Break The Cycle

You can let the evil around you bring you to it's level and respond in kind or you can break the cycle by responding with grace, mercy,truth, and love.
Romans 12:14-22
‪#‎InHisJOY‬!

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You are loved!

Even in your lowest sin, you were still worth the sacrifice of Christ Life. Yeah, He loves you that much!
John 3:16, Romans 5:6-11
#RealLove #YouWereWorthIt
#YouAreLoved

"In His JOY!"

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"You can't hug someone with your finger"

I realized today when Jesus said "Lord forgive them, they have no idea what they are doing", He gave grace instead of judgment on behalf of those who betrayed Him, left Him, and condemned Him. He made a clear path for them to come back to Him because He knew they would need Him in their life even if they did not know it now. So with His last words to them He resolved any burden of guilt that they would carry in the future and when they eventually turned from their sin and sought after Him, He would be there waiting not pointing the finger of condemnation for their past but an embrace of love for the glorious journey they He would take them on in the present and the future. We in turn should do the same to those we think abandoned us, condemned us, and/or betrayed us. Offer forgiveness instantly to resolve any guilt, stand ready to love whether our relationship becomes restored or not, and walk beside in the faith as they grow closer to Christ. Stay focused. You can do this.

Luke 23:34
"In His JOY!"

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Bring them to His Feet

John 8:1-11, Mark 2:1-22

We can either bring people to the feet of Jesus in the hope He will condemn them for their sins or we can bring them to the feet of Jesus and have faith they will accept His forgiveness and be healed. Be warned if you are bringing them for judgment be prepared to have your sin confronted as well. Seek after mercy not justice, you can do this.


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"God's Not Fair"

Matt 18:21-35, John 3:16

If God was fair we would all die for our sins and be eternally punished. But God was unfair and Jesus died in our place. Thank God for being unfair. Forgiveness is not about being fair and punishing someone for their wrongs, it is about being unfair and showing mercy, the offender just has to accept it. If we fail to show mercy because of an offense, God will show us what fairness looks like


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"In His JOY!"

"Wayward Parent"

Luke 15:11-32
The parable of the prodigal son tells of a child who abandoned his family, squandered his inherentice, but later returned and was received home. His father welcomed him back but his older brother resented him.

I find today that story runs true in the lives of many. And it's not so much the child who runs away at times but at times it is the parent. Some fathers run from responsibility and leave a mother to raise a child alone. Some mothers struggle to be there for their child because they have to balance work, daycare, parenting, and make ends meet. And some mothers abandon their child for the love of a man. There are so many scenarios that can play out these are just a few, sometimes it's the mother who leaves and the father who has to raise the child and struggles just the same as mentioned above. So to you single parents I pray God strengthen you for the journey and surround with wisdom and help for the task that is before you.

But what happens when that child whom was raised without knowing their biological father and/or mother finally meets them. It's hard to fight back those raw emotions and questions of why? And I cannot begin to imagine the pain but I look at the prodigal son's father who could have rejected his own flesh and blood and let him feel the guilt of leaving. Instead he welcomed him back with loving arms and expressed to his son that he was forgiven. I am sure it was hard for his father because so much time was lost between his son and him. But I like how the father cherished the time he had now gained with his son and did not waste it on questions and speculation. Not to say if his father were to question his son it would without valid reasons but I appreciate how he spent more time on getting know his son as opposed to being hateful towards him.

