Forgiveness is a gift I want so badly from others when I’ve messed up and hurt those I love. And yet, forgiveness is something I have such a hard time giving when I’ve been hurt.

Oftentimes, I’ll think I have forgiven an offense, but something will trigger an emotion or remind me of a past hurt and the unforgiving comes roaring out like a lion. It can be scary. The power of unforgiving is consuming. It becomes a prison.

Jesus commands us to forgive because He has forgiven us of our sins. This forgiveness isn’t to let the offender off the hook, but to let us out of the prison of unforgiveness and shame. Christ came to bring freedom. To bring life. Life abundantly. Forgiveness finds freedom!

#forgiveness #freedom #christ

The reason salvation is so easy to obtain is that it cost God so much. The Cross was the place where God and sinful man merged with a tremendous collision and where the way to life was opened. But all the cost and pain of the collision was absorbed by the heart of God. – Chambers

I love this quote! I’m a visual person and this paragraph always makes me think of a the dramatic ending of a superhero movie where the hero sacrifices his life for others.

Of course, the Cross was no movie and Jesus did lay His life down to save us. The Father’s heart was revealed in this plan of redemption…this bringing us back home.

How we can so easily forget the great price You paid for us!!!

May we never forget all it cost You to save us from our sin. For those who have forgotten, remind them. Forgive me Lord for forgetting and neglecting the gift of salvation you’ve given. Shake us out of the doldrums where we’ve been lulled to sleep by the shiney things of this world that distract and temp us away from the best You have for us. Speak loudly to those who think they know more than You with high sounding philosophical arguments but yet speak no good thing. Help us to love and live as Your precious Son did. In Jesus’ name amen.

#cost #confidence #wakemeup #fathersheart #collision

No one wants them…the world tells us they are bad, shameful, contemptible…we try to hide them…mask them…deny them, but we all have them: weaknesses.

I have loathed mine…always wishing, hoping, and praying them away…yet, they remain. They have been such a cause of frustration, anger, anxiety.

Once again, the Lord, as He actively pursues my heart and my affection, has brought me to a new understanding of weakness. As He and I delve deeper into my weaknesses, I am seeing them not as shameful things to be kept hidden, but opportunities for Him to be glorified…for His name to be lifted up and beauty made from dust.

Out of the Father’s great heart and love for us, He allows our weaknesses as opportunities for intimacy and dependence on Him. In His desire for our love, our affection, and our faith, He gives us the power of the Holy Spirit to help when we are weak…when we have no words to utter…when our giants are so overwhelming, His power gives us strength!

Straight out of the Father’s lavish, extravagant love, we, though weak, are made strong, made more than conquerors, made victorious!

Thank you Jesus for showing how weakness is strength…for you left heaven to take on flesh, weaknesses and frailties yet without sin to take our punishment…And now, the same power that raised you from the dead is the very same power that dwells in all believers!!!

Today, I don’t celebrate my weaknesses, but I celebrate my Lord and Savior, who loves me even in my weakness! To make much of Him!

#weakness #hisstrength #faith #holyspirit #freedominchrist #freeindeed #fearnot #worship #power #fathersheart

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians‬ ‭4:32‬ ‭

Yesterday, I was at Market Basket and I ran into my friend, Priscilla. It was so nice to chat for a few minutes, as we are both busy…work, kids, life.

As we were chatting, out of the corner of my eye, I caught someone looking at me. I turned to look and saw a woman that I recognized from high school. I think she was a few years older than I. As I turned back to Priscilla and continued our conversation, I didn’t acknowledge the woman, because I honestly didn’t think she would remember me.

As the woman was leaving, with her cart full of groceries, she once again caught my eye. She smiled brightly at me and waved hello, her pretty blue eyes shining beautifully.

This small act of kindness blessed me more than I realized a wave and smile could. Her kindness revealed fear in me…fear of being rejected or overlooked…unrecognized.

I’m so thankful this woman didn’t let fear stop her from being kind. She has inspired me to allow interruptions to trump schedules or even impromptu grocery store chats, because honestly, how long did it actually take me to smile and wave…to just recognize and acknowledge her presence? And the blessing of her kindness is such a gift. A beautiful gift.

In a world where we can be anything we want, let’s be kind!

#kindness #beauty #bekind #lifelessons #interruptions #fear #rejected #seen

“The day will come when Jesus will give the rewards, and He makes no mistakes, although some people may wonder how you came to merit such a reward, as they had never heard of you before.” – Streams in the Desert

I love this quote from #streamsinthedesert …it reminds that my God sees me in the middle of my tasks…that I don’t need a stage, bright lights, or large following to be going about the Lord’s business.

“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” Colossians‬ ‭3:23‬ ‭

Sweet friends, wherever you are today, whatever you’re doing take a moment to pause and remember the Lord in your midst…He is there…He is present and sees you. No task is too small to matter to Him. He sees all the diaper changes, mountains of laundry, and messes cleaned. He sees when you are overlooked by your boss and when someone else takes credit for your work.

Trust in His faithfulness…His goodness…and His purpose for your life.

Walk in confidence knowing you are seen and extravagantly loved by the One who saved you!

