IQ #260 Forgive Be Frogiven

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.                                                                                                 Galatians 1:3-5

Are you holding a grudge toward someone you had been friends with? Are you penalizing someone for doing something that goes against the teachings of Jesus Christ? Are you holding back the growth of your friendship due to their sin?

Are you needing forgiveness for the errors you have made? Do you feel forgiven by God but not by your friend(s). Do you feel forgiven at all?

Is not forgiving someone you have cared about and/or not being forgiven by someone you care about holding your relationship with Jesus Christ back?

Luke 17:3-4

³ So watch yourselves.

“If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. ⁴ Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.

As a follower of Christ you are to forgive one another. Share with them what they have done, that has gone against God’s Word. If you are finding difficulty in giving forgiveness you may need to check the warmth of your heart for God and see if the temperature has gone down.

Mark 11:25

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

Refusing to forgive when asked for forgiveness is a sin in itself, because it goes against God’s greatest commandment:

Matthew 22:36-40

³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

This commandment is inseparable between God and true followers of Jesus Christ. To negate any part of this commandment because you feel extremely hurt by someone else for what they have done is showing a lack of faith and trust in what the Lord will do for you and the other person(s).

Examine your heart if you ever are feeling a lack of forgiveness. God loves you and gives you mercy even when you feel you do not deserve it.

“Everyone needs compassion, love that’s never failing. Let mercy fall on me. Everyone needs forgiveness, the kindness of our savior, the hope of nations.
So take me as you find me, all my fears and failures. Fill my life again. I give my life to follow, everything I believe in, now I surrender…. My God is mighty to save.”

I pray for your heart to be filled with the Love of Jesus Christ and to be guided by the Holy Spirit.

Forgive. Be forgiven.

With the love of Jesus Christ,


Papa John 02:27:16

IQ #259 G.P.S.

Many drivers and travelers rely on a GPS (Global Positioning System) as a navigational aide for directions on how to get somewhere.  I rarely use it, because I enjoy discovering new ways to get somewhere…ha, ha.

In the sports world, or more correctly, in MY sports worId, GPS stands for something else. I have been playing volleyball for a long, long time, and I remember being able to soar above the net to spike the ball with gusto and to block the opponents hits. Now, thanks to Father Time, and GPS (Gravitational Pull Syndrome) my attempt at soaring is more or less hoping to cast a shadow under my feet. This GPS has not dimmed my excitement for still being able to play the game. (Face plants not included)

There is however, another GPS that is more important in my life, and I hope yours as well.

God’s Plan Supersedes!

God has a plan for me and a plan for you. It’s a good plan, a Great plan, a PERFECT plan!

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Isn’t that awesome to know that God Almighty, The Creator of everything, with more power than anything imaginable and an undying love for anyone who believes in Him, has a plan for each one of us? Knowing he has come through on every one of his promises how can you not be encouraged to be led by our Lord?

Your life needs a good set of directions:

Psalm 25:10

All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

Paths will be hazardous if you decide to choose your own ways but “All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness” but this is only for “those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.” Is that you? If not, then you’re going to need more than a good Global Positioning System to illuminate the dark, twisting, dangerous paths of life.                                    

Throughout life you can get weary, tired and worn out but with God your life will be renewed:

Isaiah 40:28-31

²⁸ Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

So, which GPS is guiding your life, the GPS designed by man that gives you directions which are not always accurate and may lead you to a dead end or worse, the GPS that brings you down, or the GPS that will not harm you but prosper you, renew your strength, and give you hope and a  future?

It is your choice. It always has been. Choose wisely.

With the love of Jesus Christ,

Papa John 2:05:16