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11.15.22 Let Go

Did you know that the Cross is all about letting go? God the Father is all about letting go? A majority of counseling and life issues are all about letting go? All of these statements are true and once we can take in the reality of these truths, our lives will become more internally peaceful and stable.

One extremely important verse in the Bible concerning this is found in Matthew 6:14-15 :

"IF you forgive men when they sin (offend) you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins (offenses), your Father (in heaven) will not forgive your sins."

Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

Colossians 3:13 "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord for gave you."

Forgiveness does not mean we forget but that we let go of the "right" to hang onto the offense and to get even. Forgiveness does not always mean this person who offended you is safe for you to be around but it does mean you let go of wishing any evil will upon them or that you continue to talk bad about them. Let go and let God deal with them. Think about it. Each and everyone of us has wronged someone at some time in our life, intentionally or unintentionally. And it is a simple fact that we need heavenly Father's forgiveness between us and him every single day. We offend him in our thoughts, our speech, and our actions. I am grateful he sees us through the sacrifice of forgiveness his son Jesus made on the Cross.

Think about it. What kind of life do you want? I want one filled with internal peace and unblocked answers to prayers, with the mercy and goodness of God weaving throughout my spirit and life, no matter what is happening externally.

Check out verses concerning forgiveness towards others, of ourselves, the work on the Cross. You simply cannot love Christ and not be wise to forgive and let go. Lets grow up, become mature in Christ, stop fussing and squabbling and offending. Amen.

-Pastor Sandra Matheson

www.olivebranchdiscipleshipministries.comwww.olivebranchdisciples

hipmistries.com

www.oivebranchdiscipleshipministries.com

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, bring to our remembrance of sacrifice that Jesus went through on the Cross to submit a blood sacrifice for our sins, individually and collectively. Let us be mindful of not taking on any offenses and not putting out any. Help us to remember we are all human and have stressful and bad days, hurts and wounds that cannot be seen, and how we would like to be treated as well. Give us wisdom to know when to truly forgive and to walk away, knowing that person or situation is not healthy for us. We desire to be free and healthy in mind, body, soul, and spirit. Amen www.olivebranchdiscipleshipministries.com

www.olivebranchdiscipleshipministries.com

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Pruning

Posted on June 5, 2019 at 6:13 PM

6.5.19

Pruning

My plumb tree. What a magnificent specimen of God's handiwork. My plumb tree has taught me many spiritual lessons of God the Father's work and purposes.

Last fall I had this plumb tree pruned way back. Way, way back. As I stood and looked at the pruning I was asked what I thought. I stated that it was really pruned and maybe a little too much but that it was okay, "We probably won't get any plumbs for a year until it grows back some." It was okay, I resigned myself to it and was almost relieved that I wouldn't have to deal with a ton of plumbs that usually com from this small tree.

I went our to walk my yard a few days ago and my attention was drawn to this tree. It was suggested to me that I come closer and look at the branches and what did I think. I was truly stunned. Because the leaves are so green and the immature plumbs are so green, from a distance of a few feet more the fruit was undistinguishable from the leaves. As I drew closer I could see that the branches were inundated with fruit upon fruit, quietly growing and maturing. Wow. In a few weeks there will be a huge harvest off this little tree and I already have friends who are asking for bags of this fruit when it is mature. Of course I said. I truly did not expect any growth of fruit this year but what do I know? God knows!

It made me think of how the Lord prunes His Believers from time to time. I can seem very severe with no hope of any fruit at all. The fruit we are to produce cannot always be seen but it is still there. Now, if the tree is healthy, the fruit will be plentiful, strong, and good. Believers in Christ can also bear bad fruit out of negative attitudes and actions. This kind if fruit is good for nothing and is cut off the branch and thrown into the fire.

We must be mindful at all times about the fruit of the Spirit that we are to produce in our daily walk with Christ Jesus. Mindful, having our mind full of these thoughts of fruit produced to better the Kingdom of God here on earth, to feed the family of God, to nourish our self and others. It is expected of us or we will be cut off and thrown into the fire. Our fruit as Believers in Christ are as follows::

Galatians 5:22-26

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

And not:

Galatians 5:19-21

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Which do you choose?

-Pastor Sandi

www.olivebranchdiscipleshipministries.com

Categories: Pruning