For some of us, we are going to play the role of the loving father when our wayward parent returns seeking forgiveness for abandoning us, abusing us, or neglecting us. Now it is important to note the prodigal son lost all his inherentice just like the wayward parent lost some years, maybe respect, or even the right to be called "mommy" or "daddy". But it also important to notice that the father's love for his prodigal son was unconditional and his forgiveness was instant. So if you are the child of a wayward parent I know you have questions and hurts but trust this, God sees those and through all your suffering He was the one healing your wounds, bandaging your scars, and holding you in His arms as you cried. It has always been Him and He will never stop. So when that wayward parent returns don't be like the older brother who resented his brother and was angered by the very presence of his brother. Your wayward parent is more than aware of what they did and they may find the words or courage to say, "I am sorry and I love you." or they may never apologize for what they did. They will never be able to make up for time lost or take back the mistake of hurting you. But remember your forgiveness of their sin is worth more than the apology they owe you. And I know I will never understand how you feel because I grew up in a loving home with good (not perfect) parents. And I am not advocating abandoning or abusing kids nor am I excusing their reckless behavior. However what I am saying is capture what time you can while you can. And if your wayward parent died prior to coming back or you offering them forgiveness find comfort in this. The loving father was waiting on his prodigal son to return not so he could forgive him but to express his forgiveness that he had already granted his son years ago. We will not always have the opportunity to let others know they are forgiven and reconcile but we will always have the chance to forgive in our hearts. I know it's tough but sometimes as Christian this is the weight we bare. But we do not bare it alone, Christ is there with us and He will never abandon us.

Read the Word, Spread the Gospel, Be Accountable.

"In His JOY!"

"Want you be my neighbor"

Luke 10:25-37

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' " "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"  In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"  The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

Here is a faithful and true saying. “Ministry will always cost you something.” Whether it is your time, money, or your life, ministry will always cost. But than that raises the question, are you willing to by the price? For two weeks I have been reading this passage in the bible just trying wrap my head around what exactly took place in this story.  So I did some historical research to grasp a better understanding of what the road looked like and where it was . The road was on the way from Jericho to Jerusalem. But the road was notorious for theft and crime because the way that it was designed. The road curved in all kind of weird ways. So you literally could not see what was around the next corner. And thieves would hide in those dark corners and jump out and rob you all the time.

Now that brings us to the nice gentleman who for whatever reason decided to go down this path. And BAM, he gets attacked. They take him for all he is worth and leave him for dead. Later on that day a preacher walks by and sees him and chooses not aid him  and crosses to the other side of the road and walks away, so I know that he noticed the man in need of help. He saw someone in desperate need of “a blessing” but maybe he was scarred of what would happen to him. Maybe he crossed to the other side to see if someone was still waiting around the corner? I don’t know, but yet again someone who works in the church came by a saw the man clinging to life lying there and he just crossed the street and went on his way, he did not want any of that action. But along comes the nobody or a guy that everybody hates and sees that man and takes action. Not only does help, he gets him all cleaned up, puts him in a hotel, and tells the manager “All of his expenses are on me and oh I almost forgot tell him I will be back later to check on him when I get back.”

Now which one ministered to the wounded man? Which one showed the loved of God? Which one acted like a Christian? Before you answer think about how many times you have walked away from the opportunity to minister. I am not talking about “I’ll be praying for you” ministry I am talking about that hands on stuff that people won’t forget.  Because true ministry will always cost you something, whether it time, money, or in some parts of the world your life. It will always costs you something. The preacher (The Priest) and church worker (The Levite) saw the need of the man but perhaps saw their safety to be bigger need or maybe they were running late for service and did not have time.  But the outcast of the church (The Samaritan) made time to minister and help. He was willing to pay the price no matter the cost.  He considered the need of someone else to be greater than his own.

True ministry is when you are willing to give of yourself so that someone else can come closer to Christ.  It takes courage to do ministry. Now this does not mean that you neglect your family and those important to you. Nor does it mean that you spend 24 hours a day in the church house. But it does mean that when God presents you with the opportunity to minister you take hold of it and do it!  Will you pay the price or walk on the other side of the road?

Mercy, mercy, you

Matthew 5:7

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy

We are all in need of mercy on a daily basis.  We are in need of God’s Mercy daily because of our sin, that is why they are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).  We also need to show mercy those who are downcast or those we have offended (Zechariah 7:9-10).  They only way too truly to do justice and explain the subject of mercy would be to use the Words of Jesus. 

Jesus often spoke in parables when He was teaching the crowds.  And the two parables that best illustrate mercy are The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) and The Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-35).  These parables show what it means to express true mercy, extend compassion, and why we should be merciful.

