Love Follows Forgiveness II

A few bullet points to jog the memory of those who attended service Sunday, April 21, 2013
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·        Last Sunday we talked about forgiveness. In lieu of events that followed during the week, considering forgiveness was prescient.

·        Did you get upset this past week? Did you get scared, angry, or frightened? Did you practice any forgiveness?

·        Last week I said, “Forgiveness is the key to Happiness.” Perhaps that could be restated, “Forgiveness is the key to inner peace.”

·        The question going forward is not "How guilty is that man," but "How do I stand in the sight of the Father as to my ideas about his guilt?

·        Romans 13:8, “Owe no one anything except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.”

·        Where might Paul have gotten this crazy, wild, radical idea that we should love one another?

·        Perhaps from the words of Jesus found in John 13:34-35, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. As I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

·        “Your thoughts should at all times be worthy of your highest self, your fellow man, and God. The thoughts that most frequently work ill to you and your associates are thoughts of criticism and condemnation. Fill your mind with thoughts of divine love, justice, peace, and forgiveness. This will pay your debts of love, which are the only debts you really owe.” (Prosperity (Charles Fillmore)/page123)

·        How forgiveness works, and “Why should I forgive?” is a mystery to many.

·        (How) Forgiveness removes the “painful emotional charge” from the event and allows us to experience the memory of the event without the pain.

·        (Why) Holding onto negative emotions is ultimately damaging physically.

·        We all share a common purpose beyond our goals and aspirations in the world: to reclaim our rightful inheritance as Children of God, and return “Home;” return to the awareness of Heaven. We would do well to keep our eyes on that prize while we go about our business in the world. Our thoughts should at all times be worthy of our highest self, our fellow man, and God. But what about when it hurts? What about when we are so consumed with fear, anger, guilt, etc.?

o       When our thoughts bring us hurt; forgive.

o       When our thoughts bring us fear; forgive.

o       When our thoughts bring us guilt, anger, shame, etc.; forgive.

·        When you are looking for inner peace for any reason; forgive.