Dear Friends,

Tomorrow will be my first day off in several weeks......I'm really looking forward to sleeping in and relaxing. Then on Tuesday there is a "Son's Retreat" until thursday and then from Thursday night until Sunday we have the annual "Apostolic Summit" so its going to be a really busy week. So I thought I write early this week because I might not get the chance later on.

I met a woman a few days ago called Marion who has had the worst luck in her life. Everything has gone wrong for her. She had three children but 2 of them both died in mysterious circumstances whilst only in their 20's and she has also had numerous other relatives mysteriously pass away. On top of that she has been abused in many ways and had her house recently broken into and vandalized and previous tenants also stole all her furniture. I must admit that my patience was really tested as I heard her grumble away for over an hour about all that had gone wrong.

However there was one problem she had worse that all of that, she could not forgive the people who had hurt her.

All the events of her life are in the past and cannot be changed, but her attitude is in the present and can be changed. But because she doesn't forgive the people who hurt her, she is hanging on to all of the injustices and is in fact "locking herself in an emotional jail." The Bible tells us that this is what happens when we don't forgive. This is told in one of Jesus' parables in Matt 18:21-35.

God often asks us to do things that don't seem easy, but in the end it is always because it is best for us. The Bible does tell us to forgive those who hurt us. In fact it makes a strong point that if we can't forgive others, then God cannot forgive us of our own sins.....so there is a big incentive to forgive.

When a person wrongs us we often want to be "repayed" back for the wrong. This is only normal........its kind of like a debt that we feel is owed to us. But if the payment is never forthcoming we will just get more and more unhappy wanting something which we can't get. IN the end the only way to be happy is to forgive and release the person from their debt to us. This is mentioned in the Lords prayer......"forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." It wasn't talking about money but about people who have wronged us.

I did try to explain all of this to Marion...........but her desire for justice was greater than her desire to be happy (or at least thats how it seemed).....so she will continue to be miserable until the day she forgives. Sadly, if she doesn't forgive before she dies, then God will not forgive her either and she will forfeit her salvation.

Even if we can't do much for Marion, let it be an illustration to us to always forgive and recieve God's forgiveness in return for our own lives. There maybe someone in your life that is trying, or annoying or downright evil...............now is your chance to forgive them and receive the great blessings that come from obeying the word of God.

The Lord bless you this week
Cheers
David