eMpower • iMpact • iMpart
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He calls us to forgive
Without an acknowledgment of wrong from the one who hurt us,
Without repentance or contrition from the one who wronged us,
Without an apology or a promise to do better from the one who offended us,
We are exhorted to forgive just as freely as we were forgiven.
How Do You Respond to Rejection? What did Jesus do? The time had come. The mob came to seize Jesus. Peter’s response was to draw a sword and defend his friend. But when Jesus made it clear there would be no violence on their part, the disciples fled… All of them. John did not even take time to put clothes on and fled naked. Jesus’ friends…who had seen the miracles...
David and Bathsheba – ⚠️ This May Challenge You! I love to teach this story and set the record straight about Bathsheba. This whole hot mess of a relationship was instigated by King David’s lusts. If you read the story, ignoring what you have heard about Bathsheba, you will see: 1. David was in the wrong place at the wrong time. David was on the roof, she was not....
As I read Paul’s letters to the churches, I’m amazed how often Paul addressed Christian behavior. He always began by reminding us of our identity because we can’t live a godly life without the indweliing of the Holy Spirit. In Colossians 3, Paul reminds us that we are dearly loved by God and chosen to be holy. And because we are loved, we love! I pray that the church that...
Forgiveness is powerful! It’s funny how releasing others from their debt frees us. Joseph’s brothers were absolutely, positively wrong to sell their brother into slavery. Joseph had every right to be angry with his brothers. He had been ripped from his family, falsely accused, set in jail to rot all because of their actions. His brothers hijacked his life. When Joseph is finally reunited with the very people who caused...
She was guilty. No doubt about it. She was caught in the very act. They dragged her out of bed, half-naked, head hung, ashamed. She was a pawn in their twisted game. This angry mob demanded justice. She was an adulterer. The law was clear, she deserved stoning. She deserved an horrific, embarrassing, shameful death. What would this Jesus do? If He were truly a prophet, if He were truly...
I was reading the story of Joseph yesterday. Joseph’s brothers did him wrong. I mean really, really wrong. There was hatred, malice, and murder within their hearts. There is no “gracefying” their actions. Their actions were evil concerning their brother. Yet, still Joseph forgave. Yet, still Joseph prospered while enslaved. Yet, still Joseph prospered in prison. Joseph was able to look at his brothers at the end of his life...
Becoming More Like Jesus A friend of mine was dumbfounded that I would think of helping someone who had hurt me deeply. I must admit, I, too was surprised by my response because my flesh wanted to punch someone in the face. But I heard the Holy Spirit respond to my friend through my voice. “We don’t respond to people according to how they have treated us. We respond to...
The other morning my husband and I were joking around with each other. I suggested I was going to divorce him and he said, “I’m not worried about that. You are my ride or die.” I gotta tell you, I was a little offended. I thought, “If he thinks I’m ride or die, he hasn’t been paying attention the last thirty years.” Ride or die is slang for a person,...
Yes, that bad thing happened. You were hurt. You were rejected. You were discriminated against. You were mistreated. Yes, it was unfair. Yes, it happened. It is your backstory. But now you have a choice. Do I allow my backstory to dictate my future story or do I accept Jesus’ redemption of my backstory? Will I allow Satan to keep me as a victim or will I share in Jesus’...