Forgiveness is Key

After reading Matthew Malin’s post Severing the Chains of Regret:  Is it Possible?, it reminded me of times in my own life dealing with regrets and prompted within me a desire to shed more light on the subject…

Before I do, I will also share in one of many regrets of an attempt to impress a young girl as a middle school teenager.  I was riding my 10 speed bike and peddled as fast as I could by her as she watched from upon my porch.  I realize at the last second upon reaching the  6″ curb that I must brake = I flipped completely head over heels with bike following in tow over me into a heap as I landed hard on my back.  Yah, so much for that stunt.  I wonder what she thought about it?

And one more for good measure is my first date as a 17 year old taking a girl to a movie.  I have no recollection of what the feature show was called or what it was about. But what I do remember is taking her home, getting out of the car, gently placing both of my hands on the sides of her face, and the good intention of giving her a kiss on her forehead out of respect before saying good night.  However, she looked up to kiss me and I kissed her nose.  Yep!?  I attempted once more and the same result occurred.  Nope!  Not doing that again.  The next day looking at the doorway (as I sat in my seat in an empty classroom awaiting for its start) there she appeared and stood waiting for me as if she still cared for me.  Try as I might have wanted to -regret and embarrassment took over and I didn’t move let alone respond.  After a few minutes, she turned and walked away.  Needless to say, it was the first and last date I had in high school.

How to Respond to Our Regrets

I wholeheartedly agree with Matthew’s take on regrets (author of Confessions), that it factors into everyone’s life at some point if live long enough to deal with it, lose from it, fail in it, and have to face it. And he is right that JESUS is the answer…

HE is the answer to our dilemma of regret (past actions of our own doing or performed against us by others, present guilt or shame, and future handling of its weight:

• pressing upon us
• repressing within us
• suppressing all positive forward response from us
• and/or oppressing over every facet of our lives

 

We may not forget our regrets, yet we may still be forgiven, experience breakthroughs,  and thus find freedom to finally move forward into further maturity…

JESUS forgives to rescue our lives, forgives to restore our lives, and forgives to redeem our lives…

Peter experienced a rescue from JESUS when he came to believe and trust in HIM while following HIM.

Peter experienced a restoration after failing in faithfulness to JESUS (forsaking HIM 3 times) in moments of anxiety, confusion, fear, darkness, and weakness -yet gaining a deeper level of forgiveness after JESUS returned to him to continue the relationship with HIS faithfulness, HIS hope filled reunion, and HIS perfect love given.

Peter experienced a redemption when given the renewed responsibility to spread the Good News of salvation ordained by JESUS knowing HE had risen from the dead and still loved and valued him beyond the failures and regrets of guilt and shame he had harbored…

Our first and foremost response is to turn to HIM for forgiveness:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  John 3:16-17

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9

HE forgives to rescue:

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  Romans 10:9

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. Romans 10:10

As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” Romans 10:11

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile–the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:12-13

HE forgives to restore:

Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, LORD, are good.  Psalm 25:7

“Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.  Isaiah 54:4

HE forgives to redeem:

For the Lord GOD helps Me, Therefore, I am not disgraced; Therefore, I have set My face like flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed.  Isaiah 50:7

Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.  Psalm 34:5

And so, I share this because HE is real; HE is faithful to respond and rescue when turning to HIM by grace through faith; HE is able and willing to restore hope to anyone’s soul through mercy and compassion; HE fully redeems anyone’s life changing the whole trajectory of one’s path onto the straight and narrow with HIS Light and encouraging Word and over time casting out fears with HIS perfect love that never fails…

With HIS forgiveness in being rescued, restored, and redeemed we may become inspired and motivated to tell others about what we’ve:

• discovered to be the Way out of darkness and regret
• found to be the Truth toward walking in HIS Light and back into the land of the living after each regret
• experienced to be the new Life granted with purpose and with vision beyond any and all regrets

 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” Romans 1:16-17

With forgiveness, all of us may continue to keep fighting and overcoming…

As you sit here after reading this, JESUS stands at the door of your heart and knocks.  Will you respond?  Regrets and/or embarrassment doesn’t have to keep you immovable like in a chair in an empty classroom as an awkward and lonely teenager nor keep you from the greatest gift of HIS unfailing love and forgiveness that may be yours for simply turning to HIM and asking for it.  HE doesn’t walk away, but is waiting for you still -here… now…

For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2

HIS forgiveness is HIS key to our hearts:

