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In about 2 weeks our church is having an Encounter. What an Encounter is, is basically, a three day retreat with the purpose of recieving the revelation of the cross. Revelation means not just understand what Jesus did for you, but letting it get into your spirit and change your life. I've gone to an Encounter, and a re-Encounter, but this will be my first time teaching. I'm SO excited to be one of the leaders, because my life was COMPLETELY changed at my Encounters.
One of the lessons I'm teaching is "Healing Your Heart," which basically deals with all of the times you've ("you" meaning the poeple going to the Encounter) been rejected. These times include in the womb: parents not wanting you, wishing you were another sex; childhood: parent abandoning you, being made fun of by other kids, parents abusing you or not expressing or showing love; adolescence: being told you are fat or ugly, being rejected by the popular kids; adulthood: going from men to me and being rejected by them, an abusive relationship.
Then, we have a time of forgiveness. Everyone chooses to forgive the people who have hurt and rejected them. Forgiveness is crazy because we always think that forgiveness should come when the person says they are sorry or feels bad for what they've done, when they stop doing it. And, when we feel like forgiving.
Unfortunately, that time usually never comes. The person/people are none the wiser and we're in bondage to our own unforgiveness. I love the quote, "Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die." We forgive because Jesus first forgave our sins. If you've never experienced the love and compassion and forgiveness of God, then forgiving can be hard. But, once you have experienced it, it's so easy to forgive. "Though our sins are as scarlet, He has made them white as snow." We we receive the perfect love of God, it's easy to show love to those around us.
I pray that each one of you would know and experience the love and compassion of God.
I want to get photoshop. It looks like sooo much fun. I was going to ask for it for my birthday. I had a question for you, how did you get a differnet personal backround on your page? Oh and yeah I plannned on blogging along with the photo everyday.
ReplyDeleteEncounter sounds really cool. I had never heard of them. I will be praying that it touches many lifes.
I want photoshop, too! I am so excited you're going to help lead the encounter, I missed you so much last time! I am so looking forward to the encounter..I know God's going to change a lot of lives there!
ReplyDeleteThe closest thing you can get to Adobe Photoshop for free, is call The GIMP. Tell your friends about it.
ReplyDeletehttp://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/
For others that might read this:
Of course, you can always download other versions of Photoshop with the proper know how. Not that I advocate that type of behavior.
For others that might read this: Also, full versions of photoshop are a major scam and rip off. If you must have it, find a student and get in on some sort of academic discount or get a OEM CD Only Deal. The rip off factor will be much lower.
On a side note. I have so many snide and biting remakes for this blog. Biting is say! Yet I hold back. How kind is that.
Encounter sounds awesome. I'm excited for you to have this opportunity to teach. My church (back home) has a ministry that sounds pretty similar called 'Fresh Start' and I've been able to co-lead a group for that. It's neat to be able to give back to a ministry that has really impacted you.
ReplyDeleteI'd also like to get good at Photoshop, so feel free to pass on any tips or resources :)
ReplyDelete