Category Archives: Forgiveness

Oceans of Love

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art beach beautiful clouds

Dear Friends,

As I meditated on the precious love of God, I began to get carried away in deep thought about the vastness of His love and just wanted to share these reflections with you …….

We’ve probably all experienced unrequited love in one way or another – through friends, loved ones, etc. Many of us know what that feels like and how painful it is – giving love, opening the door of our hearts, hoping for relationship, only to experience coldness or rejection – and so does God, especially as He has oceans of love for us.

Even if we have a relationship with God, through Christ, sometimes our erring ways can cause us to actually move away from Him, from that close fellowship we should have, because we know He is holy, and when we fall short we feel we have failed Him .. yet again.

It can be the case that instead of running TO Him, we may find ourselves missing out on those special times of closeness in His presence. The love of God, being unfathomable and pure, reaches out to us in mercy. Again and again, He lovingly calls us to draw near to Him, in so many ways: perhaps through a song, a word of scripture, encouragement from a friend, a sermon, even through circumstances. God patiently waits … with oceans of love … but are we always aware?

There have been seasons in my faith life when things were going along nice and smoothly, then, at some point, a situation may occur in which I felt I’d failed God again in one way or another, and (feeling defeated) would think to myself, `He must be tired of me constantly coming back for forgiveness’. As my relationship with Him grew, however, I became reassured by the reminder that it wasn’t any good that I had done that made me acceptable to God – but the righteousness of Jesus alone. Thank You Lord!

We are encouraged in scripture to “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16, NKJV).  We are saved by grace through faith, and not by our own works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Although we are saved FOR good works, we’re not saved BY them. When we realise this, we can not only ask for forgiveness when we’re in the wrong, but can forgive ourselves and others too. It’s all about the life of Jesus being lived through us. It’s all about Him, not us! Through the everlasting love of God, that same saving grace is available to us for daily living.

When Jesus sacrificed His life for us on the cross, He paved the way for those special words that He uttered to be fulfilled – “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). The transaction was done in terms of God. He “SO loved the world that He gave ..” (John 3:16). God’s oceans of love caused Him to give. He did His part. After that, it was our turn to respond to His gift, so that we could experience this forgiveness and the vastness of His love.

It’s continually our turn to respond to His heart of love which extends beyond the cross, however. As we seek to follow the Lord in our daily walk, we can experience more and more the reality of His love, and continual cleansing and forgiveness, because of our fellowship with Him (1 John 1:7-9). His sacrifice makes us acceptable; His perfection covers our imperfection.

Against the many distractions, trials, temptations and struggles in our journey with God, His eternal and holy love beckons us to keep on coming. God is love ~ rich and free. Love calls us ~ love awaits us. Isn’t that precious?! Tears fill my eyes just to think about this fact. That love is unconditional, forgiving, full of mercy, continually reaching out to all the world, looking for an inlet into human hearts. What a treasure we have in our hearts as believers!

Prayer:
Thank You Heavenly Father for your fathomless oceans of love, shown to us through  Jesus, Your Son, in His sufferings, death and resurrection. Thank You that this precious love made it possible for us to draw near to You, to come before Your throne and find all our needs met, because of Your heart of mercy and forgiveness. May the love You continually show .. fill our hearts daily, and may that love be poured out through us to others also ~ for Your glory and praise, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Here is a beautiful song about the love of God (a song I love) written by Graham Kendrick entitled “Such Love” …..

 

I hope this may have blessed your heart!

