Have you ever wondered what love looks like outside of fairy tales and romantic comedies? Our Voice Sherea shares with us what it means to love someone through the challenges of real life.
This November, my husband Brian and I will celebrate our twenty-first wedding anniversary. However, in 1997, we separated for about eight months. That was by far the worst thing – and also the best thing – that ever happened to our marriage.
How do you forgive someone who has wronged you? Our Editor, Deborah, shares a personal struggle on the over simplified concept of forgiveness. God teaches us to forgive those who wrong us. While it may be hard to always follow God’s direction, the reward for our obedience is far greater than our momentary discomforts. Is there someone you need to forgive today?
Often times, it is easier to sweep things under the rug and cross your fingers that the hurtful memories will disappear in due time.But this never works.Eventually, the damage will come back and haunt you… if not now, then later.We, being sinful and broken human beings, make mistakes that frequently seep over into other areas of our lives, including areas that affect others.We say and do things that hurt people who we love and who love us.Easy for the person who did the damage, right?A simple, “I’m sorry” should do the trick.It is always the person who experienced the hurt that has additional healing and mending to do.The hurt one is always left with bruised feelings, frustration and the struggle of having to forgive the one who had inflicted such pain.If you think about it, it’s almost like losing out twice: you get stabbed by the hurt stick and then you are left with the sole responsibility of having to forgive and forget.I recently experienced how difficult it is to truly forgive.
In the spirit of Valentine’s, at WitnessLA.org we’re featuring the stories and testimonies on what God has shown Christians about singleness, relationships, and love all the days leading up to Feb. 14th. Today, our Editor Dan shares how God is faithful in keeping His promise to make marriage a blessed union.
Marriage isn’t easy. It’s no wonder that when we look around at our peers in our late 20’s and even mid 30’s, it’s rare to find people who are actually married. I wasn’t a young buck by the time I tied the knot - one month from my 30th birthday, and yet, when people find out that I’m married, it’s shocking and almost scandalous to most people that I would do the deed “at such a young age.” Some people are in such disbelief when they’re around Rachel and I that they keep referring to me as her boyfriend, even after being corrected many times.
Now that could just be my youthful charm and good looks (*wink*), but more likely it’s a symptom of how we view marriage nowadays and the fact that to most people, marriage just isn’t worth the work.
For many of us, the images of the 1992 LA Riots is something we will never forget. Its aftermath left our city wounded, scarred and divided, often on racial grounds. But 20 years later, God is reconciling what was broken.
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the LA Riots, a multi-ethnic coalition of faith leaders is joining forces to bring long-needed healing and forgiveness to our communities.
Familial relationships can at times be volatile. Our friend shares his experience of how God opened his heart to humility and forgiveness as he overcame his anger and hate towards his father and sought for forgiveness.
Grumpy, tired and jet lagged; I had just come from an overseas Christian conference. I was feeling a bit holier than before, but little did I know, God was about to teach me a lesson on humility.
Our friend boldly shares how God rescued her from the brokenness, abuse and destruction stemming from her childhood. Let her story remind us that even in the midst of darkness, God is knocking at the door of our hearts just waiting for us to open the door and experience life through Him. Will you let our Father in today?
Looking back, I’ve come a long way. I was baptized as a baby, received confirmation at 15, and went to church almost every Sunday of my life. But I stopped believing in Christ 11 years ago. Guess it was when my dad started to yell and hit me every time my report cards and progress reports came home, and because of my occasional disobedience. It hadn’t always been that way. I used to do be his golden child until he turned to alcohol.
“To love your enemy is to blame your enemy” - Tim Chaddick. Forgiveness is a three part step that begins with confronting those that wronged you and condemning the sinful action that took place. It is followed by forgoing retaliation against those who caused the offense and it requires those who were hurt to bless and to do good to the people who hurt them.
Mosab Hassan Yousef, son of the founder of Hamas, shares how God is working miracles in the Middle East. In places afflicted by violence, what people need most is Jesus Christ and his power of healing and forgiveness to overcome the devastation that is currently taking place. Yousef is author of the book “Son of Hamas: A gripping account of terror, betrayal, political intrigue, and unthinkable choices”. He is currently living in San Diego, California as a political refugee.
Laurie waited years to seek forgiveness from someone she hurt. God had put it on her heart to reach out to this person and amazingly their reunion brought about a powerful life changing event that resulted in forgiveness, healing, and freedom from years of drug abuse.
I have waited 25+ years to talk to a friend of mine, R**, so I could apologize for hurting him. We were kids, like 15-16yrs old, in high school. Long story short, I had gotten raped by a mutual friend and I took it out on every guy in every relationship I had for years and until Jesus healed me. R**, unfortunately, was one of the many guys I hurt. He hated me. He was so angry with me he refused to speak to up until this day. It would be that it happened so long ago, after we were kids. I’m not sure but I knew in my heart I had to make things right with him.
R** is currently in prison. When he was 18 yrs old he was at the wrong place at the wrong time. He was involved in a fight that ended badly. The consequences of that fight lead to a prison sentence of 15yrs-life. All these years I had wanted to apologize to R** however I wasn’t sure how to get in touch with him. Praise God for facebook haha. Seriously, I have gotten in touch with a number of my old gang friends, drug buddies, even people I went to grammar, junior and high school with. One of the people I was able to reconnect with is my friend E**** who has just been able to connect with R** again just a couple of months ago!
