Tag Archives: forgiveness

Copper and his sock habit

Posted on March 1, 2018 by Jill

Copper’s growing up. His bark has lowered an octave and his legs are lengthening. His exuberance and assorted eccentricities also multiply daily. Copper’s just plain funny. He runs like a speeding rocket right before bedtime – around and around and … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity | Tagged ask for forgiveness, cleared of guilt, confess, Copper, disobedience forgiven, forgiveness, guilt, Jeremiah 31, Psalm 32, Psalm 4, rescue, sin, sin put out of sight, trust God | 2 Comments

He is beautiful

Posted on July 13, 2017 by Jill

“Religious people find God useful. Christians find God beautiful.” (Tim Keller) A religious leader named Simon invites Jesus to eat dinner in his home. As Jesus arrives, Simon doesn’t offer water to wash the dust from his sandaled feet. Simon … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity | Tagged alabaster jar, even more beautiful, forgiven much loves much, forgiveness, Jesus is even more beautiful, Jesus teaching, Keller, Luke 7, true love | Leave a comment

skilled at seeing other’s weaknesses

Posted on July 3, 2017 by Jill

“Why is it that we’re so skilled at remembering the other’s weakness, failure, and sin and so adept at forgetting our own? Why are we so good at seeing all the ways that another needs to be forgiven but forget … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity | Tagged appreciation, forgiveness, God's love, grace, gratitude, grief over sin, Paul Tripp, ready to forgive, remember, ridicule, self-righteousness, Tim Keller, unforgiveness | 2 Comments

When you start to harbor bitterness

Posted on June 5, 2017 by Jill

Below-the-surface bitterness will eat you up, boil over from within you, burn you. Like fissures in the ground; like volcanoes. You must not harbor it. But if we’re not to harbor it, what are we to do? We’re to forgive. … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity | Tagged bitterness, colossians 3:13, forgiveness, harbor bitterness, how do I forgive, low boiling anger, suffering in forgiveness, Tim Keller | 2 Comments

Bless the Lord, oh my soul!

Posted on December 30, 2016 by Jill

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity | Tagged bless the Lord, crowned, forgiveness, helpless, hopeless, mercy, New Year, New year prayer, people of praise, Psalm 103, steadfast love, the pit | Leave a comment

anger and its hidden, unexpected purposes

Posted on November 13, 2016 by Jill

“An angry retort from someone may be just the occasion we need in which to learn not only long-suffering and forgiveness, but meekness and gentleness; fruits not born in us but borne only by the Spirit.” (Elisabeth Elliot, Keep a … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity | Tagged anger, angry retort, Christian prayer, disrespect, Elisabeth Elliot, false accusers, forgiveness, fruit of the Spirit, gentleness, hidden purposes, injustice, long-suffering, meekness, offended, patience | Leave a comment

How to throw a grown-up temper tantrum

Posted on August 21, 2016 by Jill

I’m quite experienced at grown-up temper tantrums. I’ve thrown quite a few during my adult years. You’re probably surprised by that (if you know me personally) because my pity parties aren’t like lightning storms, loud for all to see. Mine … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity | Tagged annoying circumstance, confess, does God care for me, forgiveness, God as our Father, God's plan for me, Hebrews 12:3-8, joy, pity party, Proverbs 31, Psalm 51, repentence, temper tantrum | Leave a comment

washed as white as snow

Posted on March 12, 2015 by Jill

I hear the Savior say, “Your strength indeed is small, child of weakness, watch and pray, find in me your all in all.” Lord, now indeed I find your power, and yours alone, can change the leper’s spots, and melt … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, God, Jesus | Tagged crimson stain, forgiveness, Isaiah 1:18, Jesus Paid It All, Matthew Henry, original sin, sin, white as snow | 1 Comment

pre-schooler choices, grown-up lessons and blankets of love

Posted on January 5, 2015 by Jill

My friend to her son: “Hey buddy, I’m so proud of you this morning! You’re being super sweet to your little brother. Thank you for being so kind and helpful!” His three-year-old answer: “I’m going to try really hard to … Continue reading →

Posted in God, Holy Spirit, Jesus | Tagged discipline, forgiveness, grace, I John 4, I Peter 1:20-23, I Peter 4:8, kindness, motherhood, offense, parenting, pre-schoolers, sin | 2 Comments

He will hold them fast

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Jill

Poor sinner, dejected with fear, unbosom thy mind to the Lamb; no wrath on His brow does He wear, nor will He poor mourners condemn; His arm of omnipotent grace is able and willing to save; a sweet and a … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, God, Jesus | Tagged forgiveness, He will hold them fast, Jesus as Lamb, Jesus' faithfulness, Poor Sinner Dejected with Fear, Prayer, salvation, William Gadsby | Leave a comment

Does it really matter how I talk? (part 2)

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Jill

The Gossips, Sir John Everett Millais, 1889 It does matter how I talk. If I’ve learned more and more of Jesus — and I inevitably love Him more with each new discovery about Him — I want to honor Him … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, God | Tagged bragging, Colossians 3:16-17, forgiveness, gossip, honoring the Lord, kindness, lies, Matthew 12:33-35, Proverbs 12:18, sanctification, slander, speech, transformed talk, unwholesome talk | 4 Comments

Worth a thousand words

Posted on April 14, 2014 by Jill

I’ve not been able to get this picture out of my mind. You may have seen it. The man on the left is the pope. The man on the right suffers from a disease that causes tumors to grow inside … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, God, Jesus | Tagged compassion, confusion, fear, forgiveness, Jesus, Jesus Christ's supremacy, Mark 5:33-34, Matthew 9:36, pain, picture worth a thousand words, Pope Francis, steadfast love, thousand words | Leave a comment

Ah ha moments

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Jill

Years ago, a friend recounted her experience of that parking-lot moment any mom of preschoolers dreads. She re-played the situation for me, trying to hear for herself where she’d gone wrong, reliving both her words to her son, and his … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, God | Tagged belief, children's disobedience, faith, forgiveness, I Timothy 1:15-16, mercy, motherhood, parenting, patience | 3 Comments

45 in the rear-view mirror

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Jill

With a car full of kids and lots of laughter from the backseat, it suddenly dawned on me that I’d not seen a speed limit sign for some time. Highway signs had read 65 mph for some time, with four … Continue reading →