THE JUG OF OIL AND THE FUEL TANK

One of my favorite Bible stories has also been a guiding light to me since I first started working as a volunteer in foreign lands back in 1978. Over the years since then, it’s served as both a promise I could depend on and a nudge I couldn’t ignore.

This is how the story goes: God had sent a drought to punish Israel for their wickedness, and the brook nearby where the prophet Elijah had been camping had dried up, as had his food supply. God told him to travel to a town called Zarephath where he would meet a widow with a good heart and faith in God who would provide for him while he continued his ministry.

As Elijah approached the city, he met a woman gathering sticks by the town gate and felt that she was the one God had told him about. Tired and hungry, he asked her for some water and a piece of bread.

She stared at him in disbelief and explained that she didn’t have any bread left, and only enough flour and oil to bake a last loaf for herself and her son. She expected this would be their final meal before starving to death.

Elijah then asked an impossible favor of her: “First, bake a loaf for me and then one for your son and yourself.” Then he assured her that God would bless this sacrificial and unselfish deed: “There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!” The widow did as Elijah requested, and sure enough, the Bible records that from that point on, her flour and oil never ran out, and there was sufficient food for her and her son throughout the famine. God kept His promise.

Reflecting on my many years of volunteer work on a shoestring budget, I realize that I have a similar story to tell. It seems like we receive almost daily requests or pleas for help. Sometimes it’s an unemployed single mother and her children, or a group of destitute elderly people we meet when taking a mission trip to rural areas, or a stranded stranger who has been robbed, or hungry orphans barely surviving in poorly funded institutions, or a neighbor who has run out of some item, and on the list goes.

In Kenya, the choice to give or to withhold presents itself many times a day, even when we are scratching the bottom of the barrel ourselves. With seven children of my own to raise, I often felt like I had a legitimate excuse not to give. But then I’d feel God’s tug on my heart, and I’d feel compelled to reach out to try to meet the need.
To this day, over 35 years into this giving spree, we still have enough. Our pantry is like the widow’s jar of flour that has never been empty, and our jeep’s fuel tank, like her jug of oil, has never run dry. The cycle of giving has been rewarded by refilling, then it overflows and we keep giving, only to be filled again with God’s goodness.

Everybody can be great … because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.—Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968)

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Psalm 34:17-20 ESV / When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.

1 Kings 16:18 ESV / And when Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the king’s house and burned the king’s house over him with fire and died,

2 Samuel 17:23 ESV / When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and went off home to his own city. He set his house in order and hanged himself, and he died and was buried in the tomb of his father.

LIVING, LOVING, GIVING

Remember, there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple.
—Scott Adams (b. 1957)

You must give some time to your fellow men. Even if it’s a little thing, do something for others—something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it.
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965)

I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something I can do.
—Edward Everett Hale (1822–1909)

If only we could realize while we are yet mortals that day by day we are building for eternity, how different our lives in many ways would be! Every gentle word, every generous thought, every unselfish deed will become a pillar of eternal beauty in the life to come. We cannot be selfish and unloving in one life and generous and loving in the next. The two lives are too closely blended—one but a continuation of the other.
—Rebecca Springer (1832–1904)

It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)

Human beings who leave behind them no great achievements, but only a sequence of small kindnesses, have not had wasted lives.
—Charlotte Gray

In any given day, you have so many opportunities to practice patience, acts of kindness, and forgiveness. You have time to think loving thoughts, smile, embrace others, and practice gratitude. You can practice being a better listener. You can try to be compassionate, especially with difficult or abrasive people. You can practice your spirituality in virtually everything you do.
—Richard Carlson (1961–2006)

You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.
—Henry Drummond (1851–1897)

Do not think that love in order to be genuine has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.
—Mother Teresa (1910–1997)

No kind action ever stops with itself. One kind action leads to another. Good example is followed. A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves.
—Amelia Earhart (1897–1937 [presumed])

Most of us can probably look forward to some extra attention on our birthday and other special occasions. But doesn’t it make you feel especially loved when, out of the blue, someone does some loving thing for you for no other reason than because he or she loves you?

