It hit me like a ton of bricks last week. I AM the man in the parable who was forgiven a large debt by the king. Like him, I struggle to forgive the man (or child) who, in turn, "owes" me. Usually it is my girls who face "my" justice side with little to no mercy. Why? Why do I rejoice at the forgiveness God has given me and then turn right around, indignant at my children's mistakes? They ask for forgiveness and I look at them as though they have three heads. Forgive? I have a hard time forgiving them because I have a good memory. I know that just a minute ago they committed the same offense against me and now they are doing it again. There is a pattern of wrong in their lives. But am I any different? How many days do I also turn to ask for forgiveness from my Heavenly Father and confess the same sins? Often. Too often. Lord, help me to be as forgiving as you are. Thank you, Lord for your amazing grace! Help me be an example to my children of You and Your forgiveness-and remember the trespasses no more!
for HIS glory!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Willingly amputate?
I started writing this post almost a year ago. I haven't published it until now because I felt like it needed some revising so here goes; Marriage was designed by God as extremely important, it should be highly valued and should be kept beautiful because it represents the unconditional love God has toward us, his image bearers.
After talking about marriage as beautiful it might seem strange to have given this post such a strange title. I guess amputation and marriage don't really have a clear connection but in my mind they do. A few times over the last week or so (or year) I have been talking to friends or listening to someone talk about marriage. While we were talking I realized just how literally I take the verse from Genesis 2:24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife; and they shall become ONE flesh. (see also Mark 10:7-9) I realized that most times I feel like my husband and I ARE one. Our names are usually said together. When people think about one of us, they immediately think of the other. Marriage partners are like two peas in a pod. They are individuals but they belong together because they are housed in the same "pod". Okay now I'm getting to the amputation connection. If we are one flesh in God's eyes, is it okay to divorce? In Mark 10:9 it says, "What therefore God has joined together, let NO man separate." Does God really mean what He says? Are these words truth or just empty rhetoric? Going back to the pea pod example. If we take the two peas out of their pod, they are no longer whole as a pea pod. They are just two little peas. I see divorce as willingly amputating a part of our self. God has brought two people together or allowed them to marry, thus, they should stay married. "...for better or for worse".
Here is a link to an interesting article on the damage divorce has caused our country.
for HIS glory!
After talking about marriage as beautiful it might seem strange to have given this post such a strange title. I guess amputation and marriage don't really have a clear connection but in my mind they do. A few times over the last week or so (or year) I have been talking to friends or listening to someone talk about marriage. While we were talking I realized just how literally I take the verse from Genesis 2:24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife; and they shall become ONE flesh. (see also Mark 10:7-9) I realized that most times I feel like my husband and I ARE one. Our names are usually said together. When people think about one of us, they immediately think of the other. Marriage partners are like two peas in a pod. They are individuals but they belong together because they are housed in the same "pod". Okay now I'm getting to the amputation connection. If we are one flesh in God's eyes, is it okay to divorce? In Mark 10:9 it says, "What therefore God has joined together, let NO man separate." Does God really mean what He says? Are these words truth or just empty rhetoric? Going back to the pea pod example. If we take the two peas out of their pod, they are no longer whole as a pea pod. They are just two little peas. I see divorce as willingly amputating a part of our self. God has brought two people together or allowed them to marry, thus, they should stay married. "...for better or for worse".
Here is a link to an interesting article on the damage divorce has caused our country.
for HIS glory!
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