Christianity Oasis Member Forum & Chat Room

Hm... I'm still discovering the art of forgiveness. But I think your forgiveness from God will be based on the forgiveness to extend to others. This is hard. Difficult is an understatement. Not impossible though. Pray and ask God for the strength and the power to forgive and be forgiven. God has already paid the price. It's comes down to the basics. The resources are already there. It's up to you to use it. As I am typing this, I'm huffing and puffing. I know how hard it is. I just came back from my inlaws to ask for forgiveness. I guess the details on this matter is irrelevant, but I was reciting Psalms 23 the during my car ride there. History can repeat itself, but these matters can be trivial as long as you look for God during this time. Don't look at the issue...just focus on the bigger picture, and that's God.

Hello Heart2Instruction

God bless you this day.

Heart2Instruction, I am a strong proponent of marriage, I believe in it. We, Christians, are betrothed to The Lord and one day, one glorious day, will be presented to Him as His bride. Oh, and what a celebration that will be.

However, I don't believe all are called to marry in this temporary life. In this life, marriage is one of the most challenging relationships we'll encounter, because it requires lots of unconditional love, lots of compromise, lots of forgiveness, lots and lots of patience, and because neither are perfect...well, you know.

I think there are times we fall in love with a person's potential and their "press": what they said about themselves. Then, down the road, we discovered there is/was no fruit. But, because the person we fell in love with still exuded such a strong and convincing self confidence (a.k.a. arrogance) we started believing that we were their only downfall. How? Because they so strongly and convincingly told us that, repeatedly, and we bought into it -- hook, line and sinker. We believed a lie.

Loneliness is often the tool that the enemy will use to lead us astray and into the arms of another that we can never become "one" with.

God is the One that makes two people become "one". Without Him, we make so many more mistakes and often, we cannot overcome, because it was never meant to be, and/or because the one doing all the work reached their limit / had their fill and couldn't or wouldn't do the work of two, anymore. We only overcome through Him.

Pride is a booger. If a person cannot own up to our own mistakes, they are a prideful person. If a person continually blames another for their sins, faults and bad choices, they are a prideful person.

I have seen some marriages that lasted "until death do us part", even though only one of the two contributed to the other's good, or to the good of the unit. One gave, one took. Somehow they made it work.

I have also seen marriages that lasted "until death do us part" and they were one. Beautiful!

I have seen marriages that ended in divorce and they each moved on in the freedom found in Christ Jesus.

I have seen marriages that ended in divorce, where one and/or both were unable to forgive and fully move on.

True forgiveness does not hold a grudge, nor does it connive or scheme a pay-back. Forgiveness's base is love, not hate.

Tough Love refuses to partake or enable another's evil endeavors.

What is the answer? God! As a Christian, you have the indwelling of The Holy Spirit and He will lead you into all Truth. This life offers many trials, tribulations and challenges, however, The Lord will also give us peace and joy in the midst of chaos. He wants us to experience His fullness. He truly loves us. Heart2Instruction, The Lord loves you. Talk to Him, and then listen for Him. He will lead you.

Prayers are rising to our Lord in the name of Jesus, on your behalf. May God's blessed will be done.

God bless and keep you.
In Christ Jesus' love,
Sister Mack

Wow, Mack. Amazing answer.