Forgiveness Friday: A Thought About Daniel

Here's a thought I had this morning about Daniel when studying the topic of the Fiery Furnace:

Why did he forgive King Nebuchadnezzar so quickly from taking him and his friends from their home and later sentencing his friends to death?

Dou you know?

Book Excerpt: Empowering Parents

"From birth to pre-school, middle and high school, parents must make wise choices about who will influence on their children's education and also play a role in shaping their character.  It does take a village to raise a child.  The key is determining who forms that village.

As parents, it's our responsibility to know the people that come in and out of our children's lives each day.  That includes relatives, friends, and their parents, neighbors, teachers, principals, school staff, bus drivers and employees.  All of these people influence decisions that our children make each day.

Our children are precious gifts from God.  It's up to us to provide a safe environment with a disciplined structure that includes appropriate consequences to help them learn and grow to be independent adults."

From Empowering Parents: A Guide to Taking Control of Your Child's Educational Journey

Co-authored by Marsha R. Dodson and Darlene V. Willis, Ph. D

Forgiveness Friday: Encourage Yourself

 

"Look, the winter is past,

    and the rains are over and gone.

The flowers are springing up,

    the season of singing birds has come,

    and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air.

The fig trees are forming young fruit,

    and the fragrant grapevines are blossoming.

Rise up, my darling!

    Come away with me, my fair one!”

 

Song of Solomon 2:11-13 (NLT)

 

Today, do something different to encourage yourself.  Ever heard someone say, "give people their flowers while they're still here?"  That is a phrase that has been repeated to me lately, and I wondered if I should give myself flowers.  So, I did.  Multiple bouquets of them.

Forgiveness Friday: Let God Lead You

These are a few common scenarios of an "I need to forgive" situation:

The dog runs between your steps once you have made the decision to stack your plate of snacks on top of your glass of lemonade.  Everything crashes to the floor.  Then you think to yourself, "Ugh dog...I forgive you."

You realize that you skipped lunch and now you have to run out for an appointment.  Your belly is growling, so you make yourself what you consider an awesome peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  Just as you place your wrapped sandwich on the dashboard of your car, your daughter ask, "what is that?"  You hand it to her, for her to enjoy.  Then you think to yourself, "I love her...I forgive her."

You had to make arrangements with your job supervisor, because you have a medical emergency in your family.  The only day that the doctor can be seen is the same day as the new computer operating systems are installed and all staff are trained.  You have to miss it.  Then upon your return to work, the co-worker and friend Peggy Sue informs you, we have to cut your hours, because you missed the training.  Then you think to yourself, "but, I had an emergency...I forgive them."

Your best friend that you have known since you were in grade school, comes for a visit.  You spend three wonderful days together, sharing and laughing about the past.  Then casually over a cup of tea, she reveals her addiction to drugs; and as part of her recovery program, she needs to confess to all the people she has wronged.  Her confession is: that priceless diamond cluster ring from your grandmother was not lost, but she stole it years ago.  Then you think to yourself, "she is hurt...I forgive her."

The father of your beautiful children and protector in life wakes early in the morning to inform you that he no longer feels the same love for you.  And, he needs his space.  Then you think to yourself, "no...I can never forgive him."

The situations are all different, but there is one similarity: the investment of your love.  That affects our capability to forgive.  Yes, you can forgive in every situation.  It might be instant or it may take a long time.  It may be easy or it may be the hardest decision you have ever had to make.  But, YES, you can forgive in every situation.

HOW???

Let God lead you. 

"I can never escape from your Spirit!
    I can never get away from your presence!
 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
    if I go down to the grave, you are there.
If I ride the wings of the morning,
    if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
even there your hand will guide me,
    and your strength will support me."

 

Psalms 139:7-10 (NLT)