Page 24 - church magazine 2018
P. 24

donment, or dishonesty.
                                                                                                                                                                    donment, or dishonesty.             in life, we call on a very
                                                                                                                                                                    We have the cho
                                                                                                                                                                    We have the choice to               simple prayer and ask
                                                                                                                                                                    either forgive the parts
                                                                                                                                                                    either forgive the parts            God to grant the seren-
                                                                                                                                                                    of life we do not like or
                                                                                                                                                                    of life we do not like or           ity to change the things
                                                                                                                                                                    to continue suffering by
                                                                                                                                                                    to continue suffering by            that can be changed and
                                                                                                                                                                    insisting that life and run
                                                                                                                                                                    insisting                           accept the things that
                                                                                                                                                                    on our terms.                       can't be, and the wisdom
                                                                                                                                                                    on our terms.
                                                                                                                                                                                                        to know the difference
                                                                                                                                                                    LEARNING TO LET GO
                                                                                                                                                                    LEARNING TO LET GO
                                                                                                                                                                                                        REPENT AND FORGIVE

                                                                                                                                                                    We have an unconscious
                                                                                                                                                                    We have an unconscious
                                                                                                                                                                    assumption that some-
                                                                                                                                                                    assumption that some-               A person who wrongs
                                                                                                                                                                    how holding on to certain
                                                                                                                                                                    how holding on to certain           God should not expect
                                                                                                                                                                    emotions is going to pro-
                                                                                                                                                                    emotions is going to pro-           God to forgive unless is
                                                                                                                                                                    tect us from hurt or con-
                                                                                                                                                                    tect us from hurt or con-           sorry for the wrongdoing.
                                                                                                                                accept every part of every  trol someone else from                      So much for that. When
                                                                                                                                relation, as we live side by  acting in a particular way.  people want to be for-
   THE ART OF                                                                                                                   from each other: our per-                                               to be reunited with him
                                                                                                                                side, all individuals differ
                                                                                                                                                                                                        given by God, they want
                                                                                                                                                                                                        to be reunited with him
                                                                                                                                                                                                        at the same time. But God
                                                                                                                                                                                                        at the same time. But God
                                                                                                                                sonalities, our under-
                                                                                                                                standings and even our
                                                                                                                                                                                                        wants reunion with integ-
                                                                                                                                                                                                        wants reunion with integ-
   FORGIVENESS                                                                                                                  actions. This often leads                                               rity. Repentance does not
                                                                                                                                                                                                        rity. Repentance does not
                                                                                                                                                                                                        earn the right to forgive-
                                                                                                                                to conflicts. Every human
                                                                                                                                                                                                        earn the right to forgive-
                                                                                                                                has, unfortunately, hurt
                                                                                                                                                                                                        ness; it only prepares
                                                                                                                                                                                                        ness; it only prepares
                                                                                                                                someone in some way or
                                                                                                                                                                                                        us to receive the gifts.
                                                                                                                                the other, and also felt                                                us to receive the gifts.
                                                                                                                                betrayed by people close
      “And when you stand                                                                                                       to them.
      praying, if you hold any-                                      A REASON TO FORGIVE                                        MAKING LIFE SIMPLE

      thing against anyone,                                          During our time as a student,

      forgive them, so that                                          employee and even as a person                              One of the most challeng-           When we realize that
                                                                                                                                                                    When we realize that
      your Father in heaven                                          in general, conflicts become                               ing tasks we face in life           hanging on is not chang-
                                                                                                                                is how toremain peace-
                                                                     uncomfortable but natural part
                                                                                                                                                                    ing anyone nor is it pro-
      may forgive you your                                           of life. As human beings are                               ful when something frus-            tecting us from any
      sins.”                                                         social creatures, we live our                              trates us. Not getting              future negative event

               Mark 11:25                                            lives in relation to others and                            what we want is one of              then there really is noth-
                                                                     ourselves without any prob-
                                                                                                                                                                    ing else to do but to let
                                                                                                                                the main challenges to
                                                                     lems. It is unusual to agree or to                         dealing with illness, aban-         go. When things get rough
      24                                                                                                                                                                                                                       J AN  2018







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