Sunday Reflection; Forgiveness

Forgiveness, such a simple word; a word that most of us fully understand the definition of and use in our daily conversations.  But it is one of the most difficult words to actually apply to one's life.  It is not that I have a hard time forgiving others when they make mistakes or wrong me, it is that I have a hard time forgiving me.

I have such a hard time forgiving and forgetting even the small things.  I feel that if I don't chastise myself enough that others will find me unremorseful for my mistakes.  While I project my uneasiness unto others, it is I that struggles to forgive me.  The truth is, God has forgiven me and most people have forgotten the error, it is just me.  

Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus Christ.  Please help learn to forgive myself and except forgiveness from you and others.  Help me to stop replaying the mistakes of the day over and over in my mind.  Show me how to learn from these mistakes and become a better person, leading a life that shines with your love and the values you have taught me.  Amen

1 John 1:9  "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Sunday Reflection; New Year's Resolutions

Happy New Year my Heavenly Father.  So often we think of the New Year simultaneously with New Year's resolutions; but often I see that people make and break resolutions because their heart is not in it.  The New Year is such a blessing, as the count down begins to the New Year so does the count down to my new beginnings.  The old year has past along with all the mistakes and cares. What lies before me is the opportunities, blessings, hopes and dreams of a bright new year.

Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus Christ.  Thank you for giving me the clean slate of the bright New Year.  Thank you for the promise of many new blessing and an exciting future.  Please continue me on your path, I know that anything is possible with faith and through your generous love.  Amen

Romans 15:13
"Now may the God hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Sunday Reflection; Bittersweet Holidays

The holiday season can be so bittersweet Heavenly Father; the beautiful lights, songs about the birth of Your son, happy children with bright rosy cheeks, but the memories of happy Christmases past can make me so melancholy.  I remember those Christmases when my grandparents were alive and how they seemed to bring the family together.  I remember the childhood excitement and the excitement I felt when I planned my own children's Christmas magic and now all those precious moments are in the past.

Heavenly Father I come to you in the name of Jesus Christ.  Help me to enjoy my memories of Your blessings from the past and keep all in perspective so I can enjoy the blessings You give me here in the present and those to come in the future.  Make me strong and able to resist the human temptation to cling to those beautiful rose colored yesterdays.  Thank You for giving me a wonderful day today, for blessing me and my family and giving us an exciting new year filled with Your love and blessings. ~ Amen

"Remember you not the former things, neither consider the things of old.  Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?  I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."  Isaiah 43:18-19

Sunday Reflection; Peace

Heavenly Father how silly you must think I am.  Often I find myself frightened and fighting with the unknown and what if's in my life.  What if I mess up at work and get fired?  What would my family do?  What if my loved one is hurt and I am to far away to help? I am not sure if I have enough money to cover my bills if my car fails.  I don't know what I will do when I am suppose to retire...  

It is so silly for me to worry and fret over things that may never happen.  Worse I start little battles in my mind to handle the what if's.  Who am I fight?  What am I going to achieve by fighting something that doesn't even exist?  

Over all of the loud clatter in my mind I hear my Father say, "Be still, and know that I am God..." Psalm 46:10 and my mind clears, I have peace once again.  

It is only through you Heavenly Father that I can have real peace.  Thank you for blessing me with such simple and deep peace.  Amen

Luke 21:14 

But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.