forgive again?

forgiveness is hard
it makes you dig down deep and fight your selfish self
it boils the evil out and lets the good in us live

forgiveness means there has been a wrong
a burden
a splotch on your canvas
and often when you look around that's you all you see
the dirty spot against you

and forgiveness would mean that you still care about this brother or sister
and forgiveness might mean they would hurt you again...

and I've heard it said
"but I can only forgive so many times...." or "fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on you"

but what does Jesus say.....

²¹ Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
²² Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.^"


forgive again and again and again .....even if its the 8th time or 75th time



linking up with Lisa Jo and some awesome writers, we take five minutes and write on a topic....check 'em out

Five Minute Friday

cherish

john adams said "let us tenderly and kindly cherish, therefore, the means of knowledge.  let us dare to read, think, speak, and write." 

most of the time I don't cherish my thoughts, my writing, my books when i'm in them, only in retrospect and reflection do i value them at all. 

i didn't cherish my education while i got it but now i do. 
i have never ever cherished a trial or test but i am always thankful for the lessons and knowledge learned. 

why is that we can't cherish the moment.....we only cherish the memory.

today i seek to cherish, hold tight, to the means of my knowledge,
                            the writing, the thoughts, the trials.....



I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. Phillipians 4:11

prayers for my baby girl.....she had tubes put in this morning...but she is doing great

ironmans secret identity revealed

dive

love owen's face...."this is my family...scary"

i imagine diving to be beautiful and graceful
i imagine the lean Olympic athlete on the diving board preparing to plummet with skill 
gliding through the water like this is a natural part of life

i am not a diver
i do not arrive lean and courageous
i often arrive on the diving board of life scared and second guessing
and when i jump it is not graceful and the water is not always smooth when i hit the water

and i may not have earthly grace  and i may not have or continue to do life in the right steps with the right technique

but i will still have His grace and He will always be at the bottom of every dive

opportunity of togetherness

as we returned home christmas day from my grandparents for lunch and then my parents for supper, i looked to the back seat and said "what was your favorite thing you got for christmas."  i waited for an answer, expecting one of the many toys, games, perhaps the kindle fire, but the response i received..."getting to spend the whole day together."  and all i could choke back was "me too." 

every day we are given the opportunity to give.  and for the most part all people want is time.  all God wants is time...togetherness.   even the most expensive gifts and toys and the piles of clothes can't compete with the gift of togetherness.

did you take the opportunity to be give the gift of togetherness this Christmas? this day?

can you hear me now

no resolutions
no new years solutions
just one word
one action
one "to do"

LISTEN

can you hear....
that still small voice...
do you hear the things your husband....your children...your coworkers.....
GOD......say
do they resonate, hold firm, or just pass right through


“Listen carefully to what I am saying—and be wary of the shrewd advice that tells you how to get ahead in the world on your own. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes.” Mark 4:24-25