…..and when do you want it???
We want it now!!!!!
Boy, women and their chocolate. Personally, I am not all that big on chocolate (I got big with other food groups ha!) but I do love old fashioned homemade, handmade fudge. My mother always made the old fashioned Hershey's cocoa fudge. It is not as creamy as some out there today but it melts in your mouth!! just delicious!!! yum..........
About 5 years ago the LORD gave me a wonderful acronym due to my love of FUDGE and dire need of forgiveness and it is Forgiveness Under Divine Guidance Everyday - want a little FUDGE sent your way today? I am praising the Lord of His unfailing love and endless ability and willingness to forgive us our sins. And just like having to have chocolate the minute it is craved, we desire forgiveness the minute we stumble. But see the old fashioned fudge must endure high heat in order to get to that right state (the ball state), then and only then when the fudge is spread will it harden properly. Just a thought here, but do we really see the need for forgiveness unless we really feel it and get to the soft ball state ourselves?
There are so many ways of looking at this word and we just had the best sunday school class over this very topic. Our teacher was so transparent and open regarding his recent trials but this lesson hits home in every home and every heart.
He loves to go Greek on us and I don't mean in the fraternity or sorority sense, he literally writes in Greek for us then translates it. Just beautiful....Forgiveness has three different words in the original text that support this one English translation, forgiveness.
First: Apoluo - to let die, pardon, release, relieve, dismiss, and is often used for divorce in scripture...verses Malachi 1:19; Acts 28:25; Luke 22:68; Mark 6:36
Second: Aphiemi - to send away or let go of....verses 1 Corinthians 7:11-13; Matthew 15:37 & 27:50; Hebrews 6:1
Third and last: Charizomai - Ephesians 4:32, "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." (New King James Version)
You see, we look at forgiveness from our perspective and what did HE say about leaning on our understanding? hmmmmm. I don't know about you but I have always thought of forgiveness with restoration. Just take a moment to think about this, how many people has Christ forgiven, all of them. Yet, there is a gap and what fills that gap? The people's lack of receiving it, first confessing and repenting then accepting of the Lord Jesus Christ, without those you are not saved, but you must accept it.
Boy, women and their chocolate. Personally, I am not all that big on chocolate (I got big with other food groups ha!) but I do love old fashioned homemade, handmade fudge. My mother always made the old fashioned Hershey's cocoa fudge. It is not as creamy as some out there today but it melts in your mouth!! just delicious!!! yum..........
About 5 years ago the LORD gave me a wonderful acronym due to my love of FUDGE and dire need of forgiveness and it is Forgiveness Under Divine Guidance Everyday - want a little FUDGE sent your way today? I am praising the Lord of His unfailing love and endless ability and willingness to forgive us our sins. And just like having to have chocolate the minute it is craved, we desire forgiveness the minute we stumble. But see the old fashioned fudge must endure high heat in order to get to that right state (the ball state), then and only then when the fudge is spread will it harden properly. Just a thought here, but do we really see the need for forgiveness unless we really feel it and get to the soft ball state ourselves?
There are so many ways of looking at this word and we just had the best sunday school class over this very topic. Our teacher was so transparent and open regarding his recent trials but this lesson hits home in every home and every heart.
He loves to go Greek on us and I don't mean in the fraternity or sorority sense, he literally writes in Greek for us then translates it. Just beautiful....Forgiveness has three different words in the original text that support this one English translation, forgiveness.
First: Apoluo - to let die, pardon, release, relieve, dismiss, and is often used for divorce in scripture...verses Malachi 1:19; Acts 28:25; Luke 22:68; Mark 6:36
Second: Aphiemi - to send away or let go of....verses 1 Corinthians 7:11-13; Matthew 15:37 & 27:50; Hebrews 6:1
Third and last: Charizomai - Ephesians 4:32, "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." (New King James Version)
You see, we look at forgiveness from our perspective and what did HE say about leaning on our understanding? hmmmmm. I don't know about you but I have always thought of forgiveness with restoration. Just take a moment to think about this, how many people has Christ forgiven, all of them. Yet, there is a gap and what fills that gap? The people's lack of receiving it, first confessing and repenting then accepting of the Lord Jesus Christ, without those you are not saved, but you must accept it.
To take note from a classmate....If someone is loved but perceives they are not...are they loved? They are not accepting the love you have given them so they are not loved in their eyes. Plus, they are expecting love from their point of view.
We are called to forgive everyday by divine example and not keep count of how many times we forgive. According to all the definitions of forgiveness, there are times when you just pardon or let go of . Of course absolute resolution is preferred and desired but it is not commanded. When one will not accept your apology or your forgiveness, you simply pardon or let go. Have you ever known someone who would never admit they were wrong? In Christ, you have forgiven them but they do not receive it because they see no need...clear as mud or sweet as FUDGE?
I see the different sides of forgiveness now. We apologize to people and it is up to them what they do with it. We extend forgiveness to others but it is up to them to see the need or become convicted to see it. We can not force reconciliation upon people but we can all be kind and tenderhearted and forgive just as Christ has forgiven us.
3 comments:
Bravo, Sista! Even for one (me) who has already been inclined to your FUDGE, you have added so much more understanding!
Love you so much!!
Hello there!
I love the Greek, there is so much in that.
It is funny- just last night I was talking to a girlfriend about forgiveness and Beth Moore mentioned it in her blog, and it was in my daily devotional a couple of days ago. Too good!
I love the FUDGE acronym!
Tabby
Thanks for your help with my decision making; I really appreciate it. I'm leaning toward Frenchie. :) You have a lovely blog here. This post is so deep, after I read it, I swallowed and thought, "And she's coming to my blog .... why??"
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