HOW TO FORGIVE (WOW)

One day a while back, a man, his heart heavy with grief, was walking in the woods. As he thought about his life this day, he knew many things were not right. He thought about those who had lied about him back when he had a job.

His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his things and cheated him.

He remembered family that had passed on. His mind turned to the illness he had that no one could cure. His very soul was filled with anger, resentment and frustration.

Standing there this day, searching for answers he could not find, knowing all else had failed him, he knelt at the base of an old oak tree to seek the one he knew would always be there. And with tears in his eyes, he prayed:

“Lord- You have done wonderful things for me in this life. You have told me to do many things for you, and I happily obeyed. Today, you have told me to forgive. I am sad, Lord, because I cannot. I don’t know how. It is not fair Lord. I didn’t deserve these wrongs that were done against me and I shouldn’t have to forgive. As perfect as your way is Lord, this one thing I cannot do, for I don’t know how to forgive. My anger is so deep Lord, I fear

I may not hear you, but I pray that you teach me to do this one thing I cannot do – Teach me To Forgive.”

As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak tree, he felt something fall onto his shoulder. He opened his eyes. Out of the corner of one eye, he saw something red on his shirt.

He could not turn to see what it was because where the oak tree had been was a large square piece of wood in the ground. He raised his head and saw two feet held to the wood with a large spike through them.

He raised his head more, and tears came to his eyes as he saw Jesus hanging on a cross. He saw spikes in His hands, a gash in His side, a torn and battered body, deep thorns sunk into His head. Finally he saw the suffering and pain on His precious face. As their eyes met, the man’s tears turned to sobbing, and Jesus began to speak.

“Have you ever told a lie?” He asked? The man answered – “yes, Lord.”

“Have you ever been given too much change and kept it?” The man answered – ” yes. Lord.” And the man sobbed more and more.

“Have you ever taken something from work that wasn’t yours?” Jesus asked? And the man answered – “yes, Lord.”

“Have you ever sworn, using my Father’s name in vain? ” The man, crying now, answered – “yes, Lord.”

As Jesus asked many more times, “Have you ever”? The man’s crying became uncontrollable, for he could only answer – “yes, Lord.”

Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the other, and the man felt something fall on his other shoulder. He looked and saw that it was the blood of Jesus. When he looked back up, his eyes met those of Jesus, and there was a look of love the man had never seen or known before.

Jesus said, “I didn’t deserve this either, but I forgive you.”

It may be hard to see how you’re going to get through something, but when you look back in life, you realize how true this statement is. Read the following first line slowly and let it sink in.

If God brings you to it – He will bring you through it. Lord I love You, and I need You, come into my heart, today. For without You I can do nothing .

JOHN 3:16

A little boy was selling newspapers on the corner,
the people were in and out of the cold.

The little boy was so cold that he wasn’t trying
to sell many papers.

He walked up to a policeman and said,
“Mister, you wouldn’t happen to know where a poor boy
could find a warm place to sleep tonight would you?

You see, I sleep in a box up around the corner there and
down the alley and it’s awful cold in there for tonight.
Sure would be nice to have a warm place to stay.”

The policeman looked down at the little boy and said, “You
go down the street to that big white house and you knock
on the door. When they come out the door you just say
John 3:16, and they will let you in.”

So he did. He walked up the steps and knocked on the
door, and a lady answered. He looked up and said,
“John 3:16.” The lady said, “Come on in, Son.”

She took him in and she sat him down in a split! bottom
rocker in front of a great big old fireplace, and she went
off. The boy sat there for a while and thought to himself:
John 3:16 . I don’t understand it, but it sure makes a
cold boy warm.

Later she came back and asked him “Are you hungry ? “
He said, “Well, just a little.. I haven’t eaten in a couple of
days, and I guess I could stand a little bit of food,”

The lady took him in the kitchen and sat him down to a table
full of wonderful food. He ate and ate until he couldn’t eat
any more. Then he thought to himself:
John 3:16. Boy, I sure don’t understand it but it sure
makes a hungry boy full.

