This month we have been talking about Hope. The type of life you will lead is directly related to what you place your hope in. We are tempted to place our hope in many things but mainly in circumstances, others or yourself.
This is a place where we want you to sound off. We want to hear your thoughts on what you are thinking and what God is speaking to you.
This week we are talking about being People of the Second chance. We have all been given a second chance and we need to be that for other people.
We want to give you some thoughts and questions to think about. The following statements are courtesy of:
People of the Second Chance are:
1. fast to forgive
2. not defined by their mistakes
3. defend the weak
4. open to all
5. no perfect people allowed
Which of these are the hardest for you to be? What do you think of these?
What have you been placing your hopes in? What has God been speaking to you?
What is your story of being given a second chance?
It is your turn to sound off.
The thing I love in the statements above: "Not being defined by our past mistakes" and "No perfect people allowed"!
ReplyDeleteIsaiah 40:28-31
ReplyDelete"...but those who HOPE in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
Where do we place our HOPE? If we seriously think about it, it's not always in God.
I think being a person of second chances is something we should all strive for. Think about all the people hurting or feeling depressed. We've been given a second chance and, as a small thanks, we should pass along the hope that we have.
It's such an amazing blessing that Christ gives us a second chance. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"- 2 Corinthians 5:17
For me it is real hard to be fast to forgive. But I believe the issue there is because its hard for me to be forgiven. Sure I know I am forgiven, but why would God love me so much and forgive me each and everytime I sin?
ReplyDeleteGods great love is awesome. I pray that I can take ahold of it and show others forgiveness.
it is difficult to resign our percieved "rights" when someone hurts us.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me think about when Rik talked about how we are to be second in the body of believers.
ReplyDeleteIt's really a challenge to think about, in a sense, giving people permission to hurt us. Because there's going to come a time where we are going to need that person who's hurt us. That definitely doesn't make it something easy though. But if we can realize that God's placed people in our lives, we also realize that there will be a point in time when we will need each other.
Ephesians 4:2 "Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love."-NLT
Also a good way to think about it too is even when Jesus was on the cross he forgave those who were hanging him there and mocking him. He also asked for his Father to forgive them.
ReplyDeleteI strive so much to be like Christ, and a good way to start is to do his will, and part of his will is to make disiples. Not just your friends, but the ones that are hard to reach. The ones that have maybe hurt you the most, because those are the ones that need Christs forgiveness first.
Amen, so true. I think I get so caught up in the little things of this world sometimes and forget that we should be Kingdom minded. Our youth group is such a blessing in that some of those people we should be reaching out to are already coming to us! Praise God for that blessing!
ReplyDeleteTrue that! And not only is our youth group a blessing.. we are also blessed with the most amazing youth pastors ever! We couldn't ask for anyone better. We love you guys and thanks for everything. :)
ReplyDelete