We All Must Forgive

I have really been thinking about my friend's recent break up with me. I do know she is a wounded soul but she said it was her soul she searched, not her heart in making the decision to end our friendship. The reason is still not clear to me but I know she was offended by something on Face Book. It still hurts and I say to the Lord daily, Bless her Lord and I forgive her. I am struggling with exactly what Staci Eldridge is saying in this excerpt from her book, Captivating.

I still find I love her and care for her. I want to tell her I have never judged her and never will and am waiting eagerly for her return but will she just delete the e-mail or return the letter? Shall I try anyway? It is in God's hands and I'm praying for her. Please pray for her with me. You can always click on the title at the bottom and it should take you to their website. Here's the excerpt:

Forgive

We must forgive those who hurt us. The reason is simple: Bitterness and unforgiveness are claws that set their hooks deep in our hearts; they are chains that keep us held captive to the wounds and the messages of those wounds. Until you forgive, you remain their prisoner. Paul warns us that unforgiveness and bitterness can wreck our lives and the lives of others (Eph. 4:31; Heb. 12:15). We have to let them go.

Forgive as Christ has forgiven you. (Col 3:13)

Now - listen carefully. Forgiveness is a choice. It is not a feeling - don't try and feel forgiving. It is an act of the will. "Don't wait to forgive until you feel like forgiving," wrote Neil Anderson. "You will never get there. Feelings take time to heal after the choice to forgive is made . . ." We allow God to bring the hurt up from our past, for "if your forgiveness doesn't visit the emotional core of your life, it will be incomplete." We acknowledge that it hurt, that it mattered, and we choose to extend forgiveness to our father, our mother, those who hurt us. This is not saying, "It didn't really matter"; it is not saying, "I probably deserved part of it anyway." Forgiveness says, "It was wrong. Very wrong. It mattered, hurt me deeply. And I release you. I give you to God."

It might help to remember that those who hurt you were also deeply wounded themselves. They were broken hearts, broken when they were young, and they fell captive to the Enemy. They were in fact pawns in his hands. This doesn't absolve them of the choices they made, the things they did. It just helps us to let them go - to realize that they were shattered souls themselves, used by our true Enemy in his war against femininity.

(Staci Eldridge, Captivating, 102-103)

Writing

As I try to focus on my current book, "For God and Country", I tend to get stuck at points. I think the Lord gave me a way of escape today. I was wondering how my lead character needed to take over a terrorist's identity so he could do his mission and help protect Israel and America from the top creep in Iran. I didn't just want to assassinate the guy (my own creation) because the military just doesn't do that but also because my hero has Godly morals and also doesn't just want to kill the guy. He'll have to get the head terrorist who hates Israel because he's an active terrorist breathing death threats down Israel's and America's necks he has declared war essentially so he's got a big target on his chest. But the other guy who my character has to impersonate is a little different.

My mind keeps getting concerned with the Israel issue, is there enough in the story? etc. So what does the Lord do? He gives me a whole new book idea to cover Israel. These issues are current so I can't help but figure, that's the next title I'll be working on if not in tandem with this one.

My other concern is, while The Resolution of Red Tears is now with a publisher, the production process is long! It actually goes into production in February but it will be October before I ever see a copy! I hate to think it will take so long for each book. I guess I need to ask them if they can do more than one of my books at a time. Sales will tell.

Pray the process takes less time, that they are expedient and thorough.

Is anyone wondering what the new book the Lord gave me is about?

 A liberal new anchor who always gives false reports about Israel is sent to Israel to see how 'bad' they really are. Well he see the truth first hand and discovers the Liberal media's true agenda for Israel. He has a choice, keep his precious career and report what he wants and his network wants or walk in God's truth.

I won't gain fans with this one but my fan base is not the point. God's truth is the point!

The Blind lead the Blind

There are none so blind as those who will not see. Can we see what's going on in America today or are we sticking our heads in the sand? God will find us!

What Does He Want From Us?