She took him upstairs to a bathroom to a huge bathtub
filled with warm water, and he sat there and soaked for a
while. As he soaked, he thought to himself: John 3:16
I sure don’t understand it, but it sure makes a dirty boy
clean. You know, I’ve not had a bath, a real bath, in my
whole life. The only bath I ever had was when I stood in
front of that big old fire hydrant as they flushed it out.

The lady came in and got him. She took him to a room,
tucked him into a big old feather bed, pulled the covers
up around his neck, kissed him goodnight and turned out
the lights. As he lay in the darkness and looked out the
window at the snow coming down on that cold night,
he thought to himself: John 3:16…I don’t understand it but
it sure makes a tired boy rested.

The next morning the lady came back up and took him
down again to that same big table full of food. After he
ate, she took him back to that same big old split bottom
rocker in front of the fireplace and picked up
a big old Bible.

She sat down in front of him and looked into his young face.
“Do you understand John 3:16 ?” she asked gently. He
replied, “No, Ma’am, I don’t. The first time I ever heard it
was last night when the policeman told me to use it,”
She opened The Bible to John 3:16 and began to explain
to him about Jesus. Right there, in front of that big old fireplace,
he gave his heart and life to Jesus. He sat there
and thought: John 3:16 — don’t understand it, but it sure
makes a lost boy feel safe.

You know, I have to confess, I don’t understand it either,
how God was willing to send His Son to die for me, and how
Jesus would agree to do such a thing.

I don’t understand the agony of the Father and
every angel in heaven as they watched Jesus suffer and die.

I don’t understand the intense love for ME that kept Jesus on the cross till the end.
I don’t understand it, but it sure does make life worth living!

John 3:16- For God so loved the world, that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should
not perish, but have everlasting life.

A Heartbeat Away

Mount Auburn, America’s first cemetery, was so beautiful it became the number one tourist attraction in Boston.

When they created Central Park in New York they modeled it after Mount Auburn.

The rallying cry was, “Why not have it all, but without the graves?”

We keep trying to have it all, but without the graves! But we can’t. We live only a heartbeat from eternity.

So, here are two truths you must keep in mind:

(1) God put you on this earth for a specific purpose. Have you found yours yet? Are you pouring your life into it and making every moment count? Paul did, and he ended up writing: “The time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Tim 4:6-8 NKJV).

(2) When you know Christ as your Saviour, the best is yet to be. It is said that on his deathbed, D.L. Moody suddenly sat upright, opened his arms as though embracing something wonderful, declared that earth was receding, Heaven was near, and that it was his coronation day. What a way to go! You don’t need to fear death because Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.

Do you believe this?

(John 11:25-26 NKJV)

Believe it, it’s true!

ABC’S OF SALVATION

All have sinned — Romans 3:23

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Believe in Jesus — John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Confess your sins — I John 1:9

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Son’s of God (receive Him) — John 1:12

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name

“God Loves You”

The Word For Today:

12 What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?

13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.

14 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people. Ps 116:12-14 KJV

READ YOUR BIBLE DAILY – THIS IS OUR

ROAD MAP TO ETERNAL LIFE

Remember the benefits of the Lord are more numerous then we can count.

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Ps 103:1-2 KJV

I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. Salvation means deliverance, and deliverance comes from the Lord, not the government. We should call upon the name of the Lord for our substance, not the Mayor, not the Governor, not the Congress, not the Senate, not the President.

I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people. We should do this verbally and openly, we need to let the world know where our faith lies.

Ps 107:8-9 KJV

8 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

BE SURE TO:

Tell someone today about Jesus Christ and his love for a lost and dying world.

REMEMBER: Quitters never win, and winners never quit.

May you have a blessed day.

