{"id":1910,"date":"2017-09-11T08:38:12","date_gmt":"2017-09-11T13:38:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/?p=1910"},"modified":"2017-09-11T12:30:16","modified_gmt":"2017-09-11T17:30:16","slug":"911-remembered-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2017\/09\/11\/911-remembered-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"911 Remembered, 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"

September 11th, each year is a difficult time. \u00a0Although I personally did not have someone die during these events, I like so many others, was affected deeply, and still am. \u00a0I can tell you my exact location and my exact response initially upon hearing the devastating news. \u00a0The people that were killed that day and the ones that died as a result, changed the way of life here in America, and even around the world. \u00a0 As time went on, we also realized that not only was the way of American life attacked, but it was an attack on Christianity here and abroad. \u00a0It continues today and we must not forget happened that day. \u00a0Lest we forget, lest we let our guard down, lest we allow ourselves to be doormats, it will happen again.<\/p>\n

That being said, as a Christian, we are also called to forgive.<\/p>\n

21\u00a0<\/sup>Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, \u201cLord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?\u201d \u00a022\u00a0<\/sup>Jesus answered, \u201cI tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.\u00a0l<\/sup><\/p>\n

The New International Version<\/i><\/span><\/a> (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Mt 18:21\u201322.<\/p>\n

Our brothers and sisters are not always blood related. \u00a0They are worldwide. \u00a0They are the children of God. \u00a0Some may argue that the brothers and sisters do not include non-Christians. \u00a0I believe the reality is, it is all of God’s children, not some but all.<\/p>\n

Jesus’ words are wise for us. \u00a0Forgiveness ultimately is for the one doing the forgiving. \u00a0It does not mean that the one being forgiven may not benefit, but the change in us, as we forgive, can be dramatic. \u00a0When Jesus tells Peter seventy-seven times, it tells us to look to forgive. \u00a0Jesus did not say forget. \u00a0For God, can choose to forget but humans, I believe it is impossible to intentionally forget. \u00a0God designed us this way. \u00a0For God makes no mistakes and how we were made is how God made us. \u00a0In not forgetting, we can still forgive but by not forgetting, we can help ourselves from being taken advantage of. \u00a0Forgetting and allowing the same to happen to you over and over, expecting a different result, can lead to being a doormat, to being abused.<\/p>\n

It is a fine line we walk as we follow Jesus, in forgiving seventy-seven times (or translated seventy times seven). \u00a0Forgiving and forgetting gets messy. \u00a0Living in the Spirit, with our brothers and sisters, can be messy.<\/p>\n

15\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cIf your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16\u00a0<\/sup>But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that \u2018every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.\u2019\u00a0d<\/sup> 17\u00a0<\/sup>If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.<\/p>\n

The New International Version<\/i><\/span><\/a> (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Mt 18:15\u201317.<\/p>\n

Yet, we are also called to forgive seventy-seven times (or translated seventy times seven).<\/p>\n

Come Lord Jesus. \u00a0We ask that you continue to send the Holy Spirit to be in the world to lead us in our decisions. \u00a0Help us to do your will. \u00a0Help us not to be deceived by the evil one. \u00a0Guide us through the times of trouble…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Psalm 23<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

A psalm of David. <\/i><\/p>\n

1\u00a0<\/sup>The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.<\/p>\n

2<\/sup> He makes me lie down in green pastures,<\/p>\n

he leads me beside quiet waters,<\/p>\n

3<\/sup> he refreshes my soul.<\/p>\n

He guides me along the right paths<\/p>\n

for his name\u2019s sake.<\/p>\n

4\u00a0<\/sup>Even though I walk<\/p>\n

through the darkest valley,\u00a0a<\/sup><\/p>\n

I will fear no evil,<\/p>\n

for you are with me;<\/p>\n

your rod and your staff,<\/p>\n

they comfort me.<\/p>\n

5\u00a0<\/sup>You prepare a table before me<\/p>\n

in the presence of my enemies.<\/p>\n

You anoint my head with oil;<\/p>\n

my cup overflows.<\/p>\n

6\u00a0<\/sup>Surely your goodness and love will follow me<\/p>\n

all the days of my life,<\/p>\n

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord<\/p>\n

forever.<\/p>\n

The New International Version<\/i><\/span><\/a> (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Ps 23.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

September 11th, each year is a difficult time. \u00a0Although I personally did not have someone die during these events, I like so many others, was affected deeply, and still am. \u00a0I can tell you my exact location and my exact response initially upon hearing the devastating news. \u00a0The people that were killed that day and … [Read more…]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[130,101,106,38,145,42,126,10,12,113,39],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"entry","1":"post","2":"publish","3":"author-admin","4":"post-1910","6":"format-standard","7":"category-calling","8":"category-change","9":"category-conflict","10":"category-evil","11":"category-forgiveness","12":"category-healing","13":"category-holy-spirit","14":"category-jesus","15":"category-lossandgrief","16":"category-psalm-23","17":"category-sin-2"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2m6h5-uO","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2569,"url":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2021\/03\/30\/how-quickly-we-forget-christ-is-king\/","url_meta":{"origin":1910,"position":0},"title":"How 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Grief","link":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/category\/lossandgrief\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":630,"url":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2013\/12\/07\/the-purpose-of-christmas-time-for-celebration\/","url_meta":{"origin":1910,"position":3},"title":"The Purpose of Christmas: Time for Celebration","author":"Douglas Dill","date":"December 7, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Based upon the Book, The Purpose of Christmas, by Rick Warren Audio Link Video Link Genesis 1:26-27 Ecclesiastes 3:1-2,\u00a04b, 5d, 8a Luke 2:8-14 John 3:16-17 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 On this first Wednesday of Advent, we receive good news worth a celebration, one where we anticipate that upon the birth of God incarnate\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Jesus"","block_context":{"text":"Jesus","link":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/category\/jesus\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/_ISOhLl8_kTk\/STX-9TsR9II\/AAAAAAAAARc\/2ZN91TeiFp4\/s400\/The%2BPurpose%2Bof%2BChristmas%2Bbanner.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12,"url":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2008\/01\/02\/new-beginings\/","url_meta":{"origin":1910,"position":4},"title":"New Beginings","author":"Douglas Dill","date":"January 2, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Well, we are in a new year now. It is a time to start a new. A new is good many times. For me it is a good time as well. I stepped back into a Church that I had not been in for over a month. 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