A Resolution of Forgiveness

As a new year begins resolutions are announced. Weight loss and personal growth are among the most popular. Thinking about my own hopes for the new year I began to set a path for my plans and discovered that without freeing myself I would never succeed. But in order to free myself, I needed the key to the door and that key was forgiveness.

Forgiveness can come easy and forgiveness can be difficult depending on how you look at it. Forgiving someone for missing a birthday can be easy, but somethings seem more difficult or even downright impossible to forgive. A divorce you did not see coming, a death of a loved one caused by negligence, or a physical attack on you or your child are just a few examples of unforgivable actions. It seems to be humanly impossible to forgive some things.

I've heard all my life that forgiving others does not mean that you forget. Well, how do you forgive if you can't forget? This whole concept needs to be reconstructed. I have to go deeper and change my perspective of the offender's actions. I have to look at the situation from a different angle. I have to find a way to make sense out of forgiving the so-called unforgivable. This is impossible to do unless unconditional love (the love of God) is employed. Looking to God, through the love of Jesus Christ, and forgiving the person is not letting the person off. You are just handing them over to God and by doing so free yourself with the key of forgiveness. That same forgiveness freed you from your sins. Jesus explained this in Luke 6:37, “If you forgive, you will be forgiven” (NIV). Likewise, Mark 11:25 states, “When you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins” (NIV).

As a Christ follower, I have to look through the eyes of the one who forgave me of my sins and try and understand forgiveness. How could God give His Son, Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice for every sin of humanity? What did he see when he forgave me? What God saw was the end result, the finished product, the ugliness of the innocent becoming the guilty. God not only sees our today but our yesterday and our future. God knows what unforgiveness does to a person from the inside out. Unforgiveness completely destroys, period! In order to offer forgiveness, God had to sacrifice an unblemished, perfect substitute, His only Son Jesus Christ. Not only that but Jesus had to willingly die and take upon him all the sins of humanity in order for forgiveness to be offered. With that perspective, it makes it a bit easier to understand forgiveness.

Corrie ten Boom who authored “The Hiding Place”, helped hide many Jews during the Holacaust. Although she was eventually caught and imprisoned she forgave her captors and explained in her book, “Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.” I understand that not everyone is a Corrie ten Boon, but I do believe that forgiveness is a journey that can change who you are for the better and reshape your whole perspective on how life is supposed to be lived. 

I have to make a decision to take God's offer of forgiveness by accepting His Son Jesus Christ as my Savior. The same way I have to make a decision to forgive others. It takes faith in the one who put all this in place. I have to put into action the unseen force of God's Grace to help me forgive the way Jesus Christ forgave me when He died on the Cross. It is my belief that we are here, not necessarily to be happy and fulfilled, but to become more like our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! It's not easy and as I stated above,”Forgiveness is a journey that can change who you are for the better and reshape your whole perspective on how life is supposed to be lived. God stated in Jeremiah 29:11 about his plans for us, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (NIV).

Forgiveness, whether it is given or received, is just a New Year's resolution that is worth practicing. Enjoy the music by Mathew West!

Your Sister in Christ,

Jacque Barnes

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

I was asked yesterday, “What is the best gift you ever received for Christmas?”. Without delay, I said the birth of my sons Cason who was born one week before Christmas in 1980 and Jonathan who was born in October. Second would have been the Harley Davidson mini bike my brother and I received in 1974. I could go on but if I were to really think about it, the best gift any Christian has ever received would have to be the birth of the Messiah, Jesus.  

Jesus the Messiah is the what the “Holidays” are all about. If you think about it the Messiah can be linked to Hanukkah or The festival of lights in many ways. Jesus Christ is known as the Light of the World, the one who brings hope and salvation to a dark and desperate people. In John 8:12 Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (NIV). Jesus our Lord makes all impossible things very possible. The giving and receiving of Gifts at Christmas is also an indicator of not only the birth of Jesus Christ but His entire life! The wise men from the east brought gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh to present to the baby who was to become the King of the Jews. Even Santa Claus has his beginnings in

I absolutely love all the lights, the hustle and bustle, and the gift-giving because I know that without the celebration of the birth of our Jesus Christ none of the this would be happening. Even as some people choose to say “Happy Holiday” instead of “Merry Christmas” they are still implying something Holy is being celebrated. The Birth of Jesus the Messiah is Holy indeed!! As stated in Hebrews 7:26, Such a high priest truly meets our need, one who is Holy, blameless, Pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens” (NIV). His name is Jesus the Christ!!

