October 16th, 2011
It is easy (I hope) to forgive the rotten boss who favors another person over you, in spite of the quality of your good work.
It is easy to forgive the rude sales clerk, who shortchanged you at the cashier register, and then you go back and she is apologetic.
It is easy to forgive your own kids when they mess up, because we love them.
It is easy to forgive or be forgiven, by a spouse for an entire list of offenses…and on and on!
What about the drunk driver who killed your only son? It happened to my close friend and fellow minister, Nate (not his real name). A drunk driver killed his 25 year old son in Pittsburg in 2008. Nate, a powerful servant of Christ, went through all kinds of emotions, anxiety, trauma, tears and more.
During the trial for the drunk driver, less than two years, ago, when Nate forgave the woman who killed his son in court, it made the news in Pittsburg. More importantly, it lifted a burden of pain off him, which only Christ can do.
The hurt and pain are still there, but the forgiveness Nate showed accomplished two things – he allowed the Power of God to free him AND he gave that young scared woman, a chance at redemption!
What Nate did here, was what Jesus Christ would have done! Remember what He said from the Cross “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do!”
As we look at the next two phrases in our in depth study of the LORD’s Prayer, think about what I just said above.
READ THE REST OF THIS POWERFUL MESSAGE HERE
Tags: forgive us as we forgive our debtors, Forgiveness, Lord's prayer, Matthew 6, our debts Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on FORGIVE US…AS WE FORGIVE OTHERS
October 12th, 2011
The word “Hallowed” has different meanings to different people. To the baseball fan, hallowed is Yankee Stadium or Wrigley Field. To the football fan it’s the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. To the Christian, it’s the Mount of Olives outside Jerusalem.
But in New Testament terms, especially the LORD’s PRAYER (below) it means “holy” or “make holy”….from the Greek word “hagiazo”. Today, we continue in our examination of what Jesus meant when He said…”THIS IS HOW YOU PRAY”. Again, the Lord’s Prayer below is a guideline and not meant to be a stand alone prayer as most people make it.
Matthew 6: 8-13:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
(As aforementioned, the following brief prayers based on each phrase of the Lord’s Prayer, are from my own prayer Journal, bl)
HALLOWED BE THY NAME:
Heavenly Father Your Name is so Holy the ancients would call you YAHWEH, Jehovah God. Father every Name of Yours and Your Son in the Holy Oracles of Scripture has special meaning sent from You.
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(photo by Lynn Mosher)
Tags: bernie lutchman's blogspot, hallowed by your name, Lord's prayer, pray, prayer, protocols, think on these things Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on PROTOCOLS OF PRAYER , part 2
