Friday, February 24, 2017

Man’s Best Friend

Have you ever gone into a grocery store for one item but come out with $20 worth of product and still didn’t get the item you originally went into the store for in the first place?  

Well, that’s what happened when we went into Aldi’s hoping to get some decent strawberries for Valentine’s Day.  When the woman at the checkout asked if we found everything we wanted she smiled when I told her we only came in for strawberries, and they were sold out of them. 

Grabbing the few items in the cart, we were greeted by dog that was patiently standing by the entrance doors.  He was so focused; nothing or no one swayed him from taking his eyes off the passageway into the building. 

God gave us favor in a parking space next to the building, and I kept turning around looking at the pup all the way back to the car.  Was he hungry?  Had someone dumped him off there, after all that’s how we got rescue kitty Izzy?  He didn’t have a collar … maybe he was lost.  All these things ran through my mind while hubby opened my car door.   

How could this super dog lover not do anything?  He didn’t seem concerned at all, but went to the driver’s side and got in the vehicle.  Just as he was about to turn on the ignition I looked at him with “wifey” eyes, not saying a word but quite verbal if you know what I mean … “you can’t seriously think we’re going anywhere?” 

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Hello – any reasonable people out there? 

For the next ten minutes we sat in the car with my eyes fixated on the stray pup that no one seemed to care about him being there.  Almost every person that left the store acknowledged him with a friendly hello along with a stroke or two across the head.  No one seemed bothered that this little fellow was all alone.  Was I the only sane one in the bunch? 

“He’s probably waiting for his owner.” My husband repeated as I continually tuned him out thinking he was wrong. “I can’t take this any longer.” I informed my husband and popped the car open to go rescue the sweet dog that was intently watching the inside of the store.  Following behind me like an obedient puppy once more he said, “Honey, his owner is probably inside and he’s just waiting for him.”  

Not willing to give up on my new canine friend I continued questioning this situation, “If that’s true why doesn’t he have a collar or any tags?” By now the dog had gotten inside the exit part of the store and was out of sight.   

Man’s Best Friend 

I was almost to the exit door when I heard a man say, “You shouldn’t be in here.”  Right then the pup’s tail began to wag fiercely as a woman came out of the store, “Come on Jake.”  Jumping up and down he ran circles around the couple following them back to their car.  Apparently the man who corrected old Jake was also his owner. 

As they were loading their car another woman and her daughter were parked next to them. The daughter kept begging the mom to take the pup home.  When she saw Jake with the owner she said, “He’s so sweet. I’d love to take him home with us.” 

With a smug giggle she stopped what she was doing and said, “Go ahead, take him. Open your car door.”  So the woman did.  “Jake get in the car.”  Jake didn’t move a muscle but stayed by the lady who was giving the directions.   

The couple finished putting their groceries in the car and headed back to the store.  As they walked by us hubby called out, “Is he your dog?” Not breaking her stride the woman replied, “Yep, he’s a good friend and dog. He even goes to nursing homes and schools.”  

Disappearing into the store Jake resumed his position faithfully waiting outside the doors for his owners to return.  What a great dog I thought.  Would ours have done that?  Anyone could tell how the phrase “man’s best friend” applied here. 

What a Woman Should Not Say to Her Husband 

It wasn’t until a few days later during lunch that I mentioned to my husband about how faithful Jake was and how it reminded me of Job in the Old Testament of the Bible.  After all Job went through with the death of his ten kids, losing the majority of his farm and animals, he remained faithful to the Lord even when his body was covered with boils. 

I began re-reading the account of what happened and thought about how close Job’s relationship was with God.  It was miles different than the one his wife had with the Almighty.   

In all the messages I’ve heard on Job no one ever talks about how his wife experienced the same thing.  Her method of dealing with it wasn't what we'd call “Christian,” but we can probably relate to how she responded.
 
You can almost picture the argument the two of them had when these disasters happened.   

“Job scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery as
 he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him,
Are you still trying to maintain your integrity?
Curse God and die.”  (Job 2:8-9 NLT) 

Not exactly the kind of “help mate” God intended do you think?  Men, how would you like to have her for a wife?  Hmmm …   

Scriptures record how in prayer Job wasn’t afraid to voice his opinion, and was upfront about how he felt.  Even in all that he experienced, the Lord said Job didn’t sin.  What does this tell us about the relationship God wants with us, and how He wants us to be honest in how we feel? 

