Memories

I remember memories that replay yesterday and wonder why

I remember memories that sway back and forth today and sigh

I remember memories that delay like deja vu arrayed in the future reapplied

I remember memories of mistakes and failures made causing pain I’d rather hide

I remember memories held at bay I’d rather not say went awry

I remember memories once afraid no longer make me prey in the night

I remember memories laid bare so much stronger that I pray won’t be how I die

I remember memories of hell’s visit down the broadway with sin’s choice for entrance prefaced I’d preferably decide to contrive and be deprived

I remember memories like shade in the hottest summer to evade under a tree think twice about while I reside with the littlest faith arise

I remember memories where I strayed until found by the ONE I betrayed now unto will abide with hope to enter HIS arms in Heaven arrive

I remember memories of fear weighed heavily upon this casualty of war that love conveyed in order for it to disappear and heal me inside

I remember memories that slay my pride to display the humility I now allow to guide

I remember memories that give way to HIS grace now to follow as I soar above the storm on the heights by HIS Spirit not by might

I remember memories that trade my punishment with HIS mercy instead that covers me always new every morning to find supplied as I remain contrite

I remember memories that pervade of HIS compassion embraced that erased the oppression and loneliness while it trained me to comfort others with a depth of understanding comprised

I remember memories where HIS truth sustained and prayers uplifted with thanks maintained a peace that surpassed all understanding guarding my heart and mind in JESUS Christ

I remember memories spent alone with HIM that I can now say will remain as I’ve been taught HIS Word to obey where I’ve been tried as gold refined, where I’ve been aligned to HIS will defined, and where I’ve dined with HIM to always remind me I’m HIS and HE is mine for all time…

Evident for Every Moment Sent to Represent

Faith in HIM represent
Mind renew always with wisdom eloquent
Thankful YOURS known to intersect for minds to reprove of heaven's advice lent
Riveting amount is opulent
Letting one see what is transcendent
Toward the shore for new life that is imminent

Hope is what is sent
Soul restore always defend
Make YOURS shown to resurrect for souls redo to win who arise again
Giving out encouragement
Getting to dream of what is meant
For more of a future that is relevant

Love every moment
Heart revive always open
Take YOURS alone to reflect for hearts to remove fear within comprise to mend
Living fount covenant
Setting free awoken
Pour forth the Word to be spoken

Grace, mercy, and compassion evident
Spirit refresh always with peace mitigant
Break through with YOURS sown to reconnect for spirits that regrew like butterflies ascend
Pivoting stout when repent
Forgetting past things that were arrogant
Soar North above the storms resilient

Broken Dream Until Mended Reality

There is grace for every broken dream

Onward walk to continue being

Onward unseen until mended reality seeing

Onward forward steps keep repeating

Onward go on for you’re worth your heart beating

Onward becoming who you’re meant to be rather than retreating or worse yet leaving

Onward knowing HE lives at the right hand of GOD with scars for you interceding

Onward heeding HIS voice of encouraging to continue enduring and persevering even if for now it’s just breathing

On HIM always lean…

~

Press on rather than regress despite feeling depressed

Pass the test to go on beyond the trials and tribulations that oppress

Continue with faith in the SON for making progress

Continue to hope in HIM to find rest

Continue in HIS love which is greatest and will work out what is best

Choose life and blessing over death and cursing that HE died to give you as your inspiring and motivating quest

Draw near to HIM and HE will draw nearer sincerest as you pour out your heart to HIM in confidence rather than those feelings just suppress

Reassess life as a maturing process, mess of sin with guilt and shame confess to find forgiveness, and then will profess HIS evidence realized further along life’s journey of HIS faithfulness

Focus is more when there is less…

~

Less to not weigh you down in fear replaced by HIS love held dear

Less worry in your heart found in HIM who makes it disappear

Less weary chasing after empty success that falls aground like tears

Less willful of your own plans that fail here

Less want of the world’s lust wandering into sin that causes pain and torment so severe

Less wasting away in your illness with HIS acceptance of all that you are by caring for yourself to improve mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health adhere

Less wavering in unbelief by simply believing HE will turn your life around with HIS patience and gentleness steer

Less wondering about what ifs of the past that HE uses in your future to help others made more clear

Less while HE becomes more to you during your extended years

~

More faith in HIS truth so you’re no longer unruly that will no longer duly offend

More hope and trust in HIS ways you can truly depend on now that you’re newly opened

More love in HIS life abiding to be a light shining in darkness to give freely and often

More mercy from HIS healing throne of Heaven that is new every morning sent

More compassion from HIS heart to listen to others vent -even from suicide may prevent

More grace from HIS hand to lead and guide you along righteous paths that will leave no regret in retrospect

More of HIS Spirit welcoming within who will comfort you with HIS Presence, counsel you with HIS wisdom, and care for your well-being with moans expressed according to GOD’s will for your life when words of prayer fail to connect

More delighting in HIM to be given the desires of your heart meant to mend your dreams again made relevant where nightmares can’t circumvent

More freedom will come after suffering through a set timeframe where to live is Christ and to die is gain that is effective when wait on GOD’s timing and not your own as you wait to resurrect into HIS arms as Heaven’s resident

~

Wait on HIM for new strength returning to soar above the storms on eagle’s wings freeing

Wait on HIM for renewing your mind with truth until having soundness of peace releasing

Wait on HIM for reviving your heart recreating within purity and right desires brought back into the land of the living reconvening

Wait on HIM for rescue unto redemption forthcoming that will restore your soul and implore within you vision, purpose, and meaning that’s increasing

Wait on HIM for refilling your cup to overflowing until refreshing your spirit into HIS will agreeing and being a doer of HIS Word unleashing

Wait on HIM watching as HE wins every battle in your war raging against the enemy who attempts at deceiving

Wait on HIM to direct your steps through open doors revealing

Wait on HIM for HIS promises open handed toward until receiving

Wait on HIM for complete healing that makes you whole whether here on earth or there in Heaven as the great reward for continually believing

Clouds

There’s a black cloud arising

Over the horizon impending

Doom

There’s a black cloud closer

Gathers stronger blocking

Moon

There’s a black cloud above

Threatens fear succumbing 

Swoon

There’s a black cloud encompassing

Overtaken by darkness blinding

Tomb

There’s a black cloud reminding

Of tornadic mind in thunder and lightning

Strewn 

There’s a still small voice spoken elevating

That stills the storm within making

Room

There’s peace once again releasing

For faith, hope, and love remaining

Hewn

There’s a rainbow proved faithful in the forefront

Where clouds have moved beyond the storm front

Boon

There’s a day HE’s coming on the clouds again

A trumpet blare humming clear and loud to rend

Attuned

Catch wind

Catch fire

Catch the passion

Of all HE desires

Before being caught up in the clouds to meet HIM in the air…

Soon

There Will Be…

There will be setbacks

Not meant to remain in remorse

Just stay the course

 

