Forgiveness
12/10/11 12:29
This is another blog I wrote in Prison around January 2011, 2 ½ months before I was released. I again choose not to edit it, it was something God brought me through using a book I read, and scripture, and it has forever changed my perspective on Forgiveness. This brought me to write letters of forgiveness to many people that have deeply wounded me and were responsible for my imprisonment. Some I have given, some I have not yet. One letter was to a prison guard responsible for the death of a friend, and made efforts to make my imprisonment more difficult. Through this letter, I witnessed restoration of relationships, and salvation of a prison guard!! God is good. There is power in forgiveness, more for the one forgiving often, but power nevertheless. Enjoy:
FORGIVENESS There is a book that I read and strongly recommend it to anyone and everyone. THE SHACK, By William Paul Young. It helped me a lot as I wrestled in my own anger towards God and towards man. As I wrestled in the grief of losing loved ones, mainly my son Jabez, as I wrestled with the justices and injustices of the World, as I wrestled with God, in prison. It has forever changed my perspective, and changed my life. I want to "steal" (or copy) a conversation a man has with God while in his own pain, is wresting with God over the idea of forgiveness. This is one of the many things that God is really currently working on me. I hope this helps anyone struggling with forgiveness, as it has helped me. Again, it simply is a conversation, "stolen" (copied) from this book, and it is just part, as I really don't want to ruin this book, for anyone who has yet to read it. In this book the man refers to God as Papa, it is beautiful, but I will stop now, in fear that I will carry on for eternity. Another note, as I copied directly from the text of the book, there is some "harsh" language, not intended to offend anyone, I felt it was real, and honest enough that I felt the need to leave it in. Please take whatever precaution you need, knowing the below texts contains some "harsh" language.
MAN: "Papa, how can I ever forgive that son of a bitch who..."
GOD: "...for you to forgive this man is for you to release him to me and allow me to redeem him."
MAN: "Redeem him?"..."I don't want you to redeem him! I want you to hurt him, to punish him, to put him in hell"...
MAN: ..."I'm stuck, Papa. I can't just forget what he did, can I?"...
GOD: "Forgiveness is not about forgetting,"..."It is about letting go of another person's throat."
MAN: "But I thought you forgot our sins."
GOD: ..."I am God. I forgot nothing. I know everything. So forgetting for me is the choice to limit myself."...
GOD: ..."because of Jesus, there is now no law demanding that I bring your sins back to mind. They are gone when it comes to you and me, and they run no interference in our relationship."
MAN: "But this man..."
GOD: "But he too is my son. I want to redeem him."
MAN: "So what then? I just forgive him and everything is okay, and we become buddies?"...
GOD: "You don't have a relationship with this man, at least not yet. Forgiveness does not establish relationship. In Jesus I have forgiven all humans for their sins against me, but only some choose relationship..."
GOD: ..."don't you see that forgiveness is an incredible power -- a power you share with us, a power Jesus gives to all he indwells so that reconciliation can grow? When Jesus forgave those who nailed him to the cross, they were no longer in his debt, nor mine. In my relationship with those men, I will never bring up what they did or shame or embarrass them."
MAN: "I don't think I can do this"...
GOD: "I want you to. Forgiveness is first for you, the forgiver," ... "to release you from something that will eat you alive, that will destroy your joy and your ability to love fully and openly. Do you think this man cares about the pain and torment you have gone through? If anything, he feeds on that knowledge. Don't you want to cut that off? And in doing so, you'll release him from a burden that he carries whether he knows it or not--acknowledges it or not. When you choose to forgive another, you love him well."
MAN: "I do not love him." GOD: "Not today, you don't. But I do,"... "not for what he's become, but for the broken child that has been twisted by his pain. I want to help you take on the nature that find's more power in love and forgiveness than hate."
MAN: "So does that mean"... ..."that if I forgive this man, then I let him play with..." (my children and my grandchildren)?
GOD: ..."I already told you that forgiveness does not create a relationship. Unless people speak the truth about what they have done and change their minds and behavior; a relationship of trust is not possible. When you forgive someone you certainly release him from judgement, but without true change, no real relationship can be established."
MAN: "So forgiveness does not require me to pretend what he did never happened?"
GOD: "How can you? You forgave..." "Will you ever forget what he did to you?"
MAN: "I don't think so."
GOD: "But now you can love him in the face of it, His change allows for that. Forgiveness in no way requires that you trust the one you forgive. But should he finally confess and repent, you will discover a miracle in your own heart that allows you to reach out and begin to build between you a bridge or reconciliation. And sometimes--and this may seem incomprehensible to you right now--that road may even take you to a miracle of fully restored trust."
