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We hear the term, forgive and forget, but how can we forget? Don’t you wish there was a delete button for your brain? We can choose to forgive the person who has hurt us and not allow the memory to control our lives. So in that sense, we can forgive and forget. It is very hard to do, but it is possible to forgive those you have hurt or wronged you. That being said the one person I have the most difficulty forgiving is myself! On March 8, 1988 my son Jerry Craig was born. He had a rare genetic disorder that caused him to be a bleeder and need frequent transfusions of blood platelets and had suppressed immune system. He lived for 3 months and spent only 1 day out of the hospital. The doctors told me that he would never have a normal life but with medical help he might survive a while longer, but they were unsure how to treat him. My wife and other two daughters were suffering because I was unable to provide for them both physically or emotionally because all my attention was focused on my sick son. So I made the difficult decision and told the hospital staff to treat my son as if he was a healthy infant. He got the care and nutrition that any every child his age would receive and within a week he got sick and passed away. For many years after his death I blamed myself. I could not forgive myself I felt like I had caused his death.

Psalm 103:12 ESV as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

Many people are trapped because they can’t forgive themselves. I don't think that I am alone. For years I felt trapped. Because I could never hear her my son offer me forgiveness, because he was no longer with me I felt trapped and unable to release myself from my guilt. Why can’t you release yourself from your sin? Is it because the weight is too much? Because you know you haven’t changed? Because the ripple effects of your sin can’t be reversed? I have good news! You don’t need to forgive yourself, because you can’t forgive yourself. There is no category of self-forgiveness in the Bible. And what a freeing truth! Your shame and guilt does not depend on your ability to forgive yourself. There are two—and only two—biblical categories of forgiveness: forgiveness of others and God’s forgiveness. Horizontal and vertical. Horizontal forgiveness marks us as Christians. Seeking to forgive of others is not optional. Forgiving one another is not optional.

Colossians 3:12-13 ESV Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

As important as horizontal forgiveness is, the forgiveness of those who have hurt you, even more fundamental is vertical forgiveness, which comes from God alone. After committing the heinous double sin of adultery and murder against Bathsheba and Uriah, David cries out to God.

Psalm 51:4 ESV Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

David realizes that as awful as his sin is horizontally, it’s much worse vertically. He has profoundly offended God by devaluing one life and snuffing out another. But what never hear David struggling with? The process of self-forgiveness. He doesn’t entertain for a second that he must forgive himself. Once he’s sought forgiveness from God, he must release himself from his sin. So forgive and forget your sins because the Almighty God already has!

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What is at the center of your life? What is it that you strive for? What is the one thing that anchors your life? I would venture to guess that a large portion of the world centers their lives around their careers and the size of their bank accounts. Some may focus their lives around their children. Behind every Olympic athlete is a parent or two, who have encouraged and pushed their child through tens of thousands of hours of grueling training to keep them on track. Jim and Cecille Adrian watched their 23-year-old son Nathan qualify for the 100 meter freestyle with the fastest time in the preliminary rounds. They drove about 100,000 miles in four years, taking vacations in about 15 different cities in the US, and flew 100,000 air miles or more “and that's just the start," Jim Adrian told ABC News. "It wasn't cheap, but it was worth it.” On the day this parent will stand at the Judgment seat of Christ to receive his rewards, do you think his investment in his child will pay off?

2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

So back to my original question, what is the center of your life? There are 31,174 total verses in the Bible. Psalm 118:8-9 are the 15,587th and 15,588th verses. The very center of the Bible. Do you suppose that it is just random chance, or maybe it’s God’s way of winking at us, but these two verses in the very middle of the entire Bible seem to capture well the bottom line of faith. Where the rubber meets the road.

Psalm 118: 8-9 ESV It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.

There are really only two basic religions among men, one of which is man-centered and the other one God-centered. One is based on evolution; one on creation. One is humanism; the other is theism. The Bible begins by setting forth God as Creator in Genesis 1:1 and ends by invoking the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ in Revelation 22:21.

Revelation 22:21 ESV The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

But mankind’s greatest and most basic sin has always been that of seeking to replace God with man. Ye shall be as gods, was the lie that Satin told Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden which resulted in the fall of man.

Genesis 3:5 ESV For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.

Paul teaches us in Romans 3:23, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. In Gods eyes all people are created equal. It's only people who elevate and devalue other people. The center of the Bible is teaching us an important lesson; TRUST GOD, not men. We have been given a gift of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Don't let faith in men keep you from the gates of heaven. Put your faith and trust in the One who loved you and died for you. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life! It is infinitely and eternally better to trust in the Lord, than to put your confidence in men.