Why not do the same for others? If you stop to think about it, you’d probably be surprised at how many thoughtful little things you could find to do for others that would cost almost nothing and take almost no time. Want to transform your relationships with family, friends, and workmates? Become a master of the five-minute favor.
—Shannon Shaylor

Have you had a kindness shown?
Pass it on;
’Twas not given for thee alone,
Pass it on;
Let it travel down the years,
Let it wipe another’s tears,
’Til in Heaven the deed appears—
Pass it on.
—Henry Burton (1578–1648)

St. Francis of Assisi stated, “All getting separates you from others; all giving unites you with others.” The heart of selflessness is generosity. It not only helps to unite the team, but it also helps to advance the team. —John C. Maxwell (b. 1947)

If we make our goal to live a life of compassion and unconditional love, then the world will indeed become a garden where all kinds of flowers can bloom and grow.
—Elisabeth Kübler-Ross (1926–2004)

Good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble. —Charles Spurgeon (1834–1892)

You have been treated generously, so live generously. —Matthew 10:8 MSG

I do not pretend to give such a sum; I only lend it to you. When you […] meet with another honest man in similar distress, you must pay me by lending this sum to him; enjoining him to discharge the debt by a like operation, when he shall be able, and shall meet with another opportunity. I hope it may thus go thro’ many hands. … This is a trick of mine for doing a deal of good with a little money. —Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), in a letter to Benjamin Webb

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Acts 20:35 ESV / In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Luke 6:38 ESV / Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Proverbs 11:24-25 ESV / One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

Prayer Points

1. Please intercede for Corps Family:
Bro Sunny, Sis Rachel, Elizabeth, Susan, and John Zachariah

2. Please continue to intercede for Malaysia Children's Camp

3. Please intercede for one another, for good health, spiritual growth, friendship and family.

Announcements

Cell Group / Sunday School / Youth Fellowship
Will be cancelled during school holiday and December break

Children's Camp
Date: 28 Nov - 1 Dec 2014 (Sat - Tue)
Venue: Penang Children's Home
In your quite time, please intercede for the childrens, teachers and volunteers for successful camp and a blessed fun time.

PENANG CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE
Date: 13 Dec 2015 (Sat) / Time: 6-10pm
Venue: St. Anne's Open Field, Bukit Mertajam
Theme: Emmanuel - God With Us

PRE-CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION NIGHT
Date: 19 Dec 2015 (Sat) / Time: 7:00pm
Venue: Penang Corps Community Hall
Theme: Christmas Joy / Dinner: Pot-Bless
Highlight: Gift Exchange, Games, Craft, & etc
For more information please refer to Corps Officer and as for the Pot-Bless, please look for Sis Loo Thoe. Thank you.

Flowering Offering:
Thank you Sis Cindy Ooi to beautify the House of the Lord,

MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM

Money was scarce when I was growing up. I never lacked anything vital, but I never had so much that I could casually give something away without feeling the pinch.

Once when I was 17, a homeless person asked me for some money. I had been taught that giving brought good things back to you, so I calculated how much money I needed for my train fare home and gave him the rest—around ¥500, or roughly US$7. It was difficult giving away my last bit of pocket money. While I can’t say that because I gave $7 I got back X dollars in return, I do know that over the years I’ve received enough back to firmly believe in the “law of returns.”

Jesus expressed the law of returns like this: “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

Notice how it doesn’t say “the amount you give will equal the amount you get back.” It says it will “determine” the amount. In fact, when you give, you often get back above the amount you gave, like the story of the boy who gave his lunch to Jesus. There was a need—5,000 hungry people—and there was the boy’s offering—five loaves, two fish. Nothing outstanding at first glance, but just look at what Jesus did with it!

My two-year-old nephew likes to share his food. It doesn’t matter what he’s eating or even whether it’s something he likes or not, he always wants me to taste it as well—even if it’s his favorite flavor of potato chips or ice cream. His apparent trust that there’s more where that came from makes giving easy. But as adults, we know that things run out, and that makes giving more difficult.

It’s at such times though—when we feel like we’re down to our last crumb of goodness, compassion, time, or whatever—that we should remember that God has more where that came from, and He isn’t worried about running out.

