"I" Apologize

Volume 8 Issue 5 (August Issue)

Greeting in His Name,

I hope this issue finds you well. I am trying to play catch up for August, September, October, November and December. So let's get to it. Life is short and fleeting. Here today, gone tomorrow. So I decided today that forgiveness would be a great article to write about since we are fast approaching the new year; Lord willing. Today's blog is entitled "I" Apologize. Hope you find some inspiration, conviction, and queries.

shalom and love,

heidi

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From the beginning it has been my desire to equip the body of Christ with truth that will help you to live life to the fullest. Often times we tip around issues that we need to face head on. Today's issue is one of those. Why is it so hard to say or accept, "I apologize," "I’m sorry," "Forgive me." Why do we fight so hard against something that’s so good to us and for us?

There is only one answer—the FLESH! Desperately wicked the prophet says. (Jeremiah 17:9-10)

Readily Apologize and Forgive (Colossians 3:12-13)

(God has chosen you and made you his holy people. He loves you. So your new life should be like this: Show mercy to others. Be kind, humble, gentle, and patient.  Don’t be angry with each other, but forgive each other. If you feel someone has wronged you, forgive them. Forgive others because the Lord forgave you.) Last year I was given the opportunity to serve on Karios Outside weekend #28. My duties were that of one of the three spiritual directors. The head spiritual director gave me the awesome task and responsibility to do a meditation on, you got it, FORGIVENESS. For me it wasn't to hard because I was still in the midst of the process of facing a hurtful situation. I wasn't to sure then and even have some apprehension now that I have unresolved forgiveness. It has always been my nature to pull away until I can readily face a matter but this time around has proven to be harder. And the reason it is harder I believe is because I have not been intentional in saying I forgive them. It was always my practice when I had been wronged to readily start to speak to my flesh, "I forgive them." Not this time. But in doing that meditation for Kairos Outside God gave me a definition for forgive that helped me to see that I must readily forgive. FOR-GIVE..."For" aim at, "Give" stretching yourself; Forgiveness is just that - aim at stretching yourself. Yes, it's hard but it puts you in a place to let go and to release others in order to bring hope to yourself. So as to not prolong hurt and anxiety - Readily Apologize and Readily Forgive.

Come On Apologize and Forgive (Colossians 3:14)

(Together with these things, the most important part of your new life is to love each other. Love is what holds everything together in perfect unity.) Forgiveness is like cartilage. Cartilage is a connective tissue that reduces friction and acts as a cushion between joints to support weight. Hmm... that sounds like what forgiveness does; reduces friction and places a cushion between you and another person which creates perfect unity. I was reading a quote that said you can not separate love and forgiveness; you can not forgive without love and you can not love without forgiving. Its as the scripture is saying above - perfect unity. When we can push pass differences, we can see unity and experience unity. But if we don't allow for the connective process of apology and forgiveness we will always have friction, definitely no peace, and for certain no unity. Solomon told us in Ecclesiastes life is like a vapor, so it is imperative to let go of conflict and confusion, hurts and hindrances, unforgiveness and unsettled matters so we can Come On Apologize and Come On Forgive.

Just In Case Apologize and Forgive (Colossians 3:15)

(Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking. It is for peace that you were chosen to be together in one body. And always be thankful.) In the rush-rush lifestyles we have today, we are bound to offend or hurt someone if we are not careful. So in order to keep peace and keep you in check; remember to settle the score with people. We have all seen incidences where we either didn't know we offended or we could recognize some change in relationships but couldn't put our finger on what exactly was wrong. These are moments when we have to really extend ourselves to see if we have caused friction and not peace. The message bible says it best the peace that Christ gives will keep you in tune and in step with one another. It is truly the love of God that causes us to apologize and seek out forgiveness; Just In Case.

Closing: Can We All Just Get Along?

Rodney King made this short statement famous back in 1992 under some horrific circumstances. After a week of rioting, 55 people were dead, over 8000 arrested, and $1 billion in damages; Rodney King makes the plea, "Can We All Just Get Along?" There was an incident that happened in the book of Acts that was very similar in that a riot was about to take place but under different circumstances. Paul's preaching was in the throws of disturbing financial profits of the local craftsmen and the city clerk had to intervene and remind them to "calm down and not do anything rash" (Acts 19:36) I am not by any means saying this process of apologizing and forgiving is easy nor am I saying, for some, that it can be done over night. But remember God does not want us to lay down without rectifying unsettled issues. There is always the probability that you may not wake up. In regards to scripture, he wants us to handle it before the sun goes down. So I encourage you as I encourage myself - Let's Readily - Come On - Just in Case - Let's Get Along.

LIFE QUOTE

“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you."— Lewis B. Smedes

Let Us Laugh!

For how long did Cain hate his brother? For as long as he was Abel. (Christian Jokes, R.J. Clarke)

Hope to see you Next Month: Law of Laziness

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