Pastor Hall

LTC – Anniston, AL

A Conservative Voice in a Liberal worldBible

From The Street to the Palace

From The Street to the Palace

Today’s Scripture Reading: By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. Hebrews 11:31

When Rahab came to faith in Jehovah and helped hide the Jewish spies, she had no idea the trajectory her life would take. She went from being an unwanted harlot to royalty. Rahab not only was accepted into the nation of Israel, she married into the family that would eventually produce King David and then the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

And when you read Hebrews 11, you see her mentioned among the heroes of the faith, alongside such illustrious names as Abraham and Joseph and Gideon and Daniel. How can a harlot be mentioned in the same breath as prophets and kings?

The answer is simple. God’s amazing grace. It’s the same grace that allows you and me to be transformed from sinners to saints. It doesn’t matter where you’ve come from or what your background is. God’s grace extends to you and can take you to heights you never imagined.

If you feel that you’re too sinful to be embraced by a holy God, then perhaps today is the day you discover a God who loves you and wants to shower you with His amazing Grace.

Today’s Quote: The law works fear and wrath; grace works hope and mercy. Martin Luther

This devotional was written by Dr. James A. Scudder.

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A Day in Heaven’s Court

After living a “decent” life my time on earth came to an end. The first thing I remember is sitting on a bench in the waiting room of what I thought to be a courthouse. The doors opened and I was instructed to come in and have a seat by the defense table. As I looked around I saw the “prosecutor,” he was a villainous looking gent who snarled as he stared at me, he definitely was the most evil person I have ever seen. I sat down and looked to my left and there sat my lawyer, a kind and gentle looking man whose appearance seemed very familiar to me. The corner door flew open and there appeared the judge in full flowing robes. He commanded an awesome presence as he moved across the room and I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. As he took his seat behind the bench he said, “Let us begin.” The Prosecutor rose and said “My name is Satan and I am here to show you why this man belongs in hell.” He proceeded to tell of lies that I told, things that I stole and in the past when I cheated others. Satan told of other horrible perversions

that were once in my life and the more he spoke the further down in my seat I sank. I was so embarrassed that I couldn’t look at anyone, even my own lawyer, as the Devil told of sins that even I had completely forgotten about. As upset as I was at Satan for telling all these things about me, I was equally upset at my representative who sat there silently not offering any form of defense at all. I know I had been guilty of those things, but I had done some good in my life-couldn’t that at least equal out part of the harm I’ve done.

Satan finished with a fury and said “This man belongs in hell, he is guilty of all that I have charged and there is not a person who can prove otherwise. Justice will finally be served this day.” When it was his turn, my lawyer first asked if he might approach the bench. The judge allowed this over the strong objection of Satan, and beckoned him to come forward. As he got up and started walking I was able to see him now in his full splendor and majesty. Now I realized why he seemed so familiar, this was Jesus representing me, my Lord and my Savior. He stopped at the bench and softly said to the judge “Hi Dad” and then He turned to address the court. “Satan was correct in saying that this man had sinned, I won’t deny any of these allegations. And yes the wages of sins is death and this man deserves to be punished”. Jesus took a deep breath and turned to His Father with out-stretched arms and proclaimed “However, I died on the cross so that this person might have eternal life and he has accepted Me as his Savior, so He is mine.” My Lord continued with “His name is written in the book of life and no one can snatch him from Me. Satan still does not understand yet, this man is not to be given justice but rather mercy .” As Jesus sat down, He quietly paused, looked at his Father and replied “There is nothing else that needs to be done, I’ve done it all”. The Judge lifted His mighty hand and slammed the gavel down and the following words bellowed from His lips- “This man is free-the penalty for him has already been paid in full, case dismissed.” As my Lord led me away I could hear Satan ranting and raving “I won’t give up, I’ll win the next one.” I asked Jesus as He gave me my instructions where to go next,”Have you ever lost a case?” Christ lovingly smiled and said “Everyone that has come to me and asked Me to represent them has received the same verdict as you, “Paid in Full.” PRAYER: Father, I ask you to bless my friends reading this right now! Lord, show them a new revelation of Your love and power. Holy Spirit, I ask You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace & mercy. Where there is self-doubting, release a renewed confidence in Your ability to work through them. Where there is tiredness or exhaustion, I ask You to give them understanding, patience, & strength as they learn submission to Your leading. Where there is spiritual stagnation, I ask You to renew them by revealing Your nearness, and by drawing them into greater intimacy with You. Where there is fear, reveal Your love, and release to them Your courage. Where there is a sin blocking them, reveal it, and break its hold over my friend’s life. Bless their finances, give them greater vision, and raise up leaders, and friends to support, and encourage them. Give each of them discernment to recognize the demonic forces around them, and reveal to them the power they have in You to defeat it, I ask You to do these things in Jesus’ name! AMEN

