Tag: gift

Posted in FORGIVENESS, LIVE IN PEACE, LOVE, SOUL FOOD, Uplifting Christ

The Gift of Forgiveness

Posted on by Uplifting Christ

Forgiveness is a selfless act you make a decision to do. It’s not easy. It’s difficult. It’s tough. Yet it’s worthwhile. Merriam-Webster defines Gift as something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation. Forgiveness is a gift because genuine forgiveness has no price tag. It flows freely and easily when you recognize that no man is perfect and thus create space, room, allowance for their imperfections.

In the post New Law of Retribution, I shared story about how one woman forgave her son’s killer in Iran. Abdollah Hosseinzadeh’s mum chose to forgive Balal, her son’s killer when sharia law of retribution allowed her to participate in killing Balal by pushing the chair on which he stood. Everyone would then watch Balal die slowly by hanging. However, this woman chose to forgive Balal on the final day. This was genuine gift she offered to Balal and his family.

I chose this story because nothing in life can be compared to losing a son (or relative) you love. Yet when she had the opportunity to get even, she forgave.

Forgiving someone who deliberately does you wrong is a very difficult thing to do. The thought about it can make you sick and sometimes it appears the only medicine you need for this sickness is vengeance; Letting him/her feel the pains you went through. But what about you choosing to offer this GIFT instead. The scripture says Give freely, and you will profit. Help others, and you will gain more for yourself (Proverbs 11:25, ERV). The more you give this gift, the more you receive from God and from man/woman.

Look around you today and make a decision to offer this gift to people who least deserved it. It’s possible you haven’t spoken to some people for days, weeks, months, or years because they hurt you but look to Jesus Christ and decide to offer this gift today.
Maybe you are planning to hit back harder and you have support from others. Two wrongs don’t make right. And what God wants from you is to show people the path of Peace. Please make it a personal decision to forgive and get along (well) with people, knowing that God freely gives you this Gift every day.

  • How can you forgive when it hurts so much?
    • Look to Jesus Christ. Consider what He went through on the cross to pay for your sins.
    • Consider your Love for God and Respect for His Command.
    • See people through the lens of Love and create allowance for their mistakes.

But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

(Romans 5:8, AMP)

Posted in SOUL FOOD, Uplifting Christ

Don’t Waste Your Seed (2min read)

Posted on by Uplifting Christ

For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer (2 Corinthians 9:10, NLT)

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Mustard Seeds

When God created you, He deposited seeds (talent, gift, etc) inside you. Have you noticed that you don’t see seeds on the cover of fruits but inside? In the same way, God put seeds on the inside which you have to search inside of you to identify them.

The seed of greatness in you.

Someone once said “In every apple, there is a seed. In the seed is the tree. In the tree are many more apples with even more seeds, which produce orchards of trees.”  In other words, in every child of God, there is a seed. In that seed is tree which would produce more fruits. These fruits will unearth more seeds, which produce orchards of trees.

Your duty is to sow.

  • WHAT HAPPENS AFTER SOWING?

“The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. (Isaiah 55:10, NLT)

When you act in obedience and sow the seed or use what God has given you (your gifts, talents, resources, etc), He will send down rain to water the earth and cause your seed to grow, producing more seeds for you, as well as giving you enough wealth to satisfy your needs.

That rain could come in the form of new ideas, meeting new partner, finding better spouse, getting promotion, getting out of debt, etc.

Friend God has the right people in your future to help you accomplish your purpose. But you have to start something. You have to sow what you have in your hands. Steve Jobs started with his friend in his father’s garage. When he did his part, according to him, the company grew from two people in His father’s garage to over 4000 in 10 years.

Don’t waste your seed because in that seed you will find everything you would ever need to achieve your purpose

The power of a seed isn’t in its size.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” (1 Corinthians 3:6,7, NIV)

  • WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU WASTE YOUR SEED?

“Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’ “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 25:24-27, 30, NLT)

Apple has now created more than a million jobs globally. The question is what would have happened if Steve hadn’t planted the seed he had? When Steve sowed his seed, it brought forth tree which produced fruits. Those fruits have seeds in them so when wise people eat the fruits, they also have something to sow. Businesses have been set up to produce external devices for apple products. All these wouldn’t have been possible if those two guys hadn’t planted their seed.

What account will you give for your seed?

God expects you sow your seed because many people out there (some you may never meet) are waiting to enjoy the fruits your tree will produce. If you fail to sow, you will be held accountable by your  Maker.

  • WHAT MUST BE DONE

“Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.” (Ecclesiastes 11:5, NIV)

Be encouraged to find a soil (platform) to sow your seed. It may look like the acorn but the oak tree can come from it. Don’t be afraid of the unknown and sow your seed in the morning, and at evening. God will do the impossible if you do the “possible”. Don’t waste your seed(s).

God bless you!