As Jesus Christ lived He was known as a gift giver. He healed the sick, opened the eyes of the blind, and raised the dead to life. In his death, He also gave Himself as a gift, the one and only sacrifice for the redemption of sin. Jesus Christ is the perfect Lamb of God. Since that time Jesus continues to give the gift of redemption and eternal life to anyone who believes in Him as The Messiah. 1 Peter 1:3 states, “Praise be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy, he has Given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (NIV). Choosing to believe that Jesus Christ was born the Son of God, died to save us from eternal suffering and rose again to be seated on the right hand of God the Father is the most important gift anyone could receive. Jesus Christ is definitely the Gift that keeps on Giving.

During these “Holy-Days” let us concentrate on the real “Gift Giver”, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I'm not sure if King Solomon realized the relevance of Proverbs 18:16 when he wrote it, but it states, “A Gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great” (NIV), but it's certainly appropriate. So give those gifts, turn on those lights, laugh, eat too much, and celebrate the birth of the One who's made this all possible, the one who, as Christians, we will spend our eternity with. Jesus Christ our Redeemer the gift that keeps on giving. Please enjoy the Music Video!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holy Days!!

Your Sister in Christ,

Jacque Barnes

Trusting God with Our Most Precious Possessions

After speaking this week with a friend who has been concerned about her father's health I have come to realize that many of us do not really trust God to care for the people who are closest to us (our most precious possessions). I understand that we are all human and will inevitably go through times in our lives where we will lose someone, but that is not what I am really talking about. I'm talking about the everyday trust in God to be there when our loved ones need Him. We are afraid to let go of them and put them in the hands of the one who created all things. We say we trust until we are faced with a crisis that “we” have no control of. To be completely honest, I tend to trust God more with my own life than I do with the lives of my children and grandchildren. I know! This is coming from a woman who has trust and control issues (Thank you Lord for your patience, grace, and mercy). So let's work on this...

Proverbs 3:5 tells us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and to lean not on our own understanding. This is where the rubber meets the road. We have got to trust God completely without understanding His plans. "Faith" is that trust and our starting point.

As Christians, our beliefs are built on having faith. We are to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died on a cross, and rose to life again after three days in the grave. After accepting these truths and giving ourselves over to God for His salvation our faith usually grows. This growth comes with getting to know our Lord and Savior Jesus. The Bible states in Romans 10:17, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (NIV).

So it seems that faith grows as one hears the message of Jesus. Getting involved in a bible believing Church with a pastor that preaches the true message of Jesus is a good start. Having a time set aside daily to read the bible and discussing your findings with God (prayer) is key. God is your Father and the one who loves you and your precious ones more that can be fathomed.

A good example of this is found in Isaiah 49:15-16, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion for the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me” (NIV). Another verse that sticks out to me is, “But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those that fear Him, and His righteousness with their children’s children with those who keep His covenant and remember to obey his precepts” (Psalms 103:17-18). I love this, “Their children’s children” are made righteous and loved. This sounds like God takes care of those we love. The Father knows our hearts and knows our fears. While I'm at it I'll give you one more. Act 16:31 states, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-you and your household” (NIV). Best News Ever!!

So you see, If we believe that the Bible is the Word of God and that Jesus is our Savior. We can completely trust Him to care for our most precious possessions. If not, get to know the one who gives that joy and peace that leads to that kind of trust. What do you have to lose, but the misery of hanging on to something that you could never control...Proverbs 18:24 says it so well, “ One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother”(NIV). That friend is Jesus Christ...

Please enjoy this music video by Third Day.

Have a Blessed week learning to Trust.

