One day a while back, a man, his heart heavy with grief, was
walking in the woods. As he thought about his life this day, he knew many things
were not right. He thought about those who had lied about him back when he had
a job.
His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his things
and cheated him. He remembered family that had passed on. His mind turned to
the illness he had, that no one could cure. His very soul was filled with anger,
resentment, and frustration.
Standing there this day, searching for answers he could not
find, knowing all else had failed him, he knelt at the base of an old oak tree
to seek the one he knew would always be there. And with tears
in his eyes, he
prayed:
> > > 'Lord- You have done wonderful things for me in this life.
You have told me to do many things for you, and I happily obeyed. Today,
you have told me to forgive. I am sad, Lord, because I cannot, I don't know
how. It is not fair Lord, I didn't deserve these wrongs that were done
against me and I shouldn't have to forgive. As perfect as your way is Lord,
this one thing I cannot do, for I don't know how to forgive. My anger is so
deep Lord, I fear I may not hear you, but I pray you teach me to do the one
thing I cannot do: Teach me to forgive.'
> > > As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak tree, he
felt something fall onto his shoulder. He opened his eyes. Out of the corner
of one eye, he saw something red on his shirt. He could not turn to see what it
was because where the oak tree had been was a large, square piece of wood in the
ground. He raised his head and saw two feet held to the wood with a large spike
through them.
> > > He raised his head more, and tears came to his eyes as he saw
Jesus hanging on a cross. He saw spikes in His hands, a gash in His side, a torn
and battered body, deep thorns sunk into His head. Finally he saw the suffering
and pain on His precious face. As their eyes met, the man's tears turned to
sobbing, and Jesus began to speak.
> > > 'Have you ever told a lie?' He asked?
> > >
> > > The man answered - 'Yes, Lord.'
> > > 'Have you ever been given too much change and kept
it?'
> > > The man answered - 'Yes.
Lord.' And the man sobbed
more and more.
> > > 'Have you ever taken something from work that wasn't
yours?' Jesus asked .
> > > And the man answered, 'Yes, Lord.'
> > > 'Have you ever sworn, using my Father's name in
vain?'
> > >
> > > The man, crying now, answered - 'Yes, Lord.'
> > >
> > >
> > > As Jesus asked many more times, 'Have you ever'? The
man' s crying became uncontrollable, for he could only answer - 'Yes,
Lord'.
> > >
> > >
> > > Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the other, and the
man felt something fall on his other shoulder. He looked and saw that it was the
blood of Jesus . When he looked back up, his eyes met those of
Jesus, and there
was a look of love the man had never seen or known before.
> > >
> > >
> > > Jesus said, 'I didn't deserve this either, but I
forgive you.'
> > >
> > >
> > > It may be hard to see how you're going to get through
something, but when you look back in life, you realize how true this statement
is.
> > >
> > >
> > > Read the following first line slowly and let it sink in.
> > >
> > >
> > > If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it.
> > >
> > >
> > > When Jesus died on the cross, he was thinking of you! If you
are one of the 7% who will stand up for Him, forward this with the Title 7%
> > >
> > >
> > > 93% of people won't forward this.
> > >
> > >
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> > >
> >
> >
>
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