Getting Past the Past

For You, O God, have tested us;
You have refined us as silver is refined.…
You laid affliction on our backs.
You have caused men to ride over our heads;
We went through fire and through water;
But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.
~ Psalms 66:10-12 (NKJV)

My prayer list is long enough to divide into days, to keep it more manageable. (Monday for Missionaries, THursday for auTHorities, Friday for Family, etc.) Additionally, a priority list is reserved for people in my life who are presently going through such intense trial that I wish to pray for them every day.

That priority list defies attempts to keep it short enough to give it due attention. More Christians seem to be going through increasingly intense trials. And numerous post-trial people experience significant struggle with getting past the past.

When does trial become post-trial? When crisis has passed, shouldn't we be able to draw from grace, buck up via the Spirit's strength, and get on with life? Just how does one emulate the psalmist, and transition from "affliction on our backs" into "rich fulfillment"?

Or does it even matter when the present is re-labeled as the past?

"We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."
~ Acts 14:22 (NKJV)

As I counsel others and am counseled, I am assured that certain perspectives and expectations make all the difference, regardless of whether we are entering, enduring, or exiting trial.

1. Sovereign God is in control. Trial may or may not occur as a direct result of my own decisions and actions (free will), but it is always allowed and used by the Almighty to make me more like Jesus and draw me closer into relationship with Himself.

2. Because trial enters my life via the Lord's permission, the agent of the trial (whether person or situation) is therefore agent of the Lord's hand and subject to Him. If I harbor anger (or bitterness—anger grown putrid) toward the agent of trial, I may be resisting the Lord's hand.**

3. If I profess Jesus is Lord, I acknowledge God as Master. Wherever He sends, whatever He asks, I can trust my most benevolent Master to use it for my enrichment. Also, any recompense for a wrong done to the servant is owed to the Master, and should little concern His servant.

"So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.' "
~ Luke 17:10 (NKJV)

**
"Blessed is any weight, however overwhelming,
that God has been so good as to fasten
with His own hand upon our shoulders."
~ Frederick W. Faber

Lord, You are good. You are only good. You are powerful enough to use even what is intended for evil as good. Please empower Your servants as we work on getting past the past, getting through the present, and getting ready for the future. Please let us feel You drawing us close—at ALL times.

Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – use @gmail.com *after* buildingHisbody
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Damages Enough

Image copyright 2012, Marvel & Subs.

This post is another in the current series here on the theme "Enough!" It is also part of the "One Word at a Time" blog carnival hosted by Peter Pollock. You're invited to visit his site and see what others are saying about Justice.

: : :

Samson presents the real life image of an incredible hulk who regularly lapses into fits of wrathful vengeance.

And Samson lay low till midnight; then he arose at midnight, took hold of the doors of the gate of the city [Gaza] and the two gateposts, pulled them up, bar and all, put them on his shoulders, and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.
~ Judges 16:3 (NKJV)

The gates and frame which bar an entire city against all intruders might well weigh a ton. The distance from Gaza to Hebron is nearly forty miles as the crow flies—much farther as one winds an uphill path through the mountains, from sea level to 3,000 feet above it.

Whatever the physical feat involved, this story is more noteworthy as the only incident in which Samson doesn't singlehandedly kill a crowd in his quest for vengeance. Although the Lord's plan was to deliver His people from Philistine oppression and dominion through Samson (Judges 13:5), Samson's motives appear to be rather self-serving; he paid back offense and injury without restraint, leaving destruction in his wake.

If a man causes disfigurement of his neighbor, as he has done, so shall it be done to him—fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has caused disfigurement of a man, so shall it be done to him.
~ Leviticus 24:19-20 (NKJV)

The intent of this Old Testament law was never to justify revenge, but instead—in the interest of justice—to limit damages to the extent of the injury suffered. Pure justice loves truth that it may bring accountability and fair compensation. Malice seeks technicality that it may vilify and retaliate.

Far too often, human nature isn't satisfied with "damages enough." Many an offense or injury finds recompense only in a form of destruction greater than itself.

Such "victory" rings hollow. Cruel irony befalls the corrupted soul which wins revenge, for there is no smile from Grace upon one who steals what belongs to the Lord.

Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
~ Romans 12:19, 21 (NKJV)

Memory Loss: The Good

"Give, and forget. Receive, and remember."
~ Unknown

In the last year or two, memory loss has begun to plague me. Connecting names and faces has always been an embarrassing weakness of mine, and it's becoming worse. Lists have become necessary to normal functioning—but not everything can be put on a list. Without the calendar and audible alerts on my iPod, I'd probably forget to leave the house at all.

Perhaps I've practiced forgetfulness for too long. I've worked diligently to erase from memory the sins of youth that the precious blood of God's Son has covered. The Lord has necessarily blessed me with an unusual capacity for forgiveness, and that gift also comes with the practice of not remembering. And I'm inclined to believe this: intentionally cultivating a grateful heart for God's many blessings makes one inclined to forget things clothed as a curse.

Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: "For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father's house."
~ Genesis 41:51 (NKJV)

If Joseph could forget at age thirty, there's probably little hope for me as I turn fifty. A primary cause of memory loss is medication side effects, but I don't take any and therefore have none to forfeit. Vitamins might help. But, of course, I forget to take them.

My only solution is prayer, with reliance on God to keep me on track. If the Lord allows my memory loss for no other reason, I'm willing to call it good.

Lord, please help me this day, and every day, to remember the most important things: You, Your Word, Your people. Please let me not forget anything You will me to do. Please give me peace about the rest. Please give this prayer to anyone else who needs it. Thank You. I love You. ♥

Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Formula for Healing Relationship

NOTE: This will be the only post here this week, while I am out of town for the Festival of Faith and Writing in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

: : :

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
~ Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV)

Five children in our home multiplies exponentially the way relationship conflicts occur. Frequent breaches require regular exercise of repentance and forgiveness.

It's said that the hardest words are, "I was wrong and I'm sorry." While the right consequences can compel a child to say that, getting the right heart into them has been an arduous process. The "formula" I've tried to teach and exemplify is A-B-C.

ADMIT your wrongdoing, and it helps to acknowledge why you were wrong, the effects of your behavior, and the message you communicated.

BE SORRY, and not simply because your wrongdoing was brought to attention, or you hope to mitigate consequences, or someone is upset with you. Realize that you do love, or at least are supposed to love, a fellow human being who is hurt or offended by you.

COMMIT TO CHANGE, and understand that even if you follow through long enough and take steps to change what the world sees on the outside, only a life lived through God will enable you to change on the inside, where all sin, thoughtlessness, and selfishness begin in the heart.

However long they take, however much diligence they require, forgiveness and repentance are necessary steps for healing both a relationship breach as well as one's own soul. Forgiveness needs to follow an offense, whether or not your offender repents. Your own heartfelt repentance makes a request for forgiveness more easily received and granted, toward true reconciliation and relationship.

And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."
~ 1 Peter 4:8 (NKJV)

Love isn't happiness experienced because someone has done something to make us feel good. Love is the joy experienced in our care for another fragile soul as an expression of God's love for us. When such love goes both ways, conditions are perfect for a flourishing relationship.

Lord, please enable us to love one another as You have loved us by drawing us to bask in Your love.

Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Spiritual Warfare Postscript: Forgiveness

This series on Spiritual Warfare and its Armor has been difficult to write, perhaps as much as trying to sum up World War II in a single chapter of a textbook. And while Paul describes spiritual armor in a progressive manner, I could not pinpoint only one place for forgiveness.

The Truth is that my Redeemer asks me to forgive debts of others which are far smaller than my forgiven debt to Him. Righteousness disallows the anger which rots into bitterness. The Gospel of Peace directs forgiveness, and Faith deflects any reminder arrows from the accuser. Salvation's Ownership means all debts owed me actually belong to my Master, and who can effectively wield the sword of God's Word if burdened by the weight of past offenses?

As for Perseverance and Prayer, fellowship with God will be severely hampered if I refuse to forgive and open a way for reconciliation with the one who hurts me.

Peter was grieved because [Jesus] said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.
~ John 21:17 (NKJV)

Can you empathize with Peter's grief over his failure and Jesus questioning his love? How severely would Peter have been handicapped in ministry if Jesus had not made plain the depth of His forgiveness for Peter's denials?

If you consider the person and circumstances that have hurt you most in your life, it no doubt seems worse than being thrice denied. It's quite likely that you were hurt a great many times by the same person, and it lasted longer than a single night. Practically speaking, it may simply be impossible to forgive what you have suffered.

But.

We are empowered by a God Who specializes in the impossible, in mercy, and—most certainly!—in forgiveness. Jesus died so that we might live free of spiritual debt, both owing it and owning it.

If I regard iniquity in my heart,
The Lord will not hear.
~ Psalms 66:18 (NKJV)

Lack of forgiveness will result in my heart regarding iniquity, whether dwelling on the sins against me, nursing a desire for revenge, or committing murder-in-the-heart via hatred.

Take any element of spiritual armor, and it boils down to some form of fellowship with God. Unforgiveness will undermine the fellowship with God that I absolutely must have to be successful in fighting evil.

Lord, thank You for Your forgiveness. Thank You for enabling impossible forgiveness. Please keep us willing to forgive, as well as repentant and ready to seek forgiveness.

Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Wiped

"Beach Wash"

Photo credit: Darius Goins

Piercing pain to my heart
Darkness that does not depart
How this wound from one who says 'love'?
Why this assault allowed from above?

Offender shall not be called 'foe'
With blessing shall curse be told 'go!'
To malice hands of good open wide
Spite shall bring prayer to on high.

Hope is yet strangled by tears
Where lurks the debt in arrears?
Ponder long—what offering could pay?
There is none—save debt wiped away.

