Wanted to share with you ladies , while I sat in that little room waiting for my wonderful Dr I heard a song on the radio. They listen to country and western music. Now I do not listen to C& W music but that day I was a captured audience. The song was by Tim McGraw and the title was "Live Like You Were Dying." Not really something that you want to hear while sitting in a Dr office. Anyway he is singing about a man in his early 40's that has had bad news about loosing his life and when asked what he did with that news, here is one of his answers ....."I gave forgiveness I'd been denying" and he said someday I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying"
It was a combination of words that so touched my heart and I was a bit surprised at my reaction to the song. Isn't is strange how the Lord sometimes uses what HE can to reach us? HIS spirit knows neither time or space or music and if in the words of a C&W song then so be it. HE is a very resourceful God. As I sat there the rest of the song slipped past me with not a thought but those few words kept resounding in my mind. "I gave forgiveness I'd been denying." How profound and it almost caused me to cry. I sat there and reflected on some people that I have withheld forgiveness.
Oh yes, it is that bright light that shines in our hearts by the Holy Spirit that goes into the dark places that we think we have hidden. It is that sudden intrusion of the Holy One , the third person of the Trinity that comes in an instant when least expected and shines HIS light, a light that we cannot ignore. It is the TRUTH that comes, and when in that instant we only want to spew the fact of why we have not, HE brings the TRUTH, and in that truth there is no escape. In that correction by the Holy One comes repentance and the repentance turns to adoration because of the LOVE in HIS correction.
Never an accusation, only correction followed by LOVE, and in the moments that follow, HIS forgiveness I sough for withholding from them what HE so freely gives. How we hold in our hearts things that cause us pain, we hold tight thinking that we have a right some how to withhold from others what HE gives to us freely.
As we come together this season to celebrate the birth of CHRIST, while we wrap the gifts and trim the trees help us LORD to first forgive those to whom we have withheld forgiveness.
It is the very reason HE came.......... Forgiveness----- It heals all it touches.
And I wonder what we would do tomorrow if we were to live like we were dying.
It was a combination of words that so touched my heart and I was a bit surprised at my reaction to the song. Isn't is strange how the Lord sometimes uses what HE can to reach us? HIS spirit knows neither time or space or music and if in the words of a C&W song then so be it. HE is a very resourceful God. As I sat there the rest of the song slipped past me with not a thought but those few words kept resounding in my mind. "I gave forgiveness I'd been denying." How profound and it almost caused me to cry. I sat there and reflected on some people that I have withheld forgiveness.
Oh yes, it is that bright light that shines in our hearts by the Holy Spirit that goes into the dark places that we think we have hidden. It is that sudden intrusion of the Holy One , the third person of the Trinity that comes in an instant when least expected and shines HIS light, a light that we cannot ignore. It is the TRUTH that comes, and when in that instant we only want to spew the fact of why we have not, HE brings the TRUTH, and in that truth there is no escape. In that correction by the Holy One comes repentance and the repentance turns to adoration because of the LOVE in HIS correction.
Never an accusation, only correction followed by LOVE, and in the moments that follow, HIS forgiveness I sough for withholding from them what HE so freely gives. How we hold in our hearts things that cause us pain, we hold tight thinking that we have a right some how to withhold from others what HE gives to us freely.
As we come together this season to celebrate the birth of CHRIST, while we wrap the gifts and trim the trees help us LORD to first forgive those to whom we have withheld forgiveness.
It is the very reason HE came.......... Forgiveness----- It heals all it touches.
And I wonder what we would do tomorrow if we were to live like we were dying.