4give

"Just a little from my next book, "Faith to Faith...conversations with God", due out Spring of 2011. I typically keep my words close to me until a book is complete, but right now the time seems right. (It is still a little rough around the edges, but I hope you enjoy it)

"Forgive."
Christ spoke often about forgiveness, not only the forgiveness that comes from God but he also told us that we must forgive others. If we take a walk with Jesus through the words of the New Testament we will see who he was and what we should be. We see that like God the Father, Jesus the Son has a forgiving nature. Remember how many times God forgave the people of Israel as recorded in the books of the Old Testament.

"Teach me to forgive Father. I can only see the person that caused me pain, not the one I am suppose to love. I can only remember what I did for her, and not understand what she has done to me. I picked her up off the floor before she died, and now I only hurt when I see her. Help me Father, give me the courage to forgive. Give me the assurance that regret will not overwhelm forgiveness.
And then God said...
"You have in you the love of Christ. Stop seeing the pain and see the person."
 "I can't"




"You can. How many times have I picked you up? How many times have you driven nails into His hands? Each time I forgave you. Each time I loved you."

"I haven't hurt her the way she has me."

"Do you want to really go down that road?"


Like a father who grabs his child by the arm to stop him from entering a busy street, God tugged on me. I stopped praying long enough to consider my own behaviors. Had I ever caused her this much pain? She always believed so, but that was her imagination! I would never hurt someone so deeply. Over and over she hurts me. Each time promising that it is the last. Each time professing her love. Each time begging me to stay, knowing how much my family means to me.


"You don't understand, I try every moment of every day to love her. Nothing I have done compares to what she is doing."


Jump right out into the road.


"I love you every moment of your life, unconditionally. You can do the same. Forgive her."

"You don't understand. You are God, no one can hurt you like this. You can't feel this pain."


Now I was in the middle of a super highway with no where to turn.


"From the cross my Son asked for those that hurt Him to be forgiven. These that had followed Him as He taught and healed now betrayed Him and hurt Him...and killed Him. Yet in anguish He forgave. Forgive her. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

"Help me Father."

"I will"

"It hurts so much."

"I know."

"I can't."


I waited to hear His words. No more came. I will pray again later, maybe the pain will ease. Maybe I will be able to forgive. I hope so. I don't know.