Perfect peace in my heart
Light that shall not depart
How this gift for one flawed in love?
Why this grace to dust from above?

░ ♥ ░

"He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see."
~ John 9:15 (NKJV)

░ † ░

Today I achieve my goal to join High Calling's "Random Acts of Poetry." This month's challenge is "Forgiveness."

Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments, or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Question of the Week: What is Biblical Reconciliation?

by Anne Lang Bundy

"Reconciliation"
Sculpted by Josefina de Vasconcellos
(image source: trinityfellowship.net)

What is the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation, (in the sense of being available for further abuse)?
~ Anonymous

Last week's post provided some contrasts from the Bible about forgiveness, separation and accountability. This week offers some examples of how enmity, forgiveness and reconciliation might play out.

Three important notes in preface:

• if a Christian experiences enmity, relationship with Christ will bring the desire to eliminate it;

• the below examples of forgiveness and reconciliation are biblical ideals toward which God's Holy Spirit enables us to work, whether or not we reach them;

• the person who has been wronged should not only be ready to forgive and reconcile, but also ask God if there is anything for which he or she should repent and ask forgiveness.

"Love your enemies,
bless those who curse you,
do good to those who hate you,
and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven;
for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good,
and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?
Do not even the [heathen] do the same?"
~ Jesus (Matthew 5:44-46)

EXAMPLES OF ENMITY:

You hurt me and I hope you suffer for it.

I want to hurt you back, whether I do it openly or secretly, with or without restraint.

I want you out of my life. Your death wouldn't bother me. Killing you myself isn't out of the question.


EXAMPLES OF FORGIVENESS:

If I hate you, it will hurt me more than it will hurt you, so I release my enmity. God's forgiveness and love enable me to forgive and love you, and I choose to do so.

I am willing to hold you accountable for your wrongdoing with the hope that your repentance will enable full reconciliation between you and God, between you and me.

I ask God to do good things for you. I seek opportunity to be an agent of His blessing. I wait for God to heal the injury you have done to me. I hope God will move you to become an agent of that healing by your right response to Him, expressed to me.


EXAMPLES OF RECONCILIATION:

Whether you and I associate peaceably or have no contact, your lack of repentance has prevented reconciliation between us. But my forgiveness prevents enmity toward you—even if circumstances prevent me from escaping further injury. Though I desire reconciliation with you, I instead reconcile myself to knowing I have done as much as I can. I am at peace.

Or:
You have repented—you have acknowledged your wrong against me, you have expressed remorse and apology, and you may have reconciled yourself to God through Jesus. Forgiveness and repentance enables you and I to experience reconciliation. But until your cooperation with God enables you to overcome the behavior which led you to hurt me, we cannot share the level of relationship I still hope for, which I pray God brings to pass. I am at peace.

Or:
Your thorough repentance and my thorough forgiveness have enabled our reconciliation to God and to each other. We are brother(s) and sister(s) through Jesus Christ and are free to enjoy that relationship in love. I am at peace.

Now all things are of God,
who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ,
and has given us the ministry of reconciliation ...
and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
~ 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (NKJV)

Photo credit: Ed Gardener, Flickr.com

: : :

This post originally appeared at Bullets & Butterflies. To see ongoing dialogue in comments posted there click here.

What questions do you have about Christianity or the Bible? You're invited to leave them in the comments below (anonymous questions welcome), or email buildingHisbody [plus] @ gmail.com.

© 2011 Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Question of the Week: Forgiveness or Reconciliation?

by Anne Lang Bundy

What is the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation (in the context of being vulnerable to further abuse)?
~ Anonymous

Once again, a question is posed which defies adequate explanation on a lone page. This week, five contrasts from the Bible will be presented. Next week will look at how biblical truth plays out in relationships.

Accountability & Forgiveness:

"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more ... if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen ..." (Matthew 18:15-17 NKJV)

"Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." (Matthew 18:21-22 NKJV)

Holding someone accountable for doing wrong to you, with a goal of reconciliation, is separate from the unrelenting forgiveness of heart that Jesus teaches.

Non-resistance & Escape:

"But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also." (Matthew 5:39 NKJV)

And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?" ... Then immediately those who were about to examine him withdrew from him. (Acts 22:25,29 NKJV; other examples of escape are Acts 5:17-20; 9:23-25;12:7-10)

Jesus both taught and set the example of accepting abuse without retaliation. But we should avoid injury when possible.

Marriage, Separation, Divorce:

A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife... If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. And [likewise] a woman ... if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. (1 Corinthians 7:10-15 NKJV)

God hates divorce. If separation is necessary, Christians are instructed to remain unmarried and work for reconciliation. Only if the non-believing spouse divorces is the believer released from the marriage. (An exception is divorce for sexual immorality—see "Can Marital Sex be Sinful?")

Willing Suffering:

But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps. (1 Peter 2:20-21 NKJV)

There really are some circumstances when suffering is preferable to quitting a situation or quitting a person. God's will and guidance are necessary for discernment.