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A good friend of mine recently made a post on social media stating that she believes we are living in the end times and we should be careful not to be deceived. She went on to say, as we get to the end of the year, she thinks about the end times, and wonders if she will live to see it. There are so many things that the Bible talks about, that is happening in our world today. She asked the question, do think you will live to see another year completed or will Jesus return to rapture his church?

Luke 21:8-9 ESV And he said, See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, I am he! And, The time is at hand! Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.

At times I wish Jesus would return today, so I would no longer have to struggle with my sin and the worries of this world. However, on the other hand I feel selfish for those I know and love that will be left behind when Jesus raptures the church out of this world, because it may seem difficult now but after you remove all the Christians from the world it will become truly evil! Do you worry about it or do you have the faith of knowing where you will be? Are you saved? What does that mean to be saved? I ask this question because another person online confronted me and said, if Jesus freed you from sin, what would be the reason for the struggle? When a person is saved, All things are new. This is a quote from 2 Corinthians 5:17 that says Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. I posted one final reply in which I said, I am only human and I still struggle with the fact that I fail and fall into sin daily. I know I am forgiven, but if you don't struggle with sin, your just not telling the truth. Being saved doesn't mean your suddenly a saint! Even the apostle Paul struggled with sin and his fleshly desires.

Romans 7:15 ESV For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

The Bible is clear in several passages how to receive salvation. It doesn’t mean you are perfect after you are saved, but it does mean that you are forgiven and saved from the penalty of sin by God’s grace. When we accept salvation, we are saved from the penalty of sin. Jesus paid for our sin on the cross, and when a person trusts Him for salvation, that person is forgiven and justified before God. This is a once-for-all transaction. However, Christians still struggle with the power of sin in their lives. Even though they are forgiven, they are not perfect. While we are still alive we are being sanctified. The same apostle, Paul, that told else he struggled with sin goes on to tell us how we have been saved from the penalty of sin and he urges us to live in that reality, by not letting sin continue to control your actions.

Romans 6:11-13 ESV So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

I am saved, I am forgiven, not perfect! 1 Peter tells us that we must put away all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander and like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation!

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I enjoy cooking and I grew up in a family that had many great cooks. When I was younger my fathers family gathered for reunions, I think sometimes just to eat. I have 24 first cousins and I had seven Aunts and Uncles and they were all amazing cooks. There always more than enough food, enough you could feed a small army. I was taught by my conservative parents that I was to eat whatever was put in front of me or go hungry. My mother was not a short order cook, at least not until she started having grandchildren, then all the rules went out the door and she made each child exactly what they wanted. My mother made some meals because the were cheap and would feed a lot of people. I still make many of those meals and I consider them, comfort food. She made goulash from a recipe that was handed down to her from her mother. One of my favorite meals my mother made was sauerkraut and weenies. If my mother called me in the morning and invited me over for dinner and told me she was making one of my favorite meals, even if I got hungry, I wouldn't make a trip to the convenience store before dinner and get something to snack on because that would ruin my appetite for her good cooking. The junk food would quench my appetite for the good food! Sin in your life does the same thing. Sin quenches your appetite for Gods word. The definition of the word quench is to satisfy one thirst by drinking or to extinguish a fire.

1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 ESV Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.

Just like you can be hungry for your favorite food, you also can have an appetite for sin. We all have a desire to satisfy our fleshly appetite. A fleshy appetite is having an inner desire to satisfy your sinful hunger. In the book of Galatians, God's word tells us what it means to have a fleshly appetite.

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Are you hungry for the things of the world or are you spiritually hungry? It's not hard to comprehend what it’s like to be physically hungry. Do we feel a similar craving for spiritual food? Jesus said, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. We live in a time when people have all they want to eat. They constantly entertain themselves. They are restless and go from one pleasure to the next. Yet they feel empty and depressed because there is something missing deep inside. 2.3 billion people around the world experience food insecurity, meaning they did not have consistent access to food and often faced uncertainty about where their next meal will come from. Of those, about 864 million people face severe food insecurity, sometimes going without food for an entire day or more. When I am even just a little bit hungry I will say I am starving to death, if the truth be known I have never not known where my next meal would come from.

Matthew 5:6 ESV Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

In Matthew Jesus tell us we are to have a spiritual desire, hungering and thirsting after righteousness. That’s not just a mild craving. That’s an intense feeling, a desire to do what’s right and to be right in the sight of God. We need to pursue or hunger and thirst for what is good for spiritual growth!