—

Philippians 4:19 ESV / And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV / But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Romans 8:1 ESV / There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

A WORKING ALTERNATIVE

I first met Ivan in 1995 while collecting aid in Italy for delivery to refugee camps in Croatia and Bosnia. I remember his smile and warm handshake.

It was a few years before we saw him again. He called to offer us some boxes of clothing he had collected, and we went to his home, where we met his wife, Francesca, and their two children. From then on, we stayed in touch, and over time, we’ve learned a lot from each other.

Ivan and Francesca often expressed their frustration in trying to adjust to a society that was losing its values. They wished they could adopt a different lifestyle, but didn’t know how. Then on one of my more recent visits, it was immediately obvious that something was very different. For one thing, their dining room had extra tables, which quickly filled with what seemed like a river of lively children from the neighborhood. Ivan was busy serving and introduced me to Claudio and Manuela, another couple who not only lived in their small town, but also shared a similar vision.

Later on, I got to know other families who were also part of a network called Gruppi di Acquisto Solidale (Ethical Purchasing Groups). The aim is to cooperate in order to buy food and other commonly used goods directly from producers or retailers at discounted rates, while also emphasizing the use of local and fair-trade produce, and reusable or eco-compatible goods. Ivan and Francesca (and their now three children) were some of the founders of the local branch, and needless to say, they always found a way to direct some love and attention to their “neighbor near or far.”

A few months ago, they hosted a lunch for a group of underprivileged families we brought to their home. They went to the nth degree to make all 16 of us feel welcome, and treated us to the most delicious homemade delicacies. After the meal, everyone received a small bottle of olive oil pressed by their family from the olive trees in their garden.

As time passes, it’s clear that what was once an experiment has grown into a tried-and-proven alternative life choice.

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Luke 6:38 ESV / Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Proverbs 22:7 ESV / The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV / But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

CAN’T BUY ME LOVE

In their 1960’s hit “Can’t Buy Me Love,” the Beatles capitalized on a simple, well-worn truth. They could just as well have sung, “Can’t buy me truth” or “happiness” or “peace of mind.” Those things weren’t for sale either, and they’re still not. While this is a simple truth, it’s not an easy one to live.

It’s a struggle to live simply, though, when nearly everywhere people turn, some new product or personality vies for their attention and part of their paycheck with the same hollow promise: “This is it—the key to happiness at last!” And you can’t blame the hawkers, either. In our money-driven world, everybody has got to sell something to survive, whether it’s a song, a product, a service, or—God forbid—their soul.

All the while, a little voice inside each of us keeps telling us there has to be more to life. The things of this world can bring momentary pleasure and comfort, but they can never truly satisfy the inner self. Only God can do that with His love, and He wants to and will if we reach out for Him.

—

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Proverbs 16:4 ESV / The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.

1 Peter 2:9 ESV / But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

THE KEY OF SIMPLICITY

Our true treasures are not money and possessions. Our true treasures are the kingdom of God, His love and interaction in our lives, our salvation, God’s provision and care for us, and our coming rewards. Understanding this puts our finances and their use in the right perspective.

In Psalm 24, David exclaims, “The earth belongs to God! Everything in all the world is his!” God Himself claims ownership over creation: “All the earth is Mine,” “Everything under heaven is Mine,” “‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord.” From this, we understand that all that we “own” is actually owned by our Creator, which includes not just our possessions, but ourselves as well. We are simply stewards or caretakers of what God has put in our charge.

While God may own everything, He also wants us to be happy and enjoy the things He has given us, as it says in 1 Timothy 6:17: “God … richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” As custodians of God’s resources—specifically, the things in our possession, and generally, the resources of the earth—we can use them for ourselves and our loved ones, to live our lives, and to enjoy what He has placed in our care. Having the right relationship with possessions, money, and wealth is vitally important to our relationship with God.

Understanding the principles of ownership (that God owns everything), stewardship (that we are to use what God has given us in conjunction with His will and His Word), and the need for developing a proper relationship with possessions and finances helps us to adjust our attitude and behavior regarding those things that we have control over, both tangible and intangible.