In Luke 10:25-37 a Scribe wanted to test Jesus and try to test and asked, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus I turn tested the Scribe by replying "What is written in the Law?"  The Scribe answered " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with your entire mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Jesus told the Scribe that he answered correctly but the Scribe was not done, he wanted to justify himself.  So inquired he of the Lord Jesus again by as asking The Lord, "And who is my neighbor?"  For the Jews did not view Samaritans or Gentiles as neighbors. This meant that not showing compassion or love was purely acceptable. Jesus understanding what the Scribe was trying to accomplish replied in a parable about The Good Samaritan. 

Jesus told of a Jewish Man who was going to the Temple of Judea, on his way he was attacked by robbers.  Now it was common to be mugged by rubbers because the road the Jewish Man was traveling on was road was well known for robberies due to its location and low visibility.  The robbers beat the man, took his clothes, and left him barely alive.  Now a Priest and Levite (who more than likely were returning from the temple duties) saw their fellow Jewish Brother instead of offering help they ignored him as if he was not even there.  But a Samaritan traveling the same road so him and had compassion on him.  He put ointment on his wounds and bandaged him up.  He got off his animal and placed the wounded man on top and took him to a place of rest.  He not only paid for wounded man’s stay he also paid for any debt that the Jewish Man might occur (We must understand that the Samaritans where considered to be less than the Jewish and often would be spit on by the Jews.  Samaritans where not highly respected our considered to know God). 

Jesus than looks at the Scribe and asked, “Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?"  Jesus was as Master a strong question, it was not about whom we consider to be our neighbor but it focused how we show compassion.  In other words Jesus destroyed the excuses of why Samaritans and Gentiles are not considered worthy of love because they are not our neighbor.  Jesus gave an example of the same mercy, love, and compassion God shows for us.  He saw us hurting and in need of a Savior and never the less He sent a Savior.  And in the same way we should go and do likewise (Luke 10:37).

But sometimes we do not offer true mercy.  Sometimes we would rather hold on to the hurt, debt, or wrong that has been transgressed against us.  Because we clearly expect people to treat us like the Good Samaritan and show us mercy and compassion when we are in need of it.  We want others to get over the hurt and pain we have caused them but at times we struggle to forgive the single sin someone has done against us. 

In Matthew 18:21-35 Peter ponders what it means to forgive.  He asks Jesus, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Peter uses the number seven because seven is a holy number in Jewish customs.  It signifies completeness or finished much like God completed the creating on the seventh day and rested.   But Jesus in His great wisdom responded, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.” This was to signify that you are never done forgiving and you can never run out of mercy.  Forgiveness is something that you continually do and never cease.  But to further explain his point Jesus tells us a servant you owed his Master a tax debt that was so enormous it could not be paid off.  The Master was infuriated because his servant had created such an enormous debt so his servant was due to face an onslaught of wrath.  The Master ordered the servant and his entire family to be sold as well as the remainder of the debt to be paid.  But the servant threw himself on the mercy of the Master and vowed that with time and patience he would pay of the entire debt.  The Master had great compassion and mercy and relented, he sent him home debt free.  The servant however saw a fellow servant who was indebted to him. (Now it is important to note the servant owed the Master what is comparable to over 7.5 million dollars while this other servant owed the recently forgiven servant pennies).  The forgiven servant violently grabbed the indebted servant and demanded his money.  The indebted servant threw himself at the mercies of the forgiven servant.  But instead of showing mercy like the Master showed him the forgiven servant had the indebted servant put in jail to suffer for his debt.  Well the Master caught wind of this and was greatly displeased.  He called the forgiven servant to his home and said, “'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.  And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?'” The Master threw the servant in jail and ordered him to pay a debt that he could not pay.  So the servant would suffer for the rest of his life because he refused to show mercy to his fellow servant.  Jesus concludes by saying, “So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."  