p.s. I don’t know who wrote this, but it is really GOOD

Simply Praise Him

Today’s Scripture Reading: Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Psalm 30: 4-5

The sky turned to dusk. The final glow of light filtered through the stained glass windows of the little country church as it echoed with the sound of Mr. Andrews’ booming voice. “Please open your hymnals to page 196.” Mr. Andrews began the evening service by leading the congregation in an old hymn- “Thank You Lord for saving my soul, Thank You Lord for making me whole. Thank You Lord for giving to me, Thy great salvation, so rich and free.”

“How often do we sing this song without truly grasping how wonderful the words are?” he said. “It may be a simple hymn but its words contain an important message. As we sing this last verse, let us sing it as a prayer to the Lord.”

Do we ever set time aside to simply praise the lord for what He has done in our life-aside from singing hymns in church? Often we bombard our Lord with prayer requests filled with our wants, needs and desires, all the while forgetting to thank Him for what He has already blessed us with. In our text of Psalm 30:4-5, we are told to sing unto Him and give thanks for His holiness.

Have you thanked Him lately for saving your soul and making you whole? Take a moment to think of all of the wonders He has done and praise Him for his goodness.

Today’s Quote: One single grateful thought raised to heaven is the most perfect prayer. G. E. Lessing

This devotional was written by Dr. James A. Scudder.

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A Christian

Several years ago, a preacher from out-of-state accepted a
Call to a church  in Houston , Texas . Some weeks after he arrived, he had an
Occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area. When he sat
Down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too
Much change. As he considered what to do, he thought to himself,
‘You’d better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it.’ Then he thought,
‘Oh, forget it, it’s only a quarter. Who would worry about this little amount?
Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept
It as a ‘gift from God’ and keep quiet.’

When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, and
Then he handed the quarter to the driver and said, ‘Here, you gave me
Too much change ‘

The driver, with a smile, replied, ‘Aren’t you the
New preacher in town?’

‘Yes’ he replied.

‘Well, I have been thinking a lot lately about going
Somewhere to worship. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too
Much change. I’ll see you at church on Sunday.’

When the preacher stepped off of the bus, he literally
Grabbed the nearest light pole, held on, and said, ‘Oh God, I almost sold
Your Son for a quarter.’

Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read.
This is a really scary example of how much people watch us as Christians,
And will put us to the test! Always be on guard — and remember — You carry
The name of Christ on your shoulders when you call yourself  ‘Christian.’

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

The Law of the Garbage Truck

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport.  We were driving
in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space
right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and
missed the other car by just inches!

The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at
us.

My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy.  And I mean, he was really
friendly.

So I asked, ‘Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and
sent us to the hospital!’

This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, ‘The Law of the
Garbage Truck.’

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full
of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment.

As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes
they’ll dump it on you. Don’t take it personally.  Just smile, wave, wish
them well, and move on. Don’t take their garbage and spread it to other
people at work, at home, or on the streets.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take
over their day. Life’s too short to wake up in the morning with regrets,
so…love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don’t.

Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!

Have a wonderful garbage-free day!