How To Forgive -- Brought to you by Mean Girls

Asleep at the Wheel?

The ugly truth? I am asleep at the wheel at times - well actually A WHOLE LOT OF TIMES! I am the executioner in the story of Jesus!!! I have done so many things I should not have done, because I was asleep. Trampling over people and feelings -- Striving to feed my hungry ego --Grinding my pink stilettos into anyone standing in my way to the top!!!!!!!! (the top of what? I'm wondering!!! ) If one of you are one with my heel mark, I hope you will forgive me.

I can remember all kinds of embarrassing moments which should not have happened, because I was following the customs of our times, or the advice of someone else as asleep as myself! Or reading a gossip magazine! Or watching TV shows telling me how to get that fame and fortune!!!Yikes!

Like the way I'm using past tense? That's me just being hopeful that Christ has grown in me enough to rid me of this ugly part of myself! Its an old ugly habit to break!!! Trying to be awake all the time takes work!

"I forgive you".... I would say! Does that sound arrogant? It WAS, because I actually didn't know how to forgive.

Saying "I forgive you" just made me feel superior, and it must have been some sort of ego boost. "Yeah, I got 'em, I said; I forgive you for being a jerk!!!"

In a flash. listening to the daily audio bible (free on iTunes - http://www.dailyaudiobible.com/) I kinda think I can explain Forgiveness now! I'm not at all perfect, please bear with me!

Forgiveness:
Forgiveness is certainly a big part of being a follower of Jesus Christ. It is a hard one to do. How does a mother forgive someone who has hurt their child? How do people who have really been wronged keep from getting revenge and forgive? How do I forgive others ... how do I forgive myself?

What struck me that day, when someone had physically and mentally hurt my completely innocent little boy, that I didn't know how to forgive, but what helped me was this:

Jesus said: "Forgive them father, for they know not what they do..."

Jesus was dying, at that very moment, on a cross, the worst death a human could suffer, feeling all the pain that a human can feel, and he was able to say that "they know not what they do..."

Needless to say, sometimes we're asleep at the wheel. I am not proud of those times in my life. I pray to God to keep me aware so as not to hurt anyone, and to feel his infinite love and forgiveness. Its a hard one to grasp! But this helps me a lot.

Luke 23

The Crucifixion

34Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."[e] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
35The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."
36The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."
38There was a written notice above him, which read:sc THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"

Kilimombogo Kenya Charity Event

October 20th Thankfull plays for Kilimombogo Silent Auction and Party! Come join in the fun, sing along, dance and rock out with Thankfull as we raise money and awareness for these amazing beautiful people of the Kilimombogo region of Kenya.

"Our pastor and his wife have a special place in their hearts for these people, they go there to help out.... ever since we saw the pictures of their last trip and hear the stories of the actual people we knew we wanted to help out too..." Mary & Jen

Its a great way to have fun, get outside yourself and help others all at once!

Greek Orthodox Church, San Rafael, California. Oct. 20th

Patience

Proverbs 19:11 A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

Proverbs 25:15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

Ecclesiastes 7:8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
and patience is better than pride.

I am NOT all that patient, and so immature sometimes too!!! And I'm always learning to go to God first. This seems like such a small thing but recently, someone I care about did something that left me feeling very hurt and betrayed! But guess what? When I prayed about it, the message came loud and clear to stand back and wait. WAIT? I really had to go tell that person how they hurt me!!!!

It was a horrible struggle inside me that went on for days. It was hard keeping my trap shut!! It was like a terrible tennis match in my head! I had to go for walks while I was grinding away on the subject, and tell myself "we are all God's children"... and "what would Jesus do"? No matter how hard it was, I knew I had to wait because of the message in my prayer. I saw the person many times and bit my tongue! And so... I waited.

You know what? God worked it out without my having to do anything else. I can't even imagine that person ever doing the same thing to me ever again! And I didn't have to say a word. I am all good again with that person! The love is back! And I am forever changed by looking to God for help!

I often look to that inner struggle, as something that gives me so much strength, it was completely out of character for me. Trusting God takes practice sometimes! But He is so generous! This sounds like such a small thing! Thank you God! (mary cary)