With Friends Like That 

Thinking about the pup I thought God was teaching me a lesson on faithfulness, but it was more than that.  Jake was demonstrating something that didn’t dawn on me until later in the week when I was reading the book of Philemon.  It’s true that Jake certainly was faithful and obedient like Job, but he was also a loyal and valued friend. 

When we take a look at what happened in the books of Job and Philemon there is one major thing they have in common – friends.  However, the way that the friends respond to one another is entirely different. 

Job’s friends believed that he had sinned and that’s why all these terrible things happened to him.  Do you have any friends like that?  They are quick to throw accusations listing all the things “you’ve done wrong.” 

His so called “friends” didn’t encourage or uplift him and got all the facts wrong.  They didn’t know Job was being tested, and certainly had no idea of the level of intimacy he had with God. 

Their understanding of the relationship Job had with the Lord was nothing like the one they had with God, therefore judging him was conceived to be the accurate method of “helping out their brother” in the faith.  Job felt bad enough without having his friends come down on him; with friends like that who needs enemies? 

A Friendly Favor 

Taking a look at the Apostle Paul’s relationship with his dear friend Philemon, we see a much different approach to the way he handles a situation.  At the time of the writing of the letter to Philemon, Paul was in prison.  Paul begins his letter assuring his friend that he is continually in his prayers.  I wonder … how often do we pray for our faithful friends who are loyal to the duties in the church or ministry? 

He carries on in praise and encouragement as a way of correction rather than embarrassing his friend for making a rather harsh decision concerning his runaway slave.  Paul makes his plea before the church leader knowing that his correspondence will be read in front of the entire house congregation. 

Now how did he and Onesimus come to have a relationship anyway?  We’re not told, but do find out that along his escape path he received salvation through the message that Paul was preaching.   

Something strange was about to happen when the Apostle asked for “favor” to be shown on someone that society would deem as a traitor.  No longer did Paul think of his friend’s servant as a slave, but he considered Onesimus a friend, brother in Christ and a valuable servant in ministry.  

Unlike Job’s friends who brushed up on their game of word darts, Paul and Philemon are on common ground in their relationship with the Lord.  Everything changes when Paul demonstrates “Christ-like” behavior willing to redeem the servant’s debts to his beloved friend Philemon, asking that he show favor (mercy) in forgiveness and treat Onesimus as the brethren in the Lord.
 
I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel.  But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary. 

For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave — a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.” (Philemon verse 12-16 NLT)
 

When God’s Friends Pray 

There is something else the two leaders in faith had in common.  Although the two men were thousands of years apart in time, Job and Paul were prayer warriors.  

Prayer is an integral part of our relationship in understanding the heart of God, especially in times of trouble.  We can gather that Job’s friends believed in God, but they didn’t “know” His heart, and it infuriated the Lord so much that He refused to listen to their prayers.

Job was not only a believer he was a favored friend of God, and that’s why he was shown favor throughout his entire life.  God knew that Job’s love and friendship was genuine, and not because of the “stuff” he received. 
 
“After the Lord had finished speaking to Job, He said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken accurately about Me, as My servant Job has.  
 So take seven bulls and seven rams and go to My servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer on your behalf.  
I will not treat you as you deserve
(I will show you grace, mercy – unmerited favor),
 for you have not spoken accurately about Me,
 as my servant Job has.”  So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite did as the Lord commanded them, and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.
 
When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before! (Job 42: 7-10 NLT) 

Paul on the other hand, shared how he prayed for his friends as did Job.  He intervenes for him in Philemon 4-7 and realizes that their ministry in the Lord was just as important as his.  The Apostle sees how God is using a runaway slave and a man of means (Philemon) in different ways, because both men have a relationship with the Lord. 

He says Philemon is really generous in his church giving, and Paul prays he will step up his game and more forward with God. This will mean including the man who blackened his family name (when he ran away), by letting Onesimus become a part of the vision God had for them.  

When Paul prayed, he wasn’t just directing his prayers toward those in the current age, but for all generations God will need to fulfill His ultimate vision and plan. In reality, Paul prayed for us, his future friends and brethren in ministry. 

