Forgiveness

Recently we became aware of a marital indiscretion in our church that required forgiveness on many fronts: The aggrieved parties, employer and co-workers and the concentric-far reaching circles of associates, friends and members. My bible study participated in the following exercise and it may be helpful if you require forgiveness or have been called to forgive.

Acquire RED Paper and Envelopes (readily available at a scrapbook store)
List the items that you need to be forgiven for and those which you need to forgive others on the RED paper, using one paper for yourself and a separate one for each person you need to forgive. Be specific and detailed-no one else is going to see these. Get out all your hurt, anxiety and bitterness and record it on the paper
Place the paper(s) in the RED envelope
Seal the envelope.
Place the envelope in a prominent place or in your bible
Every time you feel compelled to pick up your guilt remember that the (red) BLOOD of JESUS CHRIST has covered those sins and you are forviven. Likewise when you begin to feel hurt or angry, bitter or resentful ask the Holy Spirit to help you forgive those who have wronged you as you have been forgiven. Do this as often as you see the RED envelope until you have a peace which passes all understanding. Repeat as necessary.

Change my heart, O God

If you want change you have to get to the heart of things...in this case, literally your heart.
This week pray that your heart is changed, that it is softened, that God reveals any hardness of heart you may be unaware of.

Dear Lord,
Change my heart. Make it yearn for you and only you. Create in me a heart that loves as you love. Give me a heart for the things that are important to you (family, my spouse, the hurting, the ill, the homeless, the lonely, children, the oppressed, teachers, pastors, the elderly, the un-born). Fill my heart to over flowing with your spirit and empower me to boldly love others in your name.
Amen

Prayer

New school year, new you? It's possible with the power of prayer. What do you want to change? Look here each week for a new prayer focus...