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During the Christmas season many of us get super focused on stuff. Some get obsessed with Christmas decorations, some get obsessed with greeting cards and some of us think we need to buy everyone gifts. The world bombards us with advertisements, there is Black Friday, Cyber Monday and countless other sales. It is easy to see how we can get distracted from what the true meaning of the Christmas is! It is so easy to listen to the Christmas carols, look at the Christmas manger scene decorations and get confused about what really happened the day Jesus was born. The Christmas carol, We Three Kings, has at least three errors in the song. First, the Bible does not identify these men as kings. They were magi, a Greek term that translates to wise men. They would have been known for studying the night sky for signs or omens. Since they were from the east, they were probably from Persia or Babylon, which is modern day Iran or Iraq. Second, the Bible never tells us that there were three magi. The notion that there were three magi is based on the three gifts that they presented gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Finally, the wise men definitely did not arrive on the night Jesus was born. Since we sing this song at Christmas time, many believe that the wise men were at the nativity. Modern nativity scenes also include the wise men, but the Bible clearly teaches otherwise. Matthew 2:1 and 2:11 ESV 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. If you were paying close attention you noticed verse one begins with, after Jesus was born. It is a common misconception that the wise men visited Jesus at the stable, on the night of His birth. In fact, they came days, months, or possibly even years later. Another common myth is that the wise men rode camels. Because the lyrics of the carol says, We 3 kings from Orient are, most of us envision men wearing ornate, crowns riding camels. The bible simple doesn't tell how they traveled. What we do know is that camels were considered pack animals. It is possible they were wealthy and could have been riding Arabian horses or the simple truth is they could have walked. That really messes up all the modern day manger scenes doesn't it. The world is filled with Christmas traditions that while they are not evil, they are not good either and they don't bring glory to God. How many times have you wasted away your evening shopping for stuff on Amazon or spent hours driving to the city to find every bargain you can at the shopping malls. I would be willing to say that nearly everyone of us have done this at some point in our life. We want to buy everything our children and grandchildren have ever dreamed they of. However in reality what our children really need more than gifts is to know the truth. John 1:14 ESV And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. We as Americans have truly been blessed. We have so much abundance, that we have become spoiled and think we are entitled to everything all the time! When you are given to much, then you don't rely on God to give the things we need. With the blessings of plenty comes great responsibility. The bible says in Luke 12:48 “To whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more. There is no sin in enjoying Christmas movies, watching your children in Christmas plays and singing Christmas

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Have you ever looked up at the night sky on a clear night and tried to count the stars. There are so many it is impossible to count them. Stars are giant, glowing balls of hot gas that produce light and heat. The vary greatly in size, temperature and distance. Our sun is just one of trillions of stars in our milky way galaxy we live in. Humanly speaking stars our innumerable, there are so many you can't count them all. The milky way galaxy that we live in is just one of billions of galaxies and it contains trillions of stars. The star nearest earth is 4.24 light years away or 25 trillion miles. To put that into perspective if you could get your hands on one of the decommissioned space shuttles and fly it to the nearest star it would take you tens of thousands of years. The bible tells us that our amazing universe was created by and is held together by that little baby in the manager.

Colossians 1: 16-17 ESV For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

At Christmas it is not uncommon to see a cradle in a manger scene, but what do you see when you look into that cradle? It looks like a little baby boy. But who is this baby? This is God, wrapped up in swaddling clothes. The sovereign of the universe, born into the world He created. That cradle was made of wood, and filled with straw. But the One lying there is the One who said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, seeds, and trees.” And the earth, at His command, brought forth plants and trees of all types. Whether it’s a giant redwood or a little clover, He created them all. And here He is, resting on that straw, splitting time in half. His birth is so remarkable that it marked time, BC and AD. Even those who deny the existence of God and that Jesus is his Son in human form acknowledge his existence every time they use a date to mark time. Despite Christ’s tiny, human frame, let’s not think of that baby as anything less than the almighty Creator God, who spoke galaxies into existence and breathed life into man. The bible says Jesus is the image of the invisible God. The word image, meaning copy or likeness, expresses Christ’s deity. This word involves more than a resemblance, more than a representation. He is God! Although He took on human form, He has the exact nature of His Father!

Hebrews 1:3 ESV He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

God took on the human form in the humblest of manners, a manger, a feeding trough for livestock that would have been made of wood or stone in a space that was filled with livestock, dirt and most likely manure. This was our Saviors first baby crib.

Luke 2: 6-7 ESV And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

So as you contemplate the scenes of Christmas, recognize who it is in that manger: not just a fully human child, but in fact the Creator of all the heavens and the earth. Through faith, in Jesus you can be declared righteous in God's sight. Place your faith in this baby, the miracle in the manger!

