Category Archives: Forgiveness

October 22, 2021 · 4:22 am

Forgive Yourself #4

“Forgiveness is never easy. But forgiving yourself can be the most challenging type of forgiveness out there,” observed Psychologist, Dr. Brad Brenner.

“Like it or not, self-forgiveness takes work that requires both compassion and empathy,” Brenner wrote in a post “How To Forgive Yourself: Moving On From the Past.”

Brenner points out that a mistake, error in judgment, or even an egregious moral failure, does not have to define who we are. While the action was wrong, we can rise above it. Make amends for it. Grow from it. And become a bigger and better person. Continue reading →

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October 21, 2021 · 4:21 am

Forgive Yourself #3

“Choosing not to forgive yourself is like being the judge, jury, and defendant of your life all at once,” wrote Dr. John Delony a mental health expert who earned two Ph.D.’s from Texas Tech University.

“We put ourselves on trial on an almost daily basis and write our own sentence of condemnation,” Delony observed. “Most of us talk to ourselves in ways that we would never let someone talk to our kids or our neighbors. But we have no problem condemning ourselves. The good news about self-forgiveness is that you can choose to slam down the gavel, dismiss the court, and let yourself off the stand.” Continue reading →

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October 20, 2021 · 4:20 am

Forgive Yourself #2

“Just as we get angry with other people, we become angry with ourselves for not doing better and making fewer mistakes,” wrote Drs. Frank Minirth and Paul Meier, who are both Psychiatrists and Christian counselors, in their wonderful book Happiness is a Choice.

“We are often critical with ourselves and harder on ourselves than we are on other people,” they observe. “We need to forgive ourselves of past mistakes and sin. God is aware of our weaknesses.”

There are many reasons why people fail to forgive themselves, but we observed three in yesterday’s post, which you ought to read first. This second of a four-part series will consider three consequences of not forgiving ourselves. Continue reading →

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October 19, 2021 · 4:19 am

Forgive Yourself #1

In his book, The Gift of Forgiveness, Dr. Charles Stanley, tells a true story about a 16-year-old girl named Patsy who came to him confused and desperate.

When she was only 13 she became sexually involved with an 18-year-old boy. This relationship continued for two years until he moved to another state. Feeling “dirty and guilty,” and distraught by his departure, she sought private counseling.

Sadly she became involved with the 30-year-old counselor on whom she had depended for help. Unable to talk to her parents about this she turned to Dr. Stanley. Continue reading →

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January 31, 2020 · 7:16 am

Am I in the Place of God?

Our Bible reading today records the death of the Patriarch Jacob and the procession from Egypt to Canaan for his burial. (Gen 49-50)

After Joseph and his brothers return to Egypt, they were fearful, now that their father was dead, Joseph would exact revenge on them for selling him into slavery. So they sent a messenger to Joseph to remind him of their father’s wishes for Joseph to forgive them for their terrible wrong toward him. In fact, his brothers literally fell down on their faces and begged, “Behold we are your servants.” Continue reading →

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January 30, 2020 · 7:19 am

Joseph–A Great Example of Forgiveness

“To err is human, to forgive is divine,” penned the famed British poet, Alexander Pope.

Other than Jesus’ forgiveness of his enemies as He hung on the cross, there is perhaps no greater Bible example of divine forgiveness than the Genesis narrative when Joseph forgives his brothers.

In yesterday’s post, we discussed how Joseph recognized God’s providence in life. His father’s favoritism that resulted in his brothers envy and ultimately being sold as a slave all worked out for good in the end. Continue reading →

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October 4, 2019 · 8:03 am

Extreme Forgiveness

“I love you just like anyone else and I’m not going to hope you rot and die,” Brandt Jean told Amber Guyger when he took the witness stand.”

“I personally want the best for you. I wasn’t going to say this in front of my family, I don’t even want you to go to jail,” Jean continued. “I know if you go to God and ask him he will forgive you.”

Dallas District Attorney John Creuzot described Brandt Jean’s compassion toward Guyger as “an extraordinary act of healing and forgiveness.” Creuzot said that in his 37 years of practicing law , “I never saw anything like that.” Continue reading →

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May 28, 2019 · 5:28 am

God Forgives. Forgive Yourself.

“While I am glad to debate the abortion issue, that is not the purpose of this post,” wrote my friend and preaching colleague Shane Scott in a recent facebook post. “Instead, I want to reach out to any sisters in Christ who share the same beliefs I have about abortion, but who have at some point in the past chosen to have one.” Continue reading →

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November 30, 2017 · 6:34 am

How To Deal with Personal Offenses

In my 50 years of preaching the one problem I’ve found that is pretty consistent in all churches regardless of size, culture, or local customs is the challenge of maintaining good relationships.

Specifically, how do you deal with a personal offense from a brother or sister in Christ?

Recently a reader wrote to ask my perspective on Matthew 18. This post is in response to her questions. Continue reading →

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November 17, 2017 · 8:31 am

Are You Guilty of Record Keeping?

A couple was having some marital problems and sought counseling. After interviewing both together the Counselor separated them to discuss the issues individually.

When alone with the husband he asked, “What do you feel is the biggest problem in your marriage?”

“Well, every time we get into an argument,” the husband responded, “my wife gets historical.” Continue reading →

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