My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, In this day of constant lawsuits and incessant demands for legal rights, Paul’s command sounds almost impossible. When someone hurts you deeply, instead of giving him what he deserves, Paul says to befriend him. Why does Paul tell us to forgive our enemies?
(1) Forgiveness may break a cycle of retaliation and lead to mutual reconciliation.
(2) It may make the enemy feel ashamed and change his or her ways.
(3) By contrast, repaying evil for evil hurts you just as much as it hurts your enemy.
Even if your enemy never repents, forgiving him or her will free you of a heavy load of bitterness.
A story tells that two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand:
TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE.
They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him. After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone:
TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE.
The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, "After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?" The other friend replied "When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it."
LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE.
They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.
Paul’s command:
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. [20] Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. [21] Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:19-21
Read God's Word
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
GRIEF AND MOURNING
Today, some people consider expressing emotions to be a sign of weakness. Those who wish to appear strong try to hide their feelings. But expressing our grief can help us deal with our intense sorrow when a loved one dies. Life is not given merely for happiness and personal fulfillment, but for us to serve and honor God. The worth and meaning of life is not based on what we feel, but on the one reality no one can take away God’s love for us. Don’t assume that because God truly loves you, he will always prevent suffering. The opposite may be true. God’s love cannot be measured or limited by how great or how little we may suffer.
I pray the families of the dear students whose lives were taken away at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg Virginia would be given strength to endure through these trying moments. I send my condolences to you.
PRAYER: Most Precious Lord Jesus, Gentle and Wonderful God, Truly Awesome and Ever-present Holy Spirit, Precious Lord Jesus, we love you. Today has been incredibly difficult for the families of those 32 who were massacred at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg Virginia and the one who also took his own. At every turn, we as a people were struck down with grief and loss. It is unbelievable how much pain this has put upon us. We are asking you for love because we know love will ease our pain. We know love will give us a new way to see all the hurtful things going on in our life. Open the part of our hearts where you live. Show us how much you love us and how all our present grief will be replaced with joy. We know we are being really selfish right now. Pain and suffering, especially grief, turns us inward and away from you. So right now, instead of all the grief we are bearing, send us some love. We love you Lord. All these things we humbly pray in the name of our most Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, our Mighty God, and our Ever-present Holy Spirit upon whom we can rely. Amen
Virginia Tech Family and the Extended Community
I share in your grief and pain over the devastation and profound loss that you have experienced during this season. To those who are recovering from as well as those who survived this tragedy, you too are in my thoughts and prayers. There are no words that can adequately express my sympathy during this horrific & difficult time, however, please accept my most heartfelt condolences. I can only hope that the good memories of the fellowships and friendships that you have enjoyed as family and community will sustain you during this time.
My prayer is that you be strengthened to walk in God’s promise, purpose and power through these difficult times.
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About Me
- J.A. Vazquez
- I'm just, a nobody, trying to tell everybody, about Somebody who can save anybody. First I want to give love to the Father for giving me the opportunity to be an instrument for him to live in and live through for the glory that belongs to only him and Him alone. I served in the United States Navy for twenty one years and retired September 2003. During the last 3 years of my naval career, I served as co-pastor of Greater New Refuge COGIC in Fallon, Nevada under the tutelage of Pastor Gregory L. Brown. While there, I diligently served my pastor and church with the construction of a new sanctuary, and caring for the needs of all ministries, while simultaneously striving to stay focused on the mandate that the Lord had placed upon my life to preach the Word of God without compromise. I was licensed to preach November 2002 and Ordained June 2003. While stationed in Virginia Beach, Virginia, I proudly served and as constituent of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church for seventeen years under the leadership of Bishop Elect W. D. Scott, Sr. and presently serve under the leadership of Bishop B. Courtney McBath at Calvary Revival Church in Norfolk, Virginia.