There will be paybacks

Not meant for you to give

Let go and continue on to live

 

There will be drawbacks

When fear seems to win again

Choose faith to overcome often

 

There will be step backs

Regroup to move forward after rest

Push through until pass the test

 

There will be flashbacks

Panic attacks that take over at times to rewind inferiority

Held back until trust in HIM reminds to find security

 

There will be comebacks

Better than luck will wait to be renewed

After getting stuck will find breakthrough

 

There will be broken dreams

Fix your eyes and continue to believe

One day in delighting you may receive

 

There will be broken hearts

For compassion to grow within

And then mend again arisen

 

There will be wounded souls

That need to be restored however severe

Touch of healing enters their core to reward when persevere

 

There will be wounded spirits

That look for an open door

Release of healing upon wings to soar

 

There will be suicidal thoughts

Surprised at how far you’ve fallen down

Pulled from the waters so as not to drown

 

There will be depression fought

Keep the light lit even if moments flickering slight

Weep in the night until new dawn awaken aright

 

There will be death soon enough

Find faith, hope, and love that remain

Store up treasure in Heaven where your heart will maintain

 

There will be life anew beyond what’s rough

Turn away from plans to end it all refrain

Find grace, mercy, and peace that will sustain

Sooner or Later

Sooner or later

Discover a hole

Like helium out of a balloon

Unable to rise again

 

Sooner or later

Discover a slit

Like air out of a flat tire

Stuck in a rut

 

Sooner or later

Discover the pressure

Like air deflating the lungs

Hard to breathe

 

Sooner or later

Discover the empty space within

Like nothing can ever fill or another can’t ever fulfill

Lost in despair

 

Sooner or later

Discover the mind not shutting up or shutting down

Like haywire, a trip wire, wires crossed

Sparking thoughts racing or turned off distressed

 

Sooner or later

Discover the heart is broken

Like pieces of a puzzle knowing some are missing

Not able to be complete

 

Sooner or later

Discover the soul is wandering in the desert or wilderness

Like needed water is drying up 

Thirst can’t be quenched

 

Sooner or later

Discover the spirit longing for something more

Like a dream out of reach

Awake each day hopeless or empty

 

Later than sooner

Discover HE fills the empty space within

Faith is activated when HIS Spirit newly opens after life of sin

Hope is elevated by HIS WORD duly awoken the promises to trust in

Love is emanated from HIS Life healing what’s broken to no longer be hidden

 

Later than sooner

Discover HIS grace

Lifts your head again and again

Until you begin to soar high above it all

 

Later than sooner

Discover HIS mercy

Lifts you up out of the pit where you sit

Releasing you to walk openly in the land of the living

 

Later than sooner

Discover HIS compassion

Meets you where you’re at 

Holding you up in your weakness until stronger

 

Later than sooner

Discover HIS Light 

Penetrates the darkness

Bringing you out into freedom

 

Later than sooner 

Discover HIS WORD is able to renew your mind

Processes wisdom into a new train of thoughts

Alleviating the tormenting with soundness, clarity, and peace prove profound

 

Later than sooner 

Discover HIS Hands can mold, shape, and revive the heart

Gives its desires to come true as one delights in HIM continually

Creating it anew to be pure and whole

 

Later than sooner

Discover HIS Presence provides green pasture and still waters to restore the soul

Satisfies the hunger with Daily Bread and quenches the thirst with Living Water

Protecting you through the valley of the shadow with rod and staff

 

Later than sooner

Discover HIS purpose and vision of HIS will for you to quicken and refresh the spirit

Leads you on paths of righteousness to follow for HIS name sake

Initiating your destiny while you live here on earth moving forward until reaching and entering Heaven

Had I Not Known

Where Would I Be?  Had I Not Known…

Now I have faith, hope, and love to be shown…

And the WORD of HIS Way, Truth, and Life as seeds to be sown…

To walk the straight and narrow until Heaven’s my home…

 

Had to lose myself so weak

To find out who I’m meant to be in HIM set free

 

Had to fall into insanity

To regain a sound mind who has HIS peace opposite of vanity

 

Had to die to selfishness then to self brevity

To arise again who knows HIS reality

 

Had to wander on my own

To learn by faith going HIS Way I’m not alone

 

Had to cast my cares and anxieties upon HIM ongoing interrupt

To endure and persevere with hope for HIS grace, mercy, and compassion showing up

 

Had to seek HIM in the darkness with so much doubt

To trust in HIM as the Light who leads the way out

 

Had to face the giant of fear

To receive HIS love when near until fear would disappear

 

Have to share my testimony no longer lost in sin and lonely

To make JESUS known my destiny -made stronger in HIM only

Wildfire

Burn like fire inside

For only HIM will reside

Follow with faith flames higher

Go with hope aims desire

Spread the love reclaims acquire

Into forest of trees

Between heats intensity

With the smoke rise above perceives

Heaven’s calling for all these conceives

Fresh air ascend upon the clouds newly breathes

Sees from the skies surroundings of the lost in need

Readily descend again for many HE intends to retrieve

Back into and through wildfire beneath

Reaching all for uplifting

Those in the mud and mire

Those in dire straights inspire

Those in death’s shadow soon expire

Those on the edge of hellfire

Those trapped in the crossfire

Those hurting from a backfire

Those whose minds went haywire

Those with dreams to aspire

Those who step in rather than retire

For all the rest HE does require

Set hearts afire inside release to be

Get souls for in HIM resides only peace to free

Met spirits with HIS Spirit cease fears to find relief

Let everyone’s lives bear fruit that increase to finally see

The King of kings high above believe

With provision more than enough of to receive

Who feeds the hungry and brings drink to the thirsty

Where grace falls upon for humbling along the journey

When compassion is a healthy serving 

How HE washes over with waves of mercy

Why HE rescues and redeems into HIS Mystery

To offer vision and purpose in HIS Word for rediscovery

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

KING of kings

KING of kings

Understanding all things

Reign down

Droplets of tears

From YOUR domain

Mixed with the rain

Yet YOU don’t hide to refrain

The pain YOU feel so real

YOU’ll maintain all who turn

To YOU Whom will sustain

With faith, hope, and love to remain

GOD of comfort toward find compassion to gain

Not for us to borrow what’s harrowing then wane

YOU don’t want only our sorrow a fraction to drain

Just the depths of our marrow in action to walk the extra mile unrestrained 

Present for those low in despair until on their feet with traction by HIS love unfeigned

YOU want followers to follow with attraction in the fruit of the Spirit trained 

For souls hollow to be made whole in satisfaction by the Savior who saves attain

Today and for every 

Tomorrow 

HE will fill us up to overflow

Know HIS will and go

Fulfill HIS command to show

Faith, hope, and love to grow

YOUR promises kept more than rainbows

More than we can think, ask, or imagine YOU chose

Beyond the death, burial, and resurrection after YOU arose

To sit at the right hand of the FATHER as our High Priest interceding in our throes

