Thursday, February 3, 2011

Forgiveness

  Funny how a word like that can make or break a person. Words themselves have meanings which convey a thought, deed or action, yet can also release or bind a person to many things. This one word Forgive has a lot of power, especially when it is made to become an action. This is one of those words that does not have a middle of the road meaning for one either forgives or doesn't forgive. Often the word forget is associated with it but the two are entirely separate. One can forgive and yet remember, but one can forget and unless forgiveness is in their heart harbor negative feelings toward the person who committed the offense. Though they may not know why.

  Lack of Forgiveness or willingness to Forgive is a negative energy and brings more negative energy. It brings about hate, a strong word in it's own right. Hate starts fights and wars. Hate isolates a person. Hate begets Ignorance, yet another powerful word with the ability to cause fights and wars. These can also cause Isolation of a person. These bring with them bitterness. Slowly the heart hardens and slowly the person becomes more isolated into the negative side. Often it happens so slow that one doesn't notice and over time it accumulates adding more and more of itself. It begins to consume the heart and then the mind. The most dangerous though it it consumes the spirit.

  It replaces the joy, love, kindness, and understanding. The person can feel these things but not as much and while they think the small amount of joy is normal, it isn't. The good things that need to be in the heart and felt in the heart can be felt but not truly experienced as they could be. Brief moments of stops along the way down simply mask the downward spiral. Despair sets in and later pride in a false knowledge of thinking they are tough and realistic. Some head to depression, some to anger, and some to a false pride in themselves.

  The soul knows this isn't right and thirsts, even when it becomes dark as pitch. So it goes in search of quenching itself for it knows that it is infected and dying. In this attempt it seeks to find others like itself with a broken heart and mind. The mind looks at all that is presented and picks and chooses what seems to appeal and protect the heart that is deceived. It is a slow fade to black. Perhaps if the fall had been quicker and more in step with what we believed then one would grasp to anything they could all the way down, but seldom does the decent follow that rule. We deceive ourselves by comparing ourselves to others and mistakes made by other people. We deceive ourselves by thinking that buying the next new (insert whatever here) will fill the hole. We deceive ourselves by taking pride in our job, our money, our possessions, science, education... and the list goes on and on. We become boastful and prideful, thinking we are at the top. But the emptiness is still there, burrowed deep inside. A hole that cannot be filled and eventually barely if at all felt as the soul cries out.

  How important is forgiveness? If this hasn't made sense the take a few quiet moments and reflect. No Tv, web, music, cars, books... just be still. Do this each day for as long as you need to do it. In your musings though remember how you once were and if your childhood was bad, look at the children. Interact with a small child. See the wonder, the innocence, the love, and the joy. Especially in the children that are poor in earthly things, ie: anything you can buy. Walk into a church, even if you don't believe in God. Not a big fancy church but a small church where most of the congregation is poor and the building is plain. Observe. What do they know that you don't? What do they have that you don't? Look into their eyes for the eyes are the mirror to the soul, which nobody can hide. Now take those walks or sit in that quiet room for a few minutes each day and think.  Despite what the education system teaches. Despite what paid main stream scientists say. Despite what Satan says in the quiets of the world he owns. The soul longs for it's Creator.

  I think these days many Christians are missing that point too. Many say I hate this or I hate that. We worry more about what the other person is doing than how we are doing inside. What are we missing? I know, so ans so does this or that. This person is gai while this person is a drunk, or this person curses, and this person... well the list goes on and on. During that distraction though, what are you doing? What are your faults? Have you forgiven those who have actually done something to you either intentionally or accidentally? Why are you so distracted from improving yourself? The Devil has a plan and a good plan at that. Did you just flip off or say or make a gesture to that person who just cut you off in traffic? But I stray now.

  Forgiveness is so important that in the KJV forgiveness is mentioned 8 times and Forgive is mentioned 95 times. For me though a few stand out on just how important Forgiving is in this life, for it effects the other life and making it to there.

Mark 11: 25And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

 26But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. 

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

 LUKE 6: 36Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
 37Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
 38Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

  These are just a few and I noticed that forgetting isn't mentioned but between you, me, and the fence post. I sure do pray that God forgets too.   

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