Much love,
Christine

 

(Revised Jan 2019)

Copyright © 2014  Christine V. Mitchell

 

The Way Called Love

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rose-re-forgiveness

Can we forgive the yesterdays in each other?
Times gone by, when faults and sins were seen?
Have we a heart that’s melted by the Father?
One that knows it too was cleansed from sin?
~
Can we see the best in our sisters and brothers?
Or do we only see through yesterday’s eyes?
There is a better way, that’s like no other
And if we choose to follow, we’ll be wise
~
It’s the way called “Love”; it’s a heart that can forgive
It’s the way called “Love”; it’s the way that Jesus lived
And if we too, ourselves, would be forgiven
Then the way called “Love” is the way we should be living
~
If we choose that way, through faith in Christ our Saviour
Surrendering each day our will to Him
Then the fruit of love will show in our behaviour
And by and by, that love, more souls may win.
–oO0–

© 2015  Christine V Mitchell

It’s encouraging and reassuring to know that what may seem hard for us is possible through the power of Christ, as we surrender our lives to Him. When He is Lord of our lives, all things are possible. It’s a daily walk, not just a one-time surrender. Self always seeks to reign, but as we deny that self and follow Jesus, His love in our hearts enables us – gives us the power to love and forgive. Oh we sure do need it! We surely do (I do!) and because it IS possible, Jesus taught His disciples about it. It helps when we realise that we too – in our imperfection – need forgiveness and, in His love, God forgives us when we humbly come to Him in repentance.
Through Christ, we can do all things (see Philippians 4:13).

Of love, Jesus said:
“A new command I give you: Love one another.
As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
(John 13: 34)

Of forgiveness, we read, in the Lord’s prayer:
“‘…And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one’..
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: 12-15)

 ~ ~   Love and many blessings always   ~ ~

One for All

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A poetic dramatization, based on the Biblical story of Jesus’ suffering and crucifixion.

Carrying the cross

“What’s going on? What’s going on?
Where are they going, this gathering throng?
Why are they shouting? Why are they mad?
Some look so happy. Many are sad”.

“Haven’t you heard? Where have you been?
They’ve taken Him, Jesus, the Nazarene”.

“I was away, but I’ve just returned,
I heard some talk that made my ears burn”.

“Quick move aside, they’re coming this way!
Oh, this is awful! A terrible day!
He only did good, was loving and kind.
There’s no-one like Him. He is divine!

Sick folk were healed, dead even raised.
I think the rulers envied His praise.
Multitudes loved to be blessed by His words,
So much more precious than any they’d heard.

He spoke of God’s kingdom and life from above.
He spoke of forgiveness, mercy and love;
That He is the Truth, the Life and the Way
To get to the Father, whenever we pray”.

“Merciful Father! Look at His head!
A crown of thorns, pierced ’til He bled!
Look at the sorrow and pain in His eyes
And still they are mocking with cruel cries”.

“Crucify Him!  Crucify Him!”
“Why? What wrong has He ever done?”
“Crucify Him!  Crucify Him!
Called Himself God’s only Son!”

“Leave Him alone!  He’s our Messiah!
He came to save us from hell’s fire!”

“Step aside woman, don’t get in the way!
If you’re so worried, start to pray!

“Oh no! They’re nailing His feet and hands!
The suffering and pain He bravely withstands.
No-one should ever have this to endure,
Especially someone so kind and so pure”
. . . . .

His body whipped, His flesh torn.
He bore the shame, mocked and scorned.
Upon the cross He felt alone;
Endured all of this, our sins to atone.

He suffered all for the entire world
And yet insults at Him are hurled.
He sacrificed Himself that day,
Gave His life and opened the way.

One man for all, Whose purity
Now meant that God could have mercy.
Jesus tasted of death and hell
But He ROSE AGAIN, ALIVE and WELL!

History cannot erase that day.
It happened, dear friend,
so that we could pray:

“Lord, I believe that YOU are the One
Who came to die, God’s only Son.
You took my place and died on a cross
to cleanse my soul from sinful dross.
I believe that You rose again.
Forgive me Lord of every sin.
Come, Lord Jesus, into my heart.
Help me to make a brand new start.
Wash me, cleanse and make me new.
From this day, I’ll follow You.
Thank You Lord that I’m forgiven
and ever will live with You in heaven”
Amen.

–o0o–

© 2013 Christine V Mitchell
All Rights Reserved

www.expressionspoetry.com
https://poetrybychristinemitchell.wordpress.com

The cross - victory