Your Sister in Christ,

Jacque Barnes

...But the greatest of these is LOVE

Many of us are familiar with John 3: 16, “For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life” (NIV). God the Father loved us so much that He gave His son Jesus to die in our place. There is no Love that is Greater, period! As you can see “Love” has a major role in the life of a Child of God. The Father's great Love for us is the purpose of Jesus' ministry on Earth, but He also commands us to Love each other.

One of my favorite quotes comes from Dr. David Jeremiah, a pastor, and author, “Love is worthless unless it acts out, unless it's expressed in deed and behavior.” Love is an action word or verb. In order to love, one needs to move and express feelings. This can be done with words and deeds. Letting a person know you love them by telling them how much you care or by being there for them during the good and not so good times in their lives. If we love one another, we cannot hate one another! Love only lives in the absence of hate.

In Mathew 22: 37-40 Jesus explained this after the disciples ask Him about the greatest commandment in the Law, “ Jesus replied, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it, Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (NIV). As you can see, We are commanded to love. Our love for the Father and one another is the Key.

Corinthians 13:1 Paul stated, “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” (NIV). Paul also spoke of love in Romans 13:8, “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law” (NIV).

Loving the Father first means giving our whole life and heart over to Him and trusting Him to love us back. Loving our neighbors as ourselves means seeing them in the same light that we see ourselves. In John 15:12 Jesus Christ stated, “My command is this; love each other as I have loved you” (NIV). If we love the Father first, we can take that love and turn it around to our brothers and sisters. We can forgive them and love them with the same love and forgiveness the Father has given us.

I will leave you this week with a reminder of what “Love” really is. 1 Corinthians 13:4 tells it as it is, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. Use this verse along with Jesus' action of love, as He gave His life for ours on the Cross, to love your neighbor as you love yourself.

Have a Blessed Week Loving each Other,

Your Sister in Christ,

Jacque Barnes

Healed Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

As I was researching this week I came upon so many verses in the bible about healing. The Father intends on His children to be whole and healthy. From the beginning to the end the bible is full of healing. As children of God, we can claim healing from our past, today, and tomorrow! Now that is Good News people and too good to be made up!!

In Isaiah 53:5 a prophecy was made about our healing, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds, we are healed” (NIV). As you can see this prophecy was fulfilled. His love for His Children cannot be denied! 1 Peter 2:24 states, “He himself bore our sins, in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness, by his wounds you have been healed” (NIV). In Psalm 107: 20 it also states, “He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave” (NIV). But there is a catch, this healing is only given to a “Child of God”.

By accepting Jesus as Lord of your life, believing in Him as God's Son, and accepting that He died for you, you are made a Child of God and have inherited this healing. Asking God to forgive you for the sins of your past and believing that Jesus conquered death and lived again gives you eternal healing from the death that sin causes. Isaiah 43:25 states, “ I, even I am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. Child of God hold your head high and start living this out. You are a Child of “The King”!

Malachi 4:2 gives us a lovely view of this, “But for you who revere My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. Revering or having a deep respect in the name of God is key for healing. Another key is confessing our sins to God and each other. James 5:16 states, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteousness person is powerful and effective” (NIV). As Children of God, we should begin to claim our victory and accept our healing, in every area of our lives, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Savior. This gives us a small view of what is to come when we are home with our Lord in Heaven.

As the time grows near for our Savior's return we, as Children of God, should hold to our future healing. Revelation 21:4 tells us, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Ther will be no more death', mourning, crying, or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (NIV). What wonderful news! As Children, we will be healed forever!!

So as you can see as Children of God we can have healing for our past, our present, and our future.

Hold onto this and claim God's purpose for you. Love each other and try and speak kindly to each other. I'll leave you with Proverbs 16:24, which states, “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and Healing to the bones” (NIV).

God Bless and Have a Wonderful Week,

Your Sister in Christ,

Jacque Barnes

A Light in the Darkness

As most of us are aware, the world is growing darker. This darkness has, in most part, come from a moral decline that has been growing since the day Adam and Eve disobeyed God. I understand that there have been shifts and revivals in the past that have given us hope, but for the most part, our decline has been steady, until the past few years. As I see it we are hurling down a mountain without brakes! It seems every evil as taken on a new rate of speed. But God still calls his children to be accountable in this dark time.

