The Truth: "If you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and confess with your lips Jesus is Lord you shall be saved." The End. P.S. The following paper was written by me and offered for free via the US Mail back in the 1990s! It was written in all caps to assist those with eyesight trouble. Now, with our modern technology the paper has been simply scanned and downloaded. The caps are not meant as a shout: please excuse the all caps. TIA IN THE LONG COURSE OF LIFE EVERYONE MAKES MANY MISTAKES. SOME SEEM VERY LARGE TO US, OTHERS RATHER SMALL AND ROUTINE. IN MY OWN LIFE IT SEEMS EASY FOR ME TO FORGET THE SMALLER MISTAKES BUT HOW HARD IT CAN BE TO FINALLY LET GO OF THE LARGER ONES. THAT IS WHAT THIS MESSAGE IS ALL ABOUT. LETTING GO OF ALL OF OUR FAILURES, FAULTS, AND WEAKNESSES. NOT JUST THE LITTLE ONES, BUT THE BIG ONES TOO. IT IS TIME FOR US TO FORGIVE OURSELVES AND KNOW THAT WE CAN BE FORGIVEN. ALL PEOPLE MAKE SERIOUS MISTAKES BUT NOT ALL PEOPLE HAVE THE COURAGE TO LET THEM GO. THERE ARE, AFTER ALL SO MANY AND COUNTLESS WAYS THAT WE CAN OFFEND AND HURT THE PEOPLE AROUND US. IT IS TRULY INEVITABLE THAT WE DO MAKE SERIOUS MISTAKES IN THE LONG COURSE OF OUR LIFETIMES. THE LIST CERTAINLY COULD GO ON FOR A LONG TIME: LYING, STEALING, CHEATING, MURDER, ADULTERY, AND SO VERY MANY OTHER WAYS WE CAN OFFEND OUR OWN HEARTS AND THE HEARTS OF OTHERS. SINCE WE ARE PRONE TO MAKING MANY MISTAKES ONE MIGHT CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY THERE ARE WAYS TO HEAL THE HURT THAT IS PRESENT WITHIN US. FOR EXAMPLE, IF SOMEONE CUTS THEIR FINGER THE BODY BEGINS PROCESSES TO HEAL THAT DAMAGE. LIKEWISE, THERE ARE MANY WHO BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE OFFEND OUR OWN HEARTS AND MINDS THAT THERE ARE PSYCHOLOGICAL, EMOTIONAL, EVEN SPIRITUAL PROCESSES WITHIN US WHICH AUTOMATICALLY GO INTO ACTION FOR INNER HEALING. THUS, LET US CONSIDER A JOURNEY OF HEALING AND WHOLENESS BASED ON THE CONVICTION THAT WHEN A HUMAN BEING BECOMES HARMED SHE OR HE INEVITABLY BEGINS THE SEARCH FOR HEALING. WE FIND IT NECESSARY TO GROUND OUR DISCUSSION OF HEALING, WHOLENESS, AND SELF-FORGIVENESS ON THE SOLID FOUNDATION OF SCRIPTURE. WE INVITE YOU TO CONSIDER THAT WE BELIEVE THAT EARLY CHRISTIAN LITERATURE [THE BIBLE] CLEARLY INDICATES THAT GOD IS IN LOVE WITH ALL PEOPLE. IT STRONGLY STATES IN SO MANY PLACES THAT HE IS THE ONE WHO TRULY WANTS YOU TO BE HEALTHY, WHOLESOME, AND HAPPY. IT TELLS THAT HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN IF YOU SEEK HIM OUT; YOU ARE INVITED TO SURRENDER YOUR HEART AND GIVE IT TO HIM; HE IS READY TO OPEN HIS HEART AND LOVE YOU; HE POSSES A WONDERFUL MERCY. IT SAYS: LET HIM BE THE FOREMOST TRUE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE; LET GOD KNOW YOU MORE THAN ANYONE EVER HAS; LET HIM SET YOU FREE, RELIEVE YOUR PAIN, AND GIVE YOU NEW LIFE; LET HIM FILL YOU WITH HIS LOVE AND HIS PEACE; IT IS ALL THERE FOR THE TAKING; IF YOU BEGIN THIS TASK PLEASE DISMISS ALL FEAR; HE IS YOUR CREATOR; OPEN YOUR HEART AND LET HIM LOVE YOU; YOUR DREAMS CAN TRULY BE FULFILLED IN HIM; LET GOD KNOW YOUR TRUE HEART. SALVATION AND HEALING BELONG TO ALL. WE ARE ALL INVITED TO SAY: JESUS, MY HEART IS TRULY OPEN TO YOU MY LORD. THANK YOU FOR LOVING ME AS YOU LOVE ALL PEOPLE. HELP ME TO KNOW YOUR FORGIVENESS AND YOUR TRUTH. HELP ME TO RELEASE ALL OF MY FEAR AND GUILT TO THE FOOT OF YOUR CROSS. THE APOSTLE PAUL WROTE THAT YOU DIED FOR ME. YOU REDEEMED ME AND GAVE ME NEW LIFE. IT DID NOT MATTER HOW MANY MISTAKES OR HOW DEEPLY YOUR APOSTLES OF OLD OFFENDED YOU, YOU WERE ALWAYS THERE TO FORGIVE, LORD JESUS. