There are people in your life
Who’ve come and gone
They let you down
You know they’ve hurt your pride
You better put it all behind you baby
‘Cause life goes on
You keep carryin’ that anger
It’ll eat you up inside baby
And I think its about forgiveness
– “The Heart of the Matter” – Don Henley
Forgiveness. I struggled with this word most of my life. I quantified it. Put qualifiers on it. This person I can forgive, that person hurt me too much. Some hurts damaged beyond being forgivable. But what was the measure? What did I use to decide? I didn’t have a measuring stick.
In counseling, I realized forgiveness started with acceptance. Acceptance of God’s grace and forgiveness of my own sins. Really, all of them. Deep in my soul, I didn’t truly believe He could forgive my deepest, darkest secrets until I brought them all into the light. With that acceptance came the realization that forgiveness didn’t have a scale. It was all or nothing. That realization broke my measuring stick.
I knew Matthew 6:15 that says, “You can’t get forgiveness from God without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.” That I understand, finally. I know that I have to forgive others just as He forgives me. Not only am I called to forgive others, according to James 5, I have to confess my own sins to others and seek forgiveness as well.
I have learned that forgiveness, like healing, is a process. One I have to practice daily. It involves accepting God’s forgiveness, forgiving others, AND being vulnerable with others and seeking their forgiveness as well.
Coming This Week:
- Brian leads us in a message about forgivenss
- Shelly brings a powerful testimony
- Also, expect impactful worship songs, a time of celebration and sharing of our milestones, and a testimony of spiritual awakening.
When: Every Saturday at 5:30 pm
Location: The Fellowship (in the Loft), 22765 Westheimer Pkwy, Katy, TX 77450
Childcare is available. Pre-notification is not necessary but is requested. For more information about childcare, email us info@theprodigals.org.
Give: We need your support! Give to the Prodigal. Use your smart phone and text your donation. Send a text to 28950, and type the keyword PROD, a space and the amount you wish to give. You will receive a text response for your name, address and account information for one-time registration. An email confirmation will be sent to confirm your donation. Next time, you simply send a text with the amount – and it’s complete.
Come home, prodigals! |
