The Whole Truth

Once I hung up the call, I was so “hurt” that my friend didn’t agree with me until I got in my car and took a drive. Tears in my eyes, I began to share with the Lord that I didn’t know HOW to let go. I admitted my weakness, my flaws, my shortcomings. I told the Lord I was tired of bearing this burden and that I needed him to take the pain away. I gave God my heart, my soul, and yes, my pride. I repented and begged for forgiveness for my nasty attitude and my deceit ful ways. I ended up at a most beautiful place where God met, touched and healed me. But there were two more things that had to be done and that was to forgive and be forgiven. I came home and sitting at my computer, I went to YOUTUBE and found Kevin Levar’s song, “A Heart That Forgives” . It’s a beautiful song, but the lyrics were what I needed to deliberately hear and read. By this time the song ended, tears were flowing and I knew God had forgiven me. I found the lyrics online and in reading the lyrics to the song, I said, “Yes, this is exact ly what I’m trying to say to God.” After reading the lyrics, I was a sobbing mess. Yet, I had one more thing to do and that was to FORGIVE , let go, release, and move forward in God. I wanted God more than anything to be pleased with my life. Most importantly, I wanted my relationship restored with God. So, I asked God to help me approach those who I needed not only to forgive but to receive forgiveness from. He did that and I gained more than I could ever ask for. Not only did God grant forgiveness but He also gave me peace. For the first time in 2 1/2 years, I could finally say, I’M FREE!!!! So, I thank God for a spiritual “birthing” coach who helped me push past my pain and give birth to a new life in Christ. I had danced, spoke in tongues, ministered, etc. over the issues that could have sent me to hell. I basically perpetrated a lie because my PRIDE didn’t want to give up or lose the fight that wasn’t even mine to battle. BUT GOD . . . I praise Him for His grace & mercy. I praise Him for I’ve found Him to be true to His word . . . “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength” (Isaiah 40:29). Thank God for freedom from the bondage of sinful pride and for another chance to become all that God wants me to become. Forgiveness sprung be to another spiritual level in Christ! Guess what? I really believe I can fly even higher now!!! I pray you have been blessed through this editorial. Please remember these 5 essential things the next time you are faced with forgiveness: 1. FORgiveness is an intricate part of ministry. 2. ForGIVEness is the place where we voluntarily and without expectation of compensation replicate Christ. 3. ForgiveNESS – it is not that which we do that matters as much as HOW we do that matters most. 4. Pride is an enemy of FORGIVENESS and its sole purpose is to destroy any hope of peaceful reconciliation in the heart of those affected. 5. When you FORGIVE seventy times seven that is a minimum of 490 ways to be favored by God!!!! TWT

Dee, a 37-year career public school educator, is a member of Cathedral of Faith COGIC in Euless,TX. A member of Texas Northeast First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, under the leadership of Bishop J. E. Hornsby and State Supervisor, Mother Paula J.Thompson.

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