I AM FORGIVEN!!!!

Once again, I find myself writing about GOD’S AMAZING LOVE!!!  And I know that because of HIS AMAZING LOVE, I AM FORGIVEN!!!


I cannot imagine dying for folks that have NOT even been born yet-folks who may or may not appreciate the sacrifice that I am making for them!!! 


And yet that is exactly what OUR LORD and SAVIOR did!!!     


As I was writing about forgiveness the other day, I kept hearing the words to You Are My King (Amazing Love) by the Newsboys.  It is a wonderful song with words that are definitely GOD-INSPIRED!!! 


This song is one of my alarm tones.  If you have an Android Phone or a Blackberry, or perhaps even an I-Phone then you know exactly what I am talking about.


And if you don’t, then please let me explain. 


As most of you know, we live in the ever popular age of battery-powered gadgets.  Most people cannot live without their tablets, or laptops, but most especially their phones.   


Folks keep track of their lives on their phones.  They use their calendar to schedule appointments, and to remind them of upcoming events.  Their phones have notepads of all sorts, where they write down important things.  They put their friends’ names in their contacts list.  And most importantly, they set their phone alarm (or alarms) to wake them up and help them be on time.


And in this fast-paced electronic age, I am no exception.  I have long since used my alarm to alert me of the time and keep me on track. 


Most people’s phones will play songs and so you often hear of folks downloading music to their phones.  This allows folks to use specially selected songs as their alarm tones.  And my phone is no different.  One of the songs that I have downloaded and selected to be an alarm tone is You Are My King (Amazing Love) by the Newsboys.   


You might ask, Why? 


It is simple.  I love this song because of the words!!!  They pierce my heart and soul because they are straight from GOD!!! 


Every time I hear the words of this song, I am reminded that I AM FORGIVEN!!! 


You see, I know that I do NOT deserve to be forgiven, but I know that I AM!!!  I know that GOD LOVED ME SO MUCH, that HE SENT HIS ONE AND ONLY SON TO DIE ON THE CROSS FOR ME!!!   


I AM FORGIVEN BECAUSE CHRIST CHOSE TO DIE TO SAVE ME FROM MY SINS!!!


AND SO ARE YOU!!!


Even though you do NOT deserve it, YOU ARE FORGIVEN, BECAUSE CHRIST CHOSE TO DIE ON THE CROSS FOR YOU!!! 


1 John 1:9 (NKJV) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.


GOD SENT HIS SON TO DIE FOR YOU ON THAT OLD RUGGED CROSS!!!


John 3:16 (NCV) God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life.


Is there anyone who deserves to be forgiven???  NOPE!!!! 


BUT HE LOVES US ANYWAY!!! 


HE CHOSE TO DIE FOR US, so that we could have eternal life!!!


This song reminds me of that!!! 


As I hear the words, I am reminded over and over again that I AM FORGIVEN!!!  And I like that!!!


What wonderful words to hear as you wake up, “I'M FORGIVEN!!!” 


Here are the words to this beautiful song!!!  The title of this post is linked to a video of this song.  Just click and enjoy!!!  


You Are My King (Amazing Love) – Newsboys


I'm forgiven because You were forsaken
I'm accepted, You were condemned
I'm alive and well, Your Spirit is within me
Because You died and rose again

I'm forgiven because You were forsaken
I'm accepted, You were condemned
I'm alive and well, Your Spirit is within me
Because You died and rose again

Amazing love, how can it be
That You, my King, should die for me?
Amazing love, I know it's true
It's my joy to honor You
In all I do, To honor You

I'm forgiven because You were forsaken
I'm accepted, You were condemned
I'm alive and well, Your Spirit is within me
Because You died and rose again

Amazing love, how can it be
That You, my King, should die for me?
Amazing love, I know it's true
It's my joy to honor You
In all I do, To honor You
In all I do, To honor You

You are my King
You are my King
Jesus, You are my King
You are my King

Amazing love, how can it be
That You, my King, should die for me?
Amazing love, I know it's true
It's my joy to honor You

Amazing love, how can it be
That You, my King, should die for me?
Amazing love, I know it's true
It's my joy to honor You
In all I do, To honor You

In all I do, To honor You,
In all I do, To honor You,
In all I do, Let me honor You.

Have You Forgiven That Person???

You know the one I mean.


Hmmm…  You don’t know? 


Well, here is how you find out.


How do you feel when you think about that person?  What about when someone else talks about them? 


Do you get angry all over again?  Do you want to tell everyone how much they hurt you?  And just what they did to you?   


If so, that means that you have NOT forgiven them!!! 


And you know what? 


You have to FORGIVE THEM!!! 

Ephesians 4:32 (NCV) Be kind and loving to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ.

IT ISN’T FOR THEM; IT’S FOR YOU!!!


FORGIVENESS DOESN’T HELP THEM OUT!!!  IT HELPS YOU OUT!!!  IT SETS YOU FREE!!!!! 


I heard the best analogy about UNFORGIVENESS!!!  I was listening to John Hagee preach and he used this analogy to explain unforgiveness. 


When you have anger and unforgiveness in your heart, it is like being locked in a jail cell and giving that person the key!!!


When you forgive that person, you are taking back the key and unlocking the door!!!  By forgiving others, you are setting yourself FREE!!!


We can forgive others because JESUS FIRST FORGAVE US!!!


I know, I know.  You don’t know if you can forgive that person.  NOT after what they did! 


You need GOD’S HELP TO FORGIVE OTHERS!!!  We ALL do!!!

And you know what?  If we ask HIM to help us forgive others, HE WILL!!! 

You have to remember that FORGIVENESS IS A CHOICE!!!  IT IS A CHOICE THAT YOU MAKE!!!  You have to CHOOSE TO FORGIVE!!! 

Colossians 3:12-13 (NCV)

¹² God has chosen you and made you his holy people. He loves you. So you should always clothe yourselves with mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other, and forgive each other. If someone does wrong to you, forgive that person because the Lord forgave you.


Just remember.  First, you decide to forgive, and then your feelings will follow!!! 

I have to warn you!!!  It doesn’t end with just deciding to forgive someone. 


You have to make sure that you KEEP ON FORGIVING THEM EVERY DAY!!!


WHY?  What do I mean? 


Well, sometimes, even when you have truly forgiven a person, you see them (maybe even years later) and all of those old feelings of hurt and anger will try to rise up inside of you.  All of a sudden, you remember things that you haven’t thought of in years.

 
When those old feelings try to rise up, you have to tell yourself, that you have forgiven that person and that you are NOT going to be angry or upset.   


If you listen to the devil, he will tell you that you did NOT truly forgive that person!!!  But he is a liar and the truth is NOT in him!!!  John 8:44


That old liar will do ALL that he can to stir up feelings of anger and hatred in you.  He wants to keep you locked up in that jail cell!!! 


You have to learn to tell him to SHUT UP, because he will try to dredge up old feelings and past hurts. 


You have to learn to say, NO, NO, devil!!!  I HAVE FORGIVEN THAT PERSON!!!  

Do you know that Jesus forgave everyone of us, even those who crucified HIM?

Luke 23:32-34 (NKJV)

³² There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death.
³³ And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.
³⁴ Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”


If JESUS can forgive the people who tortured, and crucified HIM, then surely we can FORGIVE others!!!