#joy #location #presence #jesus #leapforjoy #refuge #jesusgirls #encouragement #elroi #trust #expecting

“When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.” Exodus‬ ‭17:12.

Fighting a battle is exhausting. I’m so grateful for this reminder from Exodus. The Lord calls us to fight our enemy, the one who is hell-bent on our destruction. To raise up the Lord’s standard and wave his banner of Love and Truth over His lost world and reclaim what the enemy has stolen.

I love the image of Aaron and Hur holding up Moses’ arms when he was too weak to do it. Friends who come and support when I’m battle weary are literally answers to prayer. Those who stand in the gap and offer up prayers when words fail and my faith falters. Those who speak truth and life into the weary and worn out places of my heart.

Thank you Father God for my Aarons and my Hurs. I am so grateful for the many times they’ve lifted my arms in battle. Thank you for your word that renews and encourages. Help me be an encouragement to someone today in Jesus’ name amen

#friends #jesus #support #faithful #relationship #friendship

When I wrote this post two years ago, my family was going through a really difficult time. I pray these raw and honest words help you while you wait.

Hope is a dangerous thing…hope deferred can be disastrous…in the waiting, I have a choice…to trust God’s promises, His goodness, and His faithfulness…or, I can believe what I see, feel, and experience.

This is so hard…#tbh Everything in me screams, this is not right! Where are you God? Don’t you see me and my family? How much we’ve gone through? How much we’ve done in Your name?

I’d love to wrap up this post with a nice neat happy ending…but I cant. I sit in the waiting. ..choosing to slay the thoughts that would love to contradict God’s word, choosing to walk with my hurt heart open to the Holy Spirit, and turn my eyes to Him who is faithful…He is all my hope and stay.

#hope #hurting #hopedeferred #waiting #jesus #holyspirit #freedominchrist #dontbeafraid #faith #healing #risk #boldfaith #boldprayers #scaryprayers #openhands #kingdom #trust #expecting #layitdown

“I do not accept glory from human beings, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts.”

‭‭John‬ ‭5:41-42‬ ‭

Jesus knew who He was and whose He was. He was the Son of God, sent by the Father to redeem and reconcile mankind to Himself…to make a way for us to be with Him and our Heavenly Father in heaven for ever. He never apologized for that. He never made excuses or hid in shame from what He knew to be His purpose and calling.

Jesus performed miracles and showed mercy. He loved the least and the left out. But…He also spoke truth and this truth rocks my world!

He doesn’t need or want our approval. His Lordship and deity are secure with or without it.

He KNOWS us! This is both so comforting and terrifying! He knows our motives and our hearts even better than we do. We would be wise to lay our hearts and minds before Him and ask Him to reveal selfish or hidden agendas.

Being in the midst of people who had no love for His Father must have been hard, yet Jesus did not sin. He didn’t gossip about these people or plot and scheme against them. He spoke truth…an open rebuke…bringing light to their darkness. Even this is mercy because it reveals to us our need for repentance…our need for humility…our need for our Savior. Our self righteousness can puff up our sense of worth and wisdom but it will always leave us betrayed and defeated.

Jesus knows us. He knows when we are loving self more than Him.

Let His Words sink deep and do their work.

Until next time,

Melissa

#faith #truth #jesus #known #love

“Grace teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,”

‭‭Titus‬ ‭2:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I am always so pleasantly surprised by the power of scripture to speak fresh insight to me. How many times have I read or heard the above scripture and yet, the Holy Spirit revealed another layer of wisdom again.

Grace “teaches”…yes, teaches us to say no and how to live. While we are learning, we will mess up. That is the beauty of grace! It knows that and is ready and willing to forgive! Grace, the gift of Jesus, gives us all we need to live a holy life…even through all our failures!

If we receive this grace, how much more should we pour this grace out to others! Grace marks us. It sets us apart from the screaming crowds or silent backbiters. It says,” I see you… what you did, but I’m still here.”

Grace is a gift from Jesus that we can give to others.

They may not deserve it. But we don’t either. Jesus gives grace anyway. Let’s be like Jesus today.

#grace #givegenerously #love #jesus #godliness #graceteaches #others

Do you hear Him whispering, “Come, sweet child. Sit with me a little longer”?

The Father’s heart is always about creating a place of intimacy where I can simply be with Him…where He can reveal more of Himself…His love, His mercy, His grace, and His Son. In this closeness, I am strengthened, equipped, and protected.

This is often difficult for me for many reasons. Am I worthy? I’m too busy doing things my own way. I got all the things covered. Or, I’ve been let down before, so I wall myself off so I don’t get hurt again. If I keep my expectations low, disappointment isn’t quite as devastating.

Perhaps you, dear one, have trouble believing this truth for yourself too.

You are so precious! You are loved!

God is speaking today! Listen and go! Let the truth of His word wash away doubt and fear. He wants you to be with Him.

Thank you Father God for your intimate call to each one of your children. Help us to respond with humility, surrender, and faith. In Jesus’ name ♡ Amen

#response #jesuscalling #fathersheart #love #faith #healing #risk #boldfaith #youmakemebrave #jesusgirls #intimacywithgod #holyspirit #hispromisesareforme