Wishful Homesteader


I live in PA with my wonderful husband and kids, and I want more than anything to be a homesteader...

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How to Forgive

Posted at 08:50 AM on Saturday, April 1, 2006

Another story from my inbox.

 

How To Forgive (WOW)
One day a while back, a man, his heart heavy with grief, was walking in
the
woods. As he thought about his life this day, he knew many things were
not
right. He thought about those who had lied about him back when he had a
job.
His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his things and cheated him.
He remembered family that had passed on. His mind turned to the illness
he
had that no one could cure. His very soul was filled with anger,
resentment
and frustration.
Standing there this day, searching for answers he could not find, knowing
all else had failed him, he knelt at the base of an old oak tree to seek
the
one he knew would always be there. And with tears in his eyes, he prayed:
 "Lord- You have done wonderful things for me in this life. You have told
me
to do many things for you, and I happily obeyed. Today, you have told me
to
forgive. I am sad, Lord, because I cannot. I don't know how. It is not
fair
Lord. I didn't deserve these wrongs that were done against me and I
shouldn't have to forgive. As perfect as your way is Lord, this one thing
I
cannot do, for I don't know how to forgive. My anger is so deep Lord, I
fear
I may not hear you, but I pray that you teach me to do this one thing I
cannot do - Teach me To Forgive."
As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak tree, he felt
something
fall onto his shoulder. He opened his eyes. Out of the corner of one eye,
he
saw something red on his shirt.
He could not turn to see what it was because where the oak tree had been
was
a large square piece of wood in the ground. He raised his head and saw
two
feet held to the wood with a large spike through them.
He raised his head more, and tears came to his eyes as he saw Jesus
hanging
on a cross. He saw spikes in His hands, a gash in His side, a torn and
battered body, deep thorns sunk into His head. Finally he saw  the
suffering and pain on His precious face. As their eyes met, the man's
tears
turned to sobbing, and Jesus began to speak.
 "Have you ever told a lie?" He asked? The man answered - "yes, Lord."
 "Have you ever been given too much change and kept it?" The man
answered -
 "yes. Lord." And the man sobbed more and more.
 "Have you ever taken something from work that wasn't yours?" Jesus asked?
And the man answered - "yes, Lord."
 "Have you ever sworn, using my Father's name in vain?" The man, crying
now,
answered - "yes, Lord."
As Jesus asked many more times, "Have you ever"? The man's crying became
uncontrollable, for he could only answer - "yes, Lord."
Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the other, and the man felt
something fall on his other shoulder. He looked and saw that it was the
blood of Jesus. When he looked back up, his eyes met those of Jesus, and
there was a look of love the man had never seen or known before.
Jesus said, "I didn't deserve this either, but I forgive you." It may be
hard to see how you're going to get through something, but when you look
back in life, you realize how true this statement is. Read the following
first line slowly and let it sink in.
If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it. Lord I love You
and
I need You, come into my heart, today. For without You I can do nothing.



Untitled Comment

Posted by AmyJoBellclapper at 09:11 AM on Saturday, April 1, 2006
wow. That is incredible. I've never read that one before.
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Forgiven

Posted by thatday at 10:01 AM on Saturday, April 1, 2006
Have not read this before - sometimes it is truly hard to forgive . And then I am reminded that alone I cannot forgive - it is only by His Strength that I am able to forgive and to truly love.
- Barb

Edited by thatday on 2006-Apr-1 at 10:07
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