Finding The Secret

More Than Conquerors
November 2003

Forgiveness

“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” —Matthew 6:12

“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘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.’”
—Matthew 18:21, 22

“[Love] keeps no record of wrongs.” —1 Corinthians 13:5

When we pray the prayer that Jesus taught us, we are basing our request for forgiveness on our own ability to forgive others. We shouldn’t be expecting to be forgiven unless we are willing to forgive others. We all need the forgiveness of God, so we need to be willing to forgive those who wrong us.

What is forgiveness? Love, always forgiving, keeps no record of wrongs. When Jesus said to forgive your brother seventy-seven times, He meant that we are not supposed to even count the number of wrongs done against us. This, then, is forgiveness: not keeping record of wrongs done to us, but blessing he who harms us. And if we live this way, always forgiving and never holding grudges, our Father in heaven will certainly forgive us our sins.

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
—Romans 12:17-21

Forgiveness

The key to forgiveness lies, sometimes, buried
Amongst ruins and fire in our hearts.
We seem to hold on to the hurt that’s been caused,
With chains that will not tear apart.

How easy, it seems, to never let go
Of the memories that smolder within;
Preventing the growth and forgiveness inside,
While our brewing continues in sin.

Such a battle, it seems, to forgive one’s deeds
And rid our minds of the torturing pain;
Too soon we discover that it’s holding us back,
Unable to live in God’s name.

Sometimes, we’ll try to get even with those
Whom we feel have cut deep in our hearts ~
When we should really leave the judgment to God;
Thus, allowing ourselves a new start.

When the Lord forgives all the sins that I bare
And allows me to begin a new slate,
Why should I not forgive those who’ve hurt me;
Letting Jesus determine their fate?

Let there be no mistake, for I have hurt some ~
Especially those I hold dear in my heart.
God has forgiven me for the damage I’ve caused.
Now, it’s time that I did my part.

© by Valentyne Lang
Used with permission

Of the Bitter and Blind

I wrathfully hunt:
It’s blood that I want.
None can withstand me;
I’m searching, you see.
None can hold me back
My bitter heart’s black,
Fearfully intense;
You’ll have no defense.

I find you and gloat.
(I knew my words smote)
My scorched eyes burn red.
My fumes shroud my head.
I’m blind to your pain.
(Had I gone insane?)
I tore and I pierced.
My revenge was fierce.

You begged with your eyes,
(Quiet otherwise)
Pleaded silently,
Asked me patiently.
I’d take it no more.
(I stabbed with my roars)
I fled from that scene;
I left you kneeling.

My heart struck me sore,
Though I faked steel core.
I ignored my mind.
I was, you see, blind.
From Heaven came You
And struck me down, too.
God showed my blunder.
(His voice just thundered!)

With penance so deep
Back to you I leaped.
Together again...
Oh, but what’s this then?!
Oh, curse me, alas!
What a jagged past.
Oh, that I’d looked back
After I’d attacked.

I still see your eyes,
Can’t tell them goodbye.
Before I could see,
God took you from me.
Now tears are vain shed
O’er whate’er I’ve said...
Friends, pity the mind
That’s bitter and blind.

—Samuel Popiel

What is Forgiveness?

Words can paint a picture
As pretty as can be
But words of forgiveness are special words
That must be said in all sincerity.

“Forgive us our debts
As we have forgiven
Our debtors,” Matthew 6:12
Is where that verse is in.

In this verse,
Can you see?
That God wants us to forgive others
As He has forgiven you, and me.

Here is another one:
Peter has come to Jesus and asks this question:
“Lord, how many times shall I forgive my
Brother, when it is against me that he sins?”

Peter adds to his Lord, “Up to seven times?”
Well, that sounded like a good number to him.
Do you remember how Jesus answered Peter?
How did His voice sound, I wonder, quiet, wise, perhaps a little grim?

“I tell you the truth,”
Jesus says to His friend.
”Not seven times alone,
But 77 times your forgiveness you must extend.”

So what is forgiveness?
I ask myself this question.
Where can I find the answer?
Alas, the key is already in my possession.

The Holy Bible,
God’s Word given to us,
Should help us understand
The question we discuss.

Forgiveness is love
And love keeps no record of wrongs
Love is always forgiving.
Hate, fear, and sin do not belong.

We must bless the one that harms us.
Do good in the face of bad.
Since we are all in need of forgiveness from God,
We need to be willing to forgive, and not be mad.

What have we learned today?
Words can paint a picture, as pretty as can be
But words of forgiveness are special words
That must be said in all sincerity.

So please, my dear friend.
If there is someone who has wronged you,
Please, your forgiveness will you extend?

Forgiveness

“Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet leaves on the heel that crushed it.”

Fulfilling your calling with all of your heart,
Ordering your skills toward a great work of art;
Reaching a level of brilliant success,
Giving your all, hoping to bless.
In a moment of time, everything lost,
Violet crushed, heedless of cost.
Evil given in place of beauty,
Now there is nothing for others to see.
Even as the deed drifts away
Something greater has happened that day:
Smell the last gift that was given away!

—Benjamin Graber

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a powerful thing.
When you forgive, your soul will sing.
Holding grudges, deep inside,
Are signs of hurt and wounded pride.

Jesus tells us, in His book,
To forgive. That’s what it took.
As He was hanging from the cross, He even said it, too,
“Father, please forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

If you will look inside your heart,
You’ll find that’s where forgiveness starts.
It’s still waiting for us there,
Along with tender loving care.

When you open up your heart, you’ll find
Forgiveness gives you peace of mind.
It’s something, we can’t live without,
That’s what Forgiveness is all about.

© 2001 by Vickie Lambdin
Used with permission
http://www.angelfire.com/poetry/lambdin/home.html
http://www.angelfire.com/nc2/treasuredthoughts/PoetryVickie.html

Again

Again is an understatement—
Failing is such a pain—
And I'm tired and, really, rather afraid
Of asking forgiveness again—

For I know I have no excuse-
I stand, eyes heavy with blame,
And wonder what the price will be
To ask forgiveness again—

What will You require from me?
What will I give up in shame,
In order to smooth over all of the mess
Of asking forgiveness again?

Then again-always again, again—
I find that the price is the same—
Not my heart-no, not my soul—
But Your blood for forgiveness again—

And I cry a little, maybe—
I curse my human stain—
For even a drop of Your precious blood
Is so much to ask for again—

Forgiveness

God gives his child upon his slate a sum—
To find eternity in hours and years;
With both sides covered, back the child doth come,
His dim eyes swollen with shed and unshed tears;
God smiles, wipes clean the upper side and nether,
And says, “Now, dear, we’ll do the sum together!”

—George MacDonald

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or
nakedness or danger or sword?… No, in all these things
we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
—Romans 8:35, 37

If you have any comments or questions, or if you have a poem to share, please send an e-mail to bgraber@neo.rr.com

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