Peace With Others & Peace Within:

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. (Romans 12:17-18 NKJV)

Reconciliation doesn't always happen after we offer forgiveness. As much as depends on us, we must offer peace—and then be at peace.

: : :

This post originally appeared at Bullets & Butterflies. To see ongoing dialogue in comments posted there click here.

What questions do you have about Christianity or the Bible? You're invited to leave them in the comments below (anonymous questions welcome), or email buildingHisbody [plus] @ gmail.com.

© 2011 Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Image source: "Reconciliation in Sri Lanka"

Question of the Week: Aren't Rules of Forgiveness Unfair?

by Anne Lang Bundy

"We are most like men when we judge.
We are most like God when we forgive."
~ Anonymous

If God required a sacrifice to forgive, why should I be asked to forgive without receiving one?
~ Anonymous

In the parable of the unforgiving servant, how could the master put the servant in prison for a debt that had been forgiven?
~ J.F.

Since the master in the parable represents God, both questions imply that God unfairly applies the rules of forgiveness. There are innumerable responses that might offered for the first question. The answer offered here today will address the aspect of ownership, nicely illustrated by the parable in the second question.

Declaring bankruptcy was not an option in ancient times. Debts were paid by selling your possessions, by selling your family members or yourself as slaves, or by going to prison unless someone of means paid the debt on your behalf. Jesus tells a parable of a servant who owes millions of dollars. His master says the man, his family, and his possessions will be sold in payment. The man begs for mercy and patience to make good on his debt—as if he can. The master shows great mercy by simply forgiving the debt.

Take note that the servant is already a slave (Greek doulos). All he has belongs to the master anyway. Being sold would have separated him from his family and given him a different master, but forgiveness has not given him ownership of himself. The forgiven slave still serves at his master's pleasure, and he has incurred a new debt—the debt of gratitude.

The master owns the slave, the debt, all assets the slave considers his own, and all the slave's service. The master also owns a fellow slave whom the first slave assaults and imprisons for a minor debt. And since the master owns both slaves, he actually owns that minor debt, too. In forgiving the first debt and wiping the slate clean, the master has effectively wiped out the associated debt of the second slave.

If debtor's prison serves as punishment and deterrent for willfully acquiring debt without ability or intent to repay, then the first slave deserved prison in the first place. His refusal to extend a small measure of mercy not only proves him evil and unworthy of the mercy he received, but his ingratitude trivializes the master's goodness. The slave's actions say to the master: "What you gave me is insignificant compared to what this other slave should give me."

Jesus Christ is the payment for our sins, and not only for our sins, but also for the sins of the whole world.
~ 1 John 2:2 (GW)

When Jesus was crucified, His sacrifice paid the death penalty every one of us owes God for our sins. Once I accept application of that payment to my account, it also wipes out whatever sin debt I think someone else owes me, and which is actually owed to our mutual Master.

Though we may ask for our offenders to be held accountable, we cannot ask for sacrifice. The sacrifice for all sin has already been made.

[POST SCRIPT: Please see the comments below for more discussion of Jesus' atonement and God's authority to require it.]

: : :

This post originally appeared at Bullets & Butterflies. To see ongoing dialogue in comments posted there click here.

For more on the reasons to forgive and the associated blessings, see Why Forgive?

What questions do you have about Christianity or the Bible? You're invited to leave them in the comments below (anonymous questions welcome), or email buildingHisbody [plus] @ gmail.com.

© 2011 Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
image source: jshinn.wordpress.com

Agreeing with the Devil

The theme for today’s blog carnival (hosted by Bridget Chumbley) is "Condemnation." To see what others are saying, visit her site
"One Word at a Time."

"Words have a longer life than deeds."
~ Pindar (ancient Greek poet)

"... the accuser of our brethren ... accused them before our God day and night ..."
~ Revelation 12:10-11 (NKJV)

The Hebrew word satan and the Greek word diabolos (translated "devil") both mean "accuser." The accuser speaks against mankind for our many sins "day and night."

We overcome the devil's condemnation for sin with a simple tactic:
agree with him.

"Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison."
~ Matthew 5:25 (NKJV)

A person is "blameless" either because no sin has been committed, or because the sin for which one stands accused has been fully resolved.

Each person must face the divine Judge, agree with the accusation of being a sinner, and ask for the mercy and forgiveness He offers through His Son Jesus.

Although we may resolve that matter, Christians continue to struggle against wrong actions, words, feelings and thoughts. If the adversary starts in with his accusations, we remain blameless by immediately resolving sin with admission and repentance, therefore denying our accuser any case against us.

Yet even if caught in sin, the Christian has no condemnation:

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
~ Romans 8:1 (NKJV)

My standing before God in Christ Jesus is "righteous." The devil knows the power of words, and he will continue accusing me when I am blameless, attempting to steal away the joy of "no condemnation." He'll do the same to all other Christians, attacking mercilessly and unrelentingly with his accusations.