One key to this relationship is simplicity. Simplicity can be understood as a means of being freed from some of the unnecessary attachments to the things of this life, a means to set our minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Jesus told us that our heart is where our treasure is, therefore it’s wise to examine what we consider our true treasure to be. We should have a right relationship with our possessions and recognize the damage that can occur if that relationship gets out of balance. Simplicity can lessen our focus on ourselves and our things and help to keep us focused on our true treasure, our loving God who has given us the most valuable things we could ever possess—His love and salvation.

Live Simply
• Buy things for their usefulness rather than for their status.Avoid basing your buying decisions on what will impress others, and choose according to what you need.

• Simplify your life by developing the habit of getting rid of things that you no longer use or need. Try giving them away and be free from having to store them.

• Guard yourself from being overly influenced by advertising and social trends. The goal of marketing is often to convince you to upgrade to the latest, best, fastest, most powerful model. Use what you have until you truly need to replace it.

• Avoid impulse purchases; don’t buy what you don’t need.

• Enjoy things that you don’t own. Use a library, public transportation, a public beach, or a park.

—This list was adapted from Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline (New York: HarperOne, 1998), 90–95.

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2 Peter 1:20-21 ESV / Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV / And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Hebrews 4:12 ESV / For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

MY CARING JOURNEY

I have spent the past several years caring for loved ones. I helped care for friends who had serious illnesses, and I became a full-time caregiver for my mother until she passed away from terminal cancer in 2009.

While caring for my mother, I received a carer pension which helped pay the bills and provided a little spending money, but I never had a lot financially. Living on a limited, fixed income has its challenges, but they never bothered me too much. My tastes are simple: I like to swim, walk and cycle; once in a while I go to a movie or have a meal out, and I enjoy visiting friends and chatting over a glass of wine or a barbeque and beer, or watching a sunset over the sea.

I live in a great location twenty minutes from the city and only three blocks from the beachfront, where I can access walking/cycle tracks that go for miles. The train station is five minutes away, along with a main street with shops, supermarkets, library, community center, picnic areas, pier, and friendly cafés with great coffee or chai latte and cheesecake. It has been the perfect location for this part of my life’s journey, and I feel blessed to have been led here.

In caring for my loved ones, there have been plenty of challenges and times when I have felt stretched emotionally. There were also times when a little extra cash would have been nice, but in the years I have been in this situation I never really lacked for anything. Living on a fixed income makes you consider what you really need—after all, how many pairs of shoes can you wear?—and although I don’t own my home, I have a reasonable rent and no debts.

During my journey as a carer, I discovered that peace of mind and heart is something far greater than a smooth ride through life with plenty of cash. Money simply can’t equal the reassurance of knowing I have been in the right place doing the right thing; that I have done everything I possibly could for others, and that I have no regrets.

—

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

1 Thessalonians 2:13 ESV / And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

Isaiah 40:22 ESV / It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;

HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?

God recognizes our material needs, and His Word contains plenty of promises of supply, even in abundance. But Jesus also warned that a vain pursuit of wealth can be a stumbling block to a Christian life. Human nature also makes it difficult for us to correctly assess our needs. As Benjamin Franklin observed, “The more [money] a man has, the more he wants. Instead of filling a vacuum, it makes one.”

So how much is enough?

The apostle Paul addresses this big question in a letter to Timothy, and his conclusion is surprising in its minimalism: “If we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it.” He doesn’t say anything negative about living above this minimum standard, but his point is that real contentment isn’t related to material prosperity.

Studies have confirmed that beyond a certain point, increasing wealth can have diminishing returns as far as happiness and quality of life. That makes sense—we all need some money to provide for ourselves and our families, but once our basic needs and aspirations are satisfied, the pursuit of wealth often ends up being at odds with the pursuit of happiness.

The bottom line seems to be that much depends on our attitude and what God is doing in our lives at a given time. Above all, whether we are currently abasing or abounding, we should remember that true success and fulfillment in life come through learning about and getting closer to our heavenly Father. “A person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

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Philippians 4:19 (NIV) And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 19:24 (NIV) Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

1 Timothy 6:8 (NIV) But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

SET SAIL!

