Forgiveness

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Posted by Pat Elsberry, March 8, 2024

Forgiveness means different things to different people. It involves intentionally letting go of any resentment and anger you may harbor against another. Whatever the act that hurt or offended you was, it might always be with you, but working on forgiveness can lessen the grip it has on you. 

We have all had someone do or say something that offended us. But, how do we handle forgiving someone who will not communicate with you? And, is it possible to receive forgiveness from someone who’s already died? I believe it’s possible to give and receive forgiveness from a loved one who no longer speaks to you, or is no longer on this earth. 

Maybe you had a fight with your loved one and shared some harsh words before they died, and you never got the chance to tell them how sorry you were. First of all, they are not holding that against you.

Heaven does not allow for anger and dissension. It’s a place of pure love.

In Heaven, no one harbors revenge, resentment, or anger whatsoever. They are given a new lens to look through, which is with total unconditional love. 

Did you know that there are three types of forgiveness? Exoneration, forbearance, and release. In the case of forgiving someone who is no longer here, release is the one that applies.

Release asks that instead of continuing to define your life in terms of the hurt done to you, you can release any bad feelings and your preoccupation with the negative things that have happened. More importantly, release is critically significant: it allows you to let go of the burden weighing you down and eating away at your chance for healing and happiness.

If you don’t release the pain and anger and move past dwelling on old hurts, you will be allowing the ones who hurt you to live rent-free, in your mind and heart, forever reliving the oppression that the original incident started.

The Bible references forgiveness at least 49 times. We must forgive others if we want to be forgiven (Matthew 6:14-15; Colossians 3:12-13).  

Practicing forgiveness can have powerful health benefits. Studies have shown that forgiveness is associated with lower levels of anxiety, depression, and hostility, along with having higher self-esteem and greater life satisfaction.

If something is weighing on your heart and you wish to share it with your loved one who is no longer here, you can write them a letter. Get a piece of paper and a pen, or sit at your computer and pour your heart out to them. Once you’ve expressed everything you want, you can either keep or destroy the letter. The important thing is that you begin to let your heart be free to move forward in your healing. 

Pat Elsberry is an author, speaker, blogger, and a passionate advocate for parents dealing with grief after the loss of a child. Pat created multiple social media groups focused on providing hope to others who are walking the same path, including her blog, Hope During Loss. Pat facilitates an in-person grief share for women who have experienced child loss, and is also a moderator for Team Sharing, a nationwide peer-led support group for parents who have lost children to substance use disorder. Pat is the author of Beautifully Broken: Finding Hope During Loss, and will soon release her first devotional, Comforted by God. Pat and her husband, Fred live outside Atlanta and have a blended family of 7 children and 5 grandchildren. Her favorite things include traveling, cooking, gardening, dark chocolate, and worship music. You can find Pat on her blog, www.hopeduringloss.com, and on Facebook and Instagram @HopeDuringLoss.

Willing

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Posted by Annette Burrell, February 28, 2024

“Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the LORD had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work.” Exodus 36:2

In the process of building the tabernacle and all the work of constructing the sanctuary, Moses began identifying those with the right skills to do the work. God had given each of them certain skills to fulfill the work that needed to be done.

Don’t miss the last part of the verse, and who was willing to come and do the work.

Just as God gave the Israelites skills, he has equipped you and me with gifts and talents. We enjoy those talents in our everyday lives—at work, we may be a leader, at school, we may be a teacher, at home, we may be the cook. In our leisure time, we may excel at sports and play golf or pickleball. We may be artistic and enjoy painting or writing.

Why is it, we use our gifts and talents in our daily lives, but when it comes to serving in the church we sit back and let others do the work that God has equipped us to do? The statistic that I’ve heard is that 20 percent of members in a church serve in some capacity, while 80 percent merely attend on Sunday mornings.

Do you think that is why the 20 percent sometimes experience burnout? Have you ever had the thought, “She does not need to be teaching. She is so boring.”? Chances are she stepped in the role because there had been so many nos and someone knew this lady would say yes.

In the case of the Israelites, Moses asked “every” skilled person whom the LORD had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work. I wonder...If everyone had been willing to serve, would there have been so much division?

Every Sunday at church, someone is doing double duty because those that have been given the ability aren’t willing to say yes.

We are all called to serve the LORD.