• with faith in HIM as our response to know
• with hope toward HIM as our realization to grow
• with love from HIM as our reward and to do unto others owe…
• with HIS Word as our reason into others sow…
• with HIS Living Water refilling our cups as a reservoir to overflow into channels of HIS grace, mercy, and compassion to show…

Remedy

Shelter in place

JESUS arms embrace

Tower of Refuge

And Strength

Never a waste

Of time or race

Tribe or tongue

See and taste

 

Social distancing

A cross continuing

To draw us nearer

To its meaning revisiting

Left Heaven’s wing

Separating for death’s sting

So we wouldn’t have to

By HIS blood’s outpouring in love sentencing

 

Wash your hands again and again

Purify your hearts to understand and mend

Come clean when cease to do evil

Crimson stained to whiter than snow defend

Confess sin to HIM to be forgiven

Guilt and shame humbly rend

Cleansed from all unrighteousness

To begin again renewed in strength before the end

 

HIS will now to chase

My destiny find in faith

From an about face hope returns

To soar with love on HIS updraft of grace

 

Time for HIM listening

Ready for HIS instant messaging

To my mind into my heart overflow my soul

Refilling what’s been missing

 

Spiritual re-connection YOU befriend

Let it go viral to heal our land as the Good Shepherd tend

When humbled by this pandemic will pray, seek YOUR face, and turn from wicked ways

Send forth laborers into the harvest to win hearts fearfully hidden and anxiety ridden until like spring flowers that bloom will newly open

 

Heaven’s the place to be after we decease

No more sin, fear, sickness, pain, disease

JESUS who is our peace when trust in HIM and believe

Makes a way for us to live there eternally

 

So come what may

Today or tomorrow no longer delay

Take courage and trust in HIM when afraid

For HE who has promised to never leave or forsake is the Way, the Truth, and the Life portrayed

 

 

 

 

Dissolve To Resolve

Dissolve sin by HIS blood

Resolve to win by HIS forgiveness thereof

 

Dissolve faithlessness in HIS faith

Resolve to taste test HIS goodness awaits

 

Dissolve hopelessness in HIS hope

Resolve the restlessness by walking until home

 

Dissolve fear in HIS love

Resolve to adhere to things above

These 3

There is faith transcending

There is hope befriending

There is love unrelenting 

So these 3 remain never ending

 

There is grace tending

There is mercy defending

There is compassion mending

So these 3 HE’s ever sending

 

There’s HIS stripes healing

There’s HIS crown of thorns taking the shame revealing

There’s HIS cross to lay down HIS life re-appealing

So these 3 for us stand against the enemy shielding

 

There’s HIS blood outpouring, forgiving, covering

There’s HIS Living Water restoring for a new beginning; recovering

There’s HIS Spirit for soaring, getting help with living; hovering

So these 3 HE gives toward wondering and focus above for inner restructuring

 

There’s more than we can ask for provision when HE listens toward Salvation’s decisions until arisen

There’s more than we can think to envision others forgiven and setting those free from prisons until unhidden

There’s more than we can imagine for a greater mission driven storing up treasure in Heaven as  true pure wisdom

So these 3 HE gives to fulfill the Great Commission

 

There’s our mind to renew HIS will to find

There’s our heart to be made pure HIS face to remind

There’s our soul to be restored in HIS Vine abide

So these 3 HE offers to realign reflecting HIS Light continually shine

 

There’s HIS Spirit HE gives to find counsel that won’t cease

There’s HIS Spirit HE gives to find inner peace

There’s HIS Spirit HE gives to find truth that will increase

So these 3 are evidence from that which HE seals within us as a deposit guaranteeing our entrance into Heaven upon release

New Year 2020

Notice I didn’t include in the title “HAPPY” New Year.  I do want you to be happy, but I know and understand many are not for they are dealing with difficult things even extremely severe pain/despair/loss, suicidal thoughts, and/or mental illness.  You are not alone… I thank all of you who have followed this blog and I’m here for anyone who needs support, encouragement, and care…  Reach out to me anytime!!…

JESUS understands all about whatever you’re facing and HE desires to be there for you in it, through it, and on into new life…

It is officially 2020 and what comes to mind is 20/20 vision which is considered good eyesight for humans to have…  How is your vision now?