Until YOUR grace, mercy, and compassion is known with freedom above our lows

Giving us a testimony of YOUR faithfulness and victory with seed given as a sower sows 

Seasoned as salt YOU are better to taste and see YOUR goodness in perfect dose

Reflection of Light YOU shine into and through the darkness with our eyes YOUR Spirit glows

New life is given by YOU and YOUR rest provides peace surpassing understanding in repose

We will continue to press on to endure and persevere passing on through deaths shadows

We will learn to wait upon HIM for renewed strength to soar on wings like eagles above our foes

Until we are able to run and not grow weary to walk and not faint when once were solo so low, but now no longer alone or hollow we’ll press on to follow our Hero who helps us through our woes…

JESUS

HE holds the keys to life and death muse

HE gives the vision, purpose, and FATHER’s will to be used

HE is the Mystery unto a long life and eternity found in the clues

HE is the reason to live this life in HIS grace, mercy, and compassion outward ooze 

HE is the reason to live this life by faith, hope, and love inward soothes

HE is the reason to live this life by HIS Spirit Heavenward set on cruise

HE is the reason to die to selfish ambitions and from all the other distractions that woos

HE is the reason to die to worldly possessions now that life is found in HIM for a hope and future that continually pursues

HE is the reason to die to lust and evil desires for purity within lends itself to sincerity of love unto HIM a disciple proves

HE is protection from all the enemy’s ruse

HE provides healing to the scars of all that abused

You gain back more when withdrew from all the world to serve HIM choose

HE defends HIS own from who may accuse

HE embodies all truths

HE is the resurrected Good News

HE ignites the LIGHT of the world fuse

HE wins back all that you lose

 

To Whom It May Concern

To whom sadness casts you downward spiral; flood sows in tears when

Hold your breath so as not to drown in sudden death

HE keeps all your tears in a bottle kept in Heaven

 

To whom madness lasts, bruise inward exile, blood flows in fears often

Catch your breath to turn from suicidal death

HE frees you from fears with HIS perfect love made alive again

 

To whom badness blasts, lose backward in denial, judge woes in jeers descend

Take a breath before heading down that wrong path that leads to death

HE sees you and clears the past jeers east to west so all you are is forgiven

 

To whom callous lash out, choose outward hostile grudge, pose a threat it appears

Lose your breath for vengeance refrain from causing misled death

HE can appease your inner turmoil of anger and bitterness when HE appears to be the One to defend bringing peace within 

 

To whom gladness basks in the Good News, forward vital nudge, grows when drawn near to HIM open

Refresh new breath by the Spirit that brings new life beyond all death

HE brings a future and a hope with purpose and vision with a mission to be love now driven

When I Looked

When I was lost

I looked to faith and was found by HIM who will never leave

When I was alone

I looked to hope and found a Friend through my grief to bring within more peace

When I was in need

I looked to love of my Friend who set me free from fears that ceased

When I was desperate for change

I looked to mercy freeing from failure to be released

When I was growing

I looked to grace HE gives that lifted me above my failure to be in a family that increased

When I was helped

I looked to compassion from HIM within the family to give forward what I received

When I was newly open

I now look forward to a hope and a future conceived

When I was learning what was in HIS heart

I now look with vision of a future forthcoming where orphans find relief

When I was seeking HIS will

I now look with purpose forthcoming of Heaven filled with others who too believe

S.T.A.R.T.S. with Forgiveness

If you're overwhelmed by suicidal thoughts 
or have a plan for suicide, it is ok to
get help from a mental health professional 
for meds to help support you 
as well as counseling as you look to be hopeful again 
and better manage your precious life 
(especially if you've been abused or experienced trauma in any way)...
You're worthwhile and valuable...
I care about you!!...  Reach out to me anytime...
I want you to be an overcomer and a fighter...
L.ive O.n V.ictorious E.ndeavor
Choose L.O.V.E.; 
L.ift-up I.nspirational F.uture E.ndure
Choose L.I.F.E.

In my acronym, S.T.A.R.T.S. will mean: 

something you do…

something new you do… 

something you continue to do…

Spiritual

Truths

Activated

Renew/Restore/Replenish

Together

Soundness

What is Forgiveness?

I did not like the definition of forgive in the Merriam Webster dictionary due in part that it said “cease to feel”.  To forgive someone or yourself is more than that and also different than that.  I believe you can forgive, yet still feel the hurt and pain until a process of healing takes place over time where feelings about it begin to diminish and for some the feeling may never fully go away.  There is more hope then to have the ability to forgive if we know that feelings involved may still linger on…  The good news is that GOD is willing, available, and able to help us forgive if we are struggling with this very thing.

So I looked up the Greek word of forgive.  It is aphíēmi.  

It comes from the root word apo and híēmi.

ἀπό apó, apo’ means:

a primary particle; “off,” i.e. away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative):—(X here-)after, ago, at, because of, before, by (the space of), for(-th), from, in, (out) of, off, (up-)on(-ce), since, with.

ἵημι híēmi means:

(to send; an intensive form of εἶμι eîmi, to go)

So let’s think of forgive as even just these 2 words separately (apó) and (híēmi)

If we choose apó, then we may take “off” and move “away” (from something near) in various senses (of place, time, or relation).  Then if we choose híēmi, we may “send” it away in order “to go” forward…

This is so good what to forgive does for us.

Here is what it looks like:  I forgive __________ to take “off” this hurt done to me and move “away” from it.  I “send” it away in order “to go” forward…

Here is a new way to approach an experience of forgiving as a decision made with this process now in mind to do and an action within the heart to occur:

Ex. 1

I will forgive __________ because I need to take the abuse that happened in the past “off” my life and move “away” from ___________ and that which has been so near affecting my senses (thoughts, emotions, feelings of my mind, heart, soul, and spirit wounds) where I have been haunted/fearful/anxious/angry/depressed/suicidal by certain places, time it occurred through time up until now, and in my relations with myself and others.  I “send” this abuse away to YOU GOD in order “to go” forward in new life with a new start…  Begin to heal me within…

Ex. 2

I will forgive myself because I need to take the addiction that happened in the past “off” my life and move “away” from addiction and that which has been so near affecting my senses (thoughts, emotions, feelings of my mind, heart, soul, and spirit wounds) where I have been haunted/fearful/anxious/angry/depressed/suicidal by certain places, time it occurred through time up until now, and in my relations with myself and others.  I “send” this addiction away to GOD in order “to go” forward in new life with a new start…

Ex. 3

I will forgive __________ because I need to take the rejection that happened in the past “off” my life and move “away” from the act of rejection by ___________ and that which has been so near affecting my senses (thoughts, emotions, feelings of my mind, heart, soul, and spirit wounds) where I have been haunted/fearful/anxious/angry/depressed/suicidal by certain places, time it occurred through time up until now, and in my relations with myself and others.  I “send” this rejection I’ve experienced away to GOD in order “to go” forward in new life with a new start…

When combined together, here is the meaning:

ἀφίημι aphíēmi, af-ee’-ay-mee;

from apo  G575 and ἵημι híēmi (to send; an intensive form of εἶμι eîmi, to go); to send forth, in various applications (as follow):—cry, forgive, forsake, lay aside, leave, let (alone, be, go, have), omit, put (send) away, remit, suffer, yield up.

