Forgiveness Written in Stone        

            As I was reading a few weeks ago I came across a very inspiring Christian story of forgiveness. I’m not sure if it be true, but I think you will agree, its message should be lived daily by every believer. The story tells that two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of their journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand: “TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE.” They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, he called to his friend and his friend came and saved him. After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone: “TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE”. The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, “After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?”  His friend replied “When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand where the winds of forgiveness can blow it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must carve it in stone so that it can endure the elements, never to be forgotten”

            In the Old Testament, sins were remembered so it was necessary to make the journey to the Temple and sacrifice a unblemished bull or goat to cover their sins. But these sacrifices were not complete. The author of Hebrews writes, “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming, not the realities themselves. For this reason the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year can never cover our sins forever or make perfect those who draw near to worship.

            Let’s take a moment for reflection and think of a time in the past when someone “slapped you”, did you write their hurtful actions in stone? I must confess, I carved my un-forgiveness in stone for many years. From time to time I would ponder on the situation and all the old anger that I felt would rise to the surface as I relived the event in my mind. But, soon the Holy Spirit brought upon me a feeling of conviction unlike anything I had ever felt. I knew that I had to find that stone I left in my past and grind off my anger and hurt and humble myself before that friend in the past and forgive. I knew that I could not continue my ministry harboring such anger within me. I reached out to that old friend and forgave them.

            As you spent time in reflection, maybe there is someone, a family member, sibling, church member, friend, adult child, co-worker or ex-spouse that you need to forgive. If your Bible is turned to Hebrews, we read, “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts, I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 16-18, NIV). Christ made the final blood sacrifice so that we would have eternal life. Praise God, What a Savior? We now live under a new covenant and that covenant calls us to forgive as Christ forgave us. Now as

you think about that person who wronged you, let me say, God’s forgiveness of our sins is dependent on our forgiveness of others!! Oops, I forgot that one. “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15, NIV)

            Once we forgive we must “not remember the sins and we should act toward the person as we would have God act toward us. Paul penned, “And be ye kind one to another, .forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Eph. 4:32, KJV). Finally, we must follow the example that has been set by God; “We must forget the sin against us and then, practice forgiveness at every opportunity. For the Christian, God has forgiven and forgotten their sins and they are promised eternal life. If you are an unbeliever, God wants to forgive you of your sins today but you must repent and come to Christ. You only have to pray:

Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus:

I here and now repent for my sins, and believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
I believe that Christ died for me and rose from the dead according to the Scriptures.
I believe that Jesus suffered the penalty of my sins, and paid the full price to clear my debt.
Because He suffered my penalty, I am now free.
I ask your forgiveness, and I now receive Jesus Christ into my life as my Lord ad Savior.
I am a new creation in Christ, born of God with the life of Jesus in me.
I trust the blood of Christ blots out every sin from my life. My record is clean by Your mercy.
According to Your Word, I am now forgiven, I am now saved.
Amen.

If you just prayed that prayer for the first time, please contact us at 903-729-4938 or at eddieturner2502@gmail.com

 WHEN WE ASK WHY?

When we have difficulties and suffering it brings out a variety of attitudes and responses. Some people become angry at God for allowing the situation to befall them or others. On the other hand, we see others with the ability to rejoice in God knowing that He’s doing a great work in their lives through the hardship. But one of the most common responses that I myself have manifested, “Why?”  “Why did this terrible tragedy have to happen to these good people?” I thought that we would explore the answer to the “Why Question” today. As I sought the answer I must admit that it gave me peace, I hope it provides peace to you when you experience life changing events and your soul screams out. “God why are you doing this to me?”

When we don’t understand why something happens to us or those that we love we must remember these basic truths. First, our Lord’s perspective is totally complete, knowing everything about the present, past and future. Whereas we can only have a short view of things which many times leads us to the wrong view of God and why He may move in certain ways. But, God understands the things that He created and why he wishes to accomplish through His creation, man.

God loves each of us but His thought are so far above ours we can never reach the level of his thoughts (Isa. 55:9-9) and there have been and will be situations that we will never understand. It is during those time my friend, that we must give up our earthly thoughts and simply place the situation in the hands of God. Another, understanding is that we must attempt to see the challenge from God’s point of view. We must rely on simple “child-like” faith. The Lord is always faithful to those that love him but we are only human and Satan will use anything possible to turn our eyes and hearts away from God. We see a group of people killed by ISIS and the anger grows deep within us and that is exactly what Satan’s wants us to do. When we attempt to see these things though God’s camera lens. Our view tends to zoom out so that we may see more of what God is trying to accomplish in our lives. I think you would agree, sometimes it is just God’s way of getting our attention and reminding us that we are nothing without Him. Other times, God is testing our faith, by pushing us to the limit.

