This morning I cleaned my stove. Youknow, took out the burners and the drip pans and cleaned all the accumulatedgunk. Most of it wiped up easily, but a few spots took a little elbow greaseand some steel wool pads. Before long, the stove looked shiny and (nearly) new.As I worked, my mind meandered, as ittendsContinue reading “Cleaning the Stove”
Tag Archives: forgiveness
Dropping the Stones
Caught in the act, they dragged her into the temple courts. Head down, hands trembling, she avoided the eyes of the angry men surrounding her. The men couldn’t wait to pass judgment on her. Their faces turned hard as the stones they longed to throw. After all, that was God’s law. But the man whoContinue reading “Dropping the Stones”
Prayer
“Always pray to have eyes that see the best in people, a heart that forgives the worst, a mind that forgets -the bad, and a soul that never loses faith in God.” Amy Charmichael Oh, Lord, if I could only be like this. Bring me closer every day, Father. What enables you to see theContinue reading “Prayer”
Forgive Others
To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you. ― C.S. Lewis Lord, it’s far easier to accept forgiveness for my inexcusable acts. Teach me to easily forgive others.
Forgive
Lord, you must be so disappointed in us. You sacrificed for us; you died for us. Yet while you hung on the cross in pain, you asked the Father to forgive us. And yet we hold grudges, and yet we hate. Once again, Lord, forgive us. Teach us to follow your humble, loving, sacrificial example.Continue reading “Forgive”
Mercy and Forgiveness
Mercy and forgiveness must be free and unmerited to the wrongdoer. If the wrongdoer has to do something to merit it, then it isn’t mercy, but forgiveness always comes at a cost to the one granting the forgiveness.— Tim Keller
Dropping the Stones
She was caught in the act of adultery and dragged into the temple courts. Head down, hands trembling, she avoided the eyes of the angry men surrounding her. They couldn’t wait to pass judgment on her. Their faces turned hard as the stones they longed to throw. After all, that was God’s law. But theContinue reading “Dropping the Stones”
A Deeper Look
Do you remember how the Pharisees tested Jesus by asking Him which was the greatest commandment in the law? You know, the one where He passed the test with this reply: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And the second is likeContinue reading “A Deeper Look”
Vacuuming the Carpet
As I vacuum the carpet, the motion and humming of the machine soothes me. Hungrily, it picks up dirt and debris from the floor. The bits of torn paper and the little clumps of dirt are whisked away by its wind. With nothing on my mind but the cleaning, I ponder the hidden dirt theContinue reading “Vacuuming the Carpet”
If My People
Last night I woke up around 4:30. I spent some time in prayer before curling up, ready to fall back asleep. But God had other plans. He kept bringing II Chronicles 7:14 to my mind. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turnContinue reading “If My People”
Growing Our Faith Together 