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.

God began dealing with my Dad’s relational issues, particularly with his father. My grandpa didn’t change, but my Dad’s heart did. Through forgiveness, God gave Dad a love for his father which came out of God’s love for them both. You see, forgiven people forgive people!

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?

God specializes in the details to reveal His glory. He does it in my life and He does it in yours. We get to open our eyes and look for our magnificent, omnipresent God who finds joy in manifesting His presence to us.

At the first Christmas, God gave grace to the world and called us to give grace to our world. Forgiveness is why Jesus came into the world. Forgiveness is why we were left in the world. We are called to forgive every wound we’ve suffered. Why? Because the blood of Jesus covers all sin, including the ones that wound me.. and you.

Trying to manage our life on our own is futile. When we abide we bear a lot of fruit, when we don’t abide we bear no fruit. Abiding is simply staying constantly connected and desperately dependent on Jesus. Everything in our Christian life flows out of abiding.

The shift occurred when the realization began to spread through the room that if forgiveness does not work in the extreme, it doesn’t work in the common. The blood of Jesus is enough for everything.

Focusing on the cause of the wound, as logical as that may seem, never solves the problem. The only solution is finding a way to settle the debt caused by wounds historically inflicted. Which means the only solution is the Cross of Jesus Christ.

No one who receives the justice they demand ever finds peace. Ever! Why? Peace doesn’t come through justice. True peace only comes through the injustice of the Cross.