‘LIGHT FOR THE JOURNEY’

memory of my daughter’s hateful words and behavior pierced once again. A dagger through my heart. What should I do with this card? I didn’t want to open it. Everything within me wanted to write, “Deceased - Return to Sender” on the envelope. After all, hadn’t she proclaimed she is an orphan?

Jesus Did Not Come To Bring Peace But Division

The familiar handwriting on the card spawned a chill of dread. In a moment a splash of hope flushed away the dread. Could it be? Could it possibly be. . . an apology, an admission of wrongdoing, a plea for forgiveness? That thought quickly faded. The

For two days, the card remained unopened on a shelf but in my mind, I opened it over and over. Imagining first a flood of loathing and bitterness, then a sincere, heartfelt apology over pain she had caused in trying to destroy my marriage and turning others against me with lies. Some of my friends are going through similar circumstances with their children. Ugly separation and divided households. Jesus warned of this very thing. “Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. “They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law” (Luke 12:5053 NIV). Why should my family be exempt?

Painful memories gnaw at my spirit. My heart grieves. The enemy prods. Like a bolt of lightning, Jesus’ words break through pain, heartache, and brokenness. “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” Matthew 6:14-15). “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 12:33 NIV).

Late last night, unable to sleep with the picture of the card plaguing my mind, I got out of bed, read my Bible and prayed for the Lord to speak to me. To tell me what to do with the card. There is no doubt in my heart that I must forgive her and honestly feel I have. My greatest concern is opening a door to that relationship and suffering the same abuse as before. Writing to Jesus in my journal helps me express my thoughts and ask Him questions. However, no answers came. Not last night.

Today, as I prayed about what the Lord would have me to share with you, He reminded me that I am not the only parent going through trials with children. As mentioned, Jesus warned us this would happen. My conclusion regarding today’s primary cause of family division is the demonic social agenda. Children and parents are pulled apart by secular demonic ideologies, such as the LGBTQSLXRDM alphabet philosophy, the trans-movement, and gender and pronoun stupidity. No wonder families are falling apart. Satan is having a heyday.

I ran across the beginnings of an article on forgiveness I had started months ago. Perhaps you need to hear these things too. The source of these comments is now unknown to me. Probably notes from a sermon and some of my own.

To forgive means to give up all claims to punish or exact a penalty for an offense. Scripture clearly tells us to offer the gift of forgiveness to those who mistreat us. No strings or conditions can be attached, or else it ceases to be a pardon. In Ephesians 2: 8-9, the gift of salvation is contrasted with works. Neither salvation nor forgiveness can be earned. Both must be freely given.

It's challenging to try to follow a godly path, because there are two conflicting tendencies which exist in every believer: one, the patterns of the corrupted old self, the flesh. Two, the righteousness of a new nature in Christ. The quality of the gift of our forgiveness, or the lack of it, will largely determine which tendency prevails in our lives.

God granted us forgiveness which we did not deserve and could not earn. In much the same way, we are to release every offender from any form of penalty. Unforgiveness is emotional baggage that consumes us with memories of offences. It distorts emotions with thoughts of revenge and fills hearts with churning unrest. Its tentacles reach deep into the soul, affecting both spiritual and physical health.

Thankfully, His mercy toward us has no limit. The one who chooses to put on love and offer forgiveness, is ready to receive the Peace of Christ. Forgiving frees us to live in a Christlike nature and enables us to see others through the eyes of grace and mercy. We need to release our hurt and anger into God's caring hands then our vengeful thoughts can be transformed into praise and gratitude to the Lord

Thankfully, the gift of pardon is not something we have to manufacture