Positive Daily Inspiration – February 7, 2024 – FORGIVING LOVE OF GOD

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“If anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other.”
Colossians 3:13

Once upon a time, two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side-by-side, sharing machinery and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch.

Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference and finally, it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on John’s door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter’s toolbox.

“I’m looking for a few days’ work,” he said. “Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?”

“Yes,” said the older brother. “I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That’s my neighbor. In fact, it’s my younger brother! Last week there was a meadow between us. He recently took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I’ll do him one better. See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence an 8-foot fence – so I won’t need to see his place or his face anymore.”

The carpenter said, “I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I’ll be able to do a job that pleases you.”

The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day — measuring, sawing and nailing.

About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job.

The farmer’s eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all.

It was a bridge. A bridge that stretched from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work, handrails and all! And the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming toward them, his hand outstretched.

“You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I’ve said and done.”

The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in middle, taking each other’s hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto his shoulder.

“No, wait! Stay a few days. I’ve a lot of other projects for you,” said the older brother.

“I’d love to stay on,” the carpenter said, “but I have many more bridges to build.”

The forgiving love of God is with you always. Knowing this, you can be forgiving in all that you say and do. As God’s children you have God’s Spirit of love and forgiveness already within you.

If you feel that someone has said or done something hurtful or unloving, take a moment right now to forgive this person. Enfold this person in the forgiving love of God; see this person as God’s child, filled with God’s Spirit. Release any feeling of criticism or condemnation towards them.

As you go forward, living in radiating the forgiving truth of God to all whose lives you touch, you cannot attract anything that is unkind or unloving to yourself. Through your awareness of God’s forgiving power at work in and through you, you can bless all those that you live, work, and associate with. Hold fast to the thought that you are forgiving, and that you are forgiven, because you are God’s child expressing God’s Spirit of love, understanding, and forgiveness.

Do you need better relationships with others? Love promotes harmony and understanding. Love bridges differences in opinion; love makes a way for you to find points of agreement with others. Love brings light and clarity of thought when you need them. Love calls forth the best in you; and love opens your eyes to the best in others.

When I facilitate relationship seminars, I often talk about forgiveness. Forgiveness in today’s language means “release.” Holding on to something negative, forever, about another ONLY HURTS YOU.

Any unforgiveness needs a spiritual statute of limitations to protect you from doing undue harm to yourself. A statute of limitations is a period of time past, which you will not allow the old thoughts to rule in your life
In I Corinthians 13:8, the Bible states, “Love never ends.”

Love should never end, but all else not up to the standard of love should come to an end.

When you come to an occasion with a loving heart, you have come for giving love.

The ultimate gift that you can give, the gift that will last forever – is love!

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POSITIVE DAILY PRAYER:

Dear God, there are times when it is so easy to forgive.
Spiritually, I understand.
I ask Your help when I feel as if it’s almost impossible for me to forgive.
God, I admit to You there are times when I can’t seem to get past a particular incident.
Spiritually, I remind myself that every person is of the love child of God, and every person is worthy of God’s unconditional love.
At this time, I may not be able to understand why something happened, but I pray that you will give me the understanding that I am the first one to benefit by being forgiving.
I ask dear God, for your loving spirit to move through me as love and compassion before moving out and on to others.

In Jesus Christ name … Amen

POSITIVE DAILY AFFIRMATION:

I am God’s beloved child. God’s forgiving, healing love fills my heart, my mind, my body. I am free! I am whole! I am happy!

POSITIVE DAILY QUOTE:

“A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.”
Anonymous

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