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR FORGIVENESS IN LIGHT OF YOUR WORD AND I NOW FORGIVE MYSELF. YES, I FORGIVE MYSELF. YOU HAVE SET ALL OF YOUR FOLLOWERS FREE OF ALL GUILT, OF ALL CONDEMNATION, OF ALL FAILURE. YOUR LOVE AND REDEMPTION IS A COSMIC EVENT FOR ALL PEOPLES, IN ALL PLACES, FOREVER. I THANK YOU FOR THE TRUTH OF YOUR WORD. I TOO AM FREE IN YOU. ME, MY LIFE, AND ALL OF MY MISTAKES ARE HEALED IN YOU. THANK YOU JESUS FOR A BRAND NEW BEGINNING. THANK YOU JESUS FOR A NEW LIFE AND NEW LOVE IN YOU. I DID NOT PREVIOUSLY KNOW THAT THERE WAS ANYONE IN THE UNIVERSE THAT LOVED ME AS MUCH AS YOU DO. I NEVER KNEW THAT ANYONE COULD FILL ME, TOUCH ME, AND HOLD ME LIKE YOU DO. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH MY DEAR FRIEND JESUS. THANK YOU JESUS FOR TAKING OVER MY WHOLE HEART. THANK YOU JESUS FOR TAKING OVER MY WHOLE SOUL. THANK YOU JESUS FOR TAKING OVER MY WHOLE MIND. THANK YOU LORD JESUS FOR TAKING OVER MY WHOLE LIFE. THANK YOU JESUS FOR FILLING ME NOW WITH YOUR HOLY SPIRIT. JESUS, YOUR ARE LORD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR MERCY AND FORGIVENESS. THE SCRIPTURES REVEAL THE PERSONALITY OF JESUS IN SO MANY CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARE DOCUMENTED FOR ALL TO READ. REGARDLESS OF THE MISTAKE HE STANDS READY TO FORGIVE. BASED ON THIS LOVING AND FORGIVING PERSONALITY WE BELIEVE HE WOULD RESPOND TO SUCH A PRAYER IN THE FOLLOWING WAY, “MY DEAR FRIEND, I SEE YOUR SORROW AND ALL OF YOUR MISTAKES AND I FORGIVE YOU OF ALL. RELEASE ALL OF THAT NOW AND LET ME LOVE YOU. ALLOW ALL OF MY TEACHINGS TO SET YOU FREE. I HAVE YEARNED FOR YOU FROM THE CREATION OF THE WORLD. I FORESAW YOU AND WITH MY WHOLE HEART WANT TO LOVE YOU NOW. BUT, COME TO ME. LET ME FINALLY LOVE YOU AS I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO. LET ME INTO THE INNERMOST DEPTHS OF YOUR HEART. IT IS WITH YOU THERE WHERE I DESIRE TO DWELL. SEE THE BEAUTY OF EARTH AND SKY AND KNOW THAT I CREATED YOU EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN THEY. YOU ARE THE HIGH POINT OF MY CREATION. I DESIRE YOU. I AM THE ONE WHO WANTS YOU. I AM THE ONE WHO WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN. I AM TRULY WITH YOU NOW. PLEASE REMAIN WITH ME AND CONTINUE TO LEARN EVEN MORE ABOUT MY INFINITE LOVE FOR YOU AND FOR ALL. YES, MEDITATE ON MY WORD AND WE WILL ALWAYS BE TOGETHER. I WILL REBUILD YOUR LIFE AND GIVE YOU NEW BEGINNINGS. LET ME SMILE AS I AM NOW SMILING IN YOU AS YOU COME TO ME. I NEVER WANT TO BE WITHOUT YOU. IT WAS I WHO CREATED YOU, WANTED YOU, LOVED YOU, AND CALLED YOU TO BE WITH ME AS A TRUE FOLLOWER AND FRIEND. I WILL GRANT YOU A SEASON OF REFRESHMENT SO THAT YOU WILL SURELY KNOW THAT IT IS I, JESUS CHRIST, WHO HAS WANTED YOU FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. ONLY COME TO ME. YES, YOU HAVE MADE YOUR MISTAKES BUT I HAVE ALWAYS WATCHED OVER YOU. I HAVE NEVER LEFT YOU. I AM AND I AM WITH YOU NOW, MY FRIEND, FOREVER. I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOW WHEN YOU COME WHOLEHEARTEDLY TO ME. