To those of you who call yourselves Christians, take your time to read this article and reflect on it.... because I know of some "Christians" who actually will react the way these Churchgoers reacted in the article.

If Jesus / God can forgive.... who are WE as sinners to condemn?

Original Article : The Pastor´s Son (Clickable Link)

The Pastor’s Son

Author Unknown

Like many inspiring movies and books, this short story may be fictional. However, the impact that this work will have on its readers is very real. Enjoy!

One night in a church service a young woman felt the tug of God at her heart. She responded to God's call and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior.

The young woman had a very rough past, involving alcohol, drugs, and prostitution. But, the change in her was evident. As time went on she became a faithful member of the church.

She eventually became involved in the ministry, teaching young children.

It was not very long until this faithful young woman had caught the eye and heart of the pastor's son. The relationship grew and they began to make wedding plans.

This is when the problem began. You see, about one half of the church did not think that a woman with a past such as hers was suitable for a pastor's son.

The church began to argue and fight about the matter. So they decided to have a meeting.

As the people made their arguments and tensions increased, the meeting was getting completely out of hand.

The young woman became very upset about all the things being brought up about her past.

As she began to cry the pastor's son stood to speak. He could not bear the pain it was causing his wife to be. He began to speak and his statement was this:

My fiancee's past is not what is on trial here. What you are questioning is the ability of the blood of Jesus to wash away sin. Today you have put the blood of Jesus on trial. So, does it wash away sin or not?

The whole church began to weep as they realized that they had been slandering the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Too often, even as Christians, we bring up the past and use it as a weapon against our brothers and sisters.

Forgiveness is a very foundational part of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

If the blood of Jesus does not cleanse the other person completely, then it cannot cleanse us completely.

If that is the case, then we are all in a lot of trouble.

What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Psalms 55:231 John 1:9

Glow Worms

Thursday February 19, 2015

In response to a critic, former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill once replied, "We are all worms, but I do believe that I am a glow worm."

Today at a children´s football game I saw a very different, yet increasingly common, response to criticism. Rather than using humour or graciousness to diffuse a situation, a group of parents nearly stormed the field when a referee penalised a player on their team. When the player rudely talked back to the referee, the parents shouted, "Way to go! You were right, and you need to let that ref know it!" The more rudely the boy behaved, the louder the parents cheered and demonstrated complete ignorance and disregard of God´s basic command : "For the Lord´s sake, submit to all human authority" (1 Peter 2:13).

Though I haven´t (and hopefully never will!) speak disrespectfully to a referee, what I saw this morning caused me to reflect on ways that I - and other people - can be pursuing mature ways to react to misunderstandings.

Relying on the strength and grace Jesus has provided, let´s make it our goal to follow these biblical principles as we interact with others in person or via social media : 

- Pursue holiness. This means using our bodies, especially our mouths that can form helpful or hurtful words, as "living and holy [sacrifices]" (Romans 12:1).
- Be humble and honest. "Don´t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us" (v.3)
- Be considerate of other believers. For "we all belong to each other" (v.5). Misunderstandings happen. But may our words and responses glow with the grace God has shown to us! - Roxanne Robbins

Read
Romans 12:1-5
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God´s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God´s will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.
For by grace given me I say to everyone of you : DO not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

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

Question to Ponder
Why is it vital to show respect to others as we interact with them, even when they´re not showing it to us?
How can you be more considerate in the way you communicate today?

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Dec 2014 - Feb 2015 issue

Your Mission Statement

Tuesday, December 2 2014

Deep down, each of us longs to know what we´re here on earth to do - to have some sense of purpose and mission. Some people have a "life verse" from the Bible that gives them succinct focus. If you don´t have one of those, perhaps today´s passage is a good one to adopt.

What´s your life´s mission? According to Ephesians, our life mission has three elements :

To live loved. Before there is any grand vision for you to pursue or great accomplishment to achieve, you´re to receive the love that God has for you. We´re His "dear children" (Ephesians 5:1; John 3:1). Before we ever loved Him, He loved us (4:19). "God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners" (Romans 5:8). Before there´s anything for you to do, there´s something for you to be - loved by God.

To imitate God. Because you´re His child, you´re to imitate your Father as a child imitates her parent (Ephesians 5:1). Notice how this is stated more in character terms than in career decisions. We imitate Him by being kind, compassionate and forgiving to others - the way He´s been to us (4:32). He sets the standard, we follow. He´s the source of goodness, and we´re channels of it.

To love others. "Live a life filled with love," Paul says, "Following the example of Christ" (5:2), All the dreams we pursue, all the career goals we set, all the tasks we do are to reflect the great commandment of love for God and others (Matthew 22:37-39). And this love is measured in sacrifice (Ephesians 5:2). The love we´ve received from God, and watched Him live out, we now offer to those around us.

Live loved, imitated God, love others. That´s the ideal mission statement for your life. _ Sheridan Voysey

Read
Ephesians 5:1-2
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Romans 5:5
And hope does not disappoint us, because god has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Question to Ponder
Do you ever rush to do something for God rather than be loved by God?
How would your life be different if you did nothing but live out your "mission statement" for a year?

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Dec 2014 - Feb 2015 issue