Grace: Give as Good as You Get - A Guest Post by Sharla Tilley

Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. Mark 11:25 NASB

We all want grace. We want to be forgiven for the wrongs we've done. But giving grace? That is another thing entirely.

Most of us have a sense of justice built in. When fighting for people who are oppressed or when deciding who is right or wrong in a situation, our sense of justice is a great help. The time when my sense of justice can be a drawback? Any time I need to exercise forgiveness.

Forgiving someone who has done something wrong can be tough. We’ve all seen extraordinary examples of people forgiving someone who has committed an atrocity against them. It seems impossible. That’s because without God’s grace, it is.

We don’t spend most of our time dealing with someone who has done us an enormous wrong. It is the petty wrongs that we have to forgive over and over. A child lies, a coworker takes credit, a friend snubs… These are the constant daily wrongs that call for us to exercise forgiveness and grace. Are they really wrong? Yes. Are they perhaps small? Yes. Do they really need me to exercise forgiveness and grace? Yes. Is that really hard? YOU BETCHA!

Jesus said, “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions.” If you have anything, ANYTHING, Jesus said to forgive it. We recognize that the big, monumental things are difficult to forgive, but how are you at forgiving the daily injustices that you endure. I have a sneaking suspicion that those we see exercising grace and forgiveness in ways that look miraculous to us (because they are) have been practicing on those little things all along.

What little things do you have a tough time forgiving? 

Who do you need to show grace to, whether their offense is big or small? 

Make an effort today to consciously forgive those that wrong you.

Sharla Tilley spends most of her time with her crazy six year old and her awesome husband. She is a writer, storyteller, actress, speaker, starter of projects, and rabid chocolate fan who prays daily that she's not too distracted by every shiny squirrel to follow the path that God has for her.

When You're on the Run… A Guest Post By Cynthia Giles

I love my family. I would not trade my parents for the world. I grew up with loving parents and they bring me so much joy! Although I am grateful for them, I felt troubled by anger from one of my parents as a child and teen. Outbursts of anger left my body feeling like it was shaking from the inside out.

I may have been 7 or 8 when I tried to run away from home. I think it’s funny that I packed my suitcase so poorly. I packed a pair of purple socks and a jar of peanut butter. I'm thankful I made it back home because there's no way little Cynthia would survive on a jar of peanut butter. I could have at least packed jelly and bread!

As I think of this story, I ask myself a few questions:

Where was God when I rushed out the front door? Was God thinking about the silly way my suitcase was packed?

Was God trying to calm my emotions with the assurance of His love?

Was God trying to quiet my restless heart by filling me up with His gentle presence?

I am confident that God was there because fear made me turn around on that street corner and go back home to my parents.

Something in my spirit shifted and God directed me back home. On this rare occasion, I am thankful for that fear.

Ultimately, I think we all share a story of running away.

If we don't run away from home, we start to wrestle with God. If we don't try to “run away from God”, we avoid our problems by submitting to unhealthy hang-ups and habits.

If we don't run from problems, we run away from loving relationships because we fear vulnerability. We run away from being hurt again.

If we don't run from relationships, we run away from our talents because of insecurity or the false belief that we don't measure up.

What are you running from?

No matter what you're running from, God is the expert at showing you the way home. God does the navigation while He operates the compass of our hearts.

Like the prodigal son, He can't wait to wrap you up in His "seventy times seven" love, a love that constantly forgives and never lets you go.

I think we need to trust that even when we're on the run, God has a wondrous story of redemption marked out for us.

Jesus runs with us, pursuing broken hearts and giving us unexplainable shifts in our spirits that prompt us to return home. You can keep running but His love is crazy and passionate. God is jealous for your heart and your entire being. He will never let you go!  He will chase you until you surrender to His touch and melt into His arms. He will carry you home! Invite God back into your life today. Always hold onto hope and while you're hanging on, I'll be over here smothering some jelly on this peanut butter sandwich! :)

Be blessed and accept His love

Cynthia.

Cynthia Giles enjoys writing in all types of genres and styles. Her goal is to honor God by remaining humble and thankful for the opportunity to make a positive difference in the world. She is a published writer and spoken word artist who performs at various events. She holds a bachelor's degree in Integrative Studies with concentrations in English and Writing. Learn more by following her page @ facebook.com/cynthiainspires

Getting Through What You Can't Get Over ~ A guest post by Anita Agers-Brooks

 

This post is an excerpt from this soon to be released
book by Anita Agers-Brooks

Five Lessons I Learned from Auschwitz

When I met Dr. Edith Eger, I was in the darkest emotional pit I’d ever experienced. At seventy-three years old, she was a force to be reckoned with, and it was hard to imagine she’d once nearly died in the infamous Nazi prison camp called Auschwitz.

In a miraculous moment, Edie under no provocation except from God alone, asked me to meet with her. I spent an entire day hearing her stories first hand — then she asked me about mine. My brokenness spilled out, but she scooped it up into her compassionate heart. And then she told me five things that changed my life, and started me on a path to deep healing.

