My girl disobeyed me … big time disobeyed … and I was quite shocked by it. Having one of my girls purposely disobey me in this huge manner has never happened to me before.
Let’s face it … the teen still doesn’t drink caffeinated beverages because it was something I never let her do. She just turned 17, and only recently stopped asking permission when there’s a particular PG-13 rated movie she’d like to see.
I digress. Back to the kid being punished.
Immediately after school, I sent her to her room … for the night. I remember being so upset by what she’d done, I seriously considered not giving her dinner.
I’m telling you … her offense was huge! I rarely punish my kids in any sort of dramatic way like this. I prefer to gently discipline. There’s a difference between punishment and discipline … but that’s another post for another time.
Today my writing is two-fold.
The first thing I’d like to share …
In the middle of being punished, big-time punished … my girl reached over and said, “you’re the best mommy in the world.”
It struck me, I wonder what would happen if we did the same to God. If, in the middle of our suffering, we could reach up to tell Him, you are the best Father in the world. {I’d like to point out that I don’t believe God punishes us … I believe He allows suffering for our ultimate good, but I don’t believe He punishes us.}
I wonder if we changed our mindsets to rise above the suffering and look for the blessings instead. To find purpose and understanding in our suffering. To know that it’s for our ultimate good. To trust that He has a plan … and it’s a good plan. {Jeremiah 29:11}
The second thing I’d like to share …
I started this post almost two months ago. Things I want to share come to mind and just as quickly leave. So I’ve been trying to write out small snippets so I don’t forget what I’d like to write about.
Anyway. My point? I absolutely for-the-life-of-me can. not. remember what my girl was being punished for. As I mentioned, I don’t usually punish in this way. At. all. So for me to send her to her room for the night, I know the “crime” was big. And I do remember being really, really upset by what she’d done.
And now? I don’t remember.
And I’m left thinking … that’s how it is with our sin. Jesus sacrificed so we could be forgiven. We confess. And it’s forgotten. Wiped clean. Forgiven and forgotten.
Do you believe that today? Do believe God has given you a clean slate? All sin is forgiven and forgotten. It’s true. It’s His promise and in His word.
He has forgiven you all your sins: Christ has utterly wiped out the damning evidence of broken laws and commandments which always hung over our heads, and has completely annulled it by nailing it over his own head on the cross. Colossians 2:14 {JB Phillips}
I also wonder … is there someone who’s sinned against you? Wronged you? Have you forgiven and forgotten? Or do you continue to hold on? There are many, many verses on forgiveness … here are a few of my favorites.
So watch yourselves. “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says , ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” Luke 17:3-4 {NIV}
If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15 {NLT}
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Romans 12:14 {ESV}
This post started out in one direction and sort of took on a prompting of it’s own. I’m all kinds o’ fired up about forgiveness and I think I’ll be doing a series on it in the coming weeks … stay tuned!
I pray you’ve gleaned some nuggets of godly wisdom in my ramblings here!
i simply love that you’ve forgotten the crime!! and that you’ve turned it back to jesus :) i do sometimes wonder how much God’s heart hurts when we disobey… because those big-time-betrayals that happen at home can sink me. especially deliberate! (but thankfully, that is a rare occurance here, too!)
as for forgiveness…there was a full circle of it around here last week. unexpected. and by His hand. a repair that i think two friends would not have come back from if not for His divine intervention (and sense of humor.) thankful, thankful, thankful.
I am always in awe at how you can find the best in something bad…but so very true…something we must remember is to forgive because to hold on to that is just too heavy a load to carry…thank you for sharing your thoughts and dedication to the Lord~I so miss our bible study and all of the girls who opened up their hearts and made me feel not so alone.
I love the fact that we are all human and sometimes make mistakes, that you forgot what the crime was and that forgiveness is all that is important. I too forget what the crime is, but am learning to forgive much sooner than I used to………… Life is about being happy, loving and caring not carrying the heaviness of punishment, it makes you sad, angry and not the person you should be. Thank you for being you and spreading the WORD:)
So simple yet so powerful and true. I think sometimes we often overlook the fact that once forgiven, it IS forgotten. Sometime I need to work on myself for sure. Thanks so much for sharing.
WOW! Your ramblings are filled with so much insight! thank you for sharing this… :)
so thankful for God’s forgiveness … and thankful when He lets it go … it’s gone for good! Looking foward to your upcoming series :)
I just want to mention I am new to weblog and absolutely loved your web-site. Most likely I’m want to bookmark your blog post . You surely have amazing posts. Kudos for sharing with us your blog.
Substantially, the article is in reality the freshest on that laudable topic. I agree with your conclusions and also will certainly eagerly look forward to your forthcoming updates. Saying thanks will certainly not simply be enough, for the fantastic clarity in your writing. I can at once grab your rss feed to stay privy of any updates. Genuine work and much success in your business endeavors!
Thanks for this article. I’d personally also like to express that it can be hard if you are in school and simply starting out to create a long credit standing. There are many individuals who are simply trying to make it through and have a protracted or good credit history can sometimes be a difficult issue to have.
Hi there, I found your web site by means of Google even as looking for a similar topic, your web site got here up, it appears good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Hey there! I just want to give you a huge thumbs up for your great information you have right here on this post. I am returning to your blog for more soon.
That appears to be excellent however i am still not too sure that I like it. At any rate will look far more into it and decide personally!
Hi there, I found your blog via Google at the same time as looking for a similar matter, your site came up, it appears great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Hi, i think that i saw you visited my blog thus i got here to return the want?.I am trying to in finding issues to improve my web site!I guess its ok to use a few of your ideas!!
Hi there, I found your site via Google even as searching for a related matter, your website came up, it looks good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Hey there! I simply would like to give you a huge thumbs up for your great info you’ve got right here on this post. I’ll be returning to your site for more soon.
Hey there! I simply would like to give you a big thumbs up for the great info you have right here on this post. I will be coming back to your blog for more soon.