“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

I used to think this verse was about acknowledging God as my LORD and Savior. And that every Sunday when we took our family to church we were serving the LORD. When I read that verse today, it took on a whole new meaning. 

First, Joshua says, “If serving the LORD seems undesirable to you . . .” Ouch! How would you feel if your spouse said you were undesirable? Maybe you’ve been there before and you know how that feels. Joshua goes on to say, “Choose for yourselves (it’s personal) this day whom you will serve.” He doesn’t say choose for your family where you go to church, although that is important and also biblical. But he says, choose today who you will serve. 

Serve is a verb. It’s an action word. It means, to perform duties or services for (another person or an organization).

Paul, one of the greatest apostles in the New Testament, who preached the gospel boldly proclaimed over and over in his writings to be a servant of Christ Jesus.

When we serve in the church, we are proclaiming the gospel message.

So, I ask you. What gifts and abilities do you have that could be used to grow the church or lead someone to Christ? Are you a storyteller, a decorator, a prayer warrior? Do you have the gift of hospitality, leadership, teaching, and encouragement? 

There is a place for you to serve. Are you willing? Say yes. Tell someone. Don’t wait to be asked. Be willing to serve the LORD.

Annette Burrell is an author, speaker, and singer/songwriter. Through Annette’s years of being a public servant, and her devotion to studying the Bible, God has equipped her to lead women into His presence, and share with them how they can grow in Christ. Her passion is learning, sharing about the Heavenly realms, and God’s plan of protection for us as believers.

Worshipful Hearts

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Posted by Karen Kinnaird, February 21, 2024

Imagine this scene with me. The Ark of God, the Ark of the Covenant – the most sacred object of the Hebrew faith which had been neglected for decades was being transported to Jerusalem to make the city the nation’s center of worship. This marks the return of God’s presence and favor.  See all of Israel gathered together as the purified Levitical priests dressed in fine linen meticulously carry the majestic, sparkling gold chest with the poles on their shoulders. Hear the great musical procession, sounds of rams’ horns, cymbals and trumpets. Smell the bulls and rams being sacrificed. Excitement, joy, shouting and cheering fill the air as King David, wearing a linen prayer shawl, worships very unconventionally - with the people–singing and dancing with exuberance and abandonment.

But, something else is happening nearby. Michal, David’s wife, and daughter of Saul, is watching from a window. As King David worshiped, danced, and celebrated, she despised him in her heart. Despise is contempt. It’s a strong feeling of dislike, having no respect for someone or something.

This account takes place in the book of 1 Chronicles 15 and parallels 2 Samuel 6 which sheds light on this paradoxical scene.

We know from 2 Samuel 6 that at this grand celebration Michal, who is David’s first wife and Jonathan’s sister, comes down from her window, and sarcastically and unfairly accuses David of dressing and acting inappropriately. She accuses him of worshiping foolishly. Surely, there was way more going on deep within her heart. Notice that she was watching from a window – she had intentionally separated and isolated herself from everyone, and in this great moment in Israel’s history. Granted, Michal certainly had her share of painful things happen to her in life. But whatever the reasons, and there are probably several, she allowed her heart to be cluttered with bitterness and resentment. She hated David for loving God. The contempt Micah felt escalated into a confrontation that resulted in her never bearing David any children. What a heavy price to pay.

We can learn a lot from this passage:

1. Feelings of dislike, bitterness and resentment that go unchecked escalate in our hearts. This clutter can destroy a relationship and must be dealt with immediately. 

2. We must accept, respect and admire devoted people’s heartfelt expressions of worship even if they are different from ours, even if they may appear foolish.

3. We shouldn’t be afraid to share in others’ worship. Worship God with whatever expressions seem appropriate.

If you’re finding yourself watching from the window today, I encourage you to come down!  Ask God for His guidance. Seek Him in His Word. Respond to what He says. Reach out and get connected. What better place to do that than at Touching Hearts?

Search me, O God, and know my heart!

 Try me and know my thoughts! 

Psalm 139:23

Karen Kinnaird brings the vast experience of having served as a ministry wife for nearly 38 years. Her husband has served as a church planter, senior pastor, state denominational leader, agency specialist at NAMB, and Associational Missionary Strategist. Karen currently serves as the Executive Assistant for Forgiving Forward, a ministry dedicated to helping people experience the freedom of the Gospel through the power of forgiveness. Karen and Jimmy, also known as Gigi and Poppy, have 3 children and 3 grandchildren.