And if we choose to criticize and condemn other Christians, we stand with the accuser—wrongly agreeing with the devil.

If we are to stand with God, we will to speak truth with love, desiring to encourage one another and "stir up good works."

Words have power, for good or for evil.

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin,
you who are spiritual should restore him gently.
But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
~ Galatians 6:1 (NIV)

I appreciate hearing from you. Questions are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments or e-mail me—my address is
buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com.
Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Image source, "Words": win-win.poweroftwomarriage.com
Image source, "Letter Hug": mobileapples.com

Question of the Week: How to Forgive Self?

"What does the Bible say about forgiving yourself?
What does it say about our faith
when we still experience guilt after being forgiven?"

~ Anonymous

Last year I spoke to a group of ladies gathered for a church rummage swap. I compared sin and guilt to the trash discovered during spring cleaning. The drastically condensed version below is a bit longer than my usual answer, but it makes the point "cleanly." ;D

: : :

There are three kinds of trash in our lives.

The FIRST is trash that has always been trash and always will be trash. Until we clean it out, it will sit around and make the house dirty.

The ugly little critter above is trash.

Let us lay aside every weight,
and the sin which so easily ensnares us.
Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV)

Until we go looking for dust bunnies in all the places they like to hide, they just keep getting bigger.

Sin is like a hidden dust bunny. We need God's Spirit to show us what sin is hiding in our hearts. Until we clean sin out of our lives, it will make our souls sick and dirty and just plain ugly.

The SECOND kind of trash is stuff that used to be good and useful, but isn't anymore.

Guilt is good when it makes us feel bad for sin so that we'll want to ask forgiveness.

If we confess our sins,
He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 (NKJV)

The first Person we need forgiveness from is God. God sent Jesus to die for our sins so that we could say to God (in our own words), "Father God, since Your Son Jesus took my punishment for sin, would You please forgive me and give me peace with You and be Lord of my life?"

When we say we’re “saved,” we mean that because we have God’s forgiveness, we’re saved from any punishment for sin after we die.

But even if we’re saved, there are at least three reasons we might experience guilt:

1) we still sin, and we still need to confess that sin to God so He can clean it out of our lives;
2) if we haven't done it yet and if it's possible, we have guilt until we ask forgiveness from the people who have been hurt by our sin;
3) if we've asked forgiveness from God and others, (even if they refuse forgiveness), and we still have guilt, then we're allowing someone to remind us of our sin in a way that steals the joy and the peace of forgiveness.

There is therefore now no condemnation
to those who are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1 (NKJV)

When guilt compels us to confess sin and ask forgiveness, it's from God’s Spirit and is a good thing called conviction. But when guilt stops being conviction from God and it starts being condemnation—whether from the devil, from others, or from ourselves—it has become trash which must be thrown away and replaced with the truth of Scriptures like the one above.

The LAST kind of trash started out as trash, but is no longer trash.

These tiny cheeses each come wrapped in wax to stay fresh.

You peel open and eat the cheese, then throw away the wax—unless you're my daughter Elizabeth, who found a way to make treasure out of trash.

Elizabeth shaped this rose using only her fingers.

God can do the same thing.

The story of Joseph and the brothers who sold him into slavery 22 years earlier comes to a climax when they voice fear that he will now retaliate. Joseph responds:

"Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (Genesis 50:19-20)

God used something as ugly as his brothers’ hatred to put Joseph where God could use him to save the lives of his family during a famine.

Every person here has been hurt by sin, and sin is always trash. But we have a God so good and so powerful that He can shape the leftovers of sin and hurt into something good, whether it is our own sin or someone else sinned against us.

God wants to heal our hearts from the hurt that sin causes. The first step is obtaining forgiveness from God, and then asking it of others. It’s just as important for us to forgive, even if we haven't been asked for forgiveness.

If Joseph hadn’t forgiven his brothers before they even knew who he was, he would have killed them or put them in prison instead of saving their lives. But because he forgave them, something bad became something good.

When we forgive the sins of others, we begin to turn evil into good. We begin to be free in our own hearts from the hurt they've caused us.

And in the practice of forgiving others, we also learn to forgive ourselves.

: : :

This post originally appeared at Bullets & Butterflies. To see additional comments click here.

Last Laugh of Revenge—YouTube Edition

Every author loves the idea of writing a story which is one day made into a movie. Though I do write biblical fiction that I think would make a great movie, I don't expect to see such a day.

I'm quite content that one of my readers, the sweet and gentle Natasa, has compiled a YouTube video of the post I did on Tuesday. She apologized for her heavy accent. But I think it lends poignancy to the words she speaks.

Thank you, Natasa. You've honored me. May God return the blessing to you, and may He use the words to bring the healing of forgiveness.

Love,
Anne

Last Laugh of Revenge

The theme for today’s blog carnival (hosted by Bridget Chumbley) is "Laughter." To see what others are saying, visit her site
"One Word at a Time".

