Do you...?

Have you ever had someone do something to you that caused hurt and pain? Maybe its way down in there and you don't know even know about it. Have you forgiven them? Do you have un-forgiveness in your heart? Maybe its an old friend, your husband, your wife, mother, father, or who ever it may be...it can be a feeling of abandonment, hurt, betrayal,...the list can go on and on. The most important thing to realize is that it is there.

A few weeks ago at the womens conference, something Mrs. Karen said has stuck with me. She said that (not in exact quotes but you get the picture) those who have hurt you, are being used as a puppet by the devil. Wow, that stuck out to me. I was hurt growing up many different ways. I was sexually abused, felt abandoned, and just very hurt. I would cling to friends only to be hurt by betrayal. And for a while, I did have un-forgiveness in my heart. But I didn't know how to release it! Not long after I got saved at 17, God healed that un-forgivness in my heart. I no longer hold a grudge or even hurt. But I had never looked at it as that those who hurt me were puppets of the enemy. He(the devil) wanted to destroy me and he used other people to do it. And the saddest thing isn't that I got hurt emotionally along the way, but that they don't even know or realize that they were being used.

She(Mrs. Karen) went on to talk about some personal things that she had gone through and how she handled them. (With God!) But God had showed her to forgive the ones who caused such hurt in her life. And when she did that, she could see them walking out of prison along with herself. When we hold un-forgiveness towards others, we keep them in our bondage of hurt along with ourselves.

With that being said, I write this to ask you...have you given forgiveness where it is due? Maybe you feel like you have every right to be mad, hurt, upset, and hate...but I can only tell you that there is no freedom in un-forgiveness. No matter the sin or the pain one caused! I know or at least I feel like I have forgiven but my prayer is that God would show me any hidden un-forgiveness in my heart. I do not want to be in bondage to the enemy, nor give him any place in my life.

Forgiveness is the act of forgiving; state of being forgiven; disposition or willingness to forgive. It is a choice that you must make. And its one that you may have to make everyday. But notice that it means the act of forgiving and the state of being forgiven. When we make the choice to forgive others, we allow ourselves to be forgiven. Wow! So to hold it inside and not forgive, can and will keep you from forgiveness. Mattew 18: 21-35 tells the parable of the unforgiving servant. We can not expect God to forgive us if we are not willing to extend the same mercies to those who have caused us pain.

²¹ Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone^i]"who sins against me? Seven times?”

²² “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!

²³ “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. ²⁴ In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. ²⁵ He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt.

²⁶ “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ ²⁷ Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.

²⁸ “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.

²⁹ “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. ³⁰ But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.

³¹ “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. ³² Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. ³³ Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ ³⁴ Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.

³⁵ “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”

Mark 11: 26 "But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

So spend some time today and ask God to help you with forgiveness! It will be the best thing you do for yourself today!

Jesus came and died for our sins. You were on His mind on that cross. And every sin you have ever committed has been forgiven if He lives in your heart. Extend that same forgiveness today to someone else! And if Jesus doesn't live in your heart, He is ready and willing at ANY MOMENT to release that forgiveness to you! All you have to do is call on HIM!

Have a blessed day!

Duct Tape

This was one of my devotions this morning and I wanted to share it with you.

Divine Duct Tape

Theresa Ceniccola

Have you noticed that duct tape comes in all kinds of fun colors now? There's an entire rainbow of duct tape - including some of the more outrageous designs of camouflage, tie-dyed, plaid and glow-n-the-dark. Why not? Duct tape can solve almost any problem - from fixing a leaky faucet to removing a plantar wart. Pretty much everyone can use duct tape, right? So it makes sense to choose a color you love. No matter what the color - it all works the same. Sure, we all know the power of the super adhesive, but we don't always have it with us when we need it. I own several rolls of duct tape - including one in neon pink - but I couldn't tell you where they are at the moment. Only Boy Scouts, engineers and the Sopranos actually carry duct tape with them at all times.

If you think about it, duct tape is kinda like God. Powerful, yet gentle. A miracle worker - able to fix the big problems and the small ones. Available everywhere. And once you are introduced to duct tape, you begin to think of more ways you can use it in your life.

The problem with duct tape is that if you remove it, you are left with a sticky residue. A reminder of a broken time. The residue then begins to attract dirt and dust, creating an even greater dilemma. God leaves his mark on our souls in much the same way. Once we invite him into our hearts, we are changed forever. Once we witness his incredible mercy and unconditional love, we don't want him to leave. We don't want to remove him from our lives and open ourselves up to attracting evil and despair.

And God comes in a variety of colors. He dresses in just the right color each time he appears in my life. He is the color of the spirited young teacher who just won't give up on my child, the compassionate nurse who actually holds my hand and takes the time to explain what's going on, and the stranger who patiently holds the door for me and my three kids as we argue, trip and drop stuff on our way. Yes, God comes in many colors - a pattern to suit each one of us. He makes it easy for us to find him despite his chameleon tendencies.

Like duct tape, God is always accessible - but we have to remember to use him. God can solve all problems, but we must carry him with us. So, I think I'm going to buy some funky duct tape - maybe in a leopard print - and put it in my purse to remind me to call on God when I need him. I'll put some in my car, in my office and in my laundry room, too. That way, I'll be sure to ask him to repair my life when it falls apart. Plus, I just might use the duct tape!

I wonder what would happen if I ran into Tony Soprano...me and God...Tony and his trunk full of duct tape. I have a feeling my Divine Duct Tape would be stronger.

Pictures

Well I haven't updated in a while...sorry. Been kinda busy with school and all starting. The kids started back August 9th and then Jeremy started 19th. Its been good just busy. We are all doing great. Ethan has joined Cub Scouts and Jeremy is the Den leader for his scouts! That's really cool and Ethan loves it! Kara is doing Jazz dancing. She is really catching on. Brianna is practicing for the Christmas Production at the Ramp.

Here are some Pictures from the past few months: More blog to come soon. Have lots on my mind :)

July:
The boys enjoying the skate boards. Ethan is pretty good with it.

Kara's bday
August:

1st Day of school: 7th, 5th, & 1stNew Hair for school Ledbetter Family Reunion
MowHawk Brothers :)August Ramp Baptism
September
Jeremy and Ethan with the Cub Scouts in the Homecoming ParadeThere you go...some updated pictures. More to come soon. Sorry it has taken so long.
I will be posting a new blog soon. God has been so awesome. The grace He gives us, the way He loves us, how to be a seeker and why, and allowing Him to take everything out of me that isnt of Him so He can fill me with Him. Just a few of the many thoughts in my head. Be back soon!