393. Celebrating God's Grace, Forgive

Be set free of the stinking attitude of unforgiveness. Enjoy the fullness of life, as you let go of the thoughts of how others have hurt you.

 ****

Welcome to Celebrating God’s Grace, A Women World Leader’s Podcast, I’m your host Robin Kirby-Gatto.

Thank you for joining us today as we celebrate God’s grace, in our lives, in our ministry, and around the world.

Today’s Podcast is titled, “Forgive”

Jesus states in the Lord’s Prayer

“And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us [who has offended us or done us wrong]. And bring us not into temptation but rescue us from evil.” (Luke 11:4 AMPC)

No one likes wearing clothes with body odor. As for me, my sensitive nose permits me to smell things at such strength that it is like a superpower. If I were a superhero today, I would be the Super Sensitive Woman. All kidding aside, it is difficult for me to wear a top, if it has any bad odor. It’s nothing but a distraction in my day. Although, it’s something invisible to the eye, my brain is constantly aware, as the olfactory receptors of my nose, transmit the information of the odor to my brain, signaling the fact that my top stinks.

Now, I don’t go around telling people that my top stinks, rather I keep that information to myself. However, when I’m at home and around my husband, I inform him that I must change my top because it smells so bad, to which he replies, “I don’t smell anything.” He doesn’t have the super sensitive smeller I have.

Unforgiveness in the heart can smell like the top with an offensive odor. Sooner or later, something happens in our lives, to make us aware of our stinking thinking about a person or situation. If you’re super sensitive to the smell of unforgiveness, you do something promptly about the matter, seeking to forgive.

Jesus addressed this invisible offense of the heart in the Lord’s prayer, as unforgiveness. We are forgiven our sins, as we have forgiven others their sin. This awareness of needing to forgive is God’s grace.

“Aware” means to have knowledge about a situation or a fact. The word from which it is derived, is the Germanic word “ware,” which is pottery, as well as the manufacture of articles for sale. This is obvious in the kitchen mostly, where we have cookware, silverware, glassware, tableware, etc.

I like to envision cookware, tableware, and glassware as containers for food and drink. However, imagine if those vessels were instead memories within our heart and mind, which we clung to, about what others have done that has hurt us. It would be no different than cooking a gourmet meal with rotten food, offensive to the pallet and nose. Eighty percent of “taste” comes from your olfactory receptors (smell). If we wouldn’t eat such a meal, we surely wouldn’t invite guests over to partake either.

The Greek word for “forgive” is aphíēmi pronounced af-ee'-ay-mee and means, “to forgive, lay aside, let go, and to send away.” [i] The word from which this comes apo, means “off and away.” When my top smells of body odor, I get it off as soon as possible, and put it in the laundry basket, away from my nose. Again, I credit that response to my super senses, where I cannot get any work or activities done in my day, since the stench of the smelly top has my attention.

Likewise, when we deal with unforgiveness quickly, it’s like taking the smelly top off and putting a fresh clean one on. Unless someone had super senses like me, they couldn’t perceive it. But imagine if I didn’t use deodorant for days and got around others. Not only would it be constantly on my mind of how bad I smell, and interfere with my ability to fellowship, other people would smell the body odor, as well.

I experienced this last year, when my husband, Rich, and I drove up to Virginia to celebrate his sister-in-law’s sixtieth birthday. We made it a two-day trip to get there, and I was beyond excited, having found a brand-new dress that was normally over $200 for only $35. Moreover, I had stunning shoes to add that extra-bling, rose gold pumps, with matching rose gold stones. In addition, we had bought Rich a brand-new suit, with shiny black dress shoes. We haven’t dressed this nice since our wedding day in 2001.

Little did I know, that in all my packing, I did not pack my deodorant. Ok, I could get by with using my husband’s deodorant, if need be, for this trip, so problem solved. However, I later found out because I had packed so hurriedly that I couldn’t find my husband’s deodorant or the toothpaste. This was a double whammy. On top of this, we were exhausted, having woke up 3:30 am on Thursday to get to our half-way destination, and then at 4 am on Friday to make our final trek to attend the surprise party. Well one thing was for sure, if someone were to smell my breath or my underarms, they would be surprised by the awful smell.

Rich and I arrived at the party exhausted, unable to find his deodorant, which is fine for my husband, because as he says, he glistens, and doesn’t sweat. I on the other hand, am like Niagara Falls when the temperature rises above 75. Not only did we not find the deodorant, but the toothpaste, as well, leaving me with bad breath. Unfortunately, I didn’t have my regular breath mints in my purse, either.

