Give Up Your Rights

Wrongs disguised as rights.

"You have the right to hate them after what they put you through."

"You have the right to be angry at him for what he did."

“You have every right to never speak to her again after what she said."

These are words we have all heard when we have been treated unjustly. When we confide in friends and relatives about our troubles, they often sympathize with us and reaffirm our right to nourish anger, bitterness and resentment toward others. 

But wait, let's consider this. Are these “rights” scriptural? Does scripture affirm our “right” to hang onto anger, unforgiveness and resentment towards others when we’ve been mistreated?

No matter how hard we try to justify withholding forgiveness from others, deep down we all know this isn’t true. We all know that Jesus is mercy personified and was unwavering in his teachings on forgiveness. The word of God tells us repeatedly that we have no right to be angry, bitter, malicious or vengeful. The only God-given right that we have when treated badly is to forgive our neighbor from our heart. The only God-given right we have when we see faults in others is to overlook them. 

In fact, the great evangelist, Paul, taught us that when we hang onto anger, bitterness and resentment, we grieve the Holy Spirit, causing Him great emotional distress, heartache and sorrow. 

“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you,”  (Ephesians 4:30-32).

Let’s examine scripture and allow our mindsets and attitudes to be washed clean and purified by the Word of God so that we may become truly holy.

“Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the Church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27).

Jesus Generously Offers Forgiveness

Jesus generously offered forgiveness to sinners, stating simply “Your sins are forgiven,” (Matt 9:2, Mk 2:9, Lk 5:20, Lk 7:48). He said these beautiful words of mercy to the paralytic and to the woman weeping and kissing his feet, and was equally merciful to the woman caught in adultery.

He offered forgiveness to the thief at his side as he looked at him and said, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise,” (Luke 23:43).

He even indirectly prayed for the forgiveness of those who mocked him, insulted him, stripped him naked and crucified him saying “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they are doing,” (Luke 23:34).

….and, in every moment, Jesus willingly offers the same generous forgiveness to us.

Jesus Teaches Us To Forgive As He Does

“But I say to who that hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you,” (Luke 6:27-28).

Jesus places no limits on his command that we extend forgiveness from our hearts, even to those we count as our enemies. Whether our lives have been marked by abandonment, abuse, criticism, injustice, war, kidnapping, addiction, adultery, betrayal, racism or other forms of heartless cruelty, his command is the same. We are to mirror the merciful heart of our Father in heaven.

“Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful,” (Luke 6:35-36).  

Jesus Extends An Awesome Promise To Us

A wonderful reward of developing a forgiving heart is an assurance of divine forgiveness.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy,” (Matthew 5:1).

“If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,” (Matthew 6:14).

“Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against any one; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses,” (Mark 11:25).

“Judge not, and you will not be judged;

Condemn not and you will not be condemned;

Forgive, and you will be forgiven,' (Luke 6: 37).

A Beautiful Example In The First Martyr, Stephen

Let’s give up our “rights” to be angry and bitter and instead follow the teachings of Christ. Let’s strive to become like Stephen who had the face of an angel (see Acts 6:15) and imitated Christ’s forgiving heart perfectly. As he was being stoned to death, Stephen “knelt down and cried out with a loud voice 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them,'" (Acts 7:59-60).

Just moments before his death, Stephen, “full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55).

Is it possible that Jesus stood up to welcome Stephen into heaven because he had a forgiving heart that mirrored His heart? A standing ovation from Jesus Christ! That in itself is a wonderful motivation to practice forgiveness!

Let’s meditate on Christ’s teachings day and night, put his teachings of forgiveness into practice, and make our hearts so pure and loving that Jesus says to us: “You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you,” (John 15:3).

With his grace, we can forgive the unthinkable and receive indescribable rewards in heaven...and perhaps even a standing ovation!

**I highly recommend that you read “Total Forgiveness” by R. T. Kendall which gives the best explanation of forgiveness that I’ve ever come across. It has changed my heart immensely.

About the Author:

Nneka Bosland is from Trinidad & Tobago and seeking to love Christ with all her heart, mind and soul. She has worked with charities in both Trinidad and Jamaica and is happiest when embracing orphans and bringing smiles to their beautiful faces.

