Tonight was our small group Bible study and if I may say so, it was awesome! I love digging into God's Word with fellow believers and the intimacy that comes from sharing your true self with others. Tonight's study was both refreshing and invigorating. Since it is summer we have decided to meet every other week, and I really miss these peeps when we don't get to see them.
We talked tonight about our personal "fig leaves". What does that mean, you may ask. Well, my interpretation is that they are the outward things we do to cover our mistakes or sins. When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, they sewed together fig leaves to try to cover their nakedness. So in an effort to apply that to our lives, I asked "What do you use as "fig leaves" to try to cover your mistakes?" For me, I know I sometimes have a hard time apologizing. I tend to try to do things to make up for the wrong I do and say. If I am mean to my husband, I try to do more housework, because that it one of his love languages. I would rather forget about my bad behavior and just cover over it with nice gestures.
Did the fig leaves work to cover their sin? NO! Do my own acts cover my mistakes? NO! So one thing I learned was that I need to put on my big girl panties and deal with it. I need to own up to the mistakes I make and ask forgiveness from the one I wronged. In the spiritual realm, there is only one way to cover our sins and that is to ask forgiveness from God through Jesus. His blood is sufficient to cover all my sins, past, present and future. What a reassuring thought that is!
So I pose this question to you, my fellow readers... What are your "fig leaves"?
Showing posts with label forgiveness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label forgiveness. Show all posts
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
It's almost Easter again
I'm in a small group Bible study that meets in our home Sunday nights. We are all people that God has brought together through one way or another; a previous church, work, our kids are friends, you get the point. We are studying the book of John and have made it all the way to the final chapters involving Jesus' trial, crucifixion and resurrection. In 17, Jesus sets gives us an example of how to pray. He begins by praying for Himself, then prays for the disciples, then for future believers in His name. Chapter 18 we start to see the actions which will lead us up to the Resurrection.
As I read, listen to music, or watch a movie, I can always feel like I'm there. The feelings I get when studying Jesus' trial and death are overwhelming sadness. I know the outcome. It's not like the first time I watched The Sixth Sense and was completely taken aback by the twist (I won't give it away for the 17 people in the world who haven't seen it). I know that "Joy comes in the morning". But my heart still aches for the emotional and physical pain that He endured for me on the cross. Earlier in my walk, I would also feel the accompanying guilt, knowing that it is my sin that put Him there.
I think (on most days) I have fully accepted Jesus' forgiveness for those things. Sure, the enemy tries to bring up my past mistakes and heck, even the ones I made just today. But for the most part I can accept that my sins have been cast into the ocean, and are remembered no more by God. But even without that guilt, I still just feel so bad for what He had to go through. John 15:13 says "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." WOW. To be called a child of God, and a friend! What an amazing gift of which none of us is worthy.
Chapter 19 details His interaction with Pilate and His actual death. I remember the first time I saw "The Passion of the Christ". Such a vivid retelling of the event. Historically and Biblically accurate in regards to the "the punishment that brought us peace". My heart broke as I watched the events unfold on the big screen. I couldn't control the tears that flowed freely down my cheeks. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. Sure, ole Mel has lost his marbles as of late, but that does not negate the good that came from the filming of that movie.
Anyways, theres an update on what's running through my mind as we approach Easter. What's on yours?
As I read, listen to music, or watch a movie, I can always feel like I'm there. The feelings I get when studying Jesus' trial and death are overwhelming sadness. I know the outcome. It's not like the first time I watched The Sixth Sense and was completely taken aback by the twist (I won't give it away for the 17 people in the world who haven't seen it). I know that "Joy comes in the morning". But my heart still aches for the emotional and physical pain that He endured for me on the cross. Earlier in my walk, I would also feel the accompanying guilt, knowing that it is my sin that put Him there.
I think (on most days) I have fully accepted Jesus' forgiveness for those things. Sure, the enemy tries to bring up my past mistakes and heck, even the ones I made just today. But for the most part I can accept that my sins have been cast into the ocean, and are remembered no more by God. But even without that guilt, I still just feel so bad for what He had to go through. John 15:13 says "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." WOW. To be called a child of God, and a friend! What an amazing gift of which none of us is worthy.
Chapter 19 details His interaction with Pilate and His actual death. I remember the first time I saw "The Passion of the Christ". Such a vivid retelling of the event. Historically and Biblically accurate in regards to the "the punishment that brought us peace". My heart broke as I watched the events unfold on the big screen. I couldn't control the tears that flowed freely down my cheeks. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. Sure, ole Mel has lost his marbles as of late, but that does not negate the good that came from the filming of that movie.
Anyways, theres an update on what's running through my mind as we approach Easter. What's on yours?
Saturday, March 12, 2011
30 DOT Day 18
Your views on gay marriage.
Once again, here is where I offend others and that's okay. I believe that God created man and woman to be together in marriage joined with Him. While I don't think the political arena is where God really wants us to be active, I do believe that marriage is sacred and between one man and one woman. There are many perversions of this; having "relations" outside of marriage, multiple spouses and homosexual relationships to name a few. Notice that I admit there are perversions even within the "straight" community. Sin does not pick and choose, we are all equally susceptible to those traps. Though our struggles may be different, how God wants us to respond to them is the same. James 4:7 says "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
My aim is not to condemn anyone by my opinions, but to offer hope. There is freedom in Christ. Freedom from being a slave to the sin you're in. God is faithful to forgive and only asks that you humble yourself to His will for your life.
