November 2015

autumnleaves Happy Thanksgiving! It's always so wonderful to hear from those seeking and appropriating forgiveness as a reality in their lives. If you are struggling with hurts, resentments, fears and the inability to forgive or be forgiven, this website is for you!

“Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim His greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.” 1

A Letter of Thanksgiving...

Those who write to me have no idea they could be proclaiming to the whole wide world what God has done. Listen to Kimberly, who wrote:

“I hope this finds you doing well. I am 39 and live in rural Georgia, with my four children on a small little farm that keeps me busy.

I must tell you how I came to find you. I've been struggling with some personal health issues over the past two years. I love the Lord and have turned to Him for support and guidance. He has been my rock. I praise Him!

While reading different sites online about forgiveness and heaven, I came up on your "Abounding Love." This is a divine intervention.

I didn't know you by name or face until I found this. Of course, I know this story. To read of your faith in forgiveness and testimony has given me hope and assurance that God forgives us and despite our sins, we can be forgiven. I have made choices regarding my health that have made me ashamed to ask the Lord for forgiveness. I know now that he has forgiven me. Thank you!

I know you are a busy man, but I so badly to share with you that this has helped me. I know it is going to be alright. Thank God! I finally am at peace and I'm content with life and thankful for all that I have. God bless you.”

Wow, what a beautiful testimony of God's healing power. I can't help but thank God along with the Psalmist David,

“Sing to Him; yes, sing His praises. Tell everyone about His wonderful deeds.” 2

Let The Whole World Know...

Briefly, King David wrote the above lyrics after capturing Jerusalem and bringing the Ark of the Covenant into the city of David. It was a great celebration like the one going on in my heart today - even “skipping about and laughing with joy like David.” 3 Jesus has captured my heart and I want the whole world to know about God's love and forgiveness.

“Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Publish His glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.” 4

I see and hear from people daily who struggle with fear, guilt and addiction, because they fail to believe God's good news that he saves. This is why I publish His Word, so faith will arise in your heart to believe right. Listen to these for amazing facts:

God has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west (Psalms 103:12).
God has cast all our sins behind His back (Isaiah 3817).
God remembers our sins no more (Isaiah 43:25; Jeremiah 31:34).
God has cast all our sins into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19).

Sadly, you may not be rejoicing. You're not alone! Because of idolatry, unbelief sweeps across the earth. When King David brought the Ark into his newly-captured City, Michal the daughter of Saul, look down from her window. When she saw King David's skipping about and laughing with joy, she was filled with contempt for him. 5

Everyone is not going to rejoice because of your new - found freedom. Some believe you should be punished, even condemned for your sim, when God says, “...there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” 6 You may be punishing or condemning yourself, even cutting to experience the pain you feel you deserve. Granted, there are consequences to sin, I know, but listen to the truth; understand and believe this:

“God showed how much he loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love - not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” 7

Give Thanks To The Lord...

The Ark of the Covenant brought celebration to the hearts of the people because they know its importance. It was a type or shadow of Jesus Christ, who enter Jerusalem with great celebration, the people saying, “Hosanna [save now] to the son of David.” 8 Instead of the blood of sheep and goats sprinkled upon the Ark's mercy seat, Jesus took His blood into the throne room of Grace as our great high priest, after being sacrificed for the sins of the world. 9 This is why we thank and praise God, proclaiming,

“By Him [Jesus] therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.” 10

For years, I didn't give myself permission to walk in the freedom of forgiveness. I was bound by condemnation because of my past. I felt it was only right to punish myself in order to show remorse. I kept beating myself up while looking into the rear view mirror instead of my glorious future in Christ. Can you identify?

Today, it's time to cast down every thought that speaks condemnation and bring every thought into the knowledge of your forgiveness in Christ.

“For God made Christ, Who never sinned to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 11

Because of your forgiveness, go “skipping about and laughing with joy”, like David, not concerned with what others think. Let this be the very best Thanksgiving ever, because of the revelation that you are forgiven and made righteous in Christ. "His faithful love endures forever." 12

A Prayer for You...

Dear God, thank you that even right now, Your forgiveness and Your perfect love are running all over me because of Your Son’s finished work in my life. Take away every lingering sense of ugliness, guilt and condemnation in me. I believe with all my heart that right now when You look at me, You see me in Christ Jesus. I am clothes in his robes of righteousness, favor and blessings. Thank You for Your abundance of grace and Your gift of righteousness in my life. Through Jesus, I will rain in His life over every sin, addiction and failure.

Thank You Jesus, for loving me. Today I receive complete forgiveness in my life for all my sins, mistakes and failings. I release them all into Your loving hands. I declare that in You I am completely forgiven, free, accepted, favored, righteous, blessed and healed from every sickness and disease. Amen!

Scripture References (NLT):

1 Chr. 16:8
1 Chr. 16:9
1 Chr. 15:29c
1 Chr. 16:23,24
1 Chr. 15:29
Rom. 8:1
1 John 4:9,10
Matt. 21:15
Heb. 9:22,23; 10:19-23
Heb. 13:15
2 Cor. 5:21
1 Chr. 17:34b