"Emotional Debris #2" by Maria Hoch"Revenge is a confession of pain."
~ Latin Proverb

Last Laugh of Revenge

Remember me?

You hurt me.

I gave you the power to hurt me because I trusted you with my affection and love—because I accepted such from you.

We were once close. We thought it would always be so.

Then you turned away. To cut off relationship is to cut off life and leave behind raw wounds. The wound does not heal without a tender scar.

Such painful scars birth desire for revenge. The Bible is a deep well of knowledge, instructing how to exact revenge—to heap heavenly coals of fire upon your head—and that is what I intend to do.

If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
For so you will heap coals of fire on his head,
And the Lord will reward you.
Proverbs 25:21-22

You no longer accept the bread and drink of my fellowship when it is offered. So I instead give them to God, praying that He give unto you on my behalf, in whatever manner He sees fit.

Your power to hurt me is also power to heal me, held in the might of love given you from God Himself. If you chose to use it, you could perform miraculous healing of the ache in my soul.

"But I say to you, love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you."
~ Matthew 5:44 (NCV)

I likewise hold miraculous power, contained in the might of forgiveness. I freely give it, even if it means nothing to you. I ask it for you from God. Forgiveness means I cannot call you enemy, for I know my true Enemy. Forgiveness is liberty and power of life—the key to freedom from a prison of bitterness which steals life away.

Without forgiveness we cannot know love. We need life and liberty and love more than we need the very air we breathe.

In forgiveness you remain dear to me. In asking God to bless you, I vanquish Evil, even if you do not yet share the joy of conquest. Forgiveness from God ensures that you and I will one day look back from Heaven at this time, and we will share a good laugh.

In forgiveness I lay hold of divine revenge against my Enemy and live with anticipation of that last laugh.

"There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness."
~ Josh Billings

I appreciate hearing from you. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments or e-mail BuildingHisBody@gmail.com.
Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Image source: snowgoosegallery.com

Make the Love Between Us Flow

"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."
~ John 15:12 (NKJV)

Reconciliation was and is the work of God. In every way, the Lord Jesus worked to bring reconciliation between God and mankind, among people. The difficulties in our life which God allows draw us to His throne in prayer, and compel us to work together for resolution and unity.

True unity is of another, unseen world. We learn it from the things of this world which are seen. We see birth and death that we might understand a bigger circle which unifies.

We see colors, that we might better understand the God Who is all colors of light—Who visited the earth as Son of Man and allowed us to glimpse purest love.




The Coloring Song

Red is the color of the blood that flowed
down the face of Someone Who loved us so,
He's the perfect Man, He's the Lord's Own Son,
He's the Lamb of God, He's the only One,
that can give us life, that can make us grow,
that can make the Love between us flow

Blue is the color of a heart so cold
that will not bend when the story's told,
of the Love of God for a sinful race,
of the Blood that flowed down Jesus' face
that can give us life, that can make us grow,
that can keep our hearts from growing cold

Gold is the color of the morning sun
that shines so freely on everyone,
it's the sun above that keeps us warm,
it's the Son of Love that calms the storm
that can give us life, that can make us grow,
that can turn our mornings into gold

Brown is the color of the autumn leaves,
when the winter comes to the barren trees,
there is birth, there is death, there is a plan
and there's just one God and there's just one Man
that can give us life, that can make us grow,
that can make our sins as white as snow

That can give us life, that can make us grow,
that can turn our mornings into gold,

That can give us life, that can make us grow,
that can keep our hearts from growing cold,

That can give us life, that can make us grow,
that can make the Love between us flow


Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com Comments or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
"The Coloring Song" by Petra, from the album Never Say Die
©1981 Star Song Records

Question of the Week: Why Forgive?

“Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.”
~ Mark Twain

: : :

Why should someone constantly forgive someone they love OVER and OVER for the same thing? At what point would the smart choice be to leave? ~ Anonymous

Oy vey what a question! Where to start?

Let’s begin by talking about “smart.”

Smart follows this logic:
God is wiser than I am.
God loves me and wants to bless me.
Therefore, doing what God says is good for me.

God’s greatest act was a response to humanity’s greatest need. Our greatest need is not for joy, or peace, or even love. Our greatest need is for the forgiveness which makes joy, peace and love possible. God provides what we need to obtain His forgiveness and receive freedom from our sins (through the death of Jesus Christ); He also directs us to forgive others so that we obtain freedom from the sins committed against us.

Forgiveness acts in cooperation with God toward His blessing.

Among the biggest objections to forgiveness are:
1) What about justice?
2) What about putting a stop to sin?
3) What about protecting the person being hurt by sin?