What is allowed:

I cry.  I cry because of what ____________ has done to me.  I cry in release from _____________ in order to forgive _____________.  I cry now that _______________ has no hold on me. I cry to begin my healing journey.

I forgive__________ for what he’s done/ she’s done/ they’ve done/ I’ve done.

I can forsake my abuser/ my addiction now that I’ve forgiven.

I lay aside what was done to me by _____________ since I’ve forgiven ____________.

I leave ____________ in the past because I’ve forgiven _____________ for a new beginning.

I let alone/be/go/have what was done to me by ______________ to be in my past for I’ve forgiven _______________ and move on so my present begins healing on into my future.

I omit __________ from my life now that I’ve forgiven _____________ who no longer will have a hold on me.

I put (send) away ___________ from affecting my life any longer since I have forgiven _______________.

I remit what _____________ has cause in my life for I forgive ________________.

I suffer due to what ______________ did, but I forgive ______________  so that my suffering will let me grow in all areas to be a better person for myself and others.

I yield up ______________ to you now GOD to deal with, now that I’ve forgiven _________________.

Forgiveness then is letting go of the hurt and pain caused by another, others, or oneself:

• to start anew
• to begin the healing process
• to drop the heavy load you’ve been carrying
• to break off the hold another or others have had on you that is bringing you down
• to be free from the mental anguish, internal conflicts, and/or suicidal ideation
• to becoming more free from the emotional fears, anxieties, anger, depression in order to deal with life positively and effectively
• to allow for grieving (5 stages:  denial/isolation, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance)
• to move on from toxic relationships
• to move on past self-harm and/or addiction
• to accept, care for, and love yourself
• to love others and have meaningful and special relationships
• to love GOD

Be Forgiven To Forgive

GOD lets us know we are all in need of ultimate forgiveness and this is accomplished by recognizing our need for our own forgiveness, asking HIM for forgiveness, and believing in and trusting in HIS SON JESUS to come into our hearts to save us and help us live a new life:

²² This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.²⁵ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,^[i] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— ²⁶ he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.  Romans 3: 22-26

You may be afraid to come to the LORD because of your own sin (it is too much, your guilt is to heavy, and your shame is unbearable), yet HE wants you to come and be forgiven:

19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,  Acts 3:19

18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.  Isaiah 1:18

12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.  Psalm 103:12

How can you know for sure you’re forgiven and saved:

But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim:

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.

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 10:8-10

Who is forgiveness for:

for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  Romans 10:13

John 3:16-17

¹⁶ 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. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

GOD in HIS Word tells us to forgive others:

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Matthew 6:14

3 So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sistersins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 4 Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”  Luke 17:3-4

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  Ephesians 4:31-32

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13

What happens when you forgive as GOD wants you to?  You are still angry about what the person/people have done?  GOD says in HIS Word that HE will deal with that person/people:

Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.  Romans 12:19

After accepting JESUS and now being forgiven, what happens if I sin again not wanting to.  Every Believer is going to sin after receiving JESUS as LORD and Savior.  Because of your relationship being reconciled to GOD, you are now able to confess your sin to HIM and not hide it.  HE will forgive you and purify you when turning back to HIM with a repentant heart desiring for restored relationship.  Then walk again being forgiven.

9 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

This is in no way a license to continue sinning purposefully or in pride thinking HE won’t deal with it at some point.  HE will convict us of our sin by HIS Spirit and we will need to turn in repentance with humility.  If we are prideful and continue sinning, HE will humble us.

Hebrews 12:4-7

God Disciplines His Children

⁴ In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. ⁵ And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
⁶ because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”^[a]

⁷ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children…

Hebrews 4:15-16

¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. ¹⁶ Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Examples of Forgiveness

You may have a family member or close friend that wronged you in some way, but you don’t want GOD to repay with a vengeance. Can you forgive someone close to you and pray that GOD would have mercy on them?

Yes!  A resounding yes…

Read about Moses, after getting the Ten Commandments, was told by GOD that HIS people HE rescued out of slavery from Egypt, had made an idol to worship instead of remembering GOD and what HE had done for them.  GOD was ready to punish them and said HE would put them to death and start over.  Moses prayed and asked GOD to not hold it against them and to remember HIS covenant and what HE had done to deliver HIS people.  GOD listened to Moses and relented.

You may have a family member/members that wronged you in some way and GOD will use you to bring about good for the one or all involved.  There may be a future story of you being used of GOD to rescue, restore, provide, or protect in some way.

Read about Joseph who was mistreated and rejected by his brothers, sold into slavery, and then rise to leadership by Pharaoh in Egypt.  GOD used Joseph to save his family from a widespread famine and ultimately forgive his brothers of their wrongdoing accepting them and their families with places to live in Egypt.

You may have been used by a sibling that took from your parent in some way and you received nothing or less than.

Read about when Esau Forgives Jacob after Jacob returns during a long time away from Esau.  Jacob had fled when he learned Esau wanted to kill him for taking away his birthright and then later took his father’s blessing away from Esau as well.

You may have sinned greatly causing much harm to yourself and another/others.  You are discouraged and don’t know if GOD will forgive “this”.

Read about David and Bathsheba where David sees her bathing and sends messenger for her to come and lay with him.  He finds out she becomes pregnant while her husband Uriah is out fighting in the war.  He tries to cover up his offense at Uriah’s expense.  When Uriah is not cooperative with David’s plan, David orders that Uriah be put on the front lines and then have the army withdraw so that he dies.  Nathan confronts David about his sin.  David turns to the LORD in repentance and asks for forgiveness.  GOD forgives David, but there are consequences for his selfish sin.  Now the child they conceived together dies.  GOD restores David and blesses him and Bathsheba when HE allows them to bear another son named Solomon.

Focus For Forgiveness

Here is a model prayer to pray to GOD for forgiveness from extreme guilt and shame of the greatest of sin we may have committed:

Psalm 51

For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

¹ Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
    blot out my transgressions.
² Wash away all my iniquity
    and cleanse me from my sin.

³ For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.
⁴ Against you, you only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
    and justified when you judge.
⁵ Surely I was sinful at birth,
    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
⁶ Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
    you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

⁷ Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
⁹ Hide your face from my sins
    and blot out all my iniquity.

¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

¹³ Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
    so that sinners will turn back to you.
¹⁴ Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
    you who are God my Savior,
    and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
¹⁵ Open my lips, Lord,
    and my mouth will declare your praise.
¹⁶ You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
    you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
¹⁷ My sacrifice, O God, is^[b] a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart
    you, God, will not despise.

¹⁸ May it please you to prosper Zion,
to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
¹⁹ Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
in burnt offerings offered whole;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Power of Forgiveness

I have been changed by GOD’s forgiveness of my many sins.  I have learned from HIM by HIS extending to me forgiveness through HIS grace, mercy, and compassion.  Because of this change that has taken place within me, I am more apt to extend grace to others, to show mercy with cheerfulness, to listen with compassion, and to readily encourage others who need this.  I know HIS love more for me and I am able to love HIM and others in return.  I am now able to forgive others quickly and it be a regular response I have, since I was forgiven of so many sins, failures, and poor decisions in my own life.

Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Himweeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”

Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven–as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”  Luke 7:36-50

I so love this story of JESUS forgiving this distraught woman who so powerfully showed love to HIM…  A person who is forgiven much loves much!  When you’re forgiven, you become a more loving person to GOD and to others…

Science of Forgiveness

Click the link below and read the full review about Forgiveness:

Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley: Forgiveness

The Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley covers the following topics:

What is Forgiveness?  Why Practice It?  How Do I Cultivate It?  

It is well worth the read and has science based research about forgiveness.

Here is some of the information from the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley:

What Is Forgiveness?  

We can learn about it from what forgiveness is not:

• it’s not glossing over or denying the seriousness of the offense against you
• it’s not having to forget the offense nor accepting/excusing the offense as ok/right
• it’s not having to reconcile with the person who harmed you especially in the case of abuse
• it’s not releasing them from legal accountability in the case of severe wrongs

Why Practice It?  

Here are just a few benefits:

• makes us happier
• protects our mental health
• improves our health
• sustains relationships
• good for marriages
• boosts kindness and connectedness

How Do I Cultivate It?

Here are just a few ways:

• it’s something you do for you, not a gift for someone else (though I do believe you can also gift someone with forgiveness if your heart is to reconcile or help them too)
• express your emotions to yourself and to others
• consider what you’ve learned from what happened to you -if there has been something positive gained from it
• practice empathy
• practice mindfulness of hurt feelings to choose forgiveness more readily
• understand forgiveness is a process

Once~Then~Thankful

Once so crumbling devastated

Then to be humbly elevated

Thankful for HIS grace…

 

Once so broken inside fragmented pieces

Then to have faith’s security, hope’s clarity, and love’s sincerity that increases

Thankful for HIS mercy…

 

Once so trapped in the deepest pit

Then to have the fortitude to never quit

Thankful for HIS compassion…

 

Once so alone in shock doubting and questioning all of reality in total darkness

Then to be brought near to HIM contrite into the Light rescued so my mind works with new ability and noble sparked interests

Thankful for HIS giving me faith…

 

Once so wavering in turmoil thought I’d been tossed out to sea with Heaven now closed

Then to be set free with destination in fact now open forevermore so my soul alert to HIS faithfulness knows

Thankful for HIS giving me hope…

 

Once so fearful, empty, selfish, and filled with self-hatred 

Then to be at peace, fully restored, reaching out, and overflowing fulfillment so my hearts desires come true of its longing created for, awaited for, and elated for the sacred

Thankful for HIS giving me love…

 

Once so weak sinking beneath the pressure and stress anxiously in agony left to my malady of bankruptcy almost a tragedy

Then in renewed strength rising above accepting my spirit beyond measure to profess consciously in cadency my testimony of amnesty about HIS remedy

Thankful for HIS giving HIS Spirit reuniting mine…

All You Need

If you don’t listen to what I say

I pray

HE will meet you in the middle of the night

More than a dream come true

Proving HE is real I already knew

 

That HE may speak peace be still it’s ok

You pray

To receive HIM into your heart giving you new life inside with HIS Light

Giving what you need now so much more than before when you had no clue

With access to mercy new every morning like the dew

 

Only HE can save

Lay down HIS life for the lost and stray

HE is the answer to everyone’s plight

HE will come again and find you

Even if you walked away or just withdrew

 

Draw near and HE draws near to stay

Until faith, hope, and love within you remain

With broken spirit heart contrite

HE will accept you back HIS faithfulness to prove

HE will empower you to overcome all that you need to

Lost Regained

Lost my mind along the way

Regained compassion in my heart to guide

Lost my peace along the way

Regained faith inside

Lost my strength along the way

Regained hope in weakness despite

Lost my way along the way

Regained love for those nearby

Lost my confidence along the way

Regained trust with HIM beside

Lost ability along the way

Regained grace in the by and by

Lost it all at one point along the way

Regained new life from mercy given when HE decides

Lost in suffering along the way

Regained peace when HE heard my cries

Lost in the crowd along the way

Regained a shelter in which to hide

Lost connection along the way

Regained my soul that will abide

Lost in doubt along the way

Regained a sound mind 

Lost in fear along the way

Regained rekindled spirit with new purpose and vision to find

Lost in the past along the way

Regained a future and a hope to unwind what’s behind

Ice Melts

A world turn to ice

Rotation seems to stop -test

The roll of the dice

 

Grow up to release stress

Resistance to change

Succumb to nevertheless

 

Desire to be someone

Lost in the night from days depressed

Fade with disappearance of the sun

 

Where becomes the focus more or less

Inward view at darkness strange

Hell on earth felt with mental illness

 

Battle is in my mind

Life or death hangs in the balance hard pressed

Can’t help but look for a sign

 

Negative thoughts overtake intense

Fear and doubt narrows outlooks range

Future dread, past enchains, present in suspense

 

Let go self care

Minimalizing nourishment starving inside as my guest

Brain eating itself deceiving now aware

 

Cold heart mourn trespassed east to west

Soul torn in unrest

Frozen spirit forlorn tests distressed

Mind stuck on warning/warning/warning/warn?!. digress

Perfect storm enters inside to derange

Panic stricken hidden within head’s walls torments

 

Suicide has access

How come I acquiesce

Open the door, crossed the line oppressed

 

Suicidal hours pass suppress

Relentless until possess -success?!.

Drown out voices in excess

 

No such attempt a success…

Come up for air with will still to live reassess

Arise soaken wet convalesce

 

Hitch a ride back to civilization egress

At a loss that death somehow did outguess finality this time, how to process?

Did I go too far with the way I transgress?