MAN: ..."Papa, I think I understand what you're saying. But it feels like if I forgive this guy he gets off free. How do I excuse what he did? Is it fair to"..."if I don't stay angry with him?"
GOD: ..."forgiveness does not excuse anything. Believe me, the last thing this man is, is free. And you have no duty to justice in this. I will handle that."...
GOD: ...."Because of my presence in" (you)..."That is the only way true forgiveness is ever possible."
MAN: ..."Help me, Papa. Help me! What do I do? How do I forgive him?"
GOD: "Tell him."
MAN: ......"How, Papa?"
GOD: "Just say it out loud. There is power in what my children declare."
MAN: ..."{began to whisper in tones at first halfhearted and stumbling, but then with increasing conviction,}" "I forgive you, I forgive you, I forgive you."
MAN: ........."So is it all right if I'm still angry?"
GOD: ..."Absolutely! What he did was terrible. He caused incredible pain to many. It was wrong, and anger is the right response to something that is so wrong. But don't let the anger and pain and loss you feel prevent you from forgiving him and removing your hands from around his neck."
GOD: ..."Son, you may have to declare your forgiveness a hundred times the first day and the second day, but the third day will be less and each day after, until one day you will realize that you have forgiven completely. And then one day you will pray for his wholeness and give him over to me so that my love will burn from his life every vestige of corruption. As incomprehensible as it sounds at this moment, you may well know this man in a different context one day." Some of this might not make complete sense, so again my hope is that you will read this book. To others you may disagree with the doctrine...theology...behind some of these words, to those, I am not interested in debating. My hope solely in writing this out, is that it will bring healing and hope to a few of you that is struggling with forgiving someone in your life, that is difficult to forgive. My simple hope is that God teaches me to forgive in and through Him, and frees me from my wounds, my hurt, and my anger. My simple and selfish hope in this that Leann will embrace this and forgive those that have wounded her so. That my children too will embrace this and forgive those that have wounded them so, including forgiving me. Thank you for reading this, and I hope this changes you and your perspective as it has changed mine. I spent some time diving into the Word searching God's words for forgiveness. For both Christ forgiving our sins and how we are to forgive others that wrong us. I also spent some time studying how God's desire for us to live at peace with each other, as I believe that is directly related. Please read over what I have been studying these last weeks and I hope in enlightens you and draws you to a closer walk with Christ as it has with me.
Forgiving Others:
Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Matthew 18:21 ...Lord how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times? Jesus answered: I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Forgiving Self:
Matthew 6:12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Luke 11:4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
I am not sure why, but I have been marveling at the consistency in the Bible when God talks about forgiveness, he always relates forgiving others being directly related in Him forgiving us. I also marvel and how often forgiveness and love go hand in hand. Christ has been revealing to me how I have often played the judge and the jury which was never my right, nor my place. I am learning to allow Christ be the judge of myself and of others. I am learning to love them, just as I am, sinners searching out a Savior. I hope you will do the same. I through the last Colossians reference in there as God has been showing me so much about redemption, and I love it, but that is for another time, another writing.
Living in Peace with each other:
1 Thessalonians 5:12-18 ...respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. ...warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful alway; praying continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
I Corinthians 7:15 ...God has called us to live in peace.
1 Peter 3:8-12 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who so evil.
Podcast
FORGIVENESS There is a book that I read and strongly recommend it to anyone and everyone. THE SHACK, By William Paul Young. It helped me a lot as I wrestled in my own anger towards God and towards man. As I wrestled in the grief of losing loved ones, mainly my son Jabez, as I wrestled with the justices and injustices of the World, as I wrestled with God, in prison. It has forever changed my perspective, and changed my life. I want to "steal" (or copy) a conversation a man has with God while in his own pain, is wresting with God over the idea of forgiveness. This is one of the many things that God is really currently working on me. I hope this helps anyone struggling with forgiveness, as it has helped me. Again, it simply is a conversation, "stolen" (copied) from this book, and it is just part, as I really don't want to ruin this book, for anyone who has yet to read it. In this book the man refers to God as Papa, it is beautiful, but I will stop now, in fear that I will carry on for eternity. Another note, as I copied directly from the text of the book, there is some "harsh" language, not intended to offend anyone, I felt it was real, and honest enough that I felt the need to leave it in. Please take whatever precaution you need, knowing the below texts contains some "harsh" language.
MAN: "Papa, how can I ever forgive that son of a bitch who..."
GOD: "...for you to forgive this man is for you to release him to me and allow me to redeem him."
MAN: "Redeem him?"..."I don't want you to redeem him! I want you to hurt him, to punish him, to put him in hell"...
MAN: ..."I'm stuck, Papa. I can't just forget what he did, can I?"...