1) Forgiveness means allowing justice to be handled by the proper government, church, or perhaps family authority. Where no authority seems able or willing to enact justice, it must be left in the hands of God. As a former police officer, a former church board member, and a daughter, wife and mother, I can attest that human authorities all fail at perfect justice anyway. We should nonetheless seek their intervention as appropriate, remembering that final justice and vengeance lies solely in the hands of God, whose decision is perfect. To seek our own vengeance on any level is to accuse God of being inadequate.

2) Putting an end to sin requires repentance. An authority might compel outward repentance. We can ask for sincere and inward repentance. But the thorough heart repentance which puts an end to sin is possible only through God, with the cooperation of the offender.

3) Sin will always hurt someone. Sin and suffering are part of life on Planet Earth. When sin is overtly abusive, it is certainly appropriate to make attempts to protect those it injures. But instead of asking “when is it smart to leave?” the question is “what is the next step?” There is no way to anticipate all the next steps and their timing except by asking God. The person who is willing to act according to God’s plan will get answers from Him:

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”
~ Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NKJV)

Here are a few more reasons to forgive:

• sin is against God, and owned by him; to forgive is merely acknowledging His ownership and allowing Him to deal with sin
• forgiveness sets both parties free
• failing to forgive causes bitterness, which harms its holder
• we repeatedly sin against God, needing His forgiveness "over and over"
• forgiveness does not remove accountability
• forgiveness does not remove the need to rebuild trust and relationship
• forgiveness does not remove consequences

This is an extremely brief piece on the hardest thing we are asked to do. I did another, guest post earlier this week on forgiveness, titled “Divine Gift.” A number of questions about forgiveness were posed, and I provided additional answers in the comments there. I invite you to look at them if you’re interested in further thoughts. You’re also welcome to ask as many more questions as you’d like in the comments below.

© 2010 Anne Lang Bundy
Image source: ayalasmellyblog.blogspot.com

: : :

This post originally appeared at Bullets & Butterflies. To see additional comments, click here.

Divine Gift

"I am full-fed and yet I hunger.
What means this deeper hunger in my heart?"
~ Alfred Noyes

Back in the 90's I was asked to teach a ladies Bible study for four months. So I arranged to be away from my infant and toddler one morning a week and began presenting classes which dug into Scripture. Within three weeks, social attendees lost interest, while one serious student kept coming. Though I was saddened that others didn't share my passion for God's Word, it didn't bother me a bit to write lessons for just one person with an earnest desire to understand the Bible.

Blogging has been a wonderful way to connect with delightful people who love Jesus. My very favorite encounters are with those hungering to know Him more deeply. I'd do all this work for just one of them. It's been a privilege to meet many of them.

Wendy Paine Miller is one of those people. The beauty she expresses outwardly is the overflow of her soul's beauty. I'm blessed to have as a friend this intelligent lady who hungers to know God. I'm honored by her invitation to guest post on the topic of forgivenes. Please follow me to her site, "All in a Day's Thought," for today's post—
Divine Gift.

Let Go and Let God

"Learn to forgive your enemies,
it will drive them up the wall."
~ Unknown

Let Go and Let God
#discipleship

And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, but they said, "We will not come up! Is it a small thing ... that you should keep acting like a prince over us? ... " Then Moses was very angry, and said to the LORD, "Do not respect their offering. I have not ... hurt one of them." ... And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households.
~ Numbers 16:12-15,32 (NKJV)
　
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
~ Romans 12:19-20 (NIV)

Among some three dozen posts offered on the subject of "trust" for yesterday's blog carnival (hosted by Bridget Chumbley), a number mentioned our trust in others being disappointed.

Has someone violated your trust with unrighteous behavior, and you find it difficult to recover?

Have you suffered physical injury or emotional trauma?
Been stolen from or cheated?
Been lied to?
Has an employer or business caused financial loss or overwhelming stress?
Have your rights been violated?
Has government oppressed you?
Have you been betrayed by a friend?
Scorned by a person you've loved?

Moses was slandered and faced open sedition. Much was at stake. He took no action against men who might have caused much harm, but turned the entire matter over to the Lord. The earth literally split open to take the men away.

Release to the Lord whatever harm has been done you. Allow Him to guide your words and actions. Do good to, bless, pray for those who harm you, to put entirely in His hands any necessary retribution.

There are many ways enemies might be destroyed. Perhaps we'll even see the day when we might say, as Abraham Lincoln did, "Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?"

Lord, thank You for proving Yourself perfect, the only One Who will not disappoint our trust. Thank You for holding our lives and everything in them in Your hands. Please enable our hearts to trust You for restoring to us anything lost through disappointed trust in anyone else.

Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Photo from coolantarctica.com

The 'F' Word

"Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it."
~ Mark Twain

Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."
~ Luke 23:34 (NKJV)

My friend Stefne calls forgiveness "The 'F' Word." When one looks at the standard of forgiveness that Jesus set at Calvary, a person is inclined to despair, and curse the very concept of forgiveness.

