The Prodigal Son

I am sorry that I have not written in so long.  I was preoccupied with a family matter and in my sorrow over the incident, I was weak.  But the Bible tells us "when I am weak, that is when I am strong in the Lord."  Sometimes it is very hard to see beyond the storms of life but the calm does come, God does hear our cries and He does heal our wounds...

The Prodigal Son:

 It tells of the younger son in a family, who obtains his inheritance from his 
father. (Compare Deuteronomy 21:17.) This son leaves for a distant land, 
where he squanders all in debauchery, has to take up the work of herding 
swine, and is even reduced to hungering for the food of swine. He finally 
comes to his senses and decides to return home, if only to work for his
father as a hired laborer. As he nears home, his father takes the positive
step of welcoming him, even holding a feast. The older brother, who had 
remained 
at home working, resents the mercy shown. But the father says that they
should rejoice because the son who was dead now lives.—Luke 15:11-32.

When our families have trouble, we hurt deeply but
like the father in the Prodigal Son parable, we forgive
because we are so happy to restore harmony!  We
pray and ask the Father for help in restoring our 
families and like the Father, forget the sin when
confessed and think of it no more.

My Christian heart to yours...

Forgiveness

Do you need to forgive someone or do you want forgiveness from someone?  Sometimes, we have done something to a family member or a friend that we did not intend to hurt or harm them but none the less, it did.  Sometimes family or friends can hurt us deeply, sometimes intentionally, sometimes unwittingly.  It is hard to forgive someone and even harder to forgive yourself.

The Bible addresses this on many levels.  In Matthew 18:15,16,21 Jesus tells us, "If a brother sins against you, go to him privately and confront him with his fault.  If he listens and confesses it, you have won back a brother.  But if not, then take one or two others with you and go back to him again, proving everything you say by these witnesses.   21: "Then Peter came to him and asked, "Sir, how often should I forgive a brother who sins against me?  Seven times?" 22: "No," Jesus replied, "seventy times seven!" 

  But if someone continues to sin against you, it eats you up inside if you do not forgive, it is always there within your heart placing a stone between you and the person and you and your heavenly father, who does not want you to hold hatred in your heart or are unforgiving.  So if there is no resolution after many attempts at reconciliation, love your enemies and pray for them but separate them from yourself if they are causing you to have these feelings in your heart or you feel they are causing you to sin because of it. 

Forgiving the squirrel for taking the bird house over
to escape the rain....

Luke 17:1-4  "There will always be temptations to sin," Jesus said one day to his disciples, "but woe to the man who does the tempting.  If he were thrown into the sea with a huge rock tied to his neck,  he would be far better off than facing the punishment in store for those who harm these little children's souls.  I am warning you!  Rebuke your brother if he sins, and forgive him if he is sorry.  Even if he wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, forgive him."

It is hard to forgive, I know and you have heard me say before that the reason we pray for our enemies is because what God has in store for them is much worse than you could ever wish them! 

Ephesians 4:31-32  "Stop being mean, bad-tempered and angry.  Quarreling, harsh words, and dislike of others should have no place in your lives.  Instead, be kind to each other , tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ."

The message is clear, forgiveness is necessary for your spiritual health.  When we attain spiritual health, we feel good health in our earthly bodies as well.  You can begin by asking God to forgive your ill feelings for this or that person.  Then at least make an attempt to make things right between you.  Remember, God is with you through all of this and together there is nothing you cannot do with His help.

This post was created as a result of a good friend asking me to do one on forgiveness.  I hope this has been a blessing to you dear friend.  If you have a request, just ask in comments and I will do my best to provide an answer.  Have a blessed and forgiving day!

♥KERRIE♥

My Christian heart to yours...

Though Our Sins be Scarlet....

First, a very special request for prayer for a very special lady, "Marydon".  She is going through a traumatic skin cancer removal and needs all of our prayers!  She is such a special person, always caring for others and doing good!  You can see her surprise visit to my house by going to Kerrie's Korner, SC blog September 30th post. Sending prayer requests for her and for all those afflicted with cancer and other ailments, thank you so much!

James 5:14,15  "Is anyone sick?  He should call for the elders of the church and they should pray over him and pour a little oil upon him, calling on the Lord to heal him.  and their prayer, if offered in faith, will heal him, for the Lord will make him well" (The Book)

   The Old Testament makes many references to the coming of someone special, an "annointed one".  The word Messiah in Hebrew is "The Annointed One".  Immanuel, is "God with us".

   For a mere man could not bring harmony with God back after Eden's fall from Grace, it would be one both God and man.  Jesus was born a descendant of King David, also known as the Annointed One.

  We should pray about everything for God loves our dependence on Him.  He wants to care for us!  And don't forget to thank Him for prayers answered.  I end my prayers with, "Thank you for all the blessings you have given us and all of those that are yet to come, Amen."

  My friend Bruce, who was also a classmate in my Bible studies way back when, told us that he begins his prayers with his hands face down on the table.  Then he ends his prayers with his palms face up to receive God's blessing!  I love this!

  We prevent God from showering gifts upon us when we have a barrier of sin and disobediance between us and God.  Remove the barrier and God will bless you.  Are you familiar with the song, "We shall have showers of Blessings, Showers of blessing I see, Mercy drops falling around me....."  Willie Nelson has a recording of this on his worship album.  I love that phrase, Mercy drops falling around me!

  Remember that all of us may feel unworthy but we ARE worthy of God's love and mercy!  We confess our sins, God will forgive us, He will "wash away our sins".

1 John:1:9.  No matter how soiled from sin you may be, God can make you as clean as snow!  Isaiah 1:18.  Did you know that when we confess our sins to God, that He forgives us and "never thinks of them again?  Hebrews 8:12.  How wondrous is that?  So you need not lie in your bed at night rehashing the past, pouring salt into the wounds.  Simply confess (say you are sorry for whatever is bothering your heart) and whatever separates you from God's love and mercy and think of them no more!

  Isn't that a great burden lifted from your mind and heart?  All because Jesus paid the price for you and for me by making the one great sacrifice on the cross....

  The Lord has NEVER ignored a cry for help from His children.  Many times through my life I have felt I could not bear one more bad thing! But God in his wisdom, knows my limitations as a mere mortal and just at the breaking point, He reached down to me and pulled me up by my bootstraps!  I never ceased to be amazed when he did that at just the right time!

  When we are OUT of Harmony with God, we feel like nothing is right.  IN harmony with God, we are able to handle whatever comes our way and be pleasant in the process!  Imagine His great hand on your back as you go through tough times~~yes, God is so good!

Blessings and love,

♥KERRIE♥
My heart to yours...






"Do your little bit of GOOD where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the WORLD."
          -Archbiship Desmond Tutu