The secret is to choose to forgive, to let go of any vindictive feelings we may have and clear the record. Just as the Lord has forgiven us and looks at us as if we never sinned, our minds must be stayed on the Lord and our hearts open to forgive all that has ever been done to us. That means when old memories pop up in our minds of deeds done against us, we move on and make the Lord and His forgiveness our focus. I just read from Isaiah 26 in the Message and it says, “You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind (both its inclination and its character) is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.”  That means we don’t spend time rehearsing the hurts and letting our minds wander in the darkness of those memories but stay our mind on the Lord.

We will find peace and joy as we shift our focus to His forgiveness of us and then choose to let go of any and all wrongs to us. That doesn’t mean we don’t acknowledge what was done to us, but that we forgive and give up the right to try to get even. We have all been in the position to need the forgiveness of others, and then the wonderful feeling when we are restored in their eyes. Let us do that for one another, and as we forgive, we will experience joy and perfect peace!

Hope you had a good weekend and are preparing for Christmas. Very exciting game last night and the Vikings just barely won. Today I am going to the Aldi’s and Exercise class and do some prep for Christmas.

How many of us do that? It’s wonderful to worship with others on Sunday morning but what happens the rest of the week when we are in the world of needy people. Do we reach out to those who are hurting. I want to give a recent example of someone who was responded to the Holy Spirit’s prompting to help a widow. The night before we were going an hour North to celebrate our grandson’s birthday, I got a call from Susan who you have prayed for in the past. She said she was having a biopsy the next day in Brainerd and was going to be transported by a small bus that has a lift for wheelchairs. I told her I had planned to visit her that next morning on our way to the lake. The timing worked out perfectly as I could pray for her before the surgery and listen to the concerns she had, and also bring her lots of baked goodies etc. But I did feel badly that I wouldn’t be there during the time she had to wait in Brainerd, since she would be alone. Meanwhile a gal from our former church who has helped Susan in the past, felt the Lord prompting her to drive from Hackensack to Brainerd to just sit with Susan before and after her surgery. Later Susan described it as the most wonderful gift from the Lord and she felt so loved and cared for. That friend was God’s angel to Susan and I’m sure she felt the Lord’s blessing as she traveled home again in her car.

Jesus wants all of us and when He comes knocking at our heart’s door and we hear His voice and open the door, He will come in. (Rev 3:20) He wants to gain entrance to our heart and often uses different ways to get our attention.  Sometimes He comes to us with a “now” word, that fits our situation, and we become aware of what He wants us to do. He may also come to us with a task to accomplish or a kind deed to meet the need of another. Sometimes He comes in and opens the windows of our hearts to breathe in fresh renewal air. We may be surprised as we suddenly find the Spirit helping us discover spiritual gifts that He has placed in us, and as we pray for someone, they get healed. Or maybe He gives us a word of wisdom that meets the need of someone who has been asking for guidance. The more we open up the more we sense what He desires to do.

Jesus also helps us see our sin and sin patterns that we may repent and be set free. He may at times prompt us to make a private confession to another Christian and later we find out that some particular sin no longer has a hold on us. We are forgiven!! Even our memories from the past can be healed along with our wounded souls. We must guard ourselves from entering into relationships that influence us to compromise our faith. If we want to live in harmony with the Spirit, and continually let Him have more of us, we also must not neglect worship; daily let us lift our hearts to the Lord in praise and also gather with others for fellowship and prayer that our hearts would be tender and open to the Lord.

Hope you wake to behold the beautiful winter wonderland. Lots of snow yesterday and we stayed inside but today we need to go to Costco to get the cake for our Birthday party this afternoon.

As we seek the Lord and give Him praise, it takes our mind off of ourselves and focuses us on the One who able to truly help us. David says, “Every day I will bless you, and praise your name forever and ever.” (verse 2) That doesn’t mean just blessing the Lord when I feel good, and things are going great but at those times we feel burdened. As we spend time with Him and reading His Word, we will also rise above our negative emotions, and experience God’s love and support and get a fresh start.