So, get this, I looked the best I have in years, in the most beautiful black sequin gown, stunning shoes with bling, and matching jewelry. However, the whole time I was at the party, I kept my arms tight by my side, and my hand over my mouth. I wanted to really enjoy the celebration, but I was so distracted by my bad breath and stinky underarms. The whole time there, Rich and I kept asking people if they had a mint or something, and no one did.

We went for 2 days without brushing our teeth and finally bought some toothpaste from the gas station, only to find our toothpaste packed in my makeup bag, later.

While at the party, going through my head was “I hope no one else has the super senses that I do and can smell me.” Instead, if I would have brought my deodorant and toothpaste, I would be carefree, laughing and having fun with all the family.

Things that we hold onto from our past towards others can be likened to us not wearing deodorant or brushing our teeth. Imagine on top of not having toiletries for proper hygiene, if we ate rotten food, which then wreaked through our pours, all the while building up in the mouth as super bad breath. We would be unbearable to be around.

That’s how it is when we have unforgiveness. Our rotten attitude makes it hard for others to be around us. Because we’ve not the super senses to perceive that our attitude stinks from unforgiveness, it’s built up, and been like days without brushing our teeth or taking a bath. Now imagine further, if we haven’t brushed our teeth or taken a bath in years.

The grace of Truth given through Jesus Christ, was to remove the stench of sin from mankind, where we would be in right standing with the Father, without spot or blemish, because of the atoning work of Christ on the cross. He nailed the debt of our sins to His cross. (Colossians 2:14) That experience of the forgiveness of our sins, comes as we forgive others. Forgiveness means to let go. We must let go of the things we’ve held onto about others, and the way we might dwell on how they’ve hurt us. It’s the stinking clothes that distract our hearts and minds, keeping us from enjoying life.

God taught me that anytime I dwell on something negative that someone has done to me, that it is satan accusing them in my head. He then has me say, “I break agreement with the accuser of the brethren, In Jesus’ Name.”

What circumstance do you need to let go of, and who do you need to forgive? Take this opportunity to be free of stinking thinking, and cling to the work of the Cross of Christ Jesus, receiving forgiveness for your sins.

[i] [i] Strong J. (1890) Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Abingdon Press. Greek word # 863 “forgive”

Be set free of the stinking attitude of unforgiveness. Enjoy the fullness of life, as you let go of the thoughts of how others have hurt you.

 ****

Welcome to Celebrating God’s Grace, A Women World Leader’s Podcast, I’m your host Robin Kirby-Gatto.

Thank you for joining us today as we celebrate God’s grace, in our lives, in our ministry, and around the world.

Today’s Podcast is titled, “Forgive”

Jesus states in the Lord’s Prayer

“And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us [who has offended us or done us wrong]. And bring us not into temptation but rescue us from evil.” (Luke 11:4 AMPC)

No one likes wearing clothes with body odor. As for me, my sensitive nose permits me to smell things at such strength that it is like a superpower. If I were a superhero today, I would be the Super Sensitive Woman. All kidding aside, it is difficult for me to wear a top, if it has any bad odor. It’s nothing but a distraction in my day. Although, it’s something invisible to the eye, my brain is constantly aware, as the olfactory receptors of my nose, transmit the information of the odor to my brain, signaling the fact that my top stinks.

Now, I don’t go around telling people that my top stinks, rather I keep that information to myself. However, when I’m at home and around my husband, I inform him that I must change my top because it smells so bad, to which he replies, “I don’t smell anything.” He doesn’t have the super sensitive smeller I have.

Unforgiveness in the heart can smell like the top with an offensive odor. Sooner or later, something happens in our lives, to make us aware of our stinking thinking about a person or situation. If you’re super sensitive to the smell of unforgiveness, you do something promptly about the matter, seeking to forgive.

Jesus addressed this invisible offense of the heart in the Lord’s prayer, as unforgiveness. We are forgiven our sins, as we have forgiven others their sin. This awareness of needing to forgive is God’s grace.

“Aware” means to have knowledge about a situation or a fact. The word from which it is derived, is the Germanic word “ware,” which is pottery, as well as the manufacture of articles for sale. This is obvious in the kitchen mostly, where we have cookware, silverware, glassware, tableware, etc.

I like to envision cookware, tableware, and glassware as containers for food and drink. However, imagine if those vessels were instead memories within our heart and mind, which we clung to, about what others have done that has hurt us. It would be no different than cooking a gourmet meal with rotten food, offensive to the pallet and nose. Eighty percent of “taste” comes from your olfactory receptors (smell). If we wouldn’t eat such a meal, we surely wouldn’t invite guests over to partake either.

