Forgiveness : START OVER - loving the person over being right

Once I decided to forgive rather than go into detail in my mind about how she hurt me, He gave me grace to overcome the hurt and see how much bondage she is in. It’s really sad. I know He has so much more for her.

Lord thank you for forgiving me for my anger, offense and judgment. You alone are judge. please humble her gently and help her to accept your loving truth. Heal her mind in Jesus name. 

Lord help

I just had an interesting interaction... My mom called and accused me and Dad of taking her stuff. Not sure what she is talking about.I need the your help to continue to have compassion and forgive.

Also to not be offended that she didn’t call about my bday or coming back from Israel..but about stealing her stuff. I feel entitled to be hurt/offended, but I have done way worse to you and you have forgiven me. Please pray that He gives me your heart for her and not to give in to my emotions which aren’t aligning with truth right now. Thank you.  Also please heal my mom, and give her peace about her stuff...and that she would have your grace to realize her sin and repent. I am having dinner with my family for my bday at Benihana tomorrow and I leave for Texas Saturday through Tuesday. I need your help. 

Changing from one who avoided suffering to one who values it.

The Benefit of Suffering

1 Peter 4:1-2 - “Since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.”

Sometimes, growth means that we have to take some hard, painful steps. For example, the apostle Peter changed from a man who avoided suffering to one who valued it. In the beginning he did not value the idea of suffering. When Jesus told his disciples that he was going to suffer and die, Peter rebuked Jesus and said there was no need for that (see Matthew 16:21–23). Jesus promptly replied, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Jesus taught a profound lesson on the value of suffering: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it” (see Matthew 16:24–25). Jesus calls his followers to embrace suffering.

And Peter learned this lesson. The same Peter who thought suffering and death should not be included in the plan later said, “Since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.”

Peter came to see suffering as armor! He came to see suffering as protection against sin. He came to see that if we go through the suffering we need to go through, then we are “done with sin” (or at least the sin that had to do with that particular growth step).

The process of growth means taking some painful steps. But, in sub¬mitting to that kind of suffering, we reap the benefit in the end. Working out a difficult relationship, for example, is not easy. We might have to suffer the hard steps of opening up, facing conflict, etc. Overcoming an addiction usually requires facing the pain that is driving the behavior. But if we face these kinds of suffering, we move past the issues and are on to a better life. We can get done with whatever is holding us back. Just as an athlete embraces “no pain, no gain,” those who want to grow personally have to sometimes go through some hard steps to get there. But it is worth it.