Thanks to my friend who left a great comment for the friendship post "If You Knew His heart Was Good"
  So what does God want from us? When we find out, do we think He asks too much? What has He already given us? Could it be that He just wants us to accept His gift? What is His gift? Life everlasting, freedom from sin, healing and all this through an incredible experience with Intimacy. His heart is always for us, never against us. Why is this so frightening for people?
Some of the craziest risk takers and adrenaline junkies run at the thought of intimacy with Jesus Christ. So much for bravery. It is a man of great courage who can boldly kiss the feet of the King/ Father.

Intimacy

Someone someday will participate in this when the timing is right. I'll keep posting. The rest I leave up to God.

How many of us think of Intimacy with God as a consuming force in our lives? Not many I suspect and yet if married, how many think of intimacy with his or her spouse as a consuming force? I suspect not many. But God is all about relationships and intimacy. That's why He created marriage between a man and a woman. That's why He created us for Himself. Read what Staci Eldridge from her book "Captivating" says:

God's Heart for Relationship

The vast desire and capacity a woman has for intimate relationships tells us of God's vast desire and capacity for intimate relationships. In fact, this may be the most important thing we ever learn about God-that he yearns for relationship with us. "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God" (John 17:3). The whole story of the Bible is a love story between God and his people. He yearns for us. He cares. He has a tender heart.

Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me." Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! (Isa. 49:14-15)

I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. (Jer. 24:7)

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem . . . how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. (Matt. 23:37)

What a comfort to know that this universe we live in is relational at its core, that our God is a tenderhearted God who yearns for relationship with us. If you have any doubt about that, simply look at the message he sent us in Woman. Amazing. Not only does God long for us, but he longs to be loved by us. Oh, how we've missed this. How many of you see God as longing to be loved by you? We see him as strong and powerful, but not as needing us, vulnerable to us, yearning to be desired.

(Staci Eldridge, Captivating , 28-29) 

So how does this change your view of God? Or does it make you run even faster?

One Way Convo

Well I guess It's difficult for a blogger who has no followers. I'm reaching out. I'd ike to touch someone. Someone's heart. How about telling me your thoughts on Nov 1st's blog?

If You Knew His Heart was Good

This is a daily devotion from John Eldridge from His book The Sacred Romance. I had it in my files and happened upon it this morning when looking for another one to share. I will be leaning the devotions toward the Father Heart of God. I think God wanted to remind me that I trust His heart. A friend of mine recently ended our friendship when she was offended by a video I posted on FB. Apparently the friendship wasn't worth the effort to understand my heart and intent and she also misunderstood the heart and intent of the video, so rather than choosing to value the friendship, she threw it away. Betrayal? Yeah. Hurt? Yeah. Do I hate God for it, am I angry with Him? No. I know it wasn't Him who rejected me. So as I go through the grieving process I go deeper in Him so He can heal that cut in my heart. I love my friend and always will. I still consider her a friend and know she responded from a deep soul wound. I don't know what the wound is but I know it's there. I bless her and eagerly await her return. Here is John's devotion.

Everyone has been betrayed by someone, some more profoundly than others. Betrayal is a violation that strikes at the core of our being; to make ourselves vulnerable and entrust our well-being to another, only to be harmed by those on whom our hopes were set, is among the worst pain of human experience.

Sometimes the way God treats us feels like betrayal. We find ourselves in a dangerous world, unable to arrange for the water our thirsty souls so desperately need. Our rope won't take the bucket to the bottom of the well. We know God has the ability to draw water for us, but oftentimes he won't. We feel wronged. After all, doesn't Scripture say that if we have the power to do someone good, we should do it (Prov. 3:27)? So why doesn't God?

As I spoke with a friend about her painful life, how reckless and unpredictable God seems, she turned and with pleading eyes asked the question we are all asking somewhere deep within: "How can I trust a lover who is so wild?" Indeed, how do we not only trust him, but love him in return? There's only one possible answer: You could love him if you knew his heart was good.

(John Eldridge, The Sacred Romance , 70)

So after reading this, what are your experiences with betrayal and how are you handling it even to this day? Do you still trust God? How has it affected your trust in people? If you don't trust, is it because you don't really know who it is to whom you must direct your trust ? In other words. really knowing a person or God takes effort and time. It takes an intimate relationship. Have you gone there? Will you go there?