Once again, here is where I offend others and that's okay. I believe that God created man and woman to be together in marriage joined with Him. While I don't think the political arena is where God really wants us to be active, I do believe that marriage is sacred and between one man and one woman. There are many perversions of this; having "relations" outside of marriage, multiple spouses and homosexual relationships to name a few. Notice that I admit there are perversions even within the "straight" community. Sin does not pick and choose, we are all equally susceptible to those traps. Though our struggles may be different, how God wants us to respond to them is the same. James 4:7 says "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
My aim is not to condemn anyone by my opinions, but to offer hope. There is freedom in Christ. Freedom from being a slave to the sin you're in. God is faithful to forgive and only asks that you humble yourself to His will for your life.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
30 DOT Day 4
Something you have to forgive someone for
This one might be difficult. As a Christian, we are taught to forgive. Jesus said to forgive someone 7 x 70 times or some outrageous number. I once was a holder of grudges. Were it an Olympic sport, I would have won gold (that's the best right?). This is something I have learned to do over the years. That being said, I can forgive but I do not forget. To forgive you means I will not harbor ill will towards you in my own heart but that does not mean I will give you the chance to do it again. To me that is just wisdom. But even that, I guess it depends on the situation. So for todays exercise I am going to pass and say that as you will learn later, if I can forgive this one man, I can forgive anyone... in time.
This one might be difficult. As a Christian, we are taught to forgive. Jesus said to forgive someone 7 x 70 times or some outrageous number. I once was a holder of grudges. Were it an Olympic sport, I would have won gold (that's the best right?). This is something I have learned to do over the years. That being said, I can forgive but I do not forget. To forgive you means I will not harbor ill will towards you in my own heart but that does not mean I will give you the chance to do it again. To me that is just wisdom. But even that, I guess it depends on the situation. So for todays exercise I am going to pass and say that as you will learn later, if I can forgive this one man, I can forgive anyone... in time.
Friday, February 25, 2011
30 DOT Day 3
Something you have to forgive yourself for
I need to forgive myself for mistakes in my past. As a teenager, I was wild and crazy. I did many things I'm not proud of. I know I did not treat my mother with the respect she deserved. I took her for granted and disregarded her feelings. I was mean and at times hateful and unappreciative. I put my mom literally through Hell. While most days I can accept these things for what they are; things that led me to who I am today; other days Satan tries to use guilt to weigh me down. I know that I have been forgiven, but sometimes, it is hardest to forgive ourselves.
This song always makes me think of my mother. My brother and I each chose a song to play at her funeral, and this was mine.
I need to forgive myself for mistakes in my past. As a teenager, I was wild and crazy. I did many things I'm not proud of. I know I did not treat my mother with the respect she deserved. I took her for granted and disregarded her feelings. I was mean and at times hateful and unappreciative. I put my mom literally through Hell. While most days I can accept these things for what they are; things that led me to who I am today; other days Satan tries to use guilt to weigh me down. I know that I have been forgiven, but sometimes, it is hardest to forgive ourselves.
This song always makes me think of my mother. My brother and I each chose a song to play at her funeral, and this was mine.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Why I don't wear crucifixes (or Hey, Jesus get down off of that cross)
You've probably seen them before, those big and overly ornate crosses in churches. You may even have one in your own home. Gilt with gold, maybe some semi precious stones and a good coat of lacquer to give it that sparkly sheen... And there's poor Jesus hanging on it, looking like He just lost His best friend. While they may be beautiful to look at (which even that is debatable in my opinion); since my conversion for lack of better term, they have always bothered me.
They don't bother me because I deny the miracle of His sacrifice for me. I find it completely amazing and quite often overwhelming that He would such a thing for little old me. Not because I am repulsed by the sight of an artists rendition of Him, though I do hate to think of Him suffering because of my mess ups. What I am bothered by is the idea of commemorating the myth that He stayed up there. HE DIDN'T!
He died an unnatural and painful death at the hands of His accusers on behalf of His creation, but He did not stay that way. That's the miracle of the crucifixion and resurrection. It is a fact that Jesus died. His heart stopped beating, His lungs stopped taking in air. But you can't keep a good man down. He lives! He walked the Earth following the brutal death He suffered.
I have often thought "Why don't we wear empty tombs on chains? Or maybe a rock symbolizing the stone that was rolled away." I have seen a flame on a necklace before, symbolizing the Holy Spirit and I really liked that!I do not have disdain for the cross. I have cross necklaces, and I wear them. But you will not find a graven image of Jesus on that cross around my neck. I consider it my personal reminder of His triumph over death. Just some food for thought.
They don't bother me because I deny the miracle of His sacrifice for me. I find it completely amazing and quite often overwhelming that He would such a thing for little old me. Not because I am repulsed by the sight of an artists rendition of Him, though I do hate to think of Him suffering because of my mess ups. What I am bothered by is the idea of commemorating the myth that He stayed up there. HE DIDN'T!
He died an unnatural and painful death at the hands of His accusers on behalf of His creation, but He did not stay that way. That's the miracle of the crucifixion and resurrection. It is a fact that Jesus died. His heart stopped beating, His lungs stopped taking in air. But you can't keep a good man down. He lives! He walked the Earth following the brutal death He suffered.
I have often thought "Why don't we wear empty tombs on chains? Or maybe a rock symbolizing the stone that was rolled away." I have seen a flame on a necklace before, symbolizing the Holy Spirit and I really liked that!I do not have disdain for the cross. I have cross necklaces, and I wear them. But you will not find a graven image of Jesus on that cross around my neck. I consider it my personal reminder of His triumph over death. Just some food for thought.
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