Join us and resolve to navigate the transition into the New Year by focusing on Jesus and forgiving everything. We invite you to pray this with us each morning throughout 2021: "Lord, be our focus throughout every day so that we see Your hand in everything that we encounter. Jesus, because your Blood is enough for us, we choose now to forgive every wound we may suffer today."

I jokingly often say the only people who don't need what we teach are the ones who've never been wounded. So if you've been wounded, you probably have a forgiveness struggle, because when we get hurt we want people to pay. Somebody has got to make it right. It's so hard for people to grab a hold of that. I also think there's a lot of confusion that circles around what forgiveness is and what it isn't. We've addressed that in other questions that we've answered in other ways, but forgiveness is basically applying the blood of Jesus as payment in full for every wound I ever have or will suffer. It's recognizing that the debt that was incurred by the wound has already been paid.

The moment we forgive, the discipline ends because God's discipline for us is not punishment. It is there to bring us to rethink, to change our mind, to get us to a new understanding of the blood of Jesus and how it covers our sin. When we honor the blood by applying it to what has wounded us, then the reason for the torment is over. The discipline is gone.

As Christ followers, we have infinite reasons to be thankful. Let me encourage you to shift your eyes away from the chaos of 2020 and instead focus on the truths that we are saved, sanctified, sealed, secured, and sustained by the blood of Jesus on the Cross and the power of the Holy Spirit for the glory of the Father.

Families and friendships are being shattered by the uncivil discourse of the political divide. It is safe to say that half the voters will be unhappy, some extremely so, with the outcome. It is inevitable. There are reports that extremists on both sides are threatening unrest and violence if their prospective candidate loses. As Christ followers, after we have voted, what is our response to be, regardless of the outcome? Here are four Biblical mindsets to consider in the aftermath of the election.

There are certain wounds that are more painful to endure and process than others. Adultery is the deepest form of betrayal within a marriage and leaves devastating wounds in the heart of the victimized spouse that makes forgiveness seem impossible. Conventional wisdom says that even if forgiveness is possible for an unfaithful spouse, recovering from it will take years. But conventional wisdom rarely considers the Cross.

Recently a couple came to us as a last resort. The wife had lost all hope and they were clearly heading for a divorce. As my wife and I worked with these two hurting people, we begin to recognize the telltale signs of unforgiveness. We helped them to discover the deep wounds from their childhood, their past relationships and from each other that were tormenting them both. As we walked them individually through the protocols of forgiveness, we witnessed two unbelievable transformations. They were set free! They were arm in arm as they walked to their car. Their marriage was restored through the power of forgiveness.

The insufficiency of the animal sacrifices gives way to the sufficiency of the Lamb of God who was slain from the foundation of the world. As we reflect on these High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, let’s celebrate that the ultimate Day Of Atonement was accomplished over 2000 years ago on an old rugged Cross where the spotless Lamb of God was slain for the sin of the world. It never has to be repeated!

Faith is the confident and active understanding that God is love and, in His sovereignty, governs everything for His glory and our good. David began to live by faith as a young boy as he shepherded his family’s sheep. On separate occasions, a bear and a lion threatened the flock and David killed both of them with his bare hands. Quite a heroic conquest for young man! David understood full well who it was who actually won the battle. As he recounted the story to Saul in 1st Samuel 17:37, David said “the Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear he will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”

What if I told you that forgiveness isn't a process, it's a decision? And what if I told you that you don't need a lot of time to make that decision? And what if I told you, the concept that's out there that, "OK, it's going to take time to deal with this wound and process it and get through it"...  What if I told you that's exactly the opposite thing that you ought to do? And what if I told you that the purest evidence of the Christ-Life in us is when we choose to forgive instantaneously?

Who is Jesus? We believe this is the most important question for every person to consider. It is a question that people have wrestled with for over 2000 years since Jesus walked on the earth. Jesus Himself saw this as the crucial question.

Thank you for saying yes to God by accepting His blood as payment for the wounds you have experienced. Thank you for forgiving the most painful of wounds. Thank you for glorifying God by choosing to forgive.

These words are just a sample of what we heard from the people during our trip to Europe. God continued to bless the Forgiving Forward ministry throughout our recent trip where we spoke 10 times, delivered an all day seminar, and coached multiple people over 15 days.

Faith, Hope, and Love have no geographical boundaries! I was invited to the conference to share Forgiving Forward primarily to the leaders gathered. Many of these pastors lead significant ministries and oversee many churches in their respective countries. I was allotted two hours over two days to communicate the Forgiving Forward message.

There is much we can learn from the Mama Bluebird and my friend. Peace doesn’t come from hanging on; peace comes from “letting go”. “Letting go” is surrendering to God whatever you are holding onto. It is always safer in His hands than ours.

Honor says, “God loves you. God wants to redeem and restore you in spite of how bad you think you are or what you’ve done. I agree with God. I am trusting God for you, in you, and through you until I am trusting God with you.”

Why do we celebrate Easter? Most people today have at least a vague understanding of the story line, but do they know why it happened? Why did Jesus choose to be crucified on Friday and then rise from the dead that Resurrection Sunday?