OLYMPICS 24 OPENING CEREMONY!

Yesterday's Olympics opening ceremony in Paris, France, the "City of Lights" was awesome! It had me singing "My country tis of Thee, sweet land of liberty of thee I sing...." This sweet freedom's song touched my heart! So.....I had a cuppa "liber-TEA."

Increase our peace O Lord beyond the banks of the Seine and above the earth from the hot air balloon. (Philippians 4:7)

May the peace of Christ rule in our hearts! (Colossians 3:15)

"liber-TEA" is a cuppa relief

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. (Matthew 6:14, NIV)

One can not wait until the one who offended him asks for forgiveness. Forgiveness is a heart issue. An unforgiving heart remains in bondage to the offense.

One needs to forgive for his own sake. May each one, struggling in this area, begin with remembering that the basis for one's own forgiveness was established 2000+ years ago.

Forgiving isn't about the other guy. Typically, they don't "get" the depth of the offense or realize the damage it has done to the relationship. Sometimes, said offender doesn't care whether you forgive him or not. 

Therefore, the offended one must forgive for his own sake. Carrying such anger can eat away at his insides, and steal his inner peace. 

Christians forgive because it's spiritually healthy and because "God says so." There are no exceptions. When the infraction has caused a chasm in a relationship, one must still forgive. Nothing imprisons quite like a grudge. When one has stolen the innocence of life and hope as you once knew it, remember to forgive the thief, not the theft.

Forgiveness has the benefit of personal freedom.

A cuppa liber-TEA is warm and soothing, washing relief over one's insides----yet, invigorating life at the same time. 

SATURDAY RE-BREW: "Liber-TEA"

Set me free from my prison that I might praise your name. (Psalm 142:7, NIV)

THe psalmist David moves from complain to confidence in this maskil. (a psalm of instruction, yet prayerful in nature) Though didactic psalms are not usually my favorites, verse 7 speaks volumes to my heart and offers comfort.

God can set me free from my "prison,"...... I have occupied several prison cells in my mind over the years. I have been a prisoner to the approval of others, a prisoner of worry and a prisoner of self-pity. Even depression, which I sense this psalm alludes to in verse 3. "When my spirit grows faint within me....." Have you ever been there? Been so imprisoned by those dark thoughts that your entire body seems weakened? David was there---in a dark cave and "brought very low." (Psalm 142:6)

That's why this psalm brings comfort---the thought of God setting me free from those anxious and self-critical thoughts. What relief.

But....the verse doesn't stop with, "God can set me free from my "prison." It goes on to give the motive. Relief is a motive that might first come to mind. But is relief a pure motive? Is there a motive that speaks to the greater good?

In all of one's life's choices, motive is key. Motive reveals our heart. ".....that I might praise His name." The conclusion of the verse states the pure motive of praise and glory to the Lord.

That's the pure cuppa "liber-TEA"---
a cuppa that  might provide warmth of comfort and relief...

BUT, it pours out in praise.