Are You Blind or Do You See?
We read this story and couldn't help but be reminded of this verse from Mark 8:18: "Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember?"
A 24 year old boy seeing out from the train’s window shouted…
“Dad, look the trees are going behind!”
Dad smiled and a young couple sitting nearby, looked at the 24 year old’s childish behavior with pity, suddenly he again exclaimed…
“Dad, look the clouds are running with us!”
The couple couldn’t resist and said to the old man…
“Why don’t you take your son to a good doctor?”The old man smiled and said…“I did and we are just coming from the hospital, my son was blind from birth, he just got his eyes today.
What have you been blind to? Are you ready to see?
Forgive Without Punishing
When I was young, I used to think I was a pretty good person, and didn’t really need much forgiveness. I thought if I worked hard and took care of myself, I deserved a comfortable life. Isn’t that the American dream?
As life grew more complicated, I began to understand a new level of emotional pain. I was married with three small children and an increasingly difficult relationship with my husband. Life wasn’t easy or comfortable. The hurts that my husband inflicted began to take a toll on my heart. I began to harbor wounds. Ugly words and actions that I replayed again and again on an endless tape in my head. I hadn’t really studied God’s word, His timeless love letter to his children. I didn’t understand the breadth of damage that bitterness can cause. “Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you,” and “be quick to forgive, “are instructions found in His word. But I thought my anger was justified. I was continually mistreated. I kept score.
And then my health began to fail. I developed a debilitating arthritis that impaired my ability to walk, to turn a doorknob, to carry anything. I had to quit my job and look for friends and neighbors to help me with my children. One day I realized that my daily bread, my simple prayer to my Father in heaven that I had known but never bothered to actually spend much time with, was for God to help me feed my children and get them to school. My husband traveled often and I was alone much of the time. Pain was my constant companion. I only wanted to survive and to see my children thrive.
I spent a long time studying God’s word and began to understand the meaning of grace. Unmerited favor. My heavenly father had loved me all those years when I ignored him and life seemed good. And He loved me consistently when I was alone and in pain. He sent His son to die for my sins. And my sins were not insignificant. I had built up resentment for the man I married. I was bitter and my thoughts and words were ugly. I asked God to forgive me and give me His forgiveness for my husband.
I still remember the day it happened. My husband’s temper blew and he stormed out of the room and slammed the door, but instead of my usual reaction of anger and fear I felt deep sympathy. That man was tormenting his wife and children. But he was tormented. It took several months before I realized that I no longer felt the arthritis pain. That I had forgotten to take my medicine.
My Rheumatologist could not believe that I appeared healed. But I know that rather than feeling a burning desire to keep score and punish my husband for the hurts he caused, I had been set free. Forgiveness does that. It is better than medicine. The Bible says that God “forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.” And that, “a merry heart is good medicine.” Forgiveness is for the forgiver, not the one who caused the harm. It can change you. I encourage you to study God’s word. It is a love letter. In it, you will find life.
10 Ways to Love
One of the best ways to love someone is to listen without interrupting.
'To answer before listening-- that is folly and shame.' - Proverbs 18:13
5 Step Challenge to #JointheJourney
Last week we challenged you to #JointheJourney through 5 simple steps. We hope to continue to encourage you to take those steps, especially if you are considering that first one.
Step 1
Step 1: We know that a lot of you are starting a new journey today with back to school and we want to encourage you to incorporate God into you daily lives by offering you the steps that will help you get there!
Step 2
Step 2: We encourage you to Be Open Minded as you embark on Step 2 of our 5 day challenge to get closer to God! #JointheJourney www.amazinggrace.life
Step 3
Step 3: Curious what the Bible says about God? And how he views you? What he offers you? For Step 3 of our 5 day challenge, we're giving you the opportunity to learn more about how God sees you. Click here to learn more.
Step 4
For step 4, we challenge you to find a friend and talk about God. Here are 4 ideas of where you can get started: join a neighborhood Bible study, visit your local church, reach out to a family member, connect with someone at work. #JointheJourney #5daychallenge
Step 5
Today marks the final day of our 5 step challenge. For Step 5, we encourage you to find a Bible Study. If you're not sure where to start, scroll down to read our previous blog post, or click here.
Thank you for joining us on the journey! #JointheJourney #10Millionlives
How Do You Find the Right Bible Study?
When I was getting into small group Bible studies I was a little nervous at first. But once I realized the other girls in the group had the same values and outlook on life, I felt I had an immediate support system. And a safe place to go to talk about things that I could not even talk about with my parents.
I want to encourage anybody and everybody to get into some kind of small group Bible study. Back in the day of Jesus, that's how the church started -- it was in the home with just a few people. It's a safe place and an intimate place where you can have conversations about a lot of different things. I think this is really important for young people, as life has become more complicated. A Bible study provides a safe place to ask questions and work through life's ups and downs.
If you are even wondering about a Bible study, give it a try. One class could change your entire path in life. It did mine.
Here are 3 tips on how to choose the right Bible study:
1. Ask God for Direction: Before you start your search pray that God will reveal to you what he wants you to learn this season
2. Think about Your Time: Estimate the amount of daily personal time each study requires and choose one that fits in with the amount of time you have to give
3. Research the Curriculum: It's important to study what you are going to study before you join a group. Make sure that the Bible Study focus is in line with what you hope to learn
#JoinTheJourney