Lines Drawn in the Sand

I look around me and see fragments everywhere. I see fault lines, fractures, fissures, and lines drawn in the sand. Dark, bold imaginary lines divide spaces between nations and peoples. If we would just lift the modern grid that brackets the world into categories and territories, we would realize that we all inhabit the same space, one earth, and one planet. When it benefits us the most we ignore the basic characteristics that we all share as humankind and when it benefits us the least we focus on the need to be synchronized, to be similar, and accepted into the unspoken order of passive agreement. We forego the opportunity to celebrate the rich colors of our diversity for the chance to be uniform and accept the passive modes of our society as an illusion of peace. When we look at our diversity all we see is cause for division and conflict without resolution; we hold tightly to our own versions of the truth without first seeking something higher. We cannot come down from our own platforms of righteousness, look each other in the eye, and take time to listen, and to understand. So with an eerie uniformity we staunchly maintain our barriers. 

I want to put the pieces together, but not in the way that would result in a whole picture. I don’t want to assume that my picture of wholeness is right for everyone. I would to put the pieces together so that they make a picture all their own; the pieces will determine the result. There is no foreknowledge of this picture, other than that it is meant to be a whole picture. Those who are putting the pieces together cannot see what it being made. All they know is that there is something right about coming together for one purpose: to put the pieces together after years and years of separation. Unity without uniformity and diversity without division; this is all we know of our picture.
As God’s people we are at the front-center of this project. We have been called as the body of Christ to unite underneath the umbrella of God’s grace and mercy. Yet, as Christians, we know how easily a group will divide. Our family has experienced schism after schism and separation after separation. We are a diverse and dysfunctional group with our own boundaries and lines drawn in the sand. We take sides and go our separate ways without recalling the crux of our identity. There is one God, one Spirit, one Savior, and one body. No matter how far we separate from one another this will never be any less true. We work together despite our diversity, as each does its part we build up the kingdom of God. Listen to the words of St. Paul:
"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free-and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many," (1 Corinthians 12: 12-14).
Let our churches and communities celebrate the diversity in which God, through one Spirit, bestowed upon us. Our gifts, our strengths, and our personalities give witness to the colorful brush strokes of our creator, God. They are not placed within us to divide, separate, and fence out. The Spirit guides the work of each as it does its part in bringing in the kingdom of God. Our diversity becomes a burden only when we begin to see different parts as inferior. Our own sense of superiority and power begins to break down the arrangement God initially laid down for the body of Christ. Paul warns against this when he says, 
“But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another,” (1 Corinthians 12:24b-25). 

Human conceptions of power and hierarchy have no place in Christ’s body.
Let us not worry about the scars and jagged pieces that are being placed together. Let them remain so that future generations will understand the consequences of division born of power and misunderstanding. Let’s give our children a picture of random, jagged pieces that have come together in an exquisitely flawless landscape. Let us give them a recklessly beautiful picture of brokenness, of redemption, of longing, and of fulfillment. And may they finally begin to erase those lines we have drawn in the sand.

About the Author :

Sarah Dannemiller is a crazy-confused post-grad from central Indiana who is a curious, fun-loving individual doing her best to leave a legacy of love and laughter. She might have the tendency to obsess over words, corny jokes, and delicious cookie-dough ice cream! But she has a passion for justice, believes in this world, and the good work that God is doing in it.

The Winter Glow

The winter months are vastly approaching, and that means there is a new set of beauty issues to deal with. The most common beauty problem of cold weather is dry, cracked, dull skin. As the air gets more crisp and harsh, it strips our skin of its moisture and radiance. Luckily, I have a few easy tips to help you combat this pesky problem:

• Hydrate. We can apply lotions and creams all day long, but truly healthy and soft skin comes from the inside. Be sure to drink plenty of water everyday to hydrate not just your skin, but for your overall health as well. Also, by turning the heat on in our homes our skin gets parched. Use a humidifier to add moisture into the air to hydrate your skin as well.

