Peace and Forgiveness – John 20:19-31

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Peace and Forgiveness – John 20:19-31

Forgiveness is the path that gets us to wholeness… to shalom (peace with God, ourselves, and others). In these handful of verses, Jesus lays out both the power we have and the opportunity at our fingertips to create peace… or not.

If we can do the culturally hard work of embracing the forgiveness that God so freely offers us and encourages us to share with others, we will naturally be happier, healthier people who will, as a consequence, naturally bring joy and peace to others. Forgiveness is a critical way we expand the Kingdom of God and bring life-giving change into our homes and our community. Isn’t it worth the effort?

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Psalm 25:1-10; 21 – The Advent of HOPE

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Psalm 25:1-10; 21 – The Advent of HOPE

Our loving God wants nothing more than for us to run into His arms with the love and trust of a little child. And that, that is the hope we have in our relationship with God. As Archbishop Desmond Tutu said, “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” Having hope requires effort and determination on our part.

No matter what we have done or what we have failed to do, God is always with us, always ready to forgive us, to mend our hearts and souls, and to teach us so that we don’t repeat the errors of our past, but instead, better follow God’s leading in our lives. In this season of Advent, we too expectantly wait for God, hoping and trusting that God will help us sense God’s life-giving presence in and among us.

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John 8 – Dignity Instead of Shame

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John 8 – Dignity Instead of Shame

Without naming the crime, Jesus acknowledges the woman’s transgression and immediately offers her God’s love, grace, mercy, and compassion. When I read verses that talk about God judging us, I think about this brief exchange between Jesus and the woman. Today’s story is a powerful reminder of God’s ceaseless, tireless efforts to deliver us out of shame and into dignity, out of despair and into renewal, out of judgement and into blessing. Surely this is how the redemptive Kingdom of God operates. Surely this is the theology, the philosophy... the way of living into which God invites us.

The only question for us today is how can each of us offer the people we meet God’s love, grace, mercy, and compassion? IF each of us sincerely makes an effort to share those aspects of God’s nature with others, we will become better and better at loving God, loving ourselves, and loving others.

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John 7:1-39 – Looking & Living Beyond the Superficial

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John 7:1-39 – Looking & Living Beyond the Superficial

Jesus directly and bluntly challenges superficial thinking and judging. His words prod us to consider what stereotypes or prejudices we have within us and how those thoughts and feelings prevent us from seeing God’s Spirit within people we meet and – even worse – prevent us from sharing God’s love with others.

It is SO easy to judge. And we all have 100 reasons to judge everyone we meet – for better or for worse. But can we dig deep to find one or two reasons to put aside our assumptions for the chance to see God in others and share God’s love with others?

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John 5:16-30 – Embracing Eternal Life Here and Now

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John 5:16-30 – Embracing Eternal Life Here and Now

Despite all that’s wrong with the world around us, despite all the ways our bodies and minds ache, despite all of our faults and failings... despite the long list of items we could choose to complain about, the GREAT News Jesus proclaimed is that we have the opportunity here and now to enjoy being in a loving relationship with the Creator of the Universe.

The new life Jesus speaks about is God’s invitation – here and now – to let the living water of God’s love flow, nurturing and growing the Kingdom of God, heaven on earth, by loving God, loving ourselves, and loving others. The questions for us today and every day are this: How can we stir that water within us? What can we say or do to share that water with someone who is wilted or parched? Answering these questions with our words and actions are just one way we can embrace the eternal life Jesus spoke about here and now!

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Flexing the Forgiveness Muscles – Genesis 45:1-15

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Flexing the Forgiveness Muscles – Genesis 45:1-15

Joseph’s emotional (and spiritual) maturity gave him the capacity to forgive the wrongs of the past so he could embrace a future that would be better for everyone involved.
Jesus tells us to stretch our muscle of forgiveness 490 times. The natural consequence of doing anything 490 times is that 1) you’ll get better at it, 2) you’ll increase your capacity to do it, and 3) you’ll develop “muscle memory” so that you can flex your “forgiveness muscles” instinctively.
Like Joseph, we are all works in progress. Out of our free will, when we let God work with us and in us, we can live happier lives and be greater blessings to our families, friends, and communities.
I encourage you to look for opportunities to flex your forgiveness muscles, regardless of their size.
Working together, we can become known as an overflowing cup of forgiveness, healing, and joyful living.

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