tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31282173.post116161612900255135..comments2024-01-05T02:37:02.518-06:00Comments on Onward and Upward: The Beauty of Forgivenessashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10982050095869237882noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31282173.post-1161958921905737032006-10-27T09:22:00.000-05:002006-10-27T09:22:00.000-05:00Yes, that does make more sense, and I agree; thank...Yes, that does make more sense, and I agree; thanks for the clarification. :-)]<BR/><BR/>In Christ.Adrian C. Keisterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12601165797762278028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31282173.post-1161821711917427082006-10-25T19:15:00.000-05:002006-10-25T19:15:00.000-05:00Thank you for sharing this.http://adustyframe.word...Thank you for sharing this.<BR/>http://adustyframe.wordpress.com/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31282173.post-1161819917283352772006-10-25T18:45:00.000-05:002006-10-25T18:45:00.000-05:00Adrian: I think I wasn't very clear with my earlie...Adrian: I think I wasn't very clear with my earlier response to you! What I meant was forgiveness is something that we extend to other people for our own benefit, if that makes sense. Whether they accept it or not, or whether they deserve it or not, we still need to forgive them. That's what I meant by it being between God and ourselves - He doesn't command it for their sake, but for our own. He's concerned with our hearts at that point; He'll convict them when the time is right, and that's not for us to worry about. I think the distinction between forgiveness and reconciliation comes with whether the other person accepts the forgiveness and ya'll work through the past in order to create a new relationship. I agree that forgiveness must preceed reconciliation. So basically, what you said. :-) I hope that makes a little more sense.ashleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10982050095869237882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31282173.post-1161814458627207042006-10-25T17:14:00.000-05:002006-10-25T17:14:00.000-05:00Reply to Ashley.Are you saying that forgiveness is...Reply to Ashley.<BR/><BR/>Are you saying that forgiveness is a divine thing, and reconciliation is between mere humans? If so, I'm not quite sure about that distinction between forgiveness and reconciliation. Consider the Lord's Prayer: "Forgive us our sins, as we <I>forgive</I> those that sin against us." Or consider Matt. 18:21 ff. Clearly, forgiveness is also a human activity. Probably mere human forgiveness and divine forgiveness are qualitatively different, but it's translated as the same word. Moreover, we are also reconciled to God through forgiveness of our sins. It seems to me that forgiveness preceeds reconciliation, and that both events can happen between either mere men, or between God and men. <BR/><BR/>In Christ.Adrian C. Keisterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12601165797762278028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31282173.post-1161804113428838832006-10-25T14:21:00.000-05:002006-10-25T14:21:00.000-05:00Beth: I know who you're talking about. I pray that...Beth: I know who you're talking about. I pray that you'll be able to work through that pain and forgive her!<BR/><BR/>Nichole: That's funny, because for me it was just the opposite! I have always felt much more comfortable around adults than people my age.ashleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10982050095869237882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31282173.post-1161799892346411072006-10-25T13:11:00.000-05:002006-10-25T13:11:00.000-05:00Great conclusion! Bitterness hurts not just others...Great conclusion! Bitterness hurts not just others but mostly you. You miss out when you don't forgive! <BR/><BR/>Lol. It seems like every year was a year like that for me. I was fortunate to always have a friend when I was little, but mostly adults and a small group of kids always seemed to help me feel like a loser anyway. I wish I had been more appreciative of the friends I did have!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31282173.post-1161784102502380882006-10-25T08:48:00.000-05:002006-10-25T08:48:00.000-05:00Such a wonderful post Ashley. Thank you so much f...Such a wonderful post Ashley. Thank you so much for sharing. Do you remember the struggle I had with an old friend? I don't think I've ever truly forgiven her, since the wounds are still fresh whenever I think about what happened. Thank you for the conviction that I need to make things right and not let this sin continue to dwell in me.Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00447389159507751849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31282173.post-1161783046764442862006-10-25T08:30:00.000-05:002006-10-25T08:30:00.000-05:00Ashley, I'm glad you were able to forgive your cla...Ashley, I'm glad you were able to forgive your classmate and even able to meet up with her years later to see the Lord's hand on her life. I think that's a rare oportunity. <BR/><BR/>MonicaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31282173.post-1161746674557758552006-10-24T22:24:00.000-05:002006-10-24T22:24:00.000-05:00Aww thanks for all your sweet comments. :-)Adrian:...Aww thanks for all your sweet comments. :-)<BR/><BR/>Adrian: As far as my understanding goes, forgiveness is more between you and God. Reconciliation, however, can only come if both parties are willing to forgive/accept forgiveness.ashleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10982050095869237882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31282173.post-1161739253332162382006-10-24T20:20:00.000-05:002006-10-24T20:20:00.000-05:00What a great story! Thank you so much for sharing...What a great story! Thank you so much for sharing it Ashley! I'm so glad you participated in the carnival this week. This story will touch others who have been there like it did me ((Hugs)). I'm so glad it had a happy ending too :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31282173.post-1161719732539210102006-10-24T14:55:00.000-05:002006-10-24T14:55:00.000-05:00Ashley, what a beautiful story! Thank you for shar...Ashley, what a beautiful story! Thank you for sharing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31282173.post-1161715285180661752006-10-24T13:41:00.000-05:002006-10-24T13:41:00.000-05:00That is indeed a neat story. What is perhaps harde...That is indeed a neat story. What is perhaps harder is when the person who hurt you shows no remorse whatsoever. I've been wrestling with a situation like that, and wondering: do I forgive if they don't repent? The answer to that question may be different depending on whether it's God forgiving one of our sins, or if it's us forgiving someone who sinned against us. I don't have an answer yet. One thing I know I shouldn't do is let myself become bitter and angry. It helps if, as my brother Lane said once, I remember where they're going if they don't repent. And that is a place so horrible I wouldn't wish it on my worst human enemy. <BR/><BR/>Truly, we have a great God!<BR/><BR/>In Christ.Adrian C. Keisterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12601165797762278028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31282173.post-1161709145053009982006-10-24T11:59:00.000-05:002006-10-24T11:59:00.000-05:00What a beautiful story, Ashley :). I don't remembe...What a beautiful story, Ashley :). I don't remember you ever telling this to me, so it was a good in a "new way" :). I just linked to it.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01270306505994055790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31282173.post-1161707556803217282006-10-24T11:32:00.000-05:002006-10-24T11:32:00.000-05:00I love this story Ashley! I went through a hard t...I love this story Ashley! I went through a hard time early on in high school. My best friend turned against me and started spending time with a group of people who were drinking, smoking, shoplifting etc. My other friends went with her and I spent most of that year alone. She sent me a heartfelt letter of apology years later, but she had already moved across the country (her parents sent her away to a private Christian school in order to separate her from her destructive peer group). I haven't seen her since, but occasionally see her mother and hear "the news".<BR/><BR/>About a year later I met a Christian girl in my math class and we were inseparable through high school. Our chemistry teacher called us "The Bobsey Twins"Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08691765466320690473noreply@blogger.com