The favor Paul requested of his friend was one of compassion and forgiveness so that the gospel message could go further, beyond what he could do.  Through prayer Jesus made requests before the Heavenly Father for His friends - us.  He used that term, not me. 

Christ also said that “we” His Body, the Church, would do greater things NOT more important things.  Greater things need greater favor and that is why He gave us spiritual gifts and one another to accomplish the vision of God. 

You’ve Got a Friend in Me 

It’s hard to think of some fellow believers as “friends” isn’t it, especially when their way of going about sharing their faith is a little out of this world. I can attest to some people I thought were friends in the faith … they moved and didn’t leave a forwarding address!  This didn’t happen just once, but twice!  Was it something I said? 

How do we pray for our fellow believers or those in ministry?  Are we praying that their vision be accomplished even if we don’t quite get what it is?  Do we pray that God sends favor into ministries in the form of gifted people so that the vision of the Church can be accomplished?  Just wondering ... 

When friends of God pray He listens; when they pray for one another Heavenly things begin to happen among the Body of Christ and it’s usually accompanied with God’s favor.   

This Week’s Challenge:
Pray for Friends in Christ 

The Bible tells us that Philemon “refreshed the hearts” of his fellow brethren as did Paul, while Job’s buds added to his burden. 
 
Paul deemed Onesimus, his new brother in Christ, as “profitable to ministry” … I wouldn’t exactly say that for the friends of Job would you? 

God has shown us that we need one another for His will and ministry to be accomplished here on Earth.  His way of doing that is through VISION. 

Although not all vision looks alike, we are to pray for our brothers and sisters in the Lord so that God’s vision is being done. 

Our challenge this week is to pray for the Body of Christ as each of us carry out our part in the overall plan and vision for the Lord, without judging one another on how it is being done. 
 
Pray these specific things: 

1 – Pray that each member of the Body of Christ enters into the “friend” relationship with the Lord, so they can boldly go before the Throne of Grace and have their prayers accepted as God did with Job. 

2 Pray that the vision is made clear in their mind so it can be carried out correctly.

3 Pray that God opens doors of favor for friends to expand the vision. 

4 – Pray that brothers and sisters in Christ would truly know what it means to be a friend of God through the way they treat one another. 

The take away is that ultimately as believers in Christ the Lord, Jesus is our Master, role model and best friend who wants to be included in every aspect of our lives.  He hears the prayers of the Saints, is loyal to forgive, faithful to finish what He began, and encourages us to love one another as He has loved.   

When I first saw Jake I realized there was something different about this creation of God.  Witnessing his relationship with his masters I can only wonder, are we as focused on our Master as Jake was on his? 

Can we call God our friend?  Can He call us His?  Just asking … 

“No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”
(John 15:15 NKJV) 

 
Friend of God - Phillips Craig & Dean - Worship Video w/lyrics  

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Until next time, God favors His friends!
 

“Favor begins in friendship.”
Jesus Christ 

*Unless noted, the names in articles are changed to protect the individual(s) privacy. 

Note: Emphasis is given in some scriptures to show clarity or understanding and is not to take away from the inspirited Word of God. 

When used, the words satan or devil are not capitalized deliberately, because we give him no place in our lives.
 
Disclaimer: Article information is not meant to be used as treatment for mental or physical issues, but geared toward spiritual awareness. 

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David: Friend of God by Stephen J. Lennox on Daily Favor Blog
David: Favored Friend of God by Stephen J. Lennox


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Friday, February 17, 2017

Forgiving the Great Offender

To this day I don’t know how she got my home number, but gather her aunt was involved with the whole thing.  Something was brewing in Barbara’s mind, but I didn’t have a clue to what it was.  

It was summertime when Barbara finally called begging to meet for a counseling session at our home.  This was something that I didn’t do, but since we knew her family, reluctantly I agreed to her urgent request.  Of course it triggered my husband to question my sanity, “What were you thinking?  Are YOU nuts?” 

Around 2 o’clock p.m. my new client knocked on our door.  Her whole demeanor was unsettling and I could sense her uneasiness.  My husband made himself scare to fetch us some tea, while I welcomed Barbara into the foyer and directed her to the library where we could talk without distraction. 

Walking into the room she scanned the area before taking a seat on the beige loveseat placing her handbag on the floor next to her foot. Closing the door behind us I sat across the room waiting for Barbara’s next move. I can tell you I was just as uncomfortable not being privy to the actual matter of the visit, and made sure I could make a dash for the door if needed. 