My old friend Jack lived in a large house in a pleasant, leafy suburb. It was a great place to raise his family of five, but his children have long since married and moved on. Around 15 years ago, Jack’s business failed, and although it would have made financial and practical sense for Jack and his wife to downsize, they loved their home and always put off the tough decision.

They ended up keeping the home by default, probably hoping things would improve. Instead, as the years passed, their debts mounted until the inevitable was reached, and they absolutely had to sell. Unfortunately, by this time, the housing market had collapsed, and the proceeds of the sale no longer even covered their debts.

Not making a decision is a decision. Like Jack, I have plenty of my own stories in this regard, finding it quite difficult to “sign on the dotted line.” I think there are a few reasons why we sometimes delay our decision-making as long as possible.

Perhaps we hesitate to face an unknown future. After all, as much as we try to anticipate the results of our choices, there are many factors beyond our insight and control. We cannot know for sure what will follow.
Future fears didn’t hold back Abraham. He said “yes” to God and left his home in Haran not knowing where he was going. Moses showed similar faith, leading the Hebrew slaves out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, and onwards to the Promised Land. Jesus’ disciples left their livelihoods to follow Him, which took another kind of faith.

Who knows whether Abraham foresaw the difficulties he would face—famine, family troubles, and battles, amongst others. Could Moses possibly have anticipated the troubled wilderness journey ahead? Jesus’ disciples didn’t always have an easy time of things either. Yet events showed that all these people made the right decisions, helping create the foundation for our faith.

Few of us face such dramatic circumstances as these Bible heroes, but we all face choices, big and small. May God help us to make well-considered decisions.
When you have to make a choice and don’t make it, that is in itself a choice.—William James (1842–1910)

There is a time when we must firmly choose the course we will follow, or the relentless drift of events will make the decisions.—Herbert V. Prochnow (1897–1998)

Prayer Point

1. Please intercede for Corps Family:
Bro Colin Ooi, Sis Catherine, Mark and Seok Mei

2. Please intercede for up-coming Children's Camp

3. Please intercede for peace and stability all around the world.

Announcement

Cell Group / Sunday School / Youth Fellowship
Will be cancelled during school holiday and December break

Partners in Mission
Self Denial Appeal 2015. Theme: Jesus Hope of all Hearts.
Closing date: 29 Nov 2015

Officer Retreat
Date: 23-26 Nov 2015 / Venue: Johor Bahru

Children's Camp
Date: 28 Nov - 1 Dec 2014 (Sat - Tue)
Venue: Penang Children's Home
In your quite time, please intercede for the childrens, teachers and volunteers for successful camp and a blessed fun time.

PENANG CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE
Date: 13 Dec 2015 (Sat) / Time: 6-10pm
Venue: St. Anne's Open Field, Bukit Mertajam
Theme: Emmanuel - God With Us

Flowering Offering:
Thank you Sis Shirley Mak to beautify the House of the Lord,

PRODIGAL DECISIONS

The prodigal son is probably one of the better known of Jesus’ parables. It tells of a young man who leaves home, goes astray, regrets his decisions, and eventually returns to the loving, warm welcome of his father. It’s a theme that’s been retold countless times in literature and life, portrayed in art, danced in ballet, and even played in contemporary music, such as the Rolling Stones’ cover on their album Beggar’s Banquet. It’s a story of humanity that transcends nationality, creed, place, or even era, a story that is as poignant and relatable today as it was two millennia ago.

In many respects, it’s a story about decisions. The young man’s fateful decision to leave home, wasting his life and inheritance, is part of the narrative; then there are the better decisions, when he comes to his senses and makes up his mind to return.

The father also has decisions to make. Should he accept his son with open arms or chide and punish him for his mistakes? And it’s this part of the story that contains a detail that is often overlooked.

Imagine the scene: the young man, thin, bedraggled, and rather the worse for wear from his terrible experiences of dire poverty. The father, crying tears of joy as he embraces his boy. Yet the moment when the father opens his heart to welcome his son is not as we often picture it, with the son kneeling, pleading for forgiveness, expressing his repentance for going astray. No, this crucial moment comes earlier:

“While he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.”