 

Parents sullen expression hopeless -turn their back and walk away

My only hope is Heaven above to hear my cries to HIM confess

Scared the enemy stalks in this darkness; hearing breaths closing in for attack as I pray

 

In time JESUS answers to rescue, restore, redeem to repossess

Relationship with the LORD reestablished over the years with interchange

Taken back into the sheepfold to learn trust has been an ongoing process

 

All HE did for me I can’t express fully in my writings or with my spoken words, but I try

Yet, JESUS, is HIS precious name I will forever profess

Since HE has heard my wavering cries, I will walk with HIM no longer to deny for faith, hope, and love now unto others apply…

 

Frozen ice melts with the SON press on Heavenward progress

Saves lives, softens hearts, sanctifies minds, sets spirits free in wondrous and beautiful exchange

Casts out fear with perfect love HE has won to bless…

  

Will Find

Faith will find a way

Find a way to hold on

Walk In the race until agree to run

Tend to while fighting the good fight

Hope will find a way

Find a way to carry on

To taste and see what HE has won

Send igniting into the night within the Light

Love will find a way

Find a way to overcome

To embrace and receive the SON

When delighting desires become set aright

Grace will find a way

Find a way to soar above

Through every storm have sufficiency enough

Lend Mighty Right Hand uplift for HIS vision in sight

Mercy will find a way

Find a way through push and shove

Cover over, found beneath, until arise a diamond in the rough

Defend as High Priest if broken and contrite

Compassion will find a way

Find a way to lift others up

Fill to overflowing my empty cup

Again and again give what’s needed beyond the fright of any plight

Faith will find the truth

Find the truth that sets free

Set free in the SON indeed

Abide in HIM to grow

Hope will find the truth

Find the truth to hold and keep

Debts paid move forward always believe

Guide into the Light reflect to show

Love will find the truth

Find the truth to just be 

Let it enter in daily to receive

Subside the fears, until cast aside, for love to forever know

Grace will find the truth

Find the truth to speak

Fret not to take a stand against the enemy

Decide to be in HIS will with seed for the sower to sow

Mercy will find the truth

Find the truth to grieve

Get back up no longer deceived

Hide under shelter of HIS wings until an arrow in HIS bow

Compassion will find the truth

Find the truth for others reach

Forget not where you came from with their pain conceive

Arrive on the scene to resuscitate no matter the injury or how far they’ve fallen below

Faith will find the life

Find the life few will find, even so, choose to breathe

Leapt to discover what only HE can do with me

Tried as gold refined by fire seven times aglow

Hope will find the life

Find the life with desires come to fruition when unto HIM heed

Secrets of HIS Heavenly wisdom enter in to succeed

Ride on the heights to newly dream to where HE leads go

Love will find the life

Find the life to do the same sincerely

Kept in HIS grips equipped meek and holy

Wide, long, high, and deep is this love of Christ that overflows

Grace will find the life

Extending to reach any in need with HIS wings beneath

Regrets left behind press on for Heavenward’s prize to seek

Died to sin made alive in Christ to walk the straight and narrow

Mercy will find the life

Find the life I don’t deserve because HE heard my pleas

Outlet for others to come to know HIM from their chains be released

Beside HIM open to be who I’m meant to be pure as white snow

Compassion will find the life

Find the life to become compassion perceived to those in need

Interprets what to pray and then stretch out hand for healing to relieve

Confide in HIM here and now into eternity ever ready to understand however many tomorrows bestow

Alone

Alone

I know.

Alone, I know.

I know alone.

I know Alone, alone.

Alone, I won’t forget.

Forget not alone.

Forget not Alone, alone.

Alone is what I felt.

Alone is what I thought.

Alone is what I believed.

Alone is what I received.

Alone is what I perceived.

Alone is what I conceived.

There is alone.

Then there is Alone, alone.

I know Alone, and realized I wasn’t the only one who knew alone.

Many are alone who know Alone or have come to know Alone.

Realizing you’re not the only one who knows Alone is somehow comforting when you’re alone.

I am not alone anymore, yet I find a friend with those who know Alone for Alone once was so close to me I didn’t know otherwise.

If you know Alone and need a friend, I accept you as one of my friends…  You’re no longer alone…  I will believe you…  I will believe in you…  I will receive you…  I will perceive how Alone has made you, changed you, hurt you, scared you…  I will conceive how Alone makes your worldview, your inner view, your suicidal view…

I am made somewhat of Alone, changed somehow by Alone, hurt deeply by Alone, and feared once with Alone…  However, I am not Alone…  I never was…  But I was in utmost darkness alone.  Alone tried to take me under and almost succeeded;

Alone came alongside me while I was alone and joined me with it… until all I felt was what Alone felt, what Alone thought, what Alone only knew…  I learned Alone’s secrets…  Alone was only bringing me down to the lowest it only feels, it only thinks, it only knows… Spiraling down into darkness more and more and more…  Alone feels darkness, thinks darkness, knows darkness to depths you never knew before…  Alone reveals darkness beyond all darkness… Hope is lost with Alone…  Hope disappears when alone with Alone…  Hope is beyond one’s reach when Alone takes you under unwillingly… Alone makes its home in you… until you can’t stand Alone being anymore alone…  Alone can make you lose your mind, lose your heart, lose your soul, lose your spirit, and alone with Alone can cause you to lose your life…

Alone doesn’t realize Faith comes to life in darkness…  And I knew of Faith…  I didn’t know Faith, like really know, yet it called for me to take a chance on, to take a hold of, to realize Faith was the only way to get out of this deep dark pit – ravaged, bombarded, pounded, emptied, fear laden with and by Alone… tormenting me alone from Alone…  Something had to give…

Have Faith or die alone… overtaken by Alone.

Faith began to build me up as a real possibility…  Faith started to turn my heart, soul, mind, and spirit to the Author of my Faith… the Healer and Restorer of my heart…. the Savior and Defender of my soul… the Perfecter and Renewer of my mind… the Redeemer and Uplifter of my spirit…

Faith reunited me with Hope…  Faith made me realize Hope was not lost…  Hope had not disappeared…  Hope was surely within reach again…

Faith and Hope can sometimes be overshadowed by Alone, but can never be wiped out by Alone…  Alone tries to hide this reality…  Faith and Hope are of the LIGHT that Alone in the darkness hates to be seen…  Alone will mask it with others rejections of, turn those alone inward into their own darkness, or turn those alone around to not see even glimpses of Faith and Hope at one’s disposal that are found when called upon to operate and begin to shine brighter providing the way out of any darkened pit…

Faith and Hope together introduced me to LOVE…

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

⁸ Love never fails…

LOVE never fails, but I didn’t know that yet… LOVE keeps Faith and Hope together within and encompassed around me…  LOVE works from the depths of itself, the depths of Faith, and the depths of Hope to be forever united as One in me…  Alone couldn’t fully have me anymore…  After being introduced to Faith, Hope, and LOVE in the deepest of despair and despondency – I was forever found in new life…  changed with the appearance by the 3 that will always remain:  Faith, Hope, and LOVE…  and Alone may be in reach at any given time, yet I am always taken hold of by Faith, Hope, and LOVE…