Taking notes I observed attentively, watching the body language of this stranger who had somehow finagled an invitation into my home.  I listened as she went from subject to subject speaking gibberish about people, places and events of who knows what that took place in her life so many years ago.  

Nearly an hour into our session she said something that redirected my questioning leading me to understand what was wrong and why God sent her here.                                                                
 
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 Offense Part 2

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Dead Silence 

For the next hour Barbara talked about her family but mainly focused on her father as she sipped tea between accusations.  Every time his name was mentioned in the conversation she became angry and her tone would change. 

Listing all the things that “Daddy” did, her voice began to rise with a little inflection. It was clear that more emotions were about to kick in any second, and they did. 

When I began lacing questions throughout her insinuations Barbara broke down and began to cry.   

“Have you ever discussed how you feel with your father?”  

“No, I could never do that.”  

Taking advantage of the tissue box resting on the end table, she pulled one out wiping the tears from her cheeks as she sobbed uncontrollably. 

“After all these years, why do you feel you couldn’t talk with your father and tell him how you feel concerning all the things you mentioned?” 

Standing up as to take offense over what I suggested, with her voice rising to a shout she announced, 

“He’s dead!  He’ll never know what he did to me!” 

Okay then, I didn't see that coming, but immediately I knew what to do and excused myself from the room assuring her I’d be back in a minute. 

Gone but Not Forgotten 

For the past fifty years Barbara was harboring feelings concerning the animosity she felt toward her father.  She couldn’t deal with the things that her Dad did to her, and it caused chaos in every male relationship she had her entire life.  

This woman couldn’t forgive and even though “Daddy” was gone, the emotional torment drove her to do unkind, senseless things due to her bitterness and hatred.  What this lady needed to do was direct the conversation she was having with me toward her father, the fact that he was deceased wasn’t the problem. 

Making a quick appearance in the living room to fetch a few chairs hubby asked if I was okay. Hearing how loud it got he wasn’t quite sure what was happening, but reminded me he was right there if I needed help.  “Aren’t you kind” … For some reason whenever I say that it comes out in a British accent!

I returned to the library toting a folding chair under each arm and positioned them facing each other in the middle of the room.  We were already into the second hour and who knew how long this would take, but I was determined to help Barbara have the conversation she needed to have in order to heal emotionally and spiritually. 

Daddy may be gone and his voice silent, but he certainly wasn’t forgotten and in a matter of minutes there would be someone else in the room besides me. 

… and then there were three.

 “What are you doing?” Barbara asked as I took her arm leading her to the folding chair in the center of the room. 

“Sit down. You’re about to have this conversation with your father.” I instructed.  “Now picture your father sitting in this chair (the one directly facing her).  Tell him what you’ve been sharing with me.” 

“But I can’t. What should I say?” 

“Just start talking … ask him the same questions you asked me.  Go ahead.  Don’t look at me, look at him.” 

Right then I imagined Barbara thought I should be the one sitting on the couch, but she did as I asked although it sounded strange to her. 

I moved to the side of the room behind her and out of sight so that she would feel more comfortable in the conversation she was about to have with “Daddy”.  At first Barbara was soft spoken as if she was a child approaching her father apprehensively.   

Not long into her open discussion Barbara’s one sided conversation took a turn and all of a sudden the father was sitting on a judgment seat.  She stood and became bolder in her legal eagle line of questioning, rattling off one after another.  If you didn’t know better anyone outside the door would swear someone else was in the room. 

Another hour went by and I didn’t intervene but watched as Barbara got up and down from her seat.  She circled the other chair always facing it as if she could actually see her father. In between sentences she would pause and listen before redirecting her question.  The courtroom was in session and “Daddy” was being virtually grilled on all sides. 

The Battle is Over 

It was around 5:45 p.m. when Barbara’s conversation with her father began coming to a close.  Her voice was calming and the time between speaking became farther apart.  Then she sat down and faced him not saying anything. 

With a deep breath she sighed and stopped fighting; Barbara had not only made her peace with her father, but she was able to forgive him. The battle was over, and the victory was won. 

Carrying the Burden of Offense 

You know, learning to blame someone else for how our lives turn out isn’t new for human beings.  It began back in the book of Genesis with the seed God planted in the form of man. Something happened though and the seed became corrupt – man sinned against God. 

