FORGIVENESS

Snippet

“The Only good thing about evil,” goes the Buddhist saying, “is it can be purified.”  In Buddhism, forgiveness does not mean absolution, but an opportunity for the inner transformation of both victim and perpetrator. “ Matthieu Ricard The Sunflower on the possibilities and limits of forgiveness Simon Wiesentrhal pg 235

Scripture

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 614,15 KJV

Song

Matthew West Forgiveness

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMn0QNdiuGE

It’s the hardest thing to give away

And the last thing on your mind today

It always goes to those that don’t deserve

It’s the opposite of how you feel

When the pain they caused is just to real

It takes everything you have just to say the word…

Forgiveness

Forgiveness

It flies in the face of all your pride

It moves away the mad inside

It’s always anger’s own worst enemy

Even when the jury and the judge

Say you gotta right to hold a grudge

It’s the whisper in your ear saying ‘Set It Free’

Forgiveness, Forgiveness

Forgiveness, Forgiveness

Show me how to love the unlovable

Show me how to reach the unreachable

Help me now to do the impossible

Forgiveness, Forgiveness

Help me now to do the impossible

Forgiveness

It’ll clear the bitterness away

It can even set a prisoner free

There is no end to what it’s power can do

So, let it go and be amazed

By what you see through eyes of grace

The prisoner that it really frees is you

Forgiveness, Forgiveness

Forgiveness, Forgiveness

Show me how to love the unlovable

Show me how to reach the unreachable

Help me now to do the impossible

Forgiveness

I want to finally set it free

So show me how to see what Your mercy sees

Help me now to give what You gave to me

Forgiveness, Forgiveness

Sentence Prayer

Dear God, thank You for sending Jesus to pay for all my sins once

and for all.  To wipe out my debts.  I don’t understand it all but I’m

grateful.  Because You’ve forgiven me I want to do the right thing. 

Today I’m choosing to let go of the pain and the hurt that I’ve

received from others.  I forgive …, and you fill in the blank there

and name the person. 

I forgive that person.  I’m letting go of my right to get even.  I’m

choosing to overcome evil with good and I commit to continue

forgiving them until I no longer feel the pain or the desire to get

even and seek  revenge.  Jesus Christ, please replace my hurt with

Your peace and please fill my life with Your love.  I accept my

responsibility now to share the good news of forgiveness, the

message of peace with others.  Amen.  

(Rick Warren Saddleback Church Jan 7,8 2006)