NorthStar Community Daily Devotional

Day 304 – Month of October at a glance

Scripture focus: It’s news I’m most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary message of God’s powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him…God’s way of putting people right shows up in the acts of faith, confirming what Scripture has said all along: “The person in right standing before God by trusting him really lives.” Romans 1:16-17 The Message

A review of the 12 lessons from the life of Randy Paush…

Lesson one: Don’t bluff your way through life – think before you act.
Lesson two: It’s not the foolish who seek wise counsel – it’s the wise. Learn how to ask for help, and choose your advisors wisely.
Lesson three: Surround yourself with awesome friends, and learn how to appreciation correction.
Lesson four: Develop an understanding of the true meaning of forgiveness, and practice forgiving (and asking for forgiveness) in all your affairs.
Lesson five: Develop an attitude of gratitude – we don’t get what we deserve.
Lesson six: Trials will come – learn how to make lemonade.
Lesson seven: Live life on God’s terms, and he will provide us with everything we need.
Lesson eight: Listen to your parents – and learn from them. Learn from their positive influences, and make the decision to stop repeating multi-generational unhealthy patterns.
Lesson nine: Work hard and love your work. The value may be in how you work more than the task at hand.
Lesson ten: Live life God’s way.
Lesson eleven: Learn how to live with this belief – “I have everything I need.”
Lesson twelve: Learn to live life God’s way, and in so doing – experience joy.

A reminder of the process of forgiveness…

1. One can forgive without the offender making amends, but one cannot restore relationship with the offender. Forgiveness happens, but the forgiver must hold the gift of forgiveness in their heart until the offender is ready to do his/her part in the reconciliation process. (That part is: I was wrong when… I am sorry I hurt you when…What can I do to make restitution?)

2. Whether or not the amends process is initiated, the offended can begin healing by recognizing the injury.

3. Feel the feelings involved. Emotions like fear, guilt, shame, anger, hurt – are all likely responses. Name them.

4. Express the emotions – without sin. Name them within the limits of God’s love command.

5. Set appropriate boundaries.

6. Cancel the debt.

7. Consider reconciliation, in light of principle #1.

This month we’ve considered how to have a big heart and live a big dream – in spite of bad times. Then we looked at one of the hardest spiritual disciplines I know of – learning how to develop the habit of forgiveness. Along the way, we completed three hundred five days of our three hundred sixty day journey. Way to go!

Recommended reading: Lamentations 5 and Psalm 76 in the morning; Hebrews 2 and Psalm 77 in the evening

Copyright 2008 NorthStar Community