Last week when my husband and I were talking about grudges people hold, God brought this account that happened back in 2002 to my attention.  As I researched to see how it related to what we’re studying I read passages in the Bible that dealt with the spirit of offense and broken relationships. 

Jesus discussed two specific areas of offense and what we are to do.  Matthew 5 (verse 23) tells us what to do when we’re the ones doing the offending.  At that time it was written to Jewish speaking people who followed the Law of Moses (see Leviticus).  

They came with their sacrifice to the altar for the penalty of sin.  We no longer have to do that because Jesus became our sacrifice paying the penalty for sin with His life.  Now we come before the Lord in prayer which was made available upon the sacrifice of Christ. 

This week however we’re talking about another kind of offense; Matthew 18 (verses 21-35) deals with what to do when we’re the offended.  In both cases it’s our move and the answer is always forgiveness. 

When we continue to be offended we in a sense look for someone to blame for the reasons we sin against the Lord.  As we read in Barbara’s situation, holding a grudge is a burden that hurts the carrier, not the other person who may not even know there is a problem.  Although we are to carry one another’s burdens, there’s no scripture to validate carrying grudges or offenses.   

If we don’t deal with it we’ll continue to blame and carry the seeds of a sinners grudge to our grave.  God wants us to acknowledge it, deal with what we’ve done and confront it so that we can put the thing to rest forever.   

What if I was offended? 

Let’s suppose you were totally innocent of something that happened to you. What does Jesus say about that?  The Apostle Peter wondered the same thing when he asked the Lord, “How many times do I have to forgive someone?” 

I think the disciple was feeling pretty generous when he suggests forgiving a person seven times.  Can you image his shock when Jesus said 70 x 7 or 490 times? In other words Jesus meant an infinite number of times.  How often, every time, all the time … continue to forgive.  

Why would Christ make such outlandish requests of us when it comes to forgiveness?  Grace … it’s because of God’s grace, unmerited favor that He bestows on us each and every day. 

Show No Mercy – Receive No Mercy 

Continuing down chapter 18 in Matthew, Jesus tells of how refusing to forgive is not showing mercy to another.  In the account the man who didn’t forgive a debt was sent to prison to be tortured because of his lack of mercy. 

The king was outraged by the wicked slave and charging, “You should have demonstrated mercy showing compassionate favor the way I did with you”.  In anger the king declared that he be turned over to the torturers. 

The New Living Translation says it like this: 

“Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said,
 You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt
 because you pleaded with me. 

Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant,
 just as I had mercy on you?” 

Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt. 

“That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”
(Matthew 18:21-35 NLT) 

Mercy is given when an individual doesn’t deserve forgiveness, but because of compassion it is given anyway.  We are to show others mercy from our heart just as God did with us when He received us as His children.  That’s where forgiveness really happens. 


Delivered to the Tormentors 

It wasn’t a mistake choosing specific terminology to set the scene of what that man would face when he was sent to prison.  The word tormentors literally means: to be tortured physically and emotionally; to be turned over to those who will torture.  

Have you felt such rage and animosity that it feels like a form of torture that plagues your every waking moment?  Do you over react and harbor resentment holding onto a grudge which causes you to spiral into a cycle of emotions?  If so, then you are being held captive by tormentors who are torturing your mind so much that it’s affecting you physically. 

Perhaps like Barbara you tried to find ways to deal with the resentment, hatred and bitterness against someone through seeking biblical counsel.  It’s a good place to start, but it won’t solve the problem no matter how good the advice you receive.  Until you can bring yourself to deal with the resentment, you will live in torture emotionally and never heal.  
 
I know some people are difficult to get along with no matter who they are around, and often it’s because they’re dealing with some form of resentment, hatred, jealousy or unforgiveness in their own lives.  It’s like an acid that eats away at you, and until you fully forgive another for an offense you will not be released from the tortures.   

You know it’s time to make things right.  In some cases like Barbara’s, even death didn’t stop her torment.  The mind doesn’t let it go.  Is there someone you need to forgive even though they are gone or moved out of your life? You need to release them because God has forgiven you more times than you can count.  It’s your move. 

Not to forgive will allow the torturers to live on and continue stealing your peace.  You cannot see what is happening, but it’s destroying you.  It doesn’t matter if you’re a person with great authority, a minister, homemaker or dirt digger, not to forgive what God has said is forgiven, is a sin and Christians are to have no part of it.  
 