His boy hadn’t yet spoken a word, but the father—who had no doubt gone through anguish and heartache for many months or even years—didn’t hesitate. In fact, he didn’t even wait until his son had arrived; he ran out to meet him.

This is a picture of God’s unconditional love. He doesn’t wait for us to say exactly the right words, He doesn’t look at our bedraggled state or how life has left us the worse for wear and stand back until we clean up our act. He doesn’t chide us for past mistakes and wrong decisions. From the moment we turn to Him, He receives us with open arms and forgives us.

—

Romans 8:37-39 ESV / No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 3:16 ESV / “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

A BRIDGE TO CROSS

Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.
—Paul Boese (1923-1976)

Without forgiveness, life is governed by an endless cycle of resentment and retaliation.
—Roberto Assagioli (1888–1974)

He that cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself; for every man has need to be forgiven.
—Author unknown

Anger makes you smaller, while forgiveness forces you to grow beyond what you were.
—Cherie Carter-Scott (b. 1949)

Forgiveness is almost a selfish act because of its immense benefits to the one who forgives.
—Lawana Blackwell (b. 1952)

The one attitude which gives rise to hope amidst misunderstanding and ill will is a forgiving spirit. Where forgiveness becomes the atmosphere, there hope and healing are possible.
—C. Neil Strait (1934–2003)

Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hate. It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness.
—Author unknown

Love’s power does not make fussy historians. Love prefers to tuck the loose ends of past rights and wrongs in the bosom of forgiveness—and pushes us into a new start.
—Lewis B. Smedes (1921–2002)

Not to forgive is to be imprisoned by the past, by old grievances that do not permit life to proceed with new business. Not to forgive is to yield oneself to another’s control… to be locked into a sequence of act and response, of outrage and revenge, tit for tat, escalating always. The present is endlessly overwhelmed and devoured by the past. Forgiveness frees the forgiver. It extracts the forgiver from someone else’s nightmare.
—Lance Morrow (b. 1939)

Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.
—Nelson Mandela (1918–2013)

Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
—Martin Luther King, Jr (1929–1968)

People have to forgive. We don’t have to like them, we don’t have to be friends with them, we don’t have to send them hearts in text messages, but we have to forgive them, to overlook, to forget. Because if we don’t, we are tying rocks to our feet, too much for our wings to carry!
—C. Joybell C.

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Luke 6:27 ESV / “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

Colossians 3:13 ESV / Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Luke 6:37 ESV / “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;

THE MAGIC OF FORGIVENESS

“I wish you had been born a boy!” I don’t know how many times I heard my mother say that as I was growing up. I understand better now, considering her own upbringing and the attitudes of Argentine society at the time, how disappointing it must have been for her to have had only one child, and for it to have been a girl. However, at the time it hurt me deeply. I was also often sick for months at a time during the cold, damp Buenos Aires winters, and being unable to go to school or play with friends during those times added to my loneliness and sense of isolation.

My father died when I was 15, and I held a part-time job to pay for my tuition at a private high school. I put a lot into my studies and training to become a secretary, but my efforts were rarely rewarded with the love and approval that I longed to receive from my mother. I became very rebellious, and she eventually kicked me out of the house to face the world alone.

I could no longer afford to study, but I rented a room and eventually found a better job. As time passed, I continued to feel unhappy and unfulfilled. Finally, in desperation, I asked God to do something with my life.
That same week, I met a member of the Family International, and we got into a deep conversation. That led to many other meaningful conversations about God and spiritual truths, and I found the answers to my most troubling questions. I felt that God wanted me to share this joy and fulfillment with others, and I became a full-time Christian volunteer.

My new work took me to different parts of the country and abroad for months or years at a time. During this period, I kept in touch with my mother, but we never had any meaningful exchanges. When I started a family of my own, the children included my mother in their projects, like making Christmas cards for family and friends. I also sent her photos from time to time so she could see how her grandkids were growing, and I wrote her about the things they were learning. Still, nothing I did ever seemed to make her happy.

