Bittersweet

     This is Samantha James, a character from the movie Just Friends.  One of her quirky songs includes the following wise lyrics:

Forgiveness,
Is more than saying sorry
Forgiveness,
Means accepting peoples flaws

Forgiveness,
Does not mean compromising

      I've been procrastinating in writing the blog because in all honesty, I haven't been living it.  I've been stewing on it for almost 3 weeks now.  It is the second part of a previous blog I wrote about rejoicing.  In the same study where Matt Chandler encourages us to rejoice in ALL circumstances, he also reminded me that forgiveness is a HUGE factor in my life.

     First of all, there are too many of you to seek out personally, but I have been harboring so much bitterness and anger about a few situations in my own life, that I have forgotten what it means to be a good friend, a good servant and just a nice person in general.  I need your forgiveness.

     I have had to forgive people lately who haven't even asked for forgiveness.  Let me tell you.  Setting down my HUGE pride problem and saying, "I release my bitterness and anger towards you and what you did to me" is NOT easy!  BUT, with the Lord's help, walking in forgiveness daily is an amazing journey.

     Now I'm not saying I'm perfect and I will never mess up again or even require forgiveness myself.  I'm saying that the choice to forgive those who, from our own perspective, don't deserve forgiveness, is a freeing experience.  Some wrongs that may have been done to you might include theft, pain, emotional abuse, gossip, loss of relationship.  It is natural to nurse our own wounds and want pity from everyone around us.  But the Lord provides a way out of that desert of loneliness through forgiveness.

     Wow, this has really taken a turn away from where I was going, but that's okay.  Let me share some quotes I wrote down during bible study to end this entry.

"The God of the Universe is not showing up late or out of control."

"He did not rescue me to destroy me"

"Lean on the reality that He was there when I felt betrayed."

Second Chances

     At 25, I still enjoy, nay, LOVE watching VeggieTales movies.  They are cleverly written and each one carries with it a great gem of knowledge we should all take with us.
     We all know the story of Jonah, the prophet of the Lord who refuses the Lord's call to Nineveh, a city of folks who are just plain mean.  In refusing to deliver the Lord's message of repentance, Jonah flees in the opposite direction of Nineveh, only to be swallowed by a giant fish!  After 3 days, Jonah repents for not being obedient and the Lord spares him.  Jonah delivers the message to Nineveh, but doesn't truly believe it in his heart; he feels the Lord should deal out punishment on the "bad guys," not mercy and  compassion.
     Sometimes we lose sight of the big picture in our own lives.  We know the Lord is calling us into a certain direction.  We even go as far to offer our lives wholly unto Him.  Then the time comes when the Lord asks us to do something a little out of the box.  Why is it then, that we become afraid, or even offended that the Lord would ask such a thing of us?  I mean, we only offered ourselves and our entire lives up for His glory!  Never thought He'd actually cash in on that, huh??
     Whether we chose to obey instantly or whether it takes some time and...convincing, the Lord will have His will done in the end.  In the case of Jonah, it took a little convincing.  I mean, he was SWALLOWED by a FISH!!!  Sometimes in our lives, we feel the same way: trapped, suffocating, like we've hit rock bottom.  But thankfully, our God is the God of second chances!  As we see illustrated in the story of Jonah, we simply have to repent and the Lord will deliver us from the deepest or darkest of places...even the belly of a big, stinky fish!

Praise the Lord!
He's the God of second chances!
You'll be floored how His love your life enhances!
You can be restored from your darkest circumstances!
Our God is a God of second chances!

     How many times each day do you require a second chance?  Maybe you snapped at your husband or wife this morning.  Maybe you cut off a driver for no reason.  Maybe you used harsh words with a co-worker or hurt someone's feelings.  If you are from the same planet as I am, you are a human and you require hundreds and hundreds of "second chances" every day of your life starting from the day you were born. 
     See, if you look around and notice, we are ALL humans, made from the very same parts, feeling the same emotions, and requiring the same forgiveness.  I have so many hurts and betrayals from others in my life that I can't even count them anymore.  The only reassurance I have in this life is a Lord whose love is unfailing and unwavering.  His love for me doesn't depend on how well I sing or whether I have a job or not.  His love for me does not depend on if I mess up 999 times in one day.  His love is a love of second chances.
     So if you only take one thing away today, take this: You are worth everything to Him.  He loves you so much that no matter how many times you deny Him, He will redeem you.
     If you take two things away, take this as well: Not only do we get second chances, but that in turn means that we need to be graceful and merciful and give second chances to those around us.  Humans will always fail you.  But be a reflection of Christ and offer that second chance.  Let me know how you feel after giving forgiveness or mercy to that person!!

Rejoice?

Last night at bible study, I don't think I'm speaking only for myself when I say I was overwhelmed.  Matt Chandler is a passionate teacher, but that's not what brought most of us to tears last night.  It was the resounding word of the Lord.  I'd like to talk in several entries about the many aspects of these few verses.

Matt spoke briefly out of Philippians and mostly out of Romans:

 Romans 11:33-36 "Oh, the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out.  Who has known the mind of the Lord?  Or who has been His counselor?  Who has ever given to God that God should repay them?  For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.  To Him be the glory forever! Amen." 

Phil 4:4-6 "Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

 When we as Christians have struggles in our lives, we are called by the word of God to rejoice.  You might ask, "Sarai, how in the world does God expect me to 'rejoice' as my loved one is dying?"  Or perhaps, "Am I supposed to 'rejoice' while I can't even afford to feed my family let alone pay my rent every month?"  I would say to you YES.  The word does not say to jump up and down and giggle and be stupidly happy as we struggle each day with our own personal battles.  However, the Lord has called us to a greater purpose: to live our lives transparently before others.

See, God never said our lives would be pieces of cake!  Our paths will have bumps, maybe even hills and mountains in the way.  But through it all, He requires us to be fully devoted to Him.  He asks us to REJOICE.  According to Chandler, rejoicing as I mentioned earlier isn't acting a fool and pretending everything is okay.  True rejoicing at all times is taking a step back, throwing up your hands and saying, "You, Lord, are in control.  You are infinitely wise and wealthy.  I cannot comprehend Your goodness and since every breath I breathe, every beat of my feeble heart is a GIFT from an unending Creator, I TRUST YOU."

In living our Christian lives this way, we open the door to help others as they then struggle with the same issues.  We can come alongside them and encourage them, support them, or even just sit silently beside them.  We will know what WE needed during our time of struggle and we can then offer it to our friends and family as they battle.