• Cleanse+Exfoliate. Look for a mild cleanser that has a milky or creamy formula, and cleanse twice a day. Be sure to use lukewarm water. I know it's tempting to turn on that scolding hot water when we wash our faces or take our showers, but it scorches our skin and rids it of moisture. Also, remember to use an exfoliating scrub on your face and body 1-2 times a week. This will slough off all the dead cells and dry skin flakes that give our skin that dull, rough look.

• Moisturize. This one is obvious but super important. Try using a thicker, creamier formula for a face moisturizer and body lotion. The trick here is to apply lotions and cream 2-3 minutes after washing your face or showering in order to prevent your skin from drying out too quickly. And don't forget to moisturize the hands and use a good lip balm to prevent dry, cracked hands and lips as well. They not only look bad, but they can be super painful.

• Masks. A hydrating face mask is a great way to give your dry skin some love if it is especially troublesome, or if you just need a little pampering. There are plenty of masks on the market at all prices, or you can simply make your own. My favorite one in particular is mixing ground oats with milk and honey, leaving it on for twenty minutes or longer. There are tons of homemade mask recipes on Pinterest and the Internet, so mix and match as you please!

• Makeup. Swap your light, summery makeup formulas for more creamy ones- like in your foundation and blush. Be sure to avoid powder products as they will only make your skin look more dry and dull. Add a little moisturizing lip color and you'll look as vibrant and radiant as ever!

About the Author :

Ashlyn is a small town girl with a big heart for family, laughter, and all things beautiful. This history nerd enjoys taking walks, yoga, delicious food, and of course, fashion and beauty. She desires most to see a world where women have true and deep relationships with themselves through Christ.

Slave of Slaves: From Chains to Grace

Amazing grace.

Who among us doesn’t know the words and melody of this timeless hymn? It’s constantly played – in churches, at funerals and weddings, and even in public. Amazing Grace has almost become clichéd. The words roll aimlessly off our tongues when we sing it, almost mechanical. After all, who hasn’t heard it at some point in their life? Chances are that the great majority of us can sing at least the first stanza by heart.

A few days ago, I was struck by how sad this really is.

There is nothing aimless, cliché, or passive about grace. God didn’t take it lightly when He bestowed it upon us. After all, His only begotten Son died so that we could be restored “by grace through faith” to the perfect love relationship we were created to have with Him. So why is Amazing Grace almost seen as overused?

Maybe it’s because few people have actually heard the story behind the song. Penned around 1773 and published by John Newton in 1779, the hymn was actually originally titled Faith’s Review and Expectation. And the story behind the words is even more compelling.

Let’s just say that John Newton was wild. Pressed into service against his will and compelled to serve in the Royal Navy, embitterment worked heavily against the good principles his godly Christian mother had endeavored to instill in him as a child. Being captured and made a public example of after attempting to desert his ship did little to improve his spiritual state. He made such a menace of himself that his captain gladly transferred him to work on the Pegasus – an Atlantic slave ship.

The harrowing events John both witnessed and participated in are too grotesque to describe in detail. Murders, immorality, drunkenness, revelry, and the cruel treatment of hundreds of slaves played a huge part in John’s life. Eventually, he became so debauched and merciless that he was hated even of his own shipmates. At one point during his career, he was even kept as a slave – to slaves. Nothing, it seemed, could bring this hardened wretch out of his sin and into the glorious light of the gospel.

Except for one powerful element… Grace.

John Newton had been raised by a godly mother. And her prayers during his childhood that he would grow up to preach the gospel as a clergyman did not go unheard. Those many years later, when in the height of his sin, God touched his heart. During a severe storm, he called out to the Lord in the torments of a guilty conscience. Sometime later, according to his own account of his conversion, he trusted in Jesus by faith through grace and was saved.

And, as God would have it, John Newton was the man who heavily influenced young William Wilberforce – the valiant Parliament member who fought to end slavery and bestow rights upon missionaries in British-controlled India.

That is the power of grace. That is the meaning of the word amazing in the song title. God’s love and forgiveness extend even to the lowest sinner. And the same grace is extended to you and me. We were all enslaved to sin, but the Lord removed the chains. Like John Newton, I believe all of us can say “I remember two things clearly. I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior!”.

"Amazing grace! How sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but not am found,

Was blind, but now I see."

