Forgiveness

It’s hard to forgive people that hurt you, isn’t it? This week, Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer, who sung her way into the top 10 of American Idol, died. So many are mourning her loss by recalling her life, her music, and her American Idol journey. Part of that journey was Mandisa standing up to Simon Cowell, who had a reputation of being intimidating.

So, what did Simon Cowell do that was hurtful? He had made a cruel joke about her weight. After her “Idol” audition, Cowell made a comment ‘about needing a bigger stage.’ She later confronted him by saying, “A lot of people want me to say a lot of things to you. What I want to say to you is that, yes, you hurt me, and I cried, and it was painful. It really was. But I want you to know that I’ve forgiven you and that you don’t need someone to apologize to forgive somebody. I’ve been forgiven so much. And that if Jesus could forgive me for all my wrongs, I could extend the same grace." Cowell apologized and was humbled and gave Mandisa a big hug.

Wow, just wow! I loved Mandisa's courage, her strengh and her ability to articulate her forgiveness to Cowell. Perhaps it's amazing because we just don't see it enough. Take a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5KQwCsWYgI 

Forgiveness is hard. I think you know when you haven’t forgiven someone. You think about that person in a negative way. They occupy way too much space in your mind. You’re in a mental jail. You remember exactly what they did to hurt you and you recall it often. And it doesn’t seem to go away. That’s unforgiveness.

Yet, Jesus’ teachings tells us that forgiveness is the core of the Christian faith. Matthew 11:25 says “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” It’s because of God sending Jesus to die as the final sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins, that we too, can forgive and show grace to others. Colossians 3:13 says “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

When Cowell said those hurtful comments to Mandisa, that hurt Mandisa to the core. Any of us would be hurt by that. And when we are hurt by others, it triggers hurt in our hearts. It’s easy to turn that hurt to bitterness unless we deal with it. And deal with it we must unless we want to hold on to unforgiveness.

This past weekend, my husband served inside a prison. There are many there who will be there for life. There crimes were so vile and heinous to warrant a return to the outside. However, with Jesus, there is no exceptions as to who can receive forgiveness. If those inmates trust in Jesus and receive His forgiveness, they too, are free, even though in prison.

Has it been hard for you to forgive? I pray that you and I will be free to forgive as Jesus has forgiven us. Could we be men and women who don’t seek to revenge, but instead release our desire to be bitter and extend grace to others?

One of my favorites by Mandisa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8VoUYtx0kw

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio. 

When I Consider...

Today is a day to stand in full of awe. We will see a total eclipse. I don’t think anything can prepare us for what we are about to see, the moon fully blocking the sun. We will watch around us go from day to night. Every one of us watching the total eclipse are a spectator. There was nothing we did to make this phenomenon happen. Our job is to simply behold.

Only God can put together a total eclipse. In your preparations for this day, did you consider God’s part in this day? As we gaze on what will place, would You draw your attention in awe to the One who created the eclipse?

Consider this verse: ‘When I consider your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?"  (Psalm 8:3-4)

We can consider and place our focus on a lot of things. Many of those things aren't productive, helpful, or even positive. Consider means “to think carefully about (something), to contemplate; reflect on.”  In Psalm 8, David knew the value of simply considering the glory of God’s creation. He knew what it was like to look up into the starry sky and consider what a great God had made this vast, wonderful universe. (Enduring Word, Psalm 8, The Glory of God in Creation)

When we consider the heavens, it makes us see the greatness of God! When we consider the total eclipse, it makes us see the greatness of God! When we consider the greatness of the heavens, it makes us see the insignificance of our humanness. Even David, in Psalm 8, wondered how such an awesome, great God would be so mindful of such small beings.

David was confident that God not only thought about human beings but had a personal connection with them. He realized that God thinks about us and acts in our lives. He’s a very personal God and longs for a relationship with us. 

I believe God is happy for us human beings to actually see a total solar eclipse. I think He wants us to look at His beauty and consider Him. These things reflect the character and glory of God and call for us to find joy in the God who enjoys his handiwork.

Pay attention to what’s happening today. God created this world, sustains it and rules over it. He alone is worthy of our worship!

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.” Psalm 19: 1-6

How Great is our God!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV4nOVmWW2A

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

What is Real?

I love April Fools Day. I just love pulling off scandalous pranks when the receiver is least expecting it. Early on in our marriage, I told my husband that I found this beautiful Labrador on the street and brought him home while he was at work. He couldn’t believe I would do such a thing without asking! It wasn’t until he got home with a sour face that he heard “April Fools!”

The custom of setting aside a day for playing harmless pranks on others has been a common practice for centuries. As fun as it is coming up with April Fool’s jokes, we know they are not true in the end.

We just celebrated Easter, something very true that changed everything. Jesus rose again from the dead and defeated death. Jesus came to this earth for 33 years, lived a perfect life, went to the cross, and rose again from the dead three days later. That is no April Fools.

I can’t imagine what it would have been like to have walked through this horrific time with Jesus. He was mocked repeatedly, slapped, and punched as an imposter. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns for him to wear. The soldiers repeatedly struck Jesus on the head with a staff and spit on him. He is flogged, condemned to death, and led to the place of the crucifixion, carrying his cross. Jesus never fought back, although He had the power to do so.

Jesus offers you the ultimate hope. Real hope. No April Fools. Because three days after He was crucified and buried, He was raised from the dead. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) Jesus went through the worst possible suffering to pay the price of your sin and mine on the cross. When we receive Jesus by faith, we receive eternal life, both now and forever. 

We live in a world where we can never quite trust what’s real. It’s like we live in an April Fools world. We don’t know who to believe. What is real hope? Can we place our hope in politics? Our relationships? Our possessions? Our health? Our success? Our careers? Our finances?  All things we can hope for, but our ultimate hope remains in eternity where Jesus reigns forever.

C. S. Lewis once wrote, “If we find a desire within ourselves that cannot be satisfied by anything in this world, it is likely that we were made for another world.” Unlike the April Fools and the hopes of this world, we can place our hope in Jesus, a living hope, who conquered the grave.

Easter changed everything! Jesus is alive!

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.” 1 Peter 1:3-4

We have much to celebrate! This song makes me so happy! God’s Not Dead! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_OTz-lpDjw

 
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.