For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14) God Sent His Son It is tragic when people die because that was not the plan. It is tragic when people suffer because that […]
Read More JJ25 #17 – Forgive and RedeemThere’s a lot we can learn from Paul’s letter to Philemon. How to look to bring about reconciliation. How to appeal on behalf of someone. How to address people in a way that honours and respects them. We can talk about love and forgiveness, Paul puts it on the line for a runaway slave who […]
Read More For Reading Out Loud – PhilemonJust leave them alone. That’s often the advice given when someone is picking on you. Rather than engage them in conflict and get in trouble or get hurt, it’s best to just leave the other person alone. As we keep our distance from them so we can use the space to paint the pictures about […]
Read More The Marks 09: Bless Those Who Persecute YouWhat is it like to see someone restored? It’s one of the most moving things in life. One that was so promising fallen so hard, seemingly irredeemable. Yet somehow – surely by the mercy of the loving God – they return. In humility, in meekness. Contrite, repentant, not so much keen to make up for […]
Read More Dryden Shorts: RestoredShe was amazed at the message. She was amazed at the extension of mercy to her. For so long she had been the outcast in the community. She knew what she had done. She knew also that seemingly everyone else in the vicinity knew what she did. Some looked at her with pity, but not […]
Read More It’s Good News: Forgiven Much?Forgiveness is one of the most powerful forces in the world. Without forgiveness, having to carry the shame of the things done wrong can be oppressive. It can be repressive. It can be like walking around with something that keeps you on edge when engaging with others. You’re on edge in case they ask, in […]
Read More In The ClearIt is a reality to me that having made certain mistakes in life, I’m very keen that those in my sphere of influence don’t make the same ones. I’m not stopping them making other mistakes. They can carry on with that. In as much as I can, though, I get the impression that I’ve made […]
Read More Restored to RestoreAll he could see was how he was let down. When he needed him the most, he was let down and let down badly. That he was able to still get things done and progress with his plan was something he was happy for others to focus on at the time. Yet that feeling of […]
Read More Reconciliation: Can We Get Past The Hurt?Disappointment is quite a word isn’t it. In that word there’s the thinking of an expected appointment that for whatever reason was not realised. That appointment does not have to be about a scheduled meeting at a particular time. It can be about the arranged character and conduct at a given time in a given […]
Read More Flawed, Forgiven and FlourishingI still forget sometimes how easy it can be to upset people. Something I take for granted in overlooking, someone else gets offended at. This is not about me justifying my actions or suggesting others are too sensitive. It’s a reflection on my behaviour and the impact it can have on others. Yep, I should […]
Read More Taking Relationships Seriously
Life With CD 