Our greatest need is connection, to be known, to be seen. But most of us are not brave enough. We have too much to hide. Too much shame. Too much fear. But we have a Father who does see us. He knows us completely. Even our shame. And he chose to love us. He is faithful to it. He wants you to know it's safe to love him back. He forgives you. He completes you. He fills you with joy and wonder. He has given you purpose. That purpose is love. Here are a few scraps of thought so you can "see" me.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Student Devotions - September 25, 2008
I am really sorry for the quality of the sound on this.
wow i was A little hard to hear. Joseph went quickly from poor to weathly and prospurous. We must always bless our enemies no matter how much they tortured us or did anything.
It is very hard to stop the reflex of immediately seeking vengeance upon someone who has wronged you. I have sometimes stopped my hand halfway down to hitting someone because the reflex was so strong that I had to consciously think about it to stop it. Also, it takes a lot of time and effort to hold a grudge. Forgiving someone is hard at the start, but after you've done it, you're free. Holding a grudge imprisons you in hatred for life. I'm sure that once you forgive someone, you probably wouldn't even want them to be punished.
Joseph again... :) ... I've done what Joseph did too... tested someone to see if they've changed before I forgive them... anyway, I think it's funny how we are supposed to be kind to those who hate us... because, to me, it's always seemed like a good way of revenge... lol... I don't think that's how it is meant...
That was the worse quality of sound i heard out of all the mics you used...anyways Joseph really wanted to take revenge on his brothers, but he did in in such a way that his brothers wouldn't have known that he was trying to get revenge on them.
Forgiving and loving your enemies and those who hate you is one of the hardest things to do sometimes. Especially when you really just wanna bop them in the head a few times. :) I admit, I have trouble not taking revenge on people sometimes. Sometimes all a person could do is just stand there with their fists clenched so tight that they get little lines in them from where their nails almost punctured the skin. :o :S Ok, so it probably wasn't the only thing I..Uh..*ahem* someone *cough cough* could do. We should ask God for help in those kind of situations. *guess what? God was in my word verification! To cool, eh? :D*
I really like the story of Joseph. He had a very dramatic life. I would probably do the same thing he had done if I was in his place. There is something I'm confused about though. If we aren't supposed to have revenge on someone... why be nice to them? Wouldn't that be kind of revenge? 'Cause it's torturing them...
Yeah Pastor Paul, Niki's got a point, and I agree with her. So, what should we do? Being nice tortures them, which in turn makes it revenge. You confuse us. :S
Well, you are being nice to them without doing it with the intention of torturing them, it's not revenge, is it? If it's bugging them anyway, there's nothing you can do about it...
Is holding a grudge really worth what it takes? It makes you feel bad, and it totally destroys your relationship with God, not to mention everyone else. We can never be a 'victim' of anyone else if we truly commit ourselves to the Lord, so what reason is there to hold a grudge. Ultimatly it is God who allows or prevents things coming our way. We may not always understand Him, but we sure can trust Him.
14 comments:
wow i was A little hard to hear. Joseph went quickly from poor to weathly and prospurous. We must always bless our enemies no matter how much they tortured us or did anything.
I always hated it when I would complain to my mom about someone, and she would say just be nice to them. But now, I get it.
I couldn't hear well the mic its not working well so i like the built in one better i yeah i will have a good day and such.
Revenge can be a horrible thing to do. So i guess that it is always better to be nice to that certain person.
It is very hard to stop the reflex of immediately seeking vengeance upon someone who has wronged you. I have sometimes stopped my hand halfway down to hitting someone because the reflex was so strong that I had to consciously think about it to stop it. Also, it takes a lot of time and effort to hold a grudge. Forgiving someone is hard at the start, but after you've done it, you're free. Holding a grudge imprisons you in hatred for life. I'm sure that once you forgive someone, you probably wouldn't even want them to be punished.
ya your mic really sucked as you know :P but ya what is justice then if we all think differently?
Joseph again... :) ... I've done what Joseph did too... tested someone to see if they've changed before I forgive them... anyway, I think it's funny how we are supposed to be kind to those who hate us... because, to me, it's always seemed like a good way of revenge... lol... I don't think that's how it is meant...
That was the worse quality of sound i heard out of all the mics you used...anyways Joseph really wanted to take revenge on his brothers, but he did in in such a way that his brothers wouldn't have known that he was trying to get revenge on them.
I think that Joseph wasn't treated as he was supposed to be has a brother.
Forgiving and loving your enemies and those who hate you is one of the hardest things to do sometimes. Especially when you really just wanna bop them in the head a few times. :)
I admit, I have trouble not taking revenge on people sometimes. Sometimes all a person could do is just stand there with their fists clenched so tight that they get little lines in them from where their nails almost punctured the skin. :o :S
Ok, so it probably wasn't the only thing I..Uh..*ahem* someone *cough cough* could do. We should ask God for help in those kind of situations.
*guess what? God was in my word verification! To cool, eh? :D*
I really like the story of Joseph. He had a very dramatic life. I would probably do the same thing he had done if I was in his place. There is something I'm confused about though. If we aren't supposed to have revenge on someone... why be nice to them? Wouldn't that be kind of revenge? 'Cause it's torturing them...
Yeah Pastor Paul, Niki's got a point, and I agree with her. So, what should we do? Being nice tortures them, which in turn makes it revenge. You confuse us. :S
Well, you are being nice to them without doing it with the intention of torturing them, it's not revenge, is it? If it's bugging them anyway, there's nothing you can do about it...
Is holding a grudge really worth what it takes? It makes you feel bad, and it totally destroys your relationship with God, not to mention everyone else. We can never be a 'victim' of anyone else if we truly commit ourselves to the Lord, so what reason is there to hold a grudge. Ultimatly it is God who allows or prevents things coming our way. We may not always understand Him, but we sure can trust Him.
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