KNOW IT!

Jesus doesn't expect you to be perfect. He does expect you to be honest about your mistakes and admit you need help.

Daily Reading

Hey everybody! Happy Valentines day!! Just a reminder on today's Bible reading, we are reading Genesis chapters 36-41!

On a side note, please keep my best friend Dylan in your prayers. --He cut his stomach/hip area open today while snowboarding by landing on a piece of glass. Got lots of stitches, and is in lots of pain. Keep him in your prayers please!!!

Keep walking in the Lord! God bless,

Hollianne

Bible Reading -February 10

Hey everybody! Don't forget to do today's Bible reading!!!! We are reading Genesis chapters 9-14 today.

God bless!!!

Hollianne

KNOW IT!

Jesus never intended for you to go at it alone. He values Godly friendships. It's not only okay to ask for help; it's wise.

Forgiveness

This weeks topic is going to focus on forgiveness. Today, I am going to show you a passage written by Doug Herman titled Forgiveness, this passage is taken out of the book "Can you Handle the Truth???" by Phil Chalmers.

"Have you ever been betrayed? Have you ever been stabbed in the back with a dagger with the word saint inscribed on it? Well I have. It happened in a place and time that I least expected. I was a youth pastor of a church in the Denver area and enjoyed spending my life with the sixty teens in the youth group. I also enjoyed coaching wrestling at a nearby high school. One day the senior pastor walked into my office, closed the door, and had a seat. I was completely unaware of the events that were about to unfold. 'Doug,' he began, 'the church board met last night. Your last Sunday is in two weeks.'

I was stunned. I asked if I was being dismissed because of a lack of performance or as a disciplinary action or because they perceived I had a moral problem.

'No,' he answered.

I then asked if it was because of my wife and daughter's HIV infection-contracted from a blood transfusion.

Again, he said no.

'Then why?' I asked.

'God just told us you need to leave.'

Yes, I've removed my dagger from my back. Two years later I found out that it was indeed based on my wife and daughter's infected. Was I angry? You bet. Was I bitter? For awhile. and did I ever forgive them? It took time, but yes, I did.

You see, sometimes we experience hurt from others when we are not at fault. 'They should ask me for forgiveness!' I screamed.

But in quiet moments, I could hear Jesus whisper, 'I didn't do anything wrong either, and I forgave. Now will you follow My example?'

Forgiving wasn't easy. But it really wasn't for them; it was for me. I was amazed by the freedom I felt. I was released from my ugly passion and hatred.

One of the main reasons I can laugh, love, and enjoy life is because I've learned the power of forgiveness. I forgave the blood donor who lied on his donor form about his sexual past-ultimately infecting my wife and daughter with a deadly disease. And I forgave the church that rejected us when we needed them most. And through it all, God has brought healing.

If you have ever been hurt, and you hold the controls of anger and vengeance, you can find release today by forgiving your offender first. It's amazingly freeing-and it's free.

What does God say???

What does it mean to forgive? Webster's online dictionary says it is 'to cease to feel resentment against an offender, to grant relief from payment of a debt, to pardon.' Everyone has feelings that come and go-and we certainly need to forgive when we feel hurt, but to pardon someone from a debt is powerful! As we meditate on the true meaning of forgiveness, let's look into God's Word and see what the Creator has to say.

What does God say about forgiving those who offend or deeply hurt us?

'If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.' -Matthew 6:14-15

'Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.' -Colossians 3:13

How can we apply forgiveness from God in areas where we've sinned? And will He forgive?

'Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.' -Psalm 103: 2-3

'If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.' -1 John 1:8-9

'For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.' -Hebrews 8:12

How does this affect me???

Realizing that God will forgive you when you sin is vital. If you didn't know that, today is a wonderful day for you! Regardless of what you've done, God offers you a new start. Ready to begin afresh? Confess your faults, ask for his forgiveness, and enjoy a new life wiped clean by the Creator's compassion.

If you're holding a grudge against someone, today is the day to forgive. It's not easy, but it will do your soul good. When you forgive others, God can forgive you (see Mark 11:25). Go out of your way to meet with your offender and share your forgiveness. the person may receive it or reject it-but doing the right thing will set you free.

Doug Herman is the founder of Pure Revolution. Check out www.PureRevolution.com . "

What do you get out of Doug Herman's passage? Is God speaking to you? Check back tomorrow for another entry on forgiveness and how it can change your life. :)

God bless you,

Hollianne

Bible Reading Schedule -February 2010!

February 9: Genesis 1-8 (Yes -chapters, not verses!)

February 10: Genesis 9-14

February 11: Genesis 15-20

February 12: Genesis 21-28

February 13: Genesis 29-35

February 14: Genesis 36-41

February 15: Genesis 42-50

February 16: Exodus 1-8

February 17: Exodus 9-14

February 18: Exodus 15-21

February 19: Exodus 22-27

February 20: Exodus 28-34

February 21: Exodus 35-40

February 22: Leviticus 1-7

February 23: Leviticus 8-15

February 24: Leviticus 16- 23

February 25: Leviticus 24-27

February 26: Numbers 1-7

February 27: Numbers 8-20

February 28: Numbers 21-36 (They're short chapters, don't be nervous!)

KNOW IT!

We serve a jealous God. He wants to give you life abundantly, but it requires 100 percent submission to his authority.

Welcome back!

Hey everybody! I haven't posted anything in quite some time, but I am going to start blogging once again. :) I have a few new ideas for this blog to make it more successful. One of these is a "KNOW IT!" section --A section that gives you something to live by, something to keep in mind, etc. Watch out for these every day :) Another idea is posting about a new topic every week, or a weekly topic. I'm going to choose things that can be applied to every day life -I'll get information from things such as quotes from authors, books, the Bible and my own view on each topic. My last idea for the time being is going to be a daily Bible reading. I'm planning on reading Genesis through the end of Numbers by the end of February. If you want to join me in doing so, I'll be posting the schedule for that in a post today. My goal is to finish the entire Bible by the end of the year (Genesis through Revelation). Thanks for reading!!

May God bless YOU!

Hollianne