The time has once again come for us to all pack into the library, stay up till one am, and get stressed out over the littlest things...Yep! It's the end of another semester! Sorry, if that last sentence hit a little too close to home...but let's be honest, that research paper you haven't started yet...is due next week! Please excuse my terrible sense of humor, but unfortunately the fact is we don't have much time left and you need to get to work!
I say all that so I can tell you this. It's almost over! You are rounding the corner for home plate...don't quit now! The end of the semester always brings upon us several emotions; some people are happy that it's almost summer while others will be moving on to different stages in their lives. No matter which direction you are heading know that this semester is ending so that a new semester in your life might start!
Finish Strong!
Higgins
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Forgiveness...and then some
The story of Joseph has always been a favorite of mine. Why? Because in it we see a story of human compassion in conjunction with the grace of God. We also see a perfect example of forgiveness.
Just to jog your memory, here is a quick breakdown of the story of Joseph. Joseph was a pretty lucky kid...well he started out that way. Joseph and his father had a pretty close relationship, so close that it made his brothers jealous. His brothers decided to do something about it, so at the age of seventeen they threw him down a well, sold him to slave traders, and told his father that he had been killed by a lion. I guess he wasn't that lucky of a kid after all.
Some time had passed and there was a great famine and his brothers, now older, traveled to Egypt to buy grain. At this point Joseph had worked his way into a pretty powerful position and was in charge of who would be getting food.
If you want to read the entire thing start in Genesis 37. I just want to get to my point.
Here is the thing. Joseph went through a lot. He was sold into slavery, had to deal with an accused adulterous woman, and had to confront his brother who placed him in the whole ordeal. That being said, who do you need to forgive? Who in your life is in need of God's grace? I would say that we all have someone in our lives that we need to ask forgiveness of. So what are you waiting for? Do it today! Don't let another day go by where you just continually put it off. Just know these few things:
1. Forgiveness can be a long process
2. Forgiveness is not dependent upon confession
3. Forgiveness does not require an agreed version of the past.
4. Forgiveness means letting go of my natural right to revenge.
5. Forgiving does not mean forgetting.
6. Forgiveness means not bringing it up again.
7. Forgiveness does not mean excusing the behavior of the other person.
8. Forgiveness is easier when we rest in God’s providence.
9. Forgiveness does not always mean re-trusting.
10. Forgiveness is incomplete until love replaces anger.
If you want to read more about forgiveness and the story of Joseph click here.
Just to jog your memory, here is a quick breakdown of the story of Joseph. Joseph was a pretty lucky kid...well he started out that way. Joseph and his father had a pretty close relationship, so close that it made his brothers jealous. His brothers decided to do something about it, so at the age of seventeen they threw him down a well, sold him to slave traders, and told his father that he had been killed by a lion. I guess he wasn't that lucky of a kid after all.
Some time had passed and there was a great famine and his brothers, now older, traveled to Egypt to buy grain. At this point Joseph had worked his way into a pretty powerful position and was in charge of who would be getting food.
If you want to read the entire thing start in Genesis 37. I just want to get to my point.
Here is the thing. Joseph went through a lot. He was sold into slavery, had to deal with an accused adulterous woman, and had to confront his brother who placed him in the whole ordeal. That being said, who do you need to forgive? Who in your life is in need of God's grace? I would say that we all have someone in our lives that we need to ask forgiveness of. So what are you waiting for? Do it today! Don't let another day go by where you just continually put it off. Just know these few things:
1. Forgiveness can be a long process
2. Forgiveness is not dependent upon confession
3. Forgiveness does not require an agreed version of the past.
4. Forgiveness means letting go of my natural right to revenge.
5. Forgiving does not mean forgetting.
6. Forgiveness means not bringing it up again.
7. Forgiveness does not mean excusing the behavior of the other person.
8. Forgiveness is easier when we rest in God’s providence.
9. Forgiveness does not always mean re-trusting.
10. Forgiveness is incomplete until love replaces anger.
If you want to read more about forgiveness and the story of Joseph click here.
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