GOD: "Forgiveness is not about forgetting,"..."It is about letting go of another person's throat."
MAN: "But I thought you forgot our sins."
GOD: ..."I am God. I forgot nothing. I know everything. So forgetting for me is the choice to limit myself."...
GOD: ..."because of Jesus, there is now no law demanding that I bring your sins back to mind. They are gone when it comes to you and me, and they run no interference in our relationship."
MAN: "But this man..."
GOD: "But he too is my son. I want to redeem him."
MAN: "So what then? I just forgive him and everything is okay, and we become buddies?"...
GOD: "You don't have a relationship with this man, at least not yet. Forgiveness does not establish relationship. In Jesus I have forgiven all humans for their sins against me, but only some choose relationship..."
GOD: ..."don't you see that forgiveness is an incredible power -- a power you share with us, a power Jesus gives to all he indwells so that reconciliation can grow? When Jesus forgave those who nailed him to the cross, they were no longer in his debt, nor mine. In my relationship with those men, I will never bring up what they did or shame or embarrass them."
MAN: "I don't think I can do this"...
GOD: "I want you to. Forgiveness is first for you, the forgiver," ... "to release you from something that will eat you alive, that will destroy your joy and your ability to love fully and openly. Do you think this man cares about the pain and torment you have gone through? If anything, he feeds on that knowledge. Don't you want to cut that off? And in doing so, you'll release him from a burden that he carries whether he knows it or not--acknowledges it or not. When you choose to forgive another, you love him well."
MAN: "I do not love him." GOD: "Not today, you don't. But I do,"... "not for what he's become, but for the broken child that has been twisted by his pain. I want to help you take on the nature that find's more power in love and forgiveness than hate."
MAN: "So does that mean"... ..."that if I forgive this man, then I let him play with..." (my children and my grandchildren)?
GOD: ..."I already told you that forgiveness does not create a relationship. Unless people speak the truth about what they have done and change their minds and behavior; a relationship of trust is not possible. When you forgive someone you certainly release him from judgement, but without true change, no real relationship can be established."
MAN: "So forgiveness does not require me to pretend what he did never happened?"
GOD: "How can you? You forgave..." "Will you ever forget what he did to you?"
MAN: "I don't think so."
GOD: "But now you can love him in the face of it, His change allows for that. Forgiveness in no way requires that you trust the one you forgive. But should he finally confess and repent, you will discover a miracle in your own heart that allows you to reach out and begin to build between you a bridge or reconciliation. And sometimes--and this may seem incomprehensible to you right now--that road may even take you to a miracle of fully restored trust."
MAN: ..."Papa, I think I understand what you're saying. But it feels like if I forgive this guy he gets off free. How do I excuse what he did? Is it fair to"..."if I don't stay angry with him?"
GOD: ..."forgiveness does not excuse anything. Believe me, the last thing this man is, is free. And you have no duty to justice in this. I will handle that."...
GOD: ...."Because of my presence in" (you)..."That is the only way true forgiveness is ever possible."
MAN: ..."Help me, Papa. Help me! What do I do? How do I forgive him?"
GOD: "Tell him."
MAN: ......"How, Papa?"
GOD: "Just say it out loud. There is power in what my children declare."
MAN: ..."{began to whisper in tones at first halfhearted and stumbling, but then with increasing conviction,}" "I forgive you, I forgive you, I forgive you."
MAN: ........."So is it all right if I'm still angry?"
GOD: ..."Absolutely! What he did was terrible. He caused incredible pain to many. It was wrong, and anger is the right response to something that is so wrong. But don't let the anger and pain and loss you feel prevent you from forgiving him and removing your hands from around his neck."
GOD: ..."Son, you may have to declare your forgiveness a hundred times the first day and the second day, but the third day will be less and each day after, until one day you will realize that you have forgiven completely. And then one day you will pray for his wholeness and give him over to me so that my love will burn from his life every vestige of corruption. As incomprehensible as it sounds at this moment, you may well know this man in a different context one day." Some of this might not make complete sense, so again my hope is that you will read this book. To others you may disagree with the doctrine...theology...behind some of these words, to those, I am not interested in debating. My hope solely in writing this out, is that it will bring healing and hope to a few of you that is struggling with forgiving someone in your life, that is difficult to forgive. My simple hope is that God teaches me to forgive in and through Him, and frees me from my wounds, my hurt, and my anger. My simple and selfish hope in this that Leann will embrace this and forgive those that have wounded her so. That my children too will embrace this and forgive those that have wounded them so, including forgiving me. Thank you for reading this, and I hope this changes you and your perspective as it has changed mine. I spent some time diving into the Word searching God's words for forgiveness. For both Christ forgiving our sins and how we are to forgive others that wrong us. I also spent some time studying how God's desire for us to live at peace with each other, as I believe that is directly related. Please read over what I have been studying these last weeks and I hope in enlightens you and draws you to a closer walk with Christ as it has with me.
