killer
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/153212_ridgwaymain19.html
Why must I forgive others?
He forgave us - it mirrors God's character (Eph 4:32)
Because God commands us in order to experience the wholeness of forgiveness.
For our own release.
How do I forgive others?
There is no innate talent.
Read books, pray, counseling.
Suggested : "Overcoming Hurts and Anger" by Dwight Carlson, "Forgive and Forget" Lewis Smedes (click title link above), anything by David Augsberger.
Friday, January 28, 2005
Experiencing God - Week 3
My notes from viewing the Experiencing God video seminar for week 3 - Experiencing a love relationship with God.
Love for us - it was settled at the cross.
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment." (Matthew 22:37-38 NIV)
Dimensions of the love of God. We are meant for eternity. Our time here just opportunity to prepare and enjoy.
Do you need discipline to spend time with those you love? Obey God- not from the guilt of fear but that more sublime guilt of disappointing the One who loves you. Deny self and come under Jesus and find out who you really are.
Whom the LORD loves, HE disciplines. FOR. OUR. OWN. GOOD.
Study systematically. Don't go searching. But always be in Gospels. Truth (theologically) is a Person.
Q and A: "Wrassling" with self. He's drawing you unto Himself. Our lives in Him are "open-ended" - obey him wholeheartedly, He moves you forward to new opportunity and purpose.
Love for us - it was settled at the cross.
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment." (Matthew 22:37-38 NIV)
Dimensions of the love of God. We are meant for eternity. Our time here just opportunity to prepare and enjoy.
Do you need discipline to spend time with those you love? Obey God- not from the guilt of fear but that more sublime guilt of disappointing the One who loves you. Deny self and come under Jesus and find out who you really are.
Whom the LORD loves, HE disciplines. FOR. OUR. OWN. GOOD.
Study systematically. Don't go searching. But always be in Gospels. Truth (theologically) is a Person.
Q and A: "Wrassling" with self. He's drawing you unto Himself. Our lives in Him are "open-ended" - obey him wholeheartedly, He moves you forward to new opportunity and purpose.
Sunday, January 23, 2005
How can I experience a healthy heart?
Borrowing freely (with attribution) to Robert Boyd Munger - My Heart, Christ's Home - (click title above. for link to book description)
A great "meaty" sermon by Pastor Kirk, tying his study of Ephesians (Leading from the Heart of God) to this book.
Here's what I noted down:
God wants to do an "extreme makeover" in my heart, mind, and soul.
Where is Christ now? He's in Heaven, but he's also inside each of us
( When I think of Ephesians, I think of Watchman Nee's great treatise " Sit, Walk, Stand" - We are positionally seated with Christ at God's right hand in Heaven, but He also also walks with us and stands with us.
A great analogy of our hearts as Christ's home.
1) the study - "mind", control room
questionable reading material, what's on our walls - represent our inner thoughts, our mental pictures. "whatever is noble, whatever is ... think on these things"
2) the dining room - "appetite" - what's our favorite "need", desire - money, fame, prestige. What feeds the soul - satisfies our emotional, spiritual hungers. " I have food that you know nothing of, to do my Father's will"
3) The living room - comfort, intimacy. Do I meet with Jesus - read and talk with Him? Has the fire gone out of the fireplace?
4) The recreation room - where do we relax, hobbies? where do we party? do we take Jesus when you go out? Good time with God? new relationships, new interest, new joy, and fun with Him.
5) The bedroom - Holiness of marriage, value of love and sex. Improper sexuality destroys values. Ask God's help for temptation.
6) The Family room - Think of the larger "family of God". Missions, community, small group fellowship, congregation, worship!
Need each other to grow!
7) The Hall closet. - personal secrets, rotten and bitter things. are they forgotten? lost? No, holding to memories, bitterness? Will He stand for it? No. Give Him the key - He'll clean out the junk, the rot, bring cleanness.
__________________-
- What grieves God? (Eph 4:30) - Disobedience - doing what He doesn't want you to do.
- What quenches Holy Spirit ( 1 Thess 5:18) - Not doing what He urges, prompts to do.
- Filled with His Spirit - put yourself under His control!
- Confess - He is faithful to forgive ( 1 John 1:9)
A great "meaty" sermon by Pastor Kirk, tying his study of Ephesians (Leading from the Heart of God) to this book.
Here's what I noted down:
God wants to do an "extreme makeover" in my heart, mind, and soul.
Where is Christ now? He's in Heaven, but he's also inside each of us
( When I think of Ephesians, I think of Watchman Nee's great treatise " Sit, Walk, Stand" - We are positionally seated with Christ at God's right hand in Heaven, but He also also walks with us and stands with us.
A great analogy of our hearts as Christ's home.
1) the study - "mind", control room
questionable reading material, what's on our walls - represent our inner thoughts, our mental pictures. "whatever is noble, whatever is ... think on these things"
2) the dining room - "appetite" - what's our favorite "need", desire - money, fame, prestige. What feeds the soul - satisfies our emotional, spiritual hungers. " I have food that you know nothing of, to do my Father's will"
3) The living room - comfort, intimacy. Do I meet with Jesus - read and talk with Him? Has the fire gone out of the fireplace?
4) The recreation room - where do we relax, hobbies? where do we party? do we take Jesus when you go out? Good time with God? new relationships, new interest, new joy, and fun with Him.
5) The bedroom - Holiness of marriage, value of love and sex. Improper sexuality destroys values. Ask God's help for temptation.
6) The Family room - Think of the larger "family of God". Missions, community, small group fellowship, congregation, worship!
Need each other to grow!
7) The Hall closet. - personal secrets, rotten and bitter things. are they forgotten? lost? No, holding to memories, bitterness? Will He stand for it? No. Give Him the key - He'll clean out the junk, the rot, bring cleanness.
__________________-
- What grieves God? (Eph 4:30) - Disobedience - doing what He doesn't want you to do.
- What quenches Holy Spirit ( 1 Thess 5:18) - Not doing what He urges, prompts to do.
- Filled with His Spirit - put yourself under His control!
- Confess - He is faithful to forgive ( 1 John 1:9)
