REPENTANCE----how does it look???

Yes, I apologize---I have been here many times, but unable to write what I was internalizing!!

Guess my biggest thoughts recently have been about repentance.

WHAT DOES REPENTANCE LOOK LIKE IN MY LIFE??

You know, when children are small, they usually apologize with a "sorry!"....but one who truly is sorry shares a hug or a tear along with that "apology".

We as adults think we can preface an apology with "If I have somehow offended you, then....."
We should just say "I realize I have offended you,please accept my apology AND forgive me!!"

Thus our stance before a HOLY God......we offend in so many ways, but do not repent (or turn away ) from this pattern of behaviour! We must recognize our position before a God who is both righteous and holy. And, He has expectations from His children, whom He purchased with His blood. Our lives and actions as well as our dress and our lack of time with our Lord only reflect our lack of turning away from ourselves.

God had alot to say to the Corinthian church about their lack of repentance, attitudes, and goings on in the church....check it out!! He oversaw the authorship of a couple of books pertaining to this matter........HMMMM must have been important, and oh yes, still relevant for today!!

Gifts from the Heart

According to legend, a young man while roaming the desert came across a spring of delicious crystal-clear water. The water was so sweet he filled his leather canteen so he could bring some back to a tribal elder who had been his teacher. After a four-day journey he presented the water to the old man who took a deep drink, smiled warmly and thanked his student lavishly for the sweet water. The young man returned to his village with a happy heart.

Later, the teacher let another student taste the water. He spat it out, saying it was awful. It apparently had become stale because of the old leather container. The student challenged his teacher: "Master, the water was foul. Why did you pretend to like it?"
The teacher replied, "You only tasted the water. I tasted the gift. The water was simply the container for an act of loving-kindness and nothing could be sweeter. Heartfelt gifts deserve the return gift of gratitude."

I think we understand this lesson best when we receive innocent gifts of love from young children. Whether it's a ceramic tray or a macaroni bracelet, the natural and proper response is appreciation and expressed thankfulness because we love the idea within the gift.
Gratitude doesn't always come naturally. Unfortunately, most children and many adults value only the thing given rather than the feeling embodied in it. We should remind ourselves and teach our children about the beauty and purity of feelings and expressions of gratitude. After all, gifts from the heart are really gifts of the heart.

Michael Josephson


WHAT IS YOUR GRATITUDE QUOTIENT????