Do you look on with faith, hope, and love or doubt, anxiety, and fear?…

If you have faith, hope, and love in JESUS (looking to HIM for your help) despite what circumstances you’re dealing with, you’re trusting HIM through it all no matter what so you can move forward along your journey…

If you have doubt, anxiety, and fear in yourself or others; the circumstances you’re dealing with become overwhelming and make one feel stuck…

What do you want your vision to be this year in 2020?

Can it be directed upward to whom your help comes from ultimately?

Can it change from despair within yourself or from mistrust in others?

Yes, you can change course by bringing everything you are to JESUS who will daily bear your burdens and give your soul rest… then onward, pressing on, to moving forward with HIM as HE leads you into new life…

There is available to every one of us a more perfect vision that is spiritual and action oriented…

I call it KING Vision 17/17…

It is a way of looking at our life in HIS love, through HIS love, and with HIS love for GOD and for others to continually pursue in order to know, to grow, and to show…

JESUS is the KING of kings…

Vision is viewing life with purpose on mission…

17/17 is inspired by Proverbs 17:17 which states firstly “A friend loves at all times…”

JESUS is our friend that is able to love us at all times…

Knowing this helps us love GOD and others at all times…

How about adopting KING Vision 17/17 in this year of 2020 that is better than 20/20 human vision?

At 2 years old, I had a very high fever that wouldn’t break.  I was taken to the hospital and the doctors couldn’t get it down either…  I ended up having seizures and was placed in an ice bath with hopes of bringing the temp down and not succumbing to an early death.  This experience may have contributed to me having a crossed eye and loss of vision.  At 4 years old, I had surgery on my left eye to shorten the muscle so as not to have an extreme cross eye.  I have not had unaided 20/20 vision since…  I needed corrective lenses to help me see better and obtain as close to 20/20 vision as can be had.

If I could have glasses/contacts made that help correct my vision by an optometrist, then wouldn’t it be possible for GOD to correct our spiritual vision in a greater way?  HE has done it for me…  HE can for you too!!…  Nothing is impossible for HIM!!!

Today is the first day of the new year 2020, so many choose to make new year’s resolutions which can lead to positive life-changing results.  More often than not, many resolutions fall by the wayside.

With GOD however, HIS mercies are new every morning, HIS compassions fail not…

You need to know this, so that when new year’s resolutions are met with adversity or failure you may still have hope each new morning…  Yes, today is 1/1/2020.  Yet, remember GOD gives each day as a new start and HIS compassions for you will not fail even when you do fail…

Does your vision for 2020 hold on to only what you’ve done today, for days in a row, for this week, or for even this whole year?

Would you rather have KING Vision 17/17 where love is available at all times and every day is a new start to accept change, accept healing, accept forgiveness of self/others, accept new life each and every day and accept new endeavors meant for you to be a part of one day?!…

New life is found in JESUS for HE is the Way, the Truth, and the Life…  HE changed water into wine…  HE can renew your mind with peace to not resign…  HE can repair your broken heart to be one of a kind…  HE can recreate a pure heart for new innocence to find…  HE can restore your despairing soul with peace to realign…  HE can redeem your wounded spirit with new found freedom in HIS love forever remind…  You can remain in faith, hope, and love eternally within HIS grace, mercy, and compassion with new beginnings to brightly shine…

Heart of Compassion for Those Suicidal

I walk past my dad sleeping on the couch.  He came to get me.  I open the door slowly, quietly.  I close it behind me.  I realize now that it was unwise of me to not get help and go it on my own.  But I didn’t think of getting help until it was too late.  Ask for help if you need it!…

I walk away further than I had been into the darkest night.  I had been walking away for quite some time.  Away from faith and trust in JESUS.  Late nights, barely any sleep.  Trying to get through my university classes and working.  Hadn’t been eating much if not at all for weeks.  Thoughts began turning against me until suicidal.  I realize now I was needing to eat and nourish my body and was part of the reason my mind turned against myself.  Nourish your body so as not to do it damage or cause the wiring in the brain to malfunction/misfire…

As I walked onward, the intensity of the situation became unbearable.  GOD seemed to be warning me and I questioned it wondering if I should turn back.  Then I made the decision to go farther at a quicker pace.  Swarms of mosquitos appear out of nowhere attacking my hypersensitive self to make matters worse and more dreadful than at first.  It was torturous and had never happened to me before nor anytime after.  I think about turning back again.  I continue on instead.  I believe GOD was trying to stop me, but I wouldn’t listen.  I realize now that it wasn’t GOD’s heart for me to do.  GOD doesn’t tempt us to hurt ourselves or to commit suicide and wants us to trust HIM as HE works in and through us to become who HE’s called us to be…