I know LOVE so much more now that I believe, receive, perceive, conceive and am relieved by HIM that nothing can chase me away to the darkness alone with just Alone…  Yes, I may face being with Alone again, but I will always have Faith, Hope, and LOVE to accompany me from this time forth into forevermore…

So if you get to know me, you won’t be alone with Alone only…  I bring with me Faith, Hope, and LOVE so you get to know them too!!…  And I know that I know you’ll soon, at some point, embrace these 3 that will always remain for you as well…  Faith, Hope, and LOVE like to meet and greet, defeat darkness, release from fears, and bring you up from beneath the heavy weight of the world, sin, and brokenness you feel…  May you, like me, be established, rooted, and grounded in HIS LOVE for Faith, Hope, and LOVE to remain in you for all eternity…

What if you resist when Faith, Hope, and LOVE want to make an appearance to let you know Alone isn’t all there is to this life… Alone will remain with you alone…  That to me is not acceptable.  That to me is unthinkable.  That to me is unfathomable…  Being alone with Alone is not a way to live your life.

Having Faith, Hope, and LOVE always, with Alone sometimes, is much more foreseeable, doable, reachable, and conquerable…  Faith, Hope, and LOVE promise to get you who you’ve always desired to be, what you’ve always cared to be about, and beyond where you’ve ever dreamed of going if you’ll only welcome the 3 that will remain within given by JESUS Himself when you ask HIM in to hear you, help you, heal you, and honor HIS promises for you…  promises you can’t keep on your own, or make happen on your own, or even desire to have on your own.  JESUS will be to you who HE is and so much more… beyond what you can think, ask, or imagine…  So these 3 remain…  Faith, Hope, and LOVE…  And the greatest of these is LOVE…

What is so incredible is that asking JESUS to forgive you and to come into your heart is that with Faith, Hope, and LOVE you’ll know Forgiveness (GOD’s forgiveness;  empowered to forgive yourself and others even), Grace (ability to handle life’s stresses better), Mercy (received as needed when you mess up along your healing journey), and Compassion (ability to care about and be there for others in need).  GOD will also give you as a deposit (a guarantee of your inheritance to be received into Heaven) the HOLY Spirit as a gift to be your wonderful counselor never leaving you on your own to deal with life anymore on your own.  You will begin to grow with the fruit of the Spirit to know as well:  Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control…

With all these new “friends” inside you growing you and building you up, you’ll have more and more peace of mind, peace in your heart, restful peace for your soul, peace in your spirit, and peace that surpasses all understanding in your life…

JESUS, furthermore, promises HE will never leave you nor forsake you…  JESUS says no one can snatch you out of HIS hand and no one can snatch you out of GOD the FATHER’s hand…  This is all just a glimpse of HIS innumerable promises HE can keep and hold out just for you to take a hold of into your new found life…  Like me, you won’t be alone anymore with Alone…

Here’s a recap:

I am no longer alone… Now that I’m found in JESUS…

You don’t have to be either…

I still know Alone, but not apart from JESUS and all HIS “friends” working deeper within me…

Could you use some new companions along your journey?!…

GOD the FATHER in and through HIS SON JESUS gives them freely if you listen to and accept JESUS as Savior and LORD in your life…  What you’ll gain with surrender is by far the greatest treasure you will ever find in a lifetime…

JESUS never leaves nor forsakes you…

Holy Spirit is a deposit guaranteeing your residence will be Heaven…

You will grow in the fruits of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control…

Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

LOVE never fails…

Faith, Hope, and LOVE remain…

And the greatest of these is LOVE…

Come to ME

 

How are you?  Really!?…  I pray for you…  I’m here for you!!… Sincerely…

How am I thought of?  I wonder.  How am I seen?  Maybe real and genuine.  Maybe off base and peculiar.  How do I come across?  Maybe human and down to earth.  Maybe human and troubled.  Maybe human with a spiritual connection to GOD and Heaven…  Probably a little of each component that makes up my whole being with much left unexplored and unknown…

My preferred way of communication is poetry.  If you have any familiarity with my site, it is engulfed by poems.  Some are simple and to the point and you understand where I’m coming from.  Some are complicated and confusing and you don’t understand what I’m talking about.

The simple and to the point come from a heightened awareness of GOD, HIS love, and times of peaceful recollection, remembrance, and restoration of HIS work in my life…  A tranquil day in the sun…  The complicated and confusing come from a darkened depression turned to mental illness in processing the lonely, anxiety ridden, and fearfully prolonged moments of a life trying to manage everything after being suicidal and making an actual attempt. A chaotic storm in the middle of the darkest night.

Maybe I need to write more like this; acquainting with you in paragraph form, thought by thought sequence, conversation style, letting you in more so to know some of my soul, to know me as a fellow human living this life to overcome and be a fighter still pressing on no matter what comes my way; facing it head on with courage and strength -even though I’m weak…

I have tried to convey faith, hope, and love in writing on this here blog to inspire, encourage, and support those struggling with depression, mental illness, abuse, and/or suicidal thoughts…  Has it made a difference for anyone?  I don’t really know.  I hope so…  not for my benefit, but for theirs and for yours…

My faith is in JESUS who is my Savior, my Redeemer, my KING of kings and LORD of lords…  My hope is in GOD the FATHER for grace and mercy in times of need…  My love works in and through me by HIS Spirit…  My faith is that you find faith in HIM too…  My hope is that you will hope in HIM too…  My love for and from HIM is for you to find HIS love too…  Faith, hope, and love remain…  And most prominently love is greater than all… And most assuredly love never fails…  HIS lovingkindness endures forever…  HIS mercy endures forever…

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.  Luke 6:45

Why do I talk so much about JESUS and spiritual things?  After what HE’s miraculously done with my fallen and broken life, how can I not speak of HIM who overflows my heart and sustains my life…  My life has been radically changed by GOD’s love for me and has made an eternally positive difference all because of JESUS…  So I include HIM in all that I say in some way… Maybe there are those who are turned off by this.  I don’t know.  Maybe there are those who haven’t experienced HIS love and care as of now up to this point, thus being foreign to them and unknown. Maybe there are those who feel let down or abandoned by GOD and blame HIM for all that is wrong in their life.  Maybe there are those who just don’t know what to think or feel about all this.  Is GOD real?  If HE is, will HE help me?  Will HE be there for me?  Will HE see me through the darkness and hard things in this life?  Will HE not abandon me to myself and all that is within that consumes and drowns me?