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What is the one thing that instantly strikes fear in your heart? Is it public speaking? Maybe you fear losing your job and not being able to provide for your family. Not having enough money for retirement or the fear of losing your job and facing a financial crisis are the cause of major anxiety and fear for almost everyone. I have a fear that my wife could have a health crisis and I would find myself a widower. There is nothing else that causes me more anxiety than the thought of living alone. When I was a boy once in a great while I didn't obey my parents, okay maybe more frequently than I want to admit, I was a difficult child. My mother had one phrase that would instantly strike fear in my heart! She would say, “Don't make me tell your father!” The minute she uttered these words I immediately changed my behaviors. When the bible says that God has not given us a spirit of fear, does that mean that we should never feel fear? Feeling fear is part of being alive. If you don't feel fear upon occasion you must be insane. Even if life seems to be going well and you don't feel any of the fears I mentioned before you may feel fear when you are doing something you have never done before, or when obstacles seem insurmountable. But does feeling fear mean you are a coward? No not at all, you are only cowardly when you allow your fears to dictate your actions or decision.

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV For God gave us a spirit, not of fear, but of power and love and self-control.

We live in a sin filled world and because of that any number of things can fill you with fear. Feeling fear is not the same as being afraid, when you are truly afraid you let those fearful thoughts control your actions and decisions. I might feel angry, but I choose not to act on my anger and the same applies to fear. I might feel fear, but I don't have to let that fear control my life and the decisions. The bible says, do not fear, hundreds of times. But what does that mean? Are you wrong to feel fear when you’re not sure how to pay next month’s rent or when you get that dire health diagnosis or when your job is on the line? When God says, do not fear, he is not commanding us to shut off our brain and emotions. God doesn't want us to be without fear, to be emotionless and stoic like a robot. The real issue God wants us to wrestle with is, where we go when we face fear. Where do you go when you have fears? How do you deal with your fears?

Isaiah 41:10 ESV Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Simply put, God wants us to go to him. Fear can paralyze us! Yet when we place our fears in the hands of God, when you place your faith in God, even in the midst of your fear, your no coward, and you can overcome your fear! God is all powerful and He desires to be with us in the midst of our fears! Unfortunately, no one will be able to completely escape fear in this sin filled and broken world. It is real. It can be paralyzing. It is powerful. But God is more powerful.

Psalm 46: 1-3 ESV God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

There is a song from the 70's that goes something like this; Put your hand in the hand of the man who stilled the water. Put your hand in the hand of the man who calmed the sea. Place your hand in the hand of the man from Galilee, place your faith in Jesus!

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All my life and have had a disability, I am vertically challenged, in other less friendly words and am short. I used to claim I was 5 foot 7 inches tall because I am 5 foot 6 and ½ inches tall, so I just rounded up. As I have matured I have come to the conclusion that it is just easier to admit my short comings and say I am vertically challenged. I tell all my co-workers that I have a disability and because I work for the state government that have to provide me with the tools I need to overcome my disability. In order for me to complete my job on many occasions I need my vertical assistance device, a 3 step ladder, so that I can reach my work. Have you ever felt like you were vertically challenged? I am not talking about your physical characteristics I am talking about spiritually. Does it seem at times that your prayers are not rising up to the ears of your heavenly father.

Isaiah 59:2 ESV but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and our sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

Every Christian I know struggles with unanswered prayer. If you don’t, then either you’ve been only Christian for about 10 minutes or you’re lying. There are many reasons why you may feel like your prayers are going unanswered. It may be that your being impatient. The world today has become what I like to call a “Microwave Society.” We expect all our desires to be 30 seconds and ding, they are answered! God's timeline simply does not line up with ours.

2 Peter 3: 8-9 ESV But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

In general, unanswered prayer is something we need to accept, it moves us to a deeper trust in God and a greater persistence in prayer. But there are a host of reasons God might not be answering your prayer. You may have wrong motives or selfish desires. Maybe you have been disobedient or have unconfessed sin in your life. It could be that the thing you are praying for is not aligned with God's will. Finally and I know none of us like admit this, but maybe you think there is simply no way God can do the thing you are praying for, you have doubt or a lack of faith. A lack of genuine belief and faith can weaken the effectiveness of prayer. For today I would like to focus on the one item that hits closest to home for me. My prayers are not being answered because they are selfish in nature.

James 4:3 ESV You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

Sometimes God doesn’t grant us our prayer request because we ask with the wrong motives. Even if the thing we’re asking for may be good, in its own right, God doesn’t want to honor a heart asking from the wrong motivation. When we ask for things for our own selfish pleasures, God will not hear us. When we want things that are not in the will of God, He doesn’t listen. When we make vain repetitions with words that don't really come from the heart, He isn't going to listen. But when we ask according to His will, with our hearts, and in His name, He will hear, and we will receive.

1 John 5:14 ESV And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

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