I understand though how someone can get so low as to commit suicide.  I don’t judge, yet I know that GOD’s heart is not for this to be the outcome…

I ended up in a field of abandoned cars.  Ironic that this is how I felt.  Abandoned.  An empty shell of my former self.  Wide open to the elements.  No more human presence.  Not able to go anymore.  Broken spirit like all the engines there.  I sat in one of the doorless vehicles contemplating for hours whether I’d take my life or not.  Then I contemplated what seemed like just minutes or seconds. 2 or 3 times got ready then decided this is it.  It was then as if the enemy of my soul took his heavy pressuring off of me as I attempted.  It was as if he pushed me to that edge.  Then I was left all alone.  So I thought.  I realize now that GOD doesn’t give up on anyone and will help us when we turn back to HIM in trust continuing to live on until HE rebuilds us… Place your trust in GOD to get you through anything by choosing to endure and persevere for there is great reward if you do…

 

I came up for air.  I realize now GOD wouldn’t let me drown, because HE had a plan for my life…  But I didn’t know it then.  GOD has a plan for a hope and a future for you too…

 

Confused.  What did I do?  I was scared.  Cursed.  Accursed?  That is how I felt.  I realize now that GOD has great compassion and enduring mercy.  HE wouldn’t abandon me like the car in the broken empty graveyard.  But I didn’t know it then.  GOD will show you great compassion and enduring mercy to the most difficult things you’ve experienced in your life…  Let HIM help you too…

 

I’m still alive.  Am I though?  I felt so lost, ashamed, and guilt ridden as I walked back.  I realize now GOD would find me, heal me, and forgive me further along the healing journey.   But I didn’t know it then.  At some point GOD will find you, heal you inside, and forgive you too if you ask HIM, seek HIM, and knock for HIM when don’t give up (took time over 19 years to experience healing of various aspects of my mind, heart, soul, and spirit). JESUS is faithful and true and I couldn’t do it on my own without HIM… HE’s brought me this far and I give HIM thanks in all things the good, the bad, and the ugly…

 

As I reached the nearest road, a person pulled over and took me to my apartment with my dad unknowing of one of the darkest moments of my life.  I was so desperate that I didn’t even tell him the seriousness of what I was dealing with.  I realize now that GOD moved on my dad’s heart to come get me traveling over 800 miles after I called my mom and let her know I wasn’t doing good.  If you need to be honest and tell someone you need help too, do it…  It’s ok when you’re feeling so very weak to get support until you’re better… Don’t wait (especially if you’re thinking of suicide and/or not eating…) It’s ok…  Getting help is being human and alive…  If you don’t have anyone, feel free to reach out to me…  Email me at:  jeffandtami@truevine.net

There are emergency numbers to call on this website as well.

To be continued…

Life Revisit

Life is next to nothing everything

Might as well revisit the exquisite

Life is found when abound in love surround

Might as well revisit most to listen close

Life holds the history so behold the Mystery

Might as well revisit memories then store up Heaven’s treasuries

Life is not about me alone to own

Might as well revisit to make known to others HIS wonders to become sisters and brothers

Life is faith, hope, and love sown to be shown

Might as well revisit to make known HIS salvation plan unto ovation stand

Life is lived from a place of quiet try it and then aloud allowed

Might as well revisit the solitary momentarily for when a missionary extraordinary

Life is hard pressed on every side abide, yet not crushed to be rushed forth

Might as well revisit how we make it through anew 

Life is perplexed reflexed, but not in despair aware to care

Might as well revisit those who are under par broken apart in scars near and far

Life is persecuted reputed, but not forsaken awaken to truth unshaken

Might as well revisit to be there for the burdens to bear and love to share

Life is struck down upon the ground, but not destroyed to be deployed 

Might as well revisit to fight the good fight in view of Heaven’s witnesses to join as future citizens setting free those in prisons lost and afraid with no decisions until arisen 

Life is eternal going on and on and you’re not forgotten

Might as well revisit the reason why you cry and then apply why you are alive born to do more than just survive, today arrive at a crossroads decide who you can confide in, tomorrow into a hope and future abide under HIS wings of mercy hide no longer cast aside or denied this side of eternity until into HIS arms open wide ride on the heights when fears subside HE will always and forever guide…