All of the answers to these questions are “yes” in HIS timing and way…  Now will you only trust HIM and believe… If you do, your life will change and you will find new strength and purpose for a future and a hope… If you do, then you open yourself up to HIS help, to HIS forgiveness, to HIS love, and to HIS comfort and care…  Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us… Ephesians 3:20

GOD wants you to come to HIM, to know HIM, to make HIM known, and to love you and through you show love to others;  saved and found by JESUS… “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.  As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’  Acts 17:24-28

These truths you can believe, trust, and build your very life upon… Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy  1: 15-17

Are you ready to begin a new journey into freedom by HIS grace and mercy at work in your life?  HE will be redeeming your past, restoring your present, and replenishing you onward into the future and a hope HE has prepared since the beginning before you were even conceived in your mother’s womb and born to face the challenges and brokenness of life moving forward with faith to believe and trust, with hope as an anchor for your soul, and with love HE pours into you by HIS Spirit to now and forever love HIM and love others too…  Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  Matthew 22: 37-39

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34

Have you ever wanted someone to be your friend always and forever?  To be there in the most dark and difficult times?  To be there going through what you’re going through? To never have to be alone?  To bring you to a safe and secure place providing for all your needs?  JESUS meets that need and desire…  I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 14:18

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”  Deuteronomy 31:6

He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” —Hebrews 13:5

 

How are you?  Really!?  I pray for you…  I am here for you!!…  Sincerely…

Jeff Watts

Yet

 

Salvation believed

Inspiration received

Adoration achieved

Emancipation relieved

Captivation conceived

 

I may be quiet

Yet 

My mind is thinking of You and all that is Thine

 

I may be silent

Yet

My heart is beating for and with You together to dine

 

I may be resting

Yet

My body is needing Your touch so kind

 

I may be calm

Yet

My soul is yearning for You to restore all that is mine

 

I may be tranquil

Yet

My spirit is awaiting for You to refill within that I may shine

 

I may be of few words

Yet

I can’t thank You enough from deep inside

 

I may be very tired

Yet

I come to You for You within to reside

 

I may not be meditating on Your words often

Yet 

I want to hide them in my heart to always abide

 

I may be depressed

Yet

I continue on in faith, hope, and love so above it again will I rise

 

I may not have that look of joy

Yet

I have Your peace surpassing all understanding guarding my heart and mind

 

I may rarely laugh

Yet

I am serious with prayer and fighting for our family and others each night

 

I may not see You with my eyes

Yet

I believe by faith to please You with hope to no longer deny and love even when life goes awry

 

I may have questions

Yet

I trust You even if I never get answers to why

 

I may still have anxiety and fear at times

Yet

I will walk humbly, seek justice, and love mercy laying down pride

 

I may still await dreams to come true

Yet 

I will let the outcomes that from Your hands in Your plans will decide

 

I may wander some though wiser

Yet

I will learn to walk with You beside

 

I may not like Your discipline in my life

Yet

I discern You love me and I must die to self as You lead and guide

 

I may be weak

Yet

You are my strength and in You I find a Refuge in which to hide

 

I may think too much of past failure

Yet

I will do my best to forget what is behind, press on to run so as to win the prize, continue to fight the good fight with grace and mercy supplied

 

I may not be where I need to be at midlife

Yet

I will learn to do right with Your Word in me applied

 

I may not always be pleasing in Your sight

Yet

I have come so far by Your power and love at work in me comprised

 

I may not have many friends

Yet

I know in You I can always come to confide

 

I may not have overcome to be more than a conqueror

Yet

I will fix my eyes on You until I have arrived in Your arms open wide

 

I may not be mature

Yet

I trust You that I will come forth as gold tried and purified

 

I may not be ready to take on more with ministry

Yet 

I wait on You to work within me continually until qualified

 

I may have stumbled more numerous than I’d like to admit

Yet

I have always turned back to You, called on Your name, and on You alone relied

 

I may have come close to a tragic end

Yet

I have known Your miracle and healing ways that have surprised

 

I may have to go through another episode I really don’t want to face

Yet

I have come to know You are faithful to respond to my cries until it will subside

 

I may have enemies that for my hurt and end have come against

Yet

I know GOD works it all for my good despite how they may undermine

 

How

How can

An answer to YOUR call

Turn to pride before a fall

As confidence in YOU

Turns to breaking me in two

With strength and no fear

Turns to fear again so near

Full of the Spirit in sweet release

Turns to anxieties that increase

YOUR armor all around as a protective hedge

Turns to my life teetering on the edge

By faith moving forward

Turns to relapse stepping backward

In YOUR perfect love secure

Turns to depression stuck and insecure

 

How can

I return to answer YOUR call

Turn and submit to purposely fall

Face down yielding my life to YOU anew

Turn in brokenness to YOU be true

My strength (not my own) rests in YOU to bring breakthrough beyond the fear

Turn to acknowledge (not anything I’ve done) that YOU have brought me this far as I draw near

Refreshed in the Spirit freed from fear; returns (the surpassing all understanding) peace

Turn to give you thanks (Your compassion is beyond understanding) for a renewed life’s lease

Continue to put on YOUR armor as a protective privilege

Turn to surrender all my life to honor, glorify, and praise YOU my pledge

By faith in humility and understanding move forward

Turn to remember HIS grace in my walk and to love HIS mercy when feeling backward

In YOUR perfect love again secure

Turn to YOU daily, deny myself, and carry my cross to be pure

Open

Eyes open

Word spoken

Recollect broken

Youthful lust once fond of left in ruin

Turn away from again to look with HIS Light newly see upon

Now PURE freedom

Won for me in the SON

 

Mind open

Word spoken

Recollect broken

Schizo-fragments stuck in rewind relived on and on as peace is far from flung

Thoughts to renew and to choose overcoming faith to fill-up again with the living once more walk among

Now SOUND freedom

Won for me in the SON

 

Heart open

Word spoken

Recollect broken

Fear ridden unwanted bond

For HIS unfailing love again still respond

Now REVIVED freedom

Won for me in the SON

 

Soul open

Word spoken

Recollect broken

Lost and tormented correspond

For HIS needed compassion in life’s race again to run

Now RESTORED freedom

Won for me in the SON

 

Spirit open

Word spoken

Recollect broken

Chains imprisoned all hope but disappeared gone barely holding on trying to delight in HIM alone clung

For HIS mercy thirsty awaiting to soar again above the storm beyond

Now RESURRECTED freedom

Won for me in the SON

Live…

 

Yet we live on…

until the devil meets his match that GOD our FATHER strikes its end… set aflame, far from us expulsion disbanded -no longer with fiery darts targeting at our hearts aim

our faith he can’t catch; crush his head then fallen into lake of fire send… let tame his evil compulsion stranded -no longer with tiring accusations marketing at our minds blame

Because we live on and on…

set free he can’t snatch; secure in the Savior’s care and the FATHER’s strongest hands tend… debt/shame gone as peace and grace rush in granted -no longer with firing arrows darkening to our souls maim

beyond the grave deep within is Heaven attached; await a future hope prepared above where we fully mend… met mercy anew every morning propulsion open handed -made stronger desiring eternity harkening to our spirits claim

So we will live on and on and on…