 
7 Reasons Why We Should Forgive 

There are so many ways why we need to forgive but I’ll emphasize these seven reasons.   

1 – We’ve learned that when we don’t we are held captive emotionally and tormented by things that were or could have been different. 

2 – Forgiveness is a form of spiritual freedom that brings peace helping us to live physically and emotionally strong.   

3 – When we forgive we are acting as a Christ image bearer being compassionate, loving and merciful as He is. 

4 – God will show favor and mercy on those who forgive others. 

5 – When we do as Christ asks in forgiving others we fulfill scripture, therefore we do the Will of God. 

6 – God hears our prayers and opens doors for our vision. 

7 – Most of all, when we forgive we restore our relationship with the Heavenly Father to show that we love Him as He first loved us.
 

This Week’s Challenge:
Forgiving the Great Offender

Is there anyone in your life that you have to make things right with, whether you have offended them like in Matthew 5 or they offended you as in Matthew 18? 

Some of you may need to forgive an ex-spouse, sibling, your own child, a former co-worker or boss … whoever it is, deal with it.  Maybe there are several people and you are on both sides of the list as the offended and offender … as Jesus said, ‘go” take care of the matter. 

Until our hearts are cleansed and free from all unrighteousness, (bitterness, resentment, unforgiveness and offense) we will never be given the go ahead from God to live out our vision.  Without the act of forgiveness, the “favor” of God fountain of blessings will literally be cut off from our lives. 

Our challenge this week is to determine that from this point on we are releasing this feeling of offense and choose to forgive.  We will make the choice to live in peace and not remain turned over to the torturers. 

We all know unforgiving people are hard to live with; they don’t make friends easily and create turmoil wherever they go causing barriers to form between family, friends and neighbors.  The call on their lives is shortened, because they haven’t acted on the Word of God to forgive as Jesus did them.  They refuse to forgive and therefore continue to offend making new offenses along their path. 

It’s your call whether you act or hesitate to forgive any offenses in your life.  Not to forgive is an act of rebellion against God, and we certainly don’t want to go that route.  Pray and ask the Holy Spirit for the strength you need to lay this offense down at the Master’s feet.

Come to terms with what you are harboring in your heart and deal with it now before it’s too late.  Stop thinking how hard this is going to be … remembering the cross.  Jesus became sin when He knew no sin, because of His love for us.   

Determine to form a new habit and not blame others when you have the power to get rid of the problem by forgiving.  Stop planting offensive grudge seeds; start living blessed as God planned for your life. 

Real forgiveness is a true act of love. In return you will live in harmony with others and new doors of favor will be opened unto you. 

“And he said, “O Lord, if it is true that I have found favor with You, then please travel with us (on this earthly journey). Yes, this is a stubborn and rebellious people, but please forgive our iniquity and our sins. Claim us as Your own special possession.”
(Exodus 34:9 NLT emphasis mine) 

The most Christ-like thing we can do is to forgive.  Praise God, His mercy – unmerited loving favor, endures forever.   

 
His Love Endures Forever by Chris Tomlin

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Until next time, give favor by showing mercy in forgiveness!
 

“Forgiveness is an act of mercy I favor.”
Jesus Christ 

*Unless noted, the names in articles are changed to protect the individual(s) privacy. 

Note: Emphasis is given in some scriptures to show clarity or understanding and is not to take away from the inspirited Word of God. 

Disclaimer: Article information is not meant to be used as treatment for mental or physical issues, but geared toward spiritual awareness. 

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Breaking the Cycle of Offense by Dr. Larry Ollison on Daily Favor Blog
 

Breaking the Cycle of Offense by Dr. Larry Ollison

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Maybe you don’t know the Living God that I know, but would like to have this kind of favor in your life also.  Click on the above tab “Tell Me” for more information on becoming a child of the Savior.
 
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Disclaimer Notes: Results may vary due to lack of belief.
Scripture references provided by Gateway Bible in the New King James Bible Version or as noted. 
 
Forgiving the Great Offender, Deserting Offense, How to Deal with Offense, Daily Favor Blog, Daily Favor Prayer, Favored1, Favor of God, Forgiveness, Vision, Christian Living, Chris Tomlin.

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