Thoughts

Well, once again I am thankful. Thankful for the little but big ordinary everyday things in life. Thankful for my little girls, my wonderful husband, supportive family members, sunshine, the luxury of living in America, work, the kitty cat who loves to see us come home, laughter, home, and oh so much more.

While thankful, I wonder how some people can be and are filled with so much hatred. Back a few months ago, I heard a song called "Dungeon Without Doors". Basically, it tells how when we are bitter and angry and hateful, we hold people inside our own dungeon. The dungeon doesn't have doors, but we hold them there thinking we are hurting them. Truth is, we aren't hurting them because they don't know that they are being held in our dungeon necessarily, but we hold them hostage there. The anger and hatred grows and instead of the person being inside that dungeon...it is really us. Until forgiveness takes place, we live enslaved to keeping that dungeon...keeping them in that dungeon and holding them/ourselves hostage. A sad place to be, but we have all been there...whether it be for a little while or for a lifetime.

Here are some of the words, written by Steven Canfield Jr. I wish I could find the arrangement and all of the words, but it is relatively new so it's not out there yet.
This is the place that I have made,
To hold the ones who’ve caused me pain.
But I’m the one enchained in hate;
I’m bitter bound with no escape.
And somehow in this dark soul place,
I’ve lost the joy of forgiving grace.
I’ve blamed my God who did no more
To shield me, in my dungeon without doors.
This is the place that I have made,
But I will rise and walk away.
Inside my heart I now see,
That I myself imprisoned me.
And somehow in this dark soul place,
You’ve found a way to show me grace.
You hold me close and show me more,
This dungeon, well it has no doors!
I am free to live unchained,
You forgave me, I’ll do the same.
Now joy is what the hurt is for;
This dungeon has no doors!"

A few other points on bitterness:
1. Bitterness is caused by the LUST for something God is refusing or the LOSS of something that God took away
.2. All bitterness is ultimately directed to God. (This is logical if you believe in a sovereign God.)
3. Bitterness…”The poison I make for someone else and then drink myself.”
4. Crises in life are expressions of God’s love. We can reject them via false expectations which result in hurt, bitterness, etc. or accept them as God’s plan.
5. Getting over bitterness requires confession and forgiveness.
Forgiveness requires Repentance.
I need to:. Allow the past to stand as history. Change my response to the past.. Choose to forgive those indebted to me.. Rebuild the relationship they broke.. Make the greatest investment where the potential for bitterness is greatest.. Give thanks

As much as I share that on my blog to you, it is something that I need reminded of--and often.
My friend told me the other day, "Forgiveness is a daily choice".