Friday, January 23, 2015

Forgiveness is a Lifestyle

Forgiveness is a lifestyle
choosing to be forgiving
to see each moment as an opportunity
to model Christ’s love
Forgiveness is a moment
a choice in each instance
whether we choose to love
or to hold onto our anger

Finding love, forgiveness
in the way of the cross
in that path that Jesus walked
and the way of the saints before us
all who picked up their cross
and fought for peace, for justice,
for a brighter future,
carrying the light of Christ

Freedom is a lifestyle
to choose to be more loving
an opportunity to model
Christ’s way of living
Forgiveness is a moment
a fork in the road
a way of living, journey
as we walk in the world

Perhaps we can understand
the cries of our Savior
hanging on the cross in pain
crying out to God
asking how the Father,
though it was foretold,
abandoning Him to death
to save our mortal souls

Forgiveness is a journey,
“for they know not what they do”,
the hurtful things we say
the things that we do
estranging us from God
and our brothers too
needing time to heal
to move beyond our hate

Forgiveness is a lifestyle
a turning of our hearts
choosing forgiveness
whenever we are hurt
Forgiveness is a moment
a turning from our anger
choosing to show mercy
as Christ showed to us

Forgiveness is a choice
for our Savior, for each person,
to choose to let go of anger
of any feeling of revenge
to offer mercy, to give freely
Forgiveness is a choice
to be forgiving, to show mercy
as we journey, as we walk in life

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edited/merging January 23, 2015
Forgiveness is a Lifestyle

edited January 23, 2015
Forgiveness is a Choice
edited January 23, 2015
Forgiveness is a Moment
edited January 21, 2015
Forgiveness is a Journey – v2
July 28, 2011
Forgiveness is a Journey
January 17, 2011
edited January 21, 2015
How We Are to Act – v2
January 17, 2011
How We Are to Act
edited January 19, 2015
Words can Destroy – v2
January 17, 2011
Words can Destroy
edited January 20, 2015
Words to Edify – v2
January 17, 2011
Words to Edify
The Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2011
&
Isaiah 9:1-4
and
Upper Room Disciplines for 2011
for January 17 to 23, 2011
“Carrying God’s Light”
by Cathie McFadden
for January 17, 2011
read January 17, 2011
&
Isaiah 6:1-8
&
Isaiah 49:1-7
John 1:29-42
Worship Theme: “Called by God to . . .”
and sermon, “A Light to the Nations”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
January 16, 2011
Second Sunday after Epiphany
Human Relations Sunday
&
edited January 19, 2015
Changing the Wind – v3
(merging edits to original and version 2)
Edited July 22, 2013
“changing the wind – v2”
December 7, 2007
“changing the wind”
Based on the comments of Jim Wallis on
Speaking of Faith, November 29, 2007
He was talking about whether to change politicians
or change the wind, to change the public opinion
which guides politics. He used the example
of President Johnson’s statement to the
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that it would
take 5 years for a voting rights bill but
it actually took 5 months to pass the Voting Rights Act,
after the March in Selma.

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 35,370+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

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