About the Author :

Alicia A. Willis is a home-school graduate, published author, and avid historian. She is a firm believer in the principle that one can accomplish anything by substantial amounts of prayer and coffee. Visit her at her blog or Facebook to view her historical-fiction novels and all the goings-on between writing.

Esther: For Such A Time As This

My life as I had known it was falling apart. The one man I loved so deeply, my grandpa, was unexpectedly called home to be with the Lord. The so-called marriage I was in had completely and irreparably disintegrated.  

Suddenly, I was alone with a house in foreclosure and forced to file bankruptcy.  I was abandoned by friends and incomprehensibly written off by my very own family. Feeling completely isolated from those that claimed to love me, I was overwhelmed and felt I had no place to turn.  It was all too much to handle.  Why was I in this situation? What had I done to deserve life in such a lonely place?   Bitter tears flowed like a river, as my heart cried out in pain.    

And, then, I remembered the story of Esther. 

Esther was a beautiful Jewish girl living in Babylon.  An orphan, her cousin, Mordecai, adopted her. He provided the family that she never had, or in my case, had lost.

Unbeknownst to her, the entire Jewish race was in danger of being annihilated from the face of the earth.  Why she seemed destined to lose her very heritage, until her life took an unexpected turn. 

She was one of the virgins chosen to prepare for the possibility of one day becoming queen.  In order to “compete,” she had to leave behind everyone and everything she had ever loved or known.

Thus, Esther was whisked away to be pampered and “made-over” for a period of one year preparing for the big contest.  

What if the king were to break the long tradition of choosing a wife from one of the seven most important families in Persia?  What if, he, instead, chose Esther to be his wife, and, thus, the queen?  

I doubt seriously if Esther ever once considered this life for herself.  Her wildest dreams could not have taken her down this path, on this journey. 

Esther did go before the king.  He did choose her as his wife.  She did become queen.  

Oh, but the story does not end here.  It, is, actually, just beginning.

Queen Esther uncovers, with Mordecai’s help, a most insidious and diabolical plot to murder all of the Jews. 

Concocted by the second most powerful man in the entire kingdom, the evil Haman’s intentions were shocking beyond belief. He was going to kill every Jew by hanging them, beginning with Mordecai. 

Truly, she and her cousin were preparing to take some unprecedented risks.

These proposed actions were outrageously audacious for a seemingly insignificant young Jewish girl and her “family,” Mordecai.

Once again, Esther was in a dilemma. As queen, she could not go before the king without being summoned.  In fact, if she did, it was possible that her “husband” would order her execution.  But, the king had to be aware.  To remain quiet was not an option for Queen Esther.

Cousin Mordecai was quick to point out this fact.

"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)

I am convinced that Esther would never have pictured herself in such a circumstance, or entertain the slightest notion that she could hold the lives of the Jewish nation in her hands. 

  

Was this the life she would have mapped out?

Unequivocally, I am convinced; her answer would have been “No.”

But, Esther did go before the king.  She did warn him of his servant’s devious plot.  She did choose to walk in the fullness for which she was created.

As a consequence, Haman was hung on the very gallows he had built to kill the Jews and Esther’s people were saved.

“For such a time as this?”

Perhaps, this same question is one that we ALL should ponder in our hearts and minds.

What if all of the circumstances in our lives are allowed by our Heavenly Father, Papa, to prepare us for some similar Esther-like mission? What if we are being “made over” to equip us for life’s difficult choices?  Just maybe, Father God is growing our faith and maturing us to “Stand before the king?”

How do I know these things?

I am Esther.

I did lose everything.  I was “adopted” into a family that Papa has chosen for me.  I am standing before “the King,” ready and willing to do His bidding.  

I know what it is like to have everything stripped away down to the core of my being and to leave everything familiar behind. 

I do have a heart of compassion for others who may be struggling.  I will reach out to them in love as an encourager.

With heart overflowing, I am here “For Such a Time as This.”

About the Author :

Teena is her name, but she has fallen in love with the nickname, “graciE” her husband gave her. God, who she refers to as Papa, is the focus of her life. Her heart yearns to draw closer to him, moment by moment, through Bible study, prayer, photography and writing.