1.     Edie said, “You have a child inside who needs a parent. You be that parent.”

I applied this lesson by remembering, parents offer us love and they also teach us boundaries. When I’m tempted to procrastinate or partially complete something, I mother myself with these words, “Don’t stop until you’ve finished.” I also brush the tears off my face, and give myself hugs when I hurt.

2.     Edie said, “Forgive yourself and others. Be patient while you learn.”

I learned forgiveness is a process that requires more than a decision, it also takes time. I must exercise patience with myself while I learn to release bitterness and enjoy the freedom of peace.

3.     Edie said, “Trust decisions based on truth. Stand your ground with hard choices.”

I realized, facts don’t change, but perceptions can. If you’ve honestly evaluated your decisions, and know they are based on truth versus pure emotion, stand on them. Do not question what you know is real and right.

4.     Edie said, “Keep walking. One step at a time.”

I must accept that life gets tough, especially when I’m weary. But I can’t give up when I’m overwhelmed. I must pick up my feet and resolve to take one more step when hard times hit. Each move forward propels me closer to the end of the dark tunnel. Jesus will catch me on the verge of collapse. Ultimately, I will step into the light if I don’t stop.

5.    Edie said, “Offer your talents to the world without expectation. Receive the overflow without guilt.”

Prior to meeting Edie, I’d buried my dreams. I had to stop allowing fears, negative opinions, lack of resources, or past hurts to keep me from taking action. One choice at a time, I let Christ lead me into the promised land of a purposeful life — otherwise, I wouldn’t have written this today.

If you want to know more of Edie’s inspirational story, and the additional lessons she taught me, my book, Getting Through What You Can’t Get Over, releasing in April, 2015 through Barbour Publishing offers more. Or maybe this little post will allow me to be an Edie for you.

Either way, like He did for me when He introduced me to Edie, know that God appointed this time for us to meet. He sees you, and He loves what He sees. He knows your pain, and collects your tears in a bottle. That’s how much you mean to Him.

The five lessons Edie shared from her time in Auschwitz helped me get through something I’ll never get over. God handed me a miracle wrapped in a tiny, wizened Holocaust survivor. Maybe, through these words, she’s your miracle today.

Anita Agers-Brooks is a Business and Inspirational Coach, international speaker, author, and host of the podcast, Fresh Faith Inspirations with Anita Brooks. She is passionate about business with integrity, healthy relationships, and issues of identity. Anita loves lounging by a lake with her husband, and believes it’s never too late for a fresh start with fresh faith.

More of Anita Agers-Brooks: http://anitabrooks.com/ 

This post was originally published for FaithHappenings.com Soul Care for Women.

Do You Ever Feel a Little Weird? - A Guest Post from Julie-Allyson Ieron

Photo by Amelia Grace Photography
All Rights Reserved

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 (ESV)

Do you ever feel a little weird? As a Christ-follower, I mean. As someone who is doing her best to follow in Christ’s footsteps, to live daily in a way that would honor Him. When I see people glance sideways at me, I detect in their eyes the suggestion that my weirdness quotient may be off the charts. My wardrobe selections. My lifestyle decisions. My language. My music. My reading choices. I can tell that my priorities don’t make one lick of sense to colleagues, acquaintances, even friends.

Feeling enmeshed in that blue funk this afternoon, I clicked through my YouTube favorites and listened (over and over and over) to a song that revolutionized my perspective. It was Charles Billingsley’s video of “Light of that City,” where he paints a picture of the eternal joy set before us. “On that day, we will sing, ‘Holy, Holy!’/On that day, we’ll bow down in the light.” Reflecting on that expectation, my mind locked in on a Scripture I had memorized as a grade-schooler. In this context it made more sense to me than ever before:

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. … And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:7-9

Those words helped me regain my focus and passion for just how worthy the goal of our lives is: to glorify Christ and enjoy Him forever. They reminded me that one day, we’ll be rewarded for our faithfulness by turning our eyes upward and seeing our Lord Jesus Christ in His resplendent glory. It will be magnificent. Life-altering. All-encompassing.

Most of all, for me today, it put the weirdness quotient back in its rightful perspective. I don’t live by the same set of rules as the world. It’s no wonder they think I’m wacky. In fact, it’s a backhanded compliment that can help keep me from growing weary in doing the good that I should.

Julie-Allyson Ieron has the creative mind of a writer, the heart of a caregiver, the tenacity of a journalist, the others-centeredness of a businesswoman. She has published 35 books. Her newest are, The GOD Interviews: Questions You Would Ask; Answers God Gives and: Comforting Words for Caregivers … and those they love. 

Listen in as Julie speaks to a live audience on her new book, The GOD Interviews.

Visit us on the web, and see the long list of life-changing Bible study tools included in The Julie-Allyson Ieron Bible Reference Collection powered by WORDsearch 9.0.

This article first appeared at http://womencareforagingparents.blogspot.com.