Forgiving Others:
Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Matthew 18:21 ...Lord how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times? Jesus answered: I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Forgiving Self:
Matthew 6:12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Luke 11:4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
I am not sure why, but I have been marveling at the consistency in the Bible when God talks about forgiveness, he always relates forgiving others being directly related in Him forgiving us. I also marvel and how often forgiveness and love go hand in hand. Christ has been revealing to me how I have often played the judge and the jury which was never my right, nor my place. I am learning to allow Christ be the judge of myself and of others. I am learning to love them, just as I am, sinners searching out a Savior. I hope you will do the same. I through the last Colossians reference in there as God has been showing me so much about redemption, and I love it, but that is for another time, another writing.
Living in Peace with each other:
1 Thessalonians 5:12-18 ...respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. ...warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful alway; praying continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
I Corinthians 7:15 ...God has called us to live in peace.
1 Peter 3:8-12 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who so evil.
Podcast
Note to Followers
12/10/11 12:26
Faithful readers:
I realize this is Leann’s blog, and most of you would rather just read her blogs, but every once in a while I hijack it and add a bunch of blogs myself. This is what I have done. Feel free to read, feel free not to read. Please DON’T comment anonymously, that is annoying, I will try to never secretly talk bad about someone, if I have something to say about someone that is negative know that I have already shared with them personally, or tried to do so, and eliminate using gossip and naming individuals, organizations, or Church(es) specifically out of respect and honor more to Christ, but also to them. Also this is not a reflection of KenbeFem Ministry, Global Effect Ministry, or any other ministry I am representing at any given moment.
I have spoken many Churches over the past few weeks, Baptist, Christian Church, Methodist, Evangel-Free, Reformed, Catholic, to name a few. They have all been great experiences, and different experiences, from 40 people in attendance to over 4,000 people in attendance. Where I have had to wear dress pants and a tie, to wearing blue jeans and flip flops.
I feel similar emotion here as I do in Haiti that I have been more blessed then a blessing I have been to other people. That doesn’t surprise some as I am obviously NOT a professional speaker, between talking too fast to the ums and uhs, I sometime bore myself, and wish I could sleep through my speeches. But my prayer each stop has remained the same. It is a simple prayer. Father God, please meet our needs. Father God, please show up and use me, speak through me, let it by Your words and not my own. Father God, please change one individual by what I am sharing today, amen. I know He has, He has changed me each time, and I know He is changing others.
If you have not heard me speak in person and you want too, I will include a few links below of when I have spoken in Churches and they have recorded it as a podcast, so you can hear it. Thanks for reading, thanks for listening, thanks for caring.
Danny Pye
http://www.calvarychristianrockford.com/
http://www.conduitchurch.com/
http://www.cherokeechurch.org/sermons/
I realize this is Leann’s blog, and most of you would rather just read her blogs, but every once in a while I hijack it and add a bunch of blogs myself. This is what I have done. Feel free to read, feel free not to read. Please DON’T comment anonymously, that is annoying, I will try to never secretly talk bad about someone, if I have something to say about someone that is negative know that I have already shared with them personally, or tried to do so, and eliminate using gossip and naming individuals, organizations, or Church(es) specifically out of respect and honor more to Christ, but also to them. Also this is not a reflection of KenbeFem Ministry, Global Effect Ministry, or any other ministry I am representing at any given moment.
I have spoken many Churches over the past few weeks, Baptist, Christian Church, Methodist, Evangel-Free, Reformed, Catholic, to name a few. They have all been great experiences, and different experiences, from 40 people in attendance to over 4,000 people in attendance. Where I have had to wear dress pants and a tie, to wearing blue jeans and flip flops.
I feel similar emotion here as I do in Haiti that I have been more blessed then a blessing I have been to other people. That doesn’t surprise some as I am obviously NOT a professional speaker, between talking too fast to the ums and uhs, I sometime bore myself, and wish I could sleep through my speeches. But my prayer each stop has remained the same. It is a simple prayer. Father God, please meet our needs. Father God, please show up and use me, speak through me, let it by Your words and not my own. Father God, please change one individual by what I am sharing today, amen. I know He has, He has changed me each time, and I know He is changing others.
If you have not heard me speak in person and you want too, I will include a few links below of when I have spoken in Churches and they have recorded it as a podcast, so you can hear it. Thanks for reading, thanks for listening, thanks for caring.
Danny Pye
http://www.calvarychristianrockford.com/
http://www.conduitchurch.com/
http://www.cherokeechurch.org/sermons/