Lastly, I would assert that God gives us a reason in advance why certain things happen. Paul begged God several time to remove the “thorn in the flesh” be removed. God answered three times, “No.” (2 Cor. 12:7) But, God gave Paul the reason why His answer was “no”. God would not take this “thorn” because God knew, without it, Paul would be prideful. Thus Paul could rejoice in and trust God knew what was best for him.

So how can we respond to such suffering and pain when we don’t understand why it has come into our lives? We must acknowledge it and be thankful (I Thess. 5:18), we must remain confident that God is in control with all things working for the good. (Rom.8:28) Lastly, we must stand of God’s promise; “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.   (1 Peter 5:10) May God sustain you with His mighty hand and during times of trials may you find shelter in His arms.

You may follow Eddie at eddieturnerreachingout@gmail.com  or view his Blog “Wild for the Word” at http://eddieturner2502.blogspot.com/

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If My People -Ecclesiastes 4:12

In 1927, Baylus Benjamin McKinney, pinned the lyrics to the timeless hymn, “Send, A Revival, O Christ, My Lord”. If we spend any time at all listening to the news or reading a newspaper, we can see that our country is sick and ripe for God’s judgement. These words should resound deep from within your heart and be the prayer upon our lips. The last words of the hymn reads, “And let it begin in me.” The great evangelist, “Billy Graham”, said.” The great need in America is not for a new organization. Our great need is not for more economic prosperity. Our great need is for a real spiritual awakening, a revival in which men and women will humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways to the God of our fathers” ( Decision Magazine, 2015).It is time humble ourselves and use the most powerful weapon that we possess in our spiritual arsenal, “Prayer”.

1 & 2 Chronicles is written to the Israelites, coming out of 70 years of captivity. It is written so that they might realize their heirship, the promises made to and through the Patriarchs. Israelites born in captivity would never have laid eyes on the land of their forefathers, never smelled the aroma coming from the altar, never experienced a festival and never worshiped in the Temple.  So, they may have been asking themselves on their 900 mile journey, the same question that we ask today, “Has God forgotten us?” God has a timeless message in this passage for every American Christian. God speaks, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). If we are to live out this passage we must acknowledge that we are a rebellious, sinful people and we deserve God’s judgement, but His grace has assured redemption through His Son, Jesus Christ.

As the Presidential elections approach, we enter the most critical time in our countries history. With the passing of Supreme Justice Antonin Scalia, we lost a strong Christian foothold within the Supreme Court. For decades, he held the line and remained strong to his biblical values of the institution of family and marriage, the sanctity of life and religious liberty. I fear we shall come to grieve his passing more and more in the days to come.

In 2012, it is speculated that 60-90 million registered voters did not cast their vote. Less than 2% of the population brought about “same-sex marriage”. Imagine what change Christians could bring about with a simple “click” or pencil mark on an election ballot.  This verse is written specifically to God’s people, Israel. But, someone has wisely said, “Although all Scripture is not written to us, all Scripture is written for us.” As the apostle Paul taught Timothy, his son in the ministry, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness,” (2 Timothy 3:16).  First, the PRINICIPLE, in this scripture; “My people who are called by My name,” (2 Chronicles 7:14a).  Second, comes the PRACTICE, we must humble ourselves. God does not move for the prideful. (Proverbs 11:2). Finally, we must PRAY as one body in Christ with faith and God shall hear us. “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12NKJV).

On March 30, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared a national day of prayer, fasting, and humility saying, “Let us then rest humbly in the hope authorized by the Divine teachings, that the united cry of the nation will be heard on high and answered with blessing no less than the pardon of our national sins and the restoration of our now divided and suffering country to unity and peace.” We need revival in our country, but revival will never come from Washington DC it will not come from, an organization, it will come from God. I close asking you to join me, praying:

My Heavenly Father,

I pray in the name of Jesus that you would heal bring revival to our land. May I humble myself and seek You in all things, claiming the victory in faith. May you bring forth and guide new Christian leadership for our country. I pray that Christians across our country would rise up, stand up and look up to You so that, America could once again be, “One Nation under God”. In Your Son’s Name, I pray, Amen.