Forgiveness Brings FREEDOM

Day 238 of Photo Inspirations – Forgiveness Brings FREEDOM
I’ve admitted it before....reality shows are my thing.  I record them to later watch them when I'm running on my treadmill.  I love watching real people, living real life with its ups and downs, seeing them overcome incredible obstacles and become winners.....or losers -- in the case of "The Biggest Loser" show.

One of the shows I like is “Extreme Weight Loss” and last week’s show was so heart wrenching, yet inspiring when the woman’s life made a huge turn-around.  It was about Jackie whose happy and healthy life was shattered when word came to her that the caregiver at the day care had shaken her toddler son causing long-term brain damage.  Between feeling guilty that it was her fault for her boy to have been put in harm’s way and the emotional trial that put the caregiver behind bars, Jackie gained over 100 pounds. And Jackie had such bitterness and unforgiveness for the woman and for her own family’s lack of support during a time when she needed them the most.

Being chosen to be a part of Extreme Weight Loss, helped her to forgive the caregiver in order to shed her physical and emotional weight, as well as to forgive herself.  It was beautiful to see the transformation that forgiveness gave her, along with the physical transformation.   Forgiveness opened the door for a reuniting of her family, the ability to go to the woman who hurt her son and forgive her – which caused that woman to experience freedom of her mistakes, and thereby forgive herself.

How often do we hold things against others, because we were truly a victim.  That hurts, and it’s NOT fair!  However, the truth is -- even if we weren't at fault, our failure to forgive, imprisons us.  Forgiveness doesn’t mean that we are approving of someone’s actions, or denying a wrongdoing.  It doesn’t mean that we have to trust, or reconcile with that person.  It DOES mean, that we are not going to hold bitterness in our heart, and allow that person or situation, to keep us locked up.

Each of us have been the one hurt.  We’ve also been the one that hurt someone.   With that failure, sometimes the guilt of our wrongdoing can put us in chains.  When we forgive someone of their wrong, that frees them up to start over, and, hopefully learn from the mistake, and not go down that road again.  Forgiveness is such a beautiful, freeing step to wholeness in our lives.

Ephesians 4:32 says "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you."

I’m thankful that God didn’t hold my failures against me.
Forgiveness brings freedom.  It looks and feels so good to be free!

Making Room for God

Day 50 of Photo Inspirations -- Making Room for God!
Let the MAKEOVER begin!!  I'll admit it.  I love reality TV shows -- watching real people endeavoring to win a competition or watching personal makeover shows that radically transform someone, like "The Biggest Loser".  And I love the "Fixer-Upper" Show where they take the worst house and totally convert it into a beautiful home that is completely transformed.
 
Today is Ash Wednesday.  And, the Lenten season begins today.  Not counting Sundays, it's 40 days of  "makeover" -- going to a place of introspection and reflection and renewing our hearts, and setting aside time before Easter to prepare for the celebration of the resurrection.

Why 40 days?  Because Jesus fasted 40 days in the desert, and laid 40 hours in the tomb; the Hebrews wandered for 40 years in the wilderness; the world was flooded for 40 days in the time of Noah.  Each was a period of preparation for what was to follow.

I'm taking this season very seriously this year.  I'm being drawn to be in His presence.  I sincerely want to make room for Him.....on purpose.   To kick it off,  I will be attending a 3-day; 3-night  ACTS retreat with the purpose of entering into a deeper relationship with our Lord through adoration and daily prayer, studying scriptures and faith, which will ultimately cause us to be in greater service to our Lord, our church and one another.

I've been looking forward to Lent because it's my time of diving deeper into God's Word, getting my body and soul free of toxicity, and being in a place of openness to His call on my life.  It is intentional introspection and contemplation.  Just as those reality shows give people and homes a makeover, I am counting on this 40-days to give me an "extreme makeover" by allowing the Word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit to renew me.

Sometimes, the homes in those reality shows need so much renovation, that the workers have to demolish it and start over again from ground up.  Oftentimes, we need that "ground-up" renovation to our hearts and lives.
 
Perhaps you're like me and you're wanting an extreme makeover in your life.  I promise you it's possible to live a life of peace, joy, and abundance.  Our makeover takes place as we submit to the ONE Who created us.....and He starts from the inside out!  Old things will be passed away and the NEW YOU -- will be revealed.   We just have to let go and put our lives into the hands of the Master Makeover Specialist.  The choice is ours.  All we have to do is say, "Have your way in me.  Now, let the transformation BEGIN!"