God wants his children to be a light in the darkness. I know that it can be hard to be that loving and joyful light when everything around us seems to be falling apart. The car is on its last leg, the kids need new shoes, and the clothes are not going to wash themselves. Our Heavenly Father knows what we go through in our everyday life. Although He understands He also has requirements that we are to fulfill as we go through our day. We are to put forth His light in the way we handle the conflicts and disappointments we face daily. People who do not know our Loving and Faithful Father are watching, but He has given us tools to use to help us stay on track.

The Word or The Bible is our handbook for getting through life's ups and downs. The Bible is like the “University of Heaven” for all Christians. In Hebrews 4:12 it states, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (NIV). A daily devotional or reading plan is one of the best tools for turning one the Light of God and shinning it onto everything you come in contact with during your day. In Mathew 4:4 Jesus stated, “It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (NIV). It doesn't matter when, but morning or when you first get up seems to be the best time for most.

Prayer is another tool to use before starting your day. Talking to the Father first thing in the morning and telling Him how much you love and appreciate His Holy Spirit's presence in your life just helps to set the tone for the day. Talking to the Father about your concerns and expectations for the day can also help to make the task of the day go smoother. Saying a prayer of thanksgiving throughout the day can keep you on track. In Mark 11:24 Jesus States, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (NIV).

So as we continue this week with all the pressures of life, let God's Word lead you and Prayer prepare you. His presence in your life can and will shine on your life as well as the people who watch the way you handle yourselves in the small mundane things of life as well as the major conflicts. For Jesus stated in Mathew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Have a Wonderful week Shining your Light and God Bless. Your sister in Christ Jesus,

Jacque Barnes

My Identity

This week I thought I would deal with who God says we are. I don't know about you but sometimes I have a hard time accepting my new identity in Christ Jesus. The words are easy to say but to really live them out and believe I am His can be difficult at times. Especially when I have been cut off in traffic, or I have told my grandson for the ump-tenth time to pick up his shoes.

There are so many precious names that God has given to his children, the ones who love and trust His Son Christ Jesus. Today, after a rather stressful week, I have chosen the ones that lift me out of the stress and place me in His loving presence.

The first and most important to me, and most people is I am forgiven. In Acts 10:43, it states: All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name, the name of Christ Jesus.

Forgiveness is the one I have so much trouble with at times because I have a tendency to remind myself of what I have done and not the fact that Christ died to give me the “free” gift of forgiveness. When I surrendered to Jesus, He forgave me, it did not depend on my behavior or deeds and especially what I feel I deserve.

The next name I need to remind myself of frequently is I am Strong in the Lord. Ephesians 6:10 states, Be strong in the Lord and his mighty power. 

This name does not come easy either, but if we remind ourselves daily of our true identity in Christ Jesus, this strength starts to build and becomes more apparent as we utilize it daily. 

When we allow God to work His purpose in our lives, our true identity of Strength in Jesus will shine through. Even when that shoe is never picked up or traffic continues to make you wish that “Jesus Loves You” bumper sticker was never place on your car.

Have a week full of "Thankful to God” reminders, and a Bless Thanksgiving Day!

Your Sister in Christ,

Jacque Barnes

God's Purpose for Us

I have struggled for weeks to find the perfect name for this blog. To be honest I have never blogged before and I admit that I am a little slow out of the gate. Well God finally gave me the perfect name, His Purpose for Me. What a perfect name, because that is what it is all about, God's purpose for my life.

As Christians our purpose is to praise and worship our Creator and put forth the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus said in Mark 16:15 to, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation" (NIV). This is my passion in life. Helping others to see the Greatness of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is what I was born to do.

My prayer is this blog will help, as many as reads it, to understand the love and devotion God has for each of us,  I also pray it helps to build a desire in others to spread His message of Love and Salvation to those who don't know our Lord and Savior

. 

Your Sister in Christ Jesus

Jacque Barnes