As time went by, I thought I’d forgiven my mother, but I realized it’s very simple to forgive someone if I don’t have to live around them or see them very often. It’s much harder to forgive someone I have to face regularly, who might continue to hurt me.
Sure enough, when I came back to Argentina and met my mother again after years of being abroad, her disapproval and lack of affection reopened emotional wounds that I thought had healed, and within only a few visits, we were already fighting again.

One day I was listening to a song called “La magia del perdón” (“The Magic of Forgiveness”), and it pricked my conscience. I listened to it over and over, until I knew that the only thing I could do was forgive. Then and there, I prayed for God to help me forgive each unkind word, fit of anger, and everything else that my mother had done that had caused me pain.

I thanked God for showing me that I needed to show mercy to my mother because I needed mercy myself. I too had failed and hurt others many times, but Jesus had never stopped loving me. I realized He had never stopped loving my mother either, and He wanted me to do the same. I started crying thinking about all the years of closeness that my mother and I had lost, and how much she must have suffered as a result.

Jesus told His followers, “Freely you have received, freely give.” “Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

He also taught us to pray, “Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.” I had received God’s forgiveness; now I needed to share that gift with my mother.

The next time I visited my mother, I was a changed person. That seemed to change her too. She prepared a delicious meal, shared her favorite recipes, and we recalled positive memories. Since then, seeing and talking with my mother is like catching up with a good friend I haven’t seen in a long time. The path of forgiveness seems difficult and bumpy at first, but the longer we travel it, the smoother it gets. Now I can tell others about the magic of forgiveness, because I have experienced it.

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Matthew 10:8 (NIV) Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

Luke 6:36-38 (NIV) Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Matthew 6:12 (NIV) And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

A CHALLENGING THOUGHT

Recently I came across a familiar Bible verse, which I’ve read, heard, and even quoted hundreds of times, but when meditating on it, thinking of its practical application and the enormity of the consequences of ignoring it, I more fully realized its importance.

Matthew 6:14–15 says, “If you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

There’s no wiggle room within these verses. Whether we do or don’t forgive others has a direct effect on our own relationship with God.

A bit later, the apostle Peter asked the obvious question: “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who wrongs me? Up to seven times?”

“Not just seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven.”

That’s 490 times. Jesus used a pretty big number to emphasize that there isn’t any point where we can feel justified to stop forgiving someone.

To further drive this home, He used some other very large numbers in the story of a king who wanted to settle his accounts with his servants or subjects:
One man owed the king ten thousand talents. A talent is 2,000 ounces (125 pounds, 57 kg), so this man owed the king 20 million ounces of what was probably either gold or silver. If it was silver, that would be equivalent to about US$ 400 million today; if it was gold, then it would be worth about US$ 25 billion. Either way, that was an enormous debt. Because the man couldn’t pay, the king ordered that he and his wife and children and all that he had be sold. The man implores the king to have patience, and out of pity, the king not only grants him a delay but pardons his debt altogether.

Sadly, the forgiven servant later finds one of his fellow servants who owes him a hundred denarii—one denarius is estimated to be worth about US$ 20 today, which means the fellow servant’s debt would be about US$ 2,000—in any case, a much smaller sum than his own debt, which he had been released from. Nonetheless, the forgiven servant has his colleague imprisoned for being behind in his repayments.

When the king hears of it, he summons the forgiven servant and says:
“You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?” In anger, the master has him thrown into jail as well.
Jesus ends this story with an alarming statement: “This is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you as well, if you do not forgive your brethren.”

There are times when other people sin against us or hurt us—whether intentionally or unintentionally—just as there are times when we hurt others or sin against them. People may treat us unfairly on occasion, deceive us, steal from us, or slander us behind our back. They may cheat us or break their word. Whatever the case may be, whatever the offense, whatever the hurt, we are commanded to forgive.

Forgiving doesn’t mean the other person was in the right, nor does it mean that the loss or harm caused by their actions is undone. It simply means that rather than focusing on who’s right and who’s wrong, you leave that in God’s hands, along with the repercussion of the person’s actions. You take the high road and forgive.
All of us sin, and each of us falls short of the glory of God. Like the unforgiving servant, we each owe a huge debt to God—a debt so large that none of us can ever repay it. Through Jesus, God forgives that debt; but He also calls us to forgive others in like manner.

