Forgiveness

Forgiveness

We are all human and as humans I think we have a tendency to judge another person by their past. We don't want to have anything to do with that person because of what they said or did.

We don't stop to think about the road they have had to travel to be where they are today. Nor do we stop to think and consider that God is who has given them that path to follow.

Dad always said that there was good in the worst and bad in the best; so we shouldn't judge another person until we had walked a mile in their shoes.

I for one cannot throw stones because the house I live in is made of glass. Not literally of course, but I say that because I have made so many mistakes and bad decisions in my life; I would be the very last person to have the right to judge another person.

Jesus is the Savior and through Him, God has forgiven my mistakes and bad decisions. Through Christ Jesus, God forgives all of us.


Luke 6:37 - Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.


Matthew 6:15 - But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses:

Thoughts About What I Learned From My Mother and Father

Memories: May 18, 2012

I find I am like Mother. I want to write about her and Dad; the things that they said and did that shaped us children into the strong adults we are today; but I find that it isn’t that there are too few memories but too many. It is never just one thing that shapes us but the combination of all that we are exposed to and taught that makes us what we are.

“God helps those who help themselves,” taught as we plowed, planted and took care of the garden we raised each year.

“There’s always someone just a little bit worse off than you are yourself,” this one taught as we shared what we had with neighbors, friends and some times strangers that needed help.

“A place for everything, and everything in its place,” That taught us to be neat and organized.

“When you point a finger at someone, you have three pointing back at yourself,” “Don’t pass judgment until you’ve walked a mile in the other man’s shoes,” taught us to consider before we condemned.

“Words are like bullets; once you let them loose you can’t call them back,” taught us to take a deep breathe before we spoke.

Mom and Dads actions and all the sayings helped to shape us as we grew up. But what I remember the most is the laughter. Mother could find what was funny in the worst situation and Dad was always ready for a pillow fight or a water fight.

I can remember the mischief dancing in Dads eyes and how Dad would give Mother one of his sideways smiles and Mother would say “Now Harold!” as she took off running as fast as she could go with him running close behind, as both their voices rang with laughter and joy in the running.

Yes, too many memories – and too few words to put those memories onto paper to share. But I am going to try to share the memories. One of my memories may be the pebble thrown into the pond of life that will ripple and touch someone else’s live. That memory may be the one that will give someone else hope or laughter; and that is the one thing that I know for sure. Mother and Dad believed there was always a silver lining in the darkest cloud; God always opens a window when He closes a door; cry and you cry alone – laugh and the world laughs with you.

What I learned from my mother and my father was this:

God should always be first and foremost in your life. Laughter is the best medicine in the world. When it is combined with a strong faith in God, the Father, Christ, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; you may have problems, trials, and tribulations; you may stumble and even fall; but God will be there to comfort you while you are weak and He will help you stand tall and strong again.

Where Have You Been And Where Are You Going - By Alberta Anne Thomas – June 9, 2002

Where Have You Been

And

Where Are You Going

By Alberta Anne Thomas – June 9, 2002

___________

We are all in God’s hands

We are all in God’s plans.

The problem, mostly unseen,

Comes from inside the hearts of man.

We watch, in wonder and delight,

The dark starry night.

We see, with hearts full of love,

Our children’s first sight of light.

As we go about our daily labor,

We fight with our neighbor,

We cuss at family or a friend,

Which can cause a relationship to end.

We ignore, scream or yell at our child,

So impressionable, so very small and mild,

Then wonder what causes them to go wild.

We surely don’t want to listen,

We definitely don’t want to hear,

Just what we are and will be missing

If to God we don’t draw near.

What we cannot, do not see,

Is God’s all compassing love,

Given freely to both you and me,

From our Lord God above.

If to Jesus you give your heart and soul,

You win you sins remission,

This would become your daily mission,

To show others where you have been,

And don’t want to go again.

Giving our hearts and becoming a Christian,

Does not give the end of strife,

But God’s love is a life raft for the living of life,

Now and in the heavenly life to come.

The Trip of Life

The Trip of Life

I rambled through my childhood.
I skipped through my teens.
I ran through my early twenties; then had a tumble in my late twenties; when I realized I had three children and was alone because we both worked at jobs we loved but the jobs created long hours away from each other, and our children.
In my thirties I caught my running stride again. I continued to run until my early forties when my first grandchild was born. I tripped then and started falling into my fifties when the great grandchildren started to be born.
I righted myself, caught my breath, and walked into my sixties.
Now I find I have fallen into my seventies.

I will probably crawl into my eighties.

But through all of this, it has been an enjoyable trip.

By A. A. Thomas, June 6, 2016

Wisdom to Live by From Christ

The Sermon on the Mount

1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do m

en light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Don't Speak Without Thinking

Proverbs 18:21

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Proverbs 21:23
He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles.

Matthew 12:36-37
36“But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. 37“For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Romans 10:9

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

By Alberta Anne Thomas The Speech

The Speech

As my children were growing up I wanted them to learn responsibility for themselves; so I gave each of them this speech at what I thought was the right age for them to understand.

Life isn’t easy. Nothing will be handed to you on a silver platter. If you want to go somewhere and do something with your life there is only one person you can rely on.

That person is you. If something bad happens, reach down, get hold of your boot tops and pull yourself up. No one else can do this for you.

In other words: “If life hands you lemons, make lemonade.” No sugar? No problem! Add more water; lemon water is good for you.

If something breaks you; remember in the long run it will only make you stronger. Because, just like a broken bone is stronger when it heals and is less easily broken; trials and tribulations will teach you something and will make you stronger and better able to make a better decision the next time.

You MUST realize there is something called ‘Cause and Effect’. Everything you do causes an effect that reacts and can cause a chain reaction in your life. YOU must take the responsibility for this is your life. There can be no excuses of someone or something else causing whatever is going on in your life. You have the ability and the responsibility to make a decision; always keeping in mind that doing nothing is a decision in and of itself. If you do nothing, then that was the decision. Doing nothing also makes waves and has causes and effects. Don’t pay the rent and you get evicted. Don’t eat right and you get sick.

If you don’t tell a friend “No, I don’t want a drink or to do drugs.” Decision made. Wrong decision, in my opinion, but the decision was yours. You made it and you are responsible for it.


Always remember that I love you and God loves you. Also remember that you are the one responsible for your decisions.