Why and how can a good and all powerful God allow all the suffering and wrongs done in this world?
Don't you feel that you just need to settle the score with that somebody? Get even with him, and restore justice. Sometimes, there are wrongs that are done to you that perhaps can never be totally made right. There are wounds someone might cut you so deep, that you probably will never recover and even if you do, the scars will still be there. There are some sins of betrayal of trust that could warrant you never to speak to him again. Then you hear your teacher, pastor or Mom or I tell you, forgive him. What do you do?
Son, I want you to write on a piece of paper, two columns, on one column the wrongs he has done against you. Yes, put in writing all the anger and hurt that he has caused you, how terrible a person he is.
Now, write down all the things that you have done that has grieved the Lord Jesus that led him to die for you on the other column. All of it as far you can remember until you get the point- "If you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father in heaven forgive you your trespasses."
Jesus spoke about this once Son, how much debt that offender owes you is incomparable to the millions we owe Him.
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all. 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” Matt 18:21-35
You’re probably older now, and it’s such an exciting time in your life, the world is full of her promises and you and your peers are all set to conquer it. Many people lived mediocre lives without ever realizing their full talents or potential. Sometimes, because of uncontrollable factors, sometimes because of themselves. They set limits on how far they want to go and never think twice that perhaps they could have gone farther. I want you to learn a simple lesson. One that I learnt in my teenage days.
Dad: How many push ups can you do?
You: 30
Dad: Ok, do 30 now
(At The End of 30, judging on how hard you took to do 30...I’ll act accordingly)
Dad: Do 10 more
You: I can’t!
(Finish 10)
Dad: Do 2 more
Whether you do 42, or 31 is irrelevant. What was important is that you exceeded the limit that you placed on yourself. History is written by extraordinary men who made possible what ordinary man called impossible.
The only limits on your life are those you set on yourself.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
*Ring! Ring!* Helloo.. Is Daddy there?
I love my bath times! Feels so great to be squeaky clean!
Watch me roll over!
Oh no... not today I guess.
Little hungry monster at his 1st mth of cereal.
I can lift my head up now to see you!
Little Leon,
You're now heavier, stronger and smarter now. And you're a whole lot more talkative too. You just go on and on and on, can't wait to utter your first words eh? You also love to be up on your feet to look and observe the things around you. When we bring you out now, you don't cry and whine anymore, but you just look around wide-eyed, absorbing the sights all around you. You can sense when food is coming and can't wait to grab hold of it. What's more, you love to eat all sorts of food and not afraid to try new stuff. You've started on cereal, apples, pears, some orange juice and pineapple juice to go along with it and you just gulp everything down like a hungry monster! Soon, you'll be able to roll over and flip all over the place. For now, we've seen you turn the other way around when we were not looking. When are you going to show us your turns? It's been an exciting time to see you grow! Can't wait to see what happens next!