Looking at it from the point of view that if we don’t forgive others when they sin against us, God won’t forgive us when we sin against Him can be disconcerting. The good part is, we can also see it as a promise: if we forgive others, God will forgive us. If we show mercy, then mercy will be shown to us. If we forgive, we will be forgiven.
“God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together.”

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Romans 3:23 (NIV) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Mark 11:25 (NIV) And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV) Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

STOLEN SILVER

Victor Hugo’s literary classic Les Misérables tells the story of Jean Valjean, whose already difficult life is brought down by one lone decision when he steals a loaf of bread to feed his sister’s starving children. As a consequence, he spends the next 19 years in the notorious Bagne of Toulon prison. Unable to find work after his release because he is an ex-convict, Valjean begs at the home of the bishop of Digne, who feeds him and gives him a bed for the night. But Valjean, overcome by despair at what seems an impossibly bleak future, yields to temptation, steals some of the bishop’s silver, and slips away in the night.

He doesn’t get far, however, before he is arrested with the silver and hauled back to face the bishop. Knowing what will happen to Valjean if he is convicted a second time, the kind bishop takes a chance on Valjean and tells the police, “I gave him the silver.”

Valjean is free from the legal consequences of his action, but not yet from his bad habits. After he steals yet again, he is driven to another point of decision, and this time he repents, and from that moment on he is a changed man. He goes through more upheavals and faces more tough decisions in the years that follow, but he remains true to the new course God has helped him chart.

Les Misérables is a moving portrayal of the redeeming power of God’s love, but it also illustrates how our lives are shaped by our decisions. Even seemingly small decisions can be far reaching. How can we ensure that we make right decisions? The only way is to involve God in the decision-making process, because He alone knows what’s best. He wants to see us make good choices and is always there to back us up when we do. The smartest decision we can make is to ask for His help.

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Mark 11:25 ESV / And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Matthew 6:15 ESV / But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Ephesians 4:32 ESV / Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

AN OCTOPUS ON ROLLER SKATES

What do a record-breaking tightrope-walker, a martial arts expert, and a successful businessman have in common?
They have learned self-discipline. In each of their professions, discipline is the key—discipline that’s manifested in allocating time to practice, honing their skills, and in some cases, giving up things in their diet or personal life to achieve their goals.

Self-discipline is more than holding back from some things, more than buckling down to do what is necessary out of duty. It is a means to an end. Reaching their goals means so much to them that the effort and sacrifice of leading a disciplined life is almost a non-issue. They are willing to push themselves to the limits of endurance to achieve success. And their discipline clearly shows in their achievements.

Most of us can probably improve our level of self-discipline. Even if you don’t aspire to cross a chasm on a rope, how about getting through that pile of work on your desk, meeting your fitness goals, or improving your time management? Self-discipline is not really about denying oneself; it is, in fact, liberating oneself. A friend once said to me, “Only when you’re truly disciplined can you be truly free.” A simple sentence of wholesome wisdom that changed my viewpoint completely.

On another occasion, the manager of an international chain store told me, “Success is not only about what you want to do. It’s about what you must do to achieve.” When you’re self-disciplined, you’re able to go beyond things that might have limited you or held you back before.

New York Times bestselling author Jackson Brown Jr. put it this way: “Talent, without discipline, is like an octopus on roller skates. There’s plenty of movement, but you never know if it’s going to be forward, backward, or sideways.” On the other hand, if we channel our energies in the right direction, toward the things that are important to us, we are positioned to achieve powerful forward movement.

Jesus was the ultimate example of discipline. He did what had to be done, even when it was not just hard but resulted in His death. The discipline and commitment He manifested for His cause had world-changing results.
If we’re willing to discipline ourselves, we too can change our lives and our part of the world.

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2 Peter 1:5-6 ESV / For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,

1 Peter 4:7 ESV / The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.

Romans 12:19 ESV / Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”