Faithfully Seeking God | The Lighthouse After the Storm

  Has the Lord ever told you to forgive someone who hurt you deeply? Maybe this person asked you for forgiveness, but the hurt was so severe that you found it difficult to move past what they did. Or maybe this person never admitted to harming you, instead pretending that it was all your fault.  Either way Jesus clearly told us to “bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” ( Matthew 5:44 ). Offering forgiveness is not always easy, but it carries the power to heal wounds and restore hope. When it is done sincerely it can transform lives, relationships, and communities.  This week let’s explore the power of forgiveness by examining the deeply impactful New Testament book of Philemon. Why is this story so powerful? Philemon is a personal letter written by the Apostle Paul to a man named Philemon. At its heart is a story about a runaway slave named Onesimus, who had wronged Philemon but then became a...

  The other day I visited the local farmer’s market. As I looked around at the different stands, I noticed that many farmers had a similar selection of vegetables to offer but one farmer’s stand stood out from the rest. He didn’t have a lot of variety like his competitors, but his wares were huge.  Bell peppers the size of two fists and watermelons that needed to be wheeled out rather than carried. It reminded me of the principle of sowing and reaping. This farmer apparently had sown good seed, and he was reaping the benefits of having the largest produce at the market.   The biblical concept of sowing and reaping offers deep insight into how our actions, attitudes, and choices shape our lives and destinies. This week, let’s explore this powerful principle through the lens of Scripture, particularly focusing on Hosea 10:12 and Galatians 6:7-8. Cause and Effect At its core, sowing and reaping is about cause and effect — what we put out into the world eventually comes ...