It Broke God's Heart!

I have been reading chronologically through the Holy Bible since January 1, 2011, and a few nights ago these words in Genesis 6 shell-shocked my soul with excruciating pain for my Loving Father God:

(5) Now the LORD observed the extent of the people’s wickedness, and He saw that all their thoughts were consistently and totally evil. (6) So the LORD was sorry He had ever made them. It broke His heart.
-- Genesis 6:5-6 (NLT)

Break My Heart With What Breaks Yours, My God!
Grateful

Hurt People?

Hurt people? Hurt people.

(7) Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get a smart retort. Anyone who rebukes the wicked will get hurt. (8) So don’t bother rebuking mockers; they will only hate you. But the wise, when rebuked, will love you all the more. -- Proverbs 9:7-8 (NLT)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

"Does It Hurt God?"

Never become attached to anything that continues to hurt God.
-- Oswald Chambers

1 Thess. 5:19 -- Do not quench the Spirit...

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Forgiveness Beautifully Defined

Years ago a friend of mine who was seeking mercy for a wrong that he undeniably wanted to make right (with the one he had offended) gave me this unforgettable definition for forgiveness when he softly and sincerely said, Here's what I am asking from the one I offended:

In asking for forgiveness, I am asking you to give up your right to hurt me for hurting you.

It was such a vulnerable and beautiful expression of humility that it left me totally speechless. Still does. And, oh yeah... forgiveness was extended to my vulnerable friend (by the one he had offended) in exactly the way he had hoped.

Amazing, indeed! Christ-like forgiveness. In fact, as Jesus was nailed on the Cross, a paraphrase of His prayer for us might be: Father forgive them... I give up my right to hurt them for hurting Me.

Forgive, and you will be forgiven. -- Words of Jesus in Luke 6:37.

ALL JOY!
Grateful