Are You Offended?

Being offended is a very popular emotion in today’s culture. It almost seems like people look for things to be offended about. It is an epidemic of prideful selfishness seeking to make others bow to our wishes, trying to make the world be what we want rather than what it should be. We vehemently defend our right to be offended, yet will not consider another’s right to be offended by us. Where does all this offense stem from? Who is wrong and who is right? Is this just the way things are? Is there any cure?

Merciful Like God

Mercy is probably one of the most common attributes associated with Christianity. It was God’s mercy which prompted Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross to save our sins. God’s mercy is new every morning. It is one of His least disputed characteristics, but how often do we imitate it? We acknowledge that God needs to be merciful, but often we don’t want to be merciful ourselves. Yet it is one of the attributes of God that we need to copy, that we need to show to those around us. How do we do that?

No More Debt

Debt. That thing which keeps us under, keeps us from ever getting ahead, which is always hovering over, restricting life.

Forgiveness. That act which frees the giver, brings peace to a relationship and heart, which removes the burden of guilt. That act which is undeserved.

Debt is something no one likes. Forgiveness is something every one wants to receive, but few want to give. Is there a connection?

What I've Learned in Marriage-4

Be quick to forgive and ask forgiveness—This is connected to number 3. No where in the Bible does it say that we are justified in not forgiving someone, or even in putting off forgiveness. In fact, it is the opposite; we are commanded to forgive even if the other person doesn’t apologize. We feel like we are punishing the other person, or teaching them a lesson, when we withhold forgiveness, but in reality we are just driving a wedge in the relationship, and pretending to be God by judging that person.