But Jesus does not ask the standard Oprah Winfrey thinks is necessary when she says, "True forgiveness is when you can say, 'Thank you for that experience.' " His Word says instead, "Be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18, GNB)

Empowered by union with Jesus through His Spirit, we can thank God for His continued blessings in the midst of all circumstances. And yes, true forgiveness is willing to impart the fragrance of blessing to the person who injures.

But blessing does not include the need to give thanks for another's sin.

My thanks to Stefne for her generous permission to use her above words and photo. You can visit her at Stefne Miller's Blog.

Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Friday Freelance: FITNESS

I met a Wii for the first time on Wednesday. I think I’m in love.

I am not a technophile. Over the years I’ve resisted an automatic transmission, a computer, a cell phone, upgraded cell phone, cell phone camera, a laptop, blogging, Facebook, and Twitter.

I’ve managed to evade Twitter. I still prefer to drive a stick for mountains, snow, and just plain fun. But I’ve succumbed (even become addicted) to all the rest.

Alhough the Wii nicely marries fun and fitness, I’ll confess that it got to me with flattery of my pride. I did a fitness test which measured BMI and balance and flexibility and such, then pegged me at age 30. The assessment evoked an "OH yeah!" (etc.) from me in the face of age 46 reality.

I’m fascinated by a computer which can’t even see the outside of me and purports to tell me what’s on the inside. I also have difficulty believing that my body’s age is measured with balance rather than blood work or history. I’d like to believe such friendly technology (who wouldn’t?), but I reason that such an assessment can’t be accurate.

There is therefore now no condemnation
to those who are in Christ Jesus,
who do not walk according to the flesh,
but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:1 (NKJV)

Earlier on Wednesday I was praying the Lord’s prayer as part of my morning routine. I got hung up at “Our Father” (as I’m wont to do) when I thanked the Father for His two greatest gifts—the blood of His Son, which makes me His child, and the Holy Spirit within me, the deposit of all to come.

In that moment it occurred to me that the Father accepts me without condemnation because that’s the way He sees me, on both the outside (where His Son’s blood covers me), and the inside (where His Holy Spirit resides).

None of this is new information, to you or to me. Although Romans 8:1 is among my favorite verses (in the NKJV longer text), I continually struggle to see myself as without condemnation in the face of the sinful reality. I reason that such an assessment of my heart's fitness can’t be accurate.

Evidently the Lord uses different criteria than I do when assessing the measurement of my sin and the capacity of His mercy.

For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:11-12 (NKJV)

Your feedback is appreciated. (Some days it keeps me going.) Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Friday Freelance: FORGIVENESS

"In this manner, therefore, pray ... forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors... For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
~ Matthew 6:12-15 (NKJV)

I don't hold grudges.

God has given me some strange, supernatural capability for forgiveness, for which I take absolutely no credit.

Maybe it's His way of countering my fiery temper, which He uses to humble me more often than I care to admit. Maybe it's simply because I've been one of the more flagrant sinners in my younger days, so I don't have any room to see anyone as a worse sinner than me. At the very least, I've come to see that I don't have the right to own an offense in the first place.

After David committed adultery with Bathsheba and then murdered her husband Uriah, he confessed to the Lord, "Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight." (Psalm 51:4). How could David not think he'd also sinned against Uriah?

Here's how I see it. In the Old Testament, certain penalties were charged if you injured a man's animal or a man's slave. If you caused the death of another man's animal, you compensated the man for his loss. If you caused injury to a slave, you didn't pay damages to the slave but to the man who owns the slave. A slave has no right to own a debt from someone else.

I belong to God. He created me, then He bought me with His blood. I gladly serve Him as my Owner and Lord. As His bondservant—His slave—I don't have the right to own a debt from anyone else. Any damages to me are owed to Him. Since God is Creator and owns everyone, He alone is owed any debt for sin against me.

So then why would Jesus instruct us to forgive, lest our Father not forgive us? Because while God's forgiveness frees us from sin's eternal consequences, it is our own forgiveness which frees our hearts from sin's consequences while we remain on earth. In the act of forgiveness, my heart releases the sin which injures me for as long as I hold onto it. My Father can then begin to heal my heart of its injury.

Make no mistake, forgiveness is different than trust. An unrepentant offender may not be worthy of trust, and our relationship cannot be fully restored without it.

Forgiveness also does not deter righteous accountability. To forgive is to acknowledge that execution of justice belongs only to the Judge of heaven and possibly a judge of earth. Without an example of earthly righteousness, how shall anyone fear heavenly judgment? Yet in the same moment I myself forgive and love my offender, I might testify to my offender's guilt and release to a human court the execution of justice, even the death penalty.

Here is the ultimate love. God declares us worthy of an eternal death penalty for our sin against Him—and then steps into human flesh to take the death penalty upon Himself. Our model for forgiveness is Jesus, who forgave the people in the very act of nailing Him to a cross.

Q: Is any sin too great for my forgiveness?
A: No sin is too great for the blood of Jesus to cleanse and God to forgive, so no sin is too great for me to forgive.

Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.