Plainly put if refuse to forgive and show mercy towards those who have wronged us we can expect the same from God. God views the sins others have done against us as minimal when compared the sins we have done against Him.  This is not to make light of what others have done but it is to say we “always forgive and expression compassion through mercy”.  And we do this through the strength of Christ (Philippians 4:13).  So it is not about how we feel about the sin that has been against us but more so we forgive because we have been forgiven much.  We do not act in a malice towards those who have wronged like the servant did (Matthew 18:28) and we do not impede judgment upon them suffer for their sin (Matthew 18:30).  Instead we let the Master take vengeance upon them if He sees fit (Romans 12:9).

Mercy will be shown to those who offer it.  So forgive those who have wronged you.  Write a letter, email, or talk to them and person and let them know that they are forgiven.  If you see someone in need of mercy, offer it and do what you can to help them.  We must learn that compassion and mercy go far beyond our feelings.  They are something that we can only do through the power and the strength of God.  It is His love that compels us to forgive and extend compassion.

Stay focused you can do this!

In His JOY!

Mercy triumphs justice

Matthew 18:21-35 

Here is a challenge for you, describe a person who does not forgive someone in one word....and the answer is WICKED! That is right someone who refuses to forgive is called wicked. 

When you read about the unforgiving servant a man owed an enormous debt to his master. His master ordered that the servant be sold along with his wife and children. And than on top of that the 

debt must still be paid. The servant pleaded with his master for more time to repay his debt. The master had pity on him and forgave the debt completely and released the servant. Total and complete forgiveness. How sweet is the notion of knowing that we are forgiven, it would have been wonderful if the story ended there but it goes on. 

The servant goes home rejoicing in his forgiveness. However he sees someone who owes him debt. Not mind you the debt was not as great as the debt the servant owed his master. The debt the servant owed his master could not be counted. But here we are, the servant demanding his small debt be paid off now! The debtor pleaded for mercy but the servant refused to hear his plea and had the debtor jailed until his debt was paid in full. 

Well the master was informed of what had happened and immediately summoned the servant to be brought before him. And this time mercy was not on the agenda. The master was furious and could not understand how someone who was forgiven so much could not forgive so little, how could they be so wicked and not show mercy? The master sent the servant to jail to pay a debt he could not afford. 

The Word reminds us in the end that God will treat those who refuse to forgive the same. He will treat them as a wicked servant.  This begs the question, are you the wicked servant who will not forgive? Are you unwilling to forgive someone? Are you so committed to holding on to your unforgiveness that you are willing to suffer Hell? 

Friends mercy will always triumph justice. Mercy overrides our feelings. Mercy does not need to receive an apology, it only needs to offer forgiveness. If you are so focused on receiving justice instead of giving mercy then God makes it very clear, He will do the same. He will not seek mercy on the debt you owe Him, He will seek justice and justice alone. Now I ask you is that a load or a burden you can bear on your own? 

But how do we forgive those who have wronged us. We forgive them day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, and second by second. We never stop forgiving. We study the Word and search the scriptures to understand forgiveness better. We pray for those who we feel we have wronged and openly forgive them. We contact those who have been on our "naughty" list and offer forgiveness. We focus on God's love instead of our hate. We become born again, made anew, transformed...in other words we become a Christian. 

Now is this easy? No! Is it tough? Yes! But does it show God's love? Yes! Does it bring God Glory? Yes! And friends that all that matters. Stay focused, you can do this. 

"In His JOY!"

"I hate that scum bag...he reminds me of me"

Colossians 3:10, 12-15

Lack of mercy shows lack of maturity. How can you speak of Jesus if you only extend hatred, malice, bitterness, and rage against others. Our lives should reflect a change in how we express mercy to those are in need of it. Mercy is not a reward we give when we are proven right, it is extended without merit deed. It is a gift that is freely given but is bought at our own expense. To shower you with mercy I give up my right to hate, be bitter, hold a grudge, express my rage, do harm and to wish ill upon you. In return I grow in Christ Jesus and bring Him glory. Stay focused, you can do this! 


"In His Joy"