A Great Day

It's been a few days since I've blogged, and it's a great day to catch up! I listened to Pastor Ed Young on TV while Larry and I were fishing in Colorado. He was teaching from a series called "The Real "F" Word - Forgiveness". I think it was absolutely the best teaching on forgiveness that I've ever heard. (And I've heard a lot) I think this is one of the most challenging areas for me to walk out my Christianity. I've asked God to help, and I know that He does, but unfortunately, my will sometimes gets in the way, and so I enter into the realm of "MY FEELINGS". To be honest, some days I walk it out really well, and then there are other days when I don't do well! Pastor Young's teaching that day set me free in a greater measure than I ever have experienced. He gave an example of how he, as a leader, embarrassed 3 women leaving a service early. He said they disrupted the service, so he made a rude comment from the pulpit, and he felt there was nothing wrong with that. After the service, he met with the leaders in the church and began justifying his way of handling the disruption. He explained how his leaders, including his wife, said that though there was a disruption, he had no right to treat anyone the way he did. The following Sunday, he apologized to the whole congregation, and to his SURPRISE, those 3 women had come back!! He didn't know until later that week that those women were in attendance. Ed Young received a big pan of lasagna with a letter that said, "We accept your apology, and hope that you accept our apology for interrupting the service".
When the Bible talks about us being witnesses in the earth today, I believe this is exactly what the Bible means. People MUST see us walking the walk. Otherwise, there cannot be a testimony from a witness. We are witnesses. We aren't perfect, but we can be genuine and we can be real. I don't expect the five-fold ministry to be perfect, but I do expect them to be real! I am fortunate to have pastors that are real, and they are helping and encouraging me to become all God wants me to be. It IS a great day to be a Christian, even if I fail, I CAN get back up again! I thank God for His mercy and unfailing love. I should be so bold as to offer the same to others. By the way, I ordered the whole "Forgiveness" series from Pastor Ed Young, and I am SOOOOOOOOOO Excited to hear it all!!