Shades of Gray

Life would be so much easier if things were black and white. One would be able to tell the difference between wrong and right. There are so many shades of gray that it's hard to define the color. Just like sin. We have turned from the true definition of sin which is a voluntary transgression of a religious law or moral principle.

If I were to take a survey of 10 people and ask them to give me a definition of sin, each will define it according to his or her own standard.

We have defined sin the way we see it. Not the biblical definition of what sin is.

A couple dating can have a night of heavy petting and sexual gratification occur without intercourse. No sin committed they say, but it depends on who you ask.

Many pro-lifers invest in stocks, bonds, 401k plans, etc. with the knowledge that their investments fund abortion providers. I believe they sincerely believe that life begins at conception, but are more concerned that they retire in comfort.

It's hard to find a decent movie that the whole family can enjoy together. How confusing it is for our children to grasp the context that the Bible says that we are to drink from our our cistern (Pro. 5:15) when we watch adultery and fornication with them.

I try not to complain often. When I do, God is swift to remind me that change has to occur within me first. It starts right here in my heart. Checking my heart to see if I've allowed my eyes to see sin through the many shades of gray. Seeking forgiveness if I've become lukewarm in any area of my life. Especially here in my home.

I can roll my eyes behind my husband's back and no one will ever know. But I would know. Yes I can justify it and say it's really not that big of a deal. Oh yes it is. First, the eyes roll. Second, the lip smacking and the rolling of the neck too. (I'm from the "ghetto" and I know how to do that quite well.) Before I know it, words will proceed from my mouth that will not show reverence toward my husband nor glorify my Father. I have to call it what it is. Sin.

I can not outwardly show respect for my husband while disrespecting him in my thought life.

If my heart is right, my eyes will be focused. If my eyes are focused, I can see things more clear. If I see things clear, I'll know the difference between wrong and right. Biblically speaking that is.

Proverbs 3:7 says, "Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil."

Beauty Beyond the Blemish

This morning I was putting my Christmas quilt together when I noticed a blemish in my quilt. I had to take a second and a third look because it was very hard to see. Being the creator of the quilt it didn't bother me that the 4 1/2 square that contained 4 smaller squares was upside down. All I saw was how beautiful the quilt was and how pleased I was with the work of my hands. I had visioned what I wanted the quilt to look like even before I cut the squares & triangles. Not once did I vision the blemish, but I'm pleased with it none the less.

During the past weeks of working on the quilt, I would constantly hold it up for Don and the kids to take a look. At that time I had not noticed the blemish, nor did they.

Today I was reminded of my Creator. He knew me before I was created in my mother's womb. He visioned what I would look like even before my mother laid eyes on me. God knew that my nose would be broad and that my lips would be full. He even knew that I would be born with a blemish. He saw the birth defect on my right ear, but in His eyes I was beautiful.

The birth defect isn't my only blemish. Before I allowed Jesus to come into my heart and change me, the blemishes from my sinful life had left it's mark on me. I don't do things I used to do before I met my Creator, but I still have some blemishes. To Him, when He looks at me, all He sees is beauty.

What amazed me the most is realizing that God is holding me up for all the world to see the work of His hands.

Forgive and Forget?

I woke up this morning reliving an image that played over and over again in my mind last night. It wasn't real, but I walked away from it with a real life changing experience. I see forgiveness in a whole new light.

There I was gathered there among the multitude of people. I really wasn't sure which group I belong to. After all, I could see a little bit of myself in each group. I felt more comfortable being a part of the group of women who mourned and lamented Him.

Our mourning didn't last very long because He told us not to weep for Him, but to weep for ourselves and our children. Why would he say a thing like that? Puzzled by His response to our mourning, I continued to move along the crowd until I came to a rapid halt. Almost falling flat on my face due to the sudden stop, there before me were the ones whom I needed to forgive.

"So glad I didn't fall on my face in front of them. They would have gotten a good laugh." I whispered to myself.

There was no way of moving throughout the crowd now. It was like being packed in a can of sardines. The smell was horrid. It was the stench of bitterness eroding away at the hearts of the people.

As I looked in front of me, I could see a glimpse of Jesus there on the cross. I saw His mouth moving and I was trying to make out what He was saying. It was hard to hear him at first because the crowd was noisy. I had to focus on Him and Him alone because I knew the Words He was speaking were for me. At last I heard.

"Forgive them for they do not know what they do."

Surely I must have been mistaken. Could He have really been talking to me? Maybe it was just my imagination running away with me. I stood there for a minute thinking that in order to be like Him, I must do as He would do.

I turned and looked at the people I needed to forgive. Before I could think twice, I uttered the words, "I forgive you."

As I'm fully awake now and ponder the image that so engulfed my mind last night. I started to wonder if I had to forget what happened. All my life I heard the saying, "you can forgive, but you don't have to forget."

I then remembered that in order to be like Him, I must do as He did.

As Jesus was there on the cross forgiving the world of their sins. He wasn't keeping a mental record so that he wouldn't forget what was done to Him. He forgave and He forgot. I've come to the conclusion that the saying "you can forgive, but you don't have to forget" shouldn't be a part of my life.

How sad it is when people live their lives holding on to hurt because they choose to forgive, but not forget. Many marriages have fallen apart because a spouse chooses to forgive, but won't forget the violations that were made against them. Prodigal children won't return home again because the last time mom and dad "forgave" them, there former mistakes were presented at the family dinner table for all to see. Friendships that had a beautiful bow wrapped around it no longer exist because we can't seem to forget the hurt. The church deacon was embraced after a great error only to be reminded by the saints of his ways each time he came to church.

In order to be like Him and do what He said, I first had to get a definition of what it means to forgive. After that then I'm able to decide if I'm making the right chose by choosing to forgive and forget.

Forgive - to give up resentment against or the desire to punish; to stop being angry with; to pardon; to give up all claims to punish or exact penalty for an offense; to overlook.

As I read that definition, I did not see the words "remember what wrong has been done to you." I read and understood what Jesus was really saying when He said, "Forgive them for they do not know what they do."