The Greek word for “forgive” is aphíēmi pronounced af-ee'-ay-mee and means, “to forgive, lay aside, let go, and to send away.” [i] The word from which this comes apo, means “off and away.” When my top smells of body odor, I get it off as soon as possible, and put it in the laundry basket, away from my nose. Again, I credit that response to my super senses, where I cannot get any work or activities done in my day, since the stench of the smelly top has my attention.

Likewise, when we deal with unforgiveness quickly, it’s like taking the smelly top off and putting a fresh clean one on. Unless someone had super senses like me, they couldn’t perceive it. But imagine if I didn’t use deodorant for days and got around others. Not only would it be constantly on my mind of how bad I smell, and interfere with my ability to fellowship, other people would smell the body odor, as well.

I experienced this last year, when my husband, Rich, and I drove up to Virginia to celebrate his sister-in-law’s sixtieth birthday. We made it a two-day trip to get there, and I was beyond excited, having found a brand-new dress that was normally over $200 for only $35. Moreover, I had stunning shoes to add that extra-bling, rose gold pumps, with matching rose gold stones. In addition, we had bought Rich a brand-new suit, with shiny black dress shoes. We haven’t dressed this nice since our wedding day in 2001.

Little did I know, that in all my packing, I did not pack my deodorant. Ok, I could get by with using my husband’s deodorant, if need be, for this trip, so problem solved. However, I later found out because I had packed so hurriedly that I couldn’t find my husband’s deodorant or the toothpaste. This was a double whammy. On top of this, we were exhausted, having woke up 3:30 am on Thursday to get to our half-way destination, and then at 4 am on Friday to make our final trek to attend the surprise party. Well one thing was for sure, if someone were to smell my breath or my underarms, they would be surprised by the awful smell.

Rich and I arrived at the party exhausted, unable to find his deodorant, which is fine for my husband, because as he says, he glistens, and doesn’t sweat. I on the other hand, am like Niagara Falls when the temperature rises above 75. Not only did we not find the deodorant, but the toothpaste, as well, leaving me with bad breath. Unfortunately, I didn’t have my regular breath mints in my purse, either.

So, get this, I looked the best I have in years, in the most beautiful black sequin gown, stunning shoes with bling, and matching jewelry. However, the whole time I was at the party, I kept my arms tight by my side, and my hand over my mouth. I wanted to really enjoy the celebration, but I was so distracted by my bad breath and stinky underarms. The whole time there, Rich and I kept asking people if they had a mint or something, and no one did.

We went for 2 days without brushing our teeth and finally bought some toothpaste from the gas station, only to find our toothpaste packed in my makeup bag, later.

While at the party, going through my head was “I hope no one else has the super senses that I do and can smell me.” Instead, if I would have brought my deodorant and toothpaste, I would be carefree, laughing and having fun with all the family.

Things that we hold onto from our past towards others can be likened to us not wearing deodorant or brushing our teeth. Imagine on top of not having toiletries for proper hygiene, if we ate rotten food, which then wreaked through our pours, all the while building up in the mouth as super bad breath. We would be unbearable to be around.

That’s how it is when we have unforgiveness. Our rotten attitude makes it hard for others to be around us. Because we’ve not the super senses to perceive that our attitude stinks from unforgiveness, it’s built up, and been like days without brushing our teeth or taking a bath. Now imagine further, if we haven’t brushed our teeth or taken a bath in years.

The grace of Truth given through Jesus Christ, was to remove the stench of sin from mankind, where we would be in right standing with the Father, without spot or blemish, because of the atoning work of Christ on the cross. He nailed the debt of our sins to His cross. (Colossians 2:14) That experience of the forgiveness of our sins, comes as we forgive others. Forgiveness means to let go. We must let go of the things we’ve held onto about others, and the way we might dwell on how they’ve hurt us. It’s the stinking clothes that distract our hearts and minds, keeping us from enjoying life.

God taught me that anytime I dwell on something negative that someone has done to me, that it is satan accusing them in my head. He then has me say, “I break agreement with the accuser of the brethren, In Jesus’ Name.”

What circumstance do you need to let go of, and who do you need to forgive? Take this opportunity to be free of stinking thinking, and cling to the work of the Cross of Christ Jesus, receiving forgiveness for your sins.

[i] [i] Strong J. (1890) Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Abingdon Press. Greek word # 863 “forgive”