Forgiveness without clearing your name

Kirk Franklin has a song called 'Imagine Me'. It melodiously waves like an anthem to my freedom from past hurt. The song says I'm free - God says it's all gone.  But the other day one of my relatives contacted me on behalf of someone else.  "Why is it that you can't find it in your heart to forgive?" The inquisitive relative had been advised and apparently come to a final conclusion that I hadn't forgiven someone else who had caused me emotional harm. The inquiry went on further. "Doesn't the Bible say we should forgive?" Two things made this accusation significant.

First thing - my relationship with God had come into question since forgiveness is the very essence of submission to Christ.  Second was the fact that prior to this assumption about me I thought I had accomplished forgiveness.   But here was someone I held in the highest esteem calling me out on my alleged ungodly behavior.   Unfortunately, my first reaction was to a dance with condemnation.  That was just a waste of time though and thank God my eyes were eventually opened to the truth about that response sooner rather than later.

Here was a real opportunity to prove God in my life. This time there would be no wallowing in self pity and no need to let doubt run loose in my mind.  I would trust God in my deliverance.  I had forgiven the person. There was no need to rummage through that stuff again.  Since I've been crucified with Christ this was not my fight.

The Word of God says  "It's not I that live but the Christ that lives.." The ultimate victory is gained through faith in His resurrection.  I believe Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father. He is my victory. There is no need to clear my name.  Like my husband says "your name was automatically cleared when you accepted     
forgiveness aka Jesus."   No longer do I need to imagine myself being free.  Through my savior I am free indeed. It's all gone ...Amen!

Book Expo (09) Christianity vs Atheism

The 2009 Book Expo hosted this meeting of the minds...I guess you could call it that.   Not sure what the purpose of this type of discussion was?  The YouTube comments/responses are protected under the constitution but I have to admit I felt some kind of way reading them.

There is some serious jaw-jacking going on in this video. But what are they talking about really?  It sounds like they are comparing God to man or man to man???  I don't know but we can't compare ourselves to ourselves and we for sure can't be comparing our thoughts to His.  This effort is futile in my opinion.  I know one thing, this video has helped me to understand the failure of the law regarding salvation.  The only way to salvation is through God's son Jesus Christ. Either you believe it or you don't.  The end.

Oprah's Kingdom?

About 4 or 5 years ago one of my childhood friends, Tahali Richardson, (God rest her soul) accepted a position with Harpo studios. I was so very excited for her. I mean this was Oprah Whinfrey - a house hold name for goodness sake. At a certain point in Oprah's success long before my friend worked there I began to understand about kingdoms in that there isn't just God's kingdom but there in fact are many kingdoms that exist today built by men. Of course any kingdom that isn't God's kingdom is an enemy of the first. This also includes any kingdoms that I would feebly build and or am unaware that I am building of my own.


My opinion was not shared with my friend who was really happy with what she was finally going to be able to do...and that's increase her own business from her affiliation with Harpo. All the while I kept my feelings of the need to separate from any kingdoms outside of God's to myself. Nobody wants to rain on the parade of a close friend. Maybe I didn’t want her to think I was jealous. So I kept my mouth shut. It is a good thing I did because now I understand better the bottom-line of such things. My concerns were unwarranted. The video in this post talks about Oprah's so-called church. I interpret 'church'  as a kingdom. Now I think some of the comments made by Oprah could have been taken out context by general haters but certainly the premise is firm. Oprah has a kingdom but so do all the rest of us. How can a Christian put the kingdom issue into proper perspective? Since Oprah doesn't have a patent on sin she like everyone else needs to make a decision between God's kingdom which leads to life or her own which results in death. The whole idea of relationship with God is ....Are you willing to relinquish your kingdom for His?

Oprah has made her choice. The bible tells us that there are tare and wheat. Everyone can't be the wheat.  Highlighting someone else's choice doesn't negate the fact that each individual must come to the same life and death cross roads.  So it doesn't matter what choice Oprah makes.  What matters is which kingdom YOU choose.