FORGIVENESS ...

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Oh my goodness. I am being bombarded this week with "FORGIVENESS" everywhere, but especially in my emails. In fact, I went back and looked at my blog posts, finding that many are in the "drafts" posts and the many times that I have written on FORGIVENESS. I thought if I chose one to publish again that it would appear here in 2024, but it didn't. So the one I opened and chose to re-publish is back (I think) where it was originally published on November 10, 2010. It's the only post that shows right now in my Archives for November of 2010 since I drafted them. 2010 was a very heavy & difficult year for me, and I don't even remember much about it. Mostly a blur for me! I was looking for FORGIVENESS blog posts, one in particular, but for now, this one will do. You need not read the entire bottom green & blue print portion, and many of the links probably won't work. S.O. stands for Stormie Omartian. I will continue looking through my drafts. This was part of a series: Secret Garden. 

Actually, I encountered one of the past ones back in 2009 that I was thinking of sharing. But it needs to remain in "draft" (sorry). I'm still looking for the other one about my father's final letter to us that included his FORGIVENESS for me. Maybe you recall that one. * I FOUND IT back in September of 2009 and republished it also.

[image credit: Bible com YV plan]

God is speaking
FORGIVENESS
to many I guess right now
The ones that I received in my emails were all wonderful but I only am directing you to the articles written so far this week by Christine Wyrtzen at "Daughters of Promise". And oh how I'd love to be able to 'borrow' her beautiful painting on April 16, 2024 with the most current devotional by her. I will only link to each one since April 10th until today, April 16th, but I think she will continue these, at least this week (so I may add those also and link to her blog).

I believe that April 10th is the best place for me to begin:

"Let Me Show You What You've Done"

{the one for April 11th is good but not actually on Forgiveness, so I'm skipping listing it}

The next one is from April 12th (which is the day that I noticed the theme of FORGIVENESS appearing) and then it continues for each day. This one caught my eye & that's what started my search through my own blog posts. Because I couldn't agree more & needed this reminder

"Forgiveness is a Gift I Give Myself"

I think it might be better to read each one separately and allow yourself time to soak in her words. If I had known, I would have posted each one as I received in my email, which gave me the opportunity to do this that way - one at a time. But if you're crunched for time just go to her blog and keep reading one after the other from the most recent, scrolling down. Or better yet just subscribe, if you haven't already. That way, you will get the future ones too.

"Forgiveness is a Gift I Give to God"

I think this is my favorite (so far):
"Forgiveness is Allowing God to be King"

UPDATE of ADDITIONAL POSTS
"Forgiveness is Not Toleration of the Offense"
"Forgiveness is Not Forgetting"
"Forgiving is Not Excusing"
April 22, 2024
Christine Wyrtzen continues posting onFORGIVENESS
"Forgiveness is not 'necessarily' Being Free of Anger"
[please continue reading these at her website]
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[image credit: Pastor Rick's Daily Hope]

Here are a couple more of the other FORGIVENESS emails that just came this week:

Daily Hope with Pastor Rick Warren "Why You Should Always Choose Forgiveness" 

Your Daily Prayer: "A Prayer for the Strength to Forgive" (there was another prayer back on April 5th too) "A Prayer for When You Don't Feel Like Forgiving"

Even my devotional book for this year:
"Jesus, Calm my Heart"
shared quite a few on
FORGIVE and FORGIVENESS

"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Colossians 3:13 night 100

"...Shower us Lord with the sweetness of Your FORGIVENESS"...
"... Bring healing and FORGIVENESS..."

[image credit: winnipeg free press]

🙏

{that's my favorite!}
"... Your FORGIVENESS is
like sweet, sweet honey on my lips (yes, it is) 
Like the sound of a symphony to my ears 
It's like Holy Water"song
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One more article (from a year ago) before I go
"Lessons in Forgiveness and Flourishing"
There's so much available online about
FORGIVENESS
but this is
what
stood out in my week
besides our

Let me know if you like anything special from these
FOCUS
on
FORGIVENESS
[Lent was certainly a time when this was written about much by Living Compass]
{they started out with "The Why... & are listed on the right archive sidebar if you need help with FORGIVENESS}
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I added another post by Christine Wrytzen
(if she continues to share on FORGIVENESS I will add, so please check back)
and
* found another one of my blog posts from long ago
THE FINAL ACT & LETTER of FORGIVENESS
(about my dad's final letter)

Focus: FORGIVENESS

The Weekly One Word is:
FORGIVENESS

I love this book with just One Word a Week
and Bible Hub, which is where the link goes above 
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The book's chosen verse for "FORGIVENESS" is: 

Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11 ESV

By now, you must be familiar with the repeated fact that the author of FOCUS does not use verses that contain the FOCUS One Word that I am accustomed to for One Words, but her verses always go with the content of her devotional message. This is why I choose to search the One Word at Bible Hub or online or Bible Gateway or at You Version. Yet I am very thankful for the beautifully written devotionals - this time focusing on "offense" with FORGIVENESS (and that One Word of "Offense" is in the Bible verse) - 4 wonderful paragraphs that end with her FOCUS TIP (that she has each week). Her conclusion for this week stands out to me:

" This week, let's look for opportunities to forgive rather than opportunities to be offended. What a games changer that will be!"

I couldn't agree more!
The problem for me is that part on the other person,
who always believes that they are in the right.
I try to move past it, go around it, overlook it.
Even forgive it so I can go on.
Yet I'm consistently
reminded
by
that other person
of the past and offenses in the past
that I want to be done with and move on from
which is why I am so grateful that
I AM FORGIVEN
by
Jesus Christ
once I confess my sin, He is faithful & just
to forgive me from my sin & cleanse me from  all unrighteousness
(1 John 1:9)
Now that's
FORGIVENESS
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If you get a chance, follow that link to the Bible Hub and look at the definitions from Easton's Bible Dictionary and Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, or wherever you have Bible tools to look at the One Word: FORGIVENESS. 

"Jesus Christ taught that FORGIVENESS is a duty."

[further down on that page #3 from the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia]

under the "Teaching of Christ" & read on in the "Conditions of Forgiveness"

{I actually find all 12 parts to be a week & more worth of study & reading but worth it}

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Oh and before I leave this portion,

I'd like to add my most valuable lesson on

FORGIVENESS

"Forgiving does not mean Forgetting"

but it does mean

"letting go of the offense"

not repeatedly reminding the offender or the forgiven

and that 

"we must forgive in order to be forgiven"

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Verses given by the author, Cleere Cherry Reaves in 

FOCUS ... for the One Word FORGIVENESS

Proverbs 19:11 ESV; Matthew 18:21-22 NLT; Ephesians 4:2-3 ESV;  1 Peter 2:23 ESV; Galatians 6:1-3 ESV

I look at One Scripture from these each week day and sometimes compare in other versions.
At times, I select a few of the other verses that have the One Word
FORGIVENESS
in the verse
such as
Matthew 6:14
(but I noticed that when I looked through the verses, it most often just had FORGIVE)
So I imagine many of the verses just have some form of the One Word like FORGIVE.
{which makes my choice not a good example}

"Jesus, I let go of all my offenses & pick up Your grace instead,"
After all - it's
aMazing Grace
and
Your FORGIVENESS is just as
aMazing!!!
because
YOU ARE AMAZING!