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO DO SO. WHY WOULD I? I SIMPLY WOULD NOT BECAUSE MY NATURE COMPELS ME TO LOVE. I AM LOVE. I AM LIGHT. THERE IS NO DARKNESS IN ME. I AM LOVE AND I DO LOVE YOU! PLEASE LISTEN TO THE TESTIMONY OF "MARY": HI, MY NAME IS MARY. I’M A HOUSEWIFE NOW. I MARRIED SEVEN YEARS AGO AND HAVE TWO BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN. I’M TELLING MY OWN STORY NOW SO THAT OTHERS DON’T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES I DID. YOU SEE, I DEEPLY REGRET THE FACT THAT I ENDED THE LIFE OF MY FETUS. I DIDN’T FEEL LIKE I WAS READY TO BE A MOM. I WASN’T MARRIED AND I DIDN’T HAVE HARDLY ANY MONEY AT ALL. I WAS ALONE, PREGNANT AND FRIGHTENED. I WAS YOUNG AND LONELY. I DESPERATELY WANTED SOMEBODY TO LOVE ME. YEAH, THE BIG MISTAKE, I WOULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING TO KEEP MY BOY FRIEND IN MY LIFE AND I DID. HE SAID HE LOVED ME BUT, FOOLISH ME, WHEN I GOT PREGNANT IT WAS ALL DOWN HILL FROM THERE. I REALLY WANTED THE BABY BUT I WAS SO INSECURE ABOUT CARING FOR IT, PETRIFIED ABOUT WHAT MY PARENTS MIGHT SAY AND DID NOT KNOW HOW I COULD PAY FOR IT AND STILL REMAIN IN SCHOOL. LOOKING BACK I KNOW IT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE IF I SOUGHT THE HELP I NEEDED. GOD, I WISH I HAD DONE THAT. BUT JUST WHERE I SHOULD HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED I WASN’T. MY PARENTS WENT NUTS AND JOHN AND HIS FAMILY WANTED TO END THE PREGNANCY. HE SAID HE WASN’T READY TO BE A FATHER. HE LOVED ME, SO HE SAID, BUT FOREVER??? THAT WAS A COMMITMENT HE JUST WASN’T READY TO MAKE JUST YET. SO I DID IT. AGAINST MY INSTINCTS AND MY BETTER JUDGMENT I LISTENED TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE AROUND ME AND HAD AN ABORTION. FOR ME, IT WAS THE MOST DEGRADING, HORRIFYING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE. GOD, IT WAS SO TERRIBLE. I FELT SO CHEAP. SO DISGUSTED WITH MYSELF AND THE PEOPLE AROUND ME. JOHN AND I FELL APART PRACTICALLY OVERNIGHT. WE FELT IN OUR HEARTS THAT WE HAD DONE SOMETHING REALLY WRONG AND WE JUST DIDN’T WANT TO SEE EACH OTHER ANYMORE. I TRIED FOR YEARS TO BLOCK EVERYTHING OUT BUT THE NIGHTMARE JUST WOULD NOT GO AWAY. IT KEPT CATCHING UP WITH ME. THE MEMORIES, THOSE UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES OF LOSING WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN MY VERY FIRST CHILD. I ADMIT IT. I CRIED OUT TO GOD TO HELP ME. THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE THERE FOR ME. I CRIED OUT TO THE LORD AND BEGAN SEEKING HELP, TALKING TO PEOPLE. I FINALLY FOUND PEACE FROM GOD, WITH GOD, WITH MYSELF, AND YES, EVEN WITH MY BABY. I CALL HER “MY LITTLE ANGEL” BECAUSE I BELIEVE SHE HAS FORGIVEN ME AND WATCHES OVER ME AND OUR WHOLE FAMILY. I TALK WITH MY LITTLE ANGEL AND TELL HER (I FIND MYSELF CALLING THE BABY HER) THAT I REALLY DO LOVE HER AND THAT MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE I WANT TO SEE HER AGAIN. I SAY, “WHEN I CROSS THROUGH THOSE PEARLY GATES WHEN I GET TO HEAVEN YOUR THE VERY FIRST PERSON I WANT TO MEET. TOGETHER, HAND IN HAND, WE’LL GO AND SEE JESUS TO THANK HIM FOR SAVING SOMEONE LIKE ME. HOW HAPPY I WILL BE TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN. I LOVE YOU AND NO ONE WILL EVER HURT US AGAIN. I’M SORRY BUT ITS OVER NOW, WE ARE ALL SAFELY TOGETHER.” YES, THAT IT WHAT I WILL SAY TO MY BABY WHEN I SEE HER AGAIN BUT FOR NOW I GO ON WITH MY DAILY LIFE NO LONGER TORMENTED BY GUILT AND SHAME. I FORGIVE MYSELF. I FORGIVE ANYONE WHO EVER HURT ME IN MY LIFE. THE HEALING HAS BEEN A PROCESS FOR ME. THE FIRST STEP, THOUGH, WAS WHEN I DECIDED TO ASK FOR HELP. ADMITTING MY FAILURE WAS THE FIRST STEP TO FINDING PEACE. UP TO THIS POINT IN OUR MESSAGE WE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO LAY DOWN A FOUNDATION OF SALVATION, FORGIVENESS, AND HEALING BASED UPON THESE NOTIONS AS THEY ARE FOUND IN THIS EARLY HEBREW/CHRISTIAN LITERATURE MANY REFER TO AS THE HOLY BIBLE. IT HAS BEEN OUR DESIRE TO EXAMINE THIS INFORMATION AND IMAGINE HOW THESE EARLY HEBREWS AND CHRISTIANS RESPONDED TO IT. WE HAVE FURTHER SPECULATED HOW GOD MAY REACT TO THESE PEOPLE AND THEIR PRAYERS BASED UPON THIS SAME LITERATURE. BUT, HOW DO WE IN THIS PRESENT DAY RESPOND TO THIS WORD? BASED UPON WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY STATED WE MIGHT HYPOTHESIZE THAT THERE CAN BE HEALING AND SALVATION IF SOMEONE IS IN NEED OF IT AND IF SOMEONE KEEPS SEARCHING FOR IT FROM WHATEVER DECISION WE HAVE MADE THAT MAY HAVE SEEMED CORRECT AT THE TIME BUT IN THE LONG RUN SEEMED TO CAUSE US MORE GRIEF THAN NOT. THE TRUTH IS LIKE MANY OTHER PROBLEMS WE FACE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THERE~ IS A PROBLEM INSIDE OF “ME” IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS THE HEALING OF “ME.” THERE IS NO EXCEPTION HERE. ALL OF THE RESEARCH INDICATES THAT WHEN A PERSON IS HONEST WITH THEMSELVES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THEY ARE IN PAIN, FOR THOSE WHO REALLY ARE IN EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, THEN AND ONLY THEN AT A PLACE WITHIN THEMSELVES WHERE HEALING MAY BEGIN. CITING OUR EXAMPLE, THE TRUTH IS THAT “MARY” HAS A NATURAL RIGHT TO GRIEVE. IF ANYONE LOSES A CHILD FOR ANY REASON, ESPECIALLY A TRAGIC LIFE SITUATION, IT IS ABSOLUTELY NORMAL TO GRIEVE. NOT TO GRIEVE THIS LOSS WOULD BE CONSIDERED BY MANY NOT TO BE NORMAL. THE CHALLENGE IS TO GET ONTO THE ROAD OF RECOVERY. TO FORGIVE EVERYONE, INCLUDING YOURSELF IF NEED BE, ADMIT THAT YOU ARE IN PAIN, THAT YOU NEED HELP, AND TO RESPONSIBLY SEEK THAT HELP AS BEST YOU ARE ABLE. I THINK IT IS SO EXCELLENT WHEN ANYONE HAS THE FAITH AND COURAGE TO REACH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THEMSELVES TO SEEK THIS HEALING. WHETHER IT IS A PROBLEM WITH DRUGS OR ALCOHOL, AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP, STEALING, INORDIATE SEXUAL COMPULSIONS, OR WHATEVER THE PERSON IS STRUGGLING WITH, ADMITTING THE STRUGGLE IS ALWAYS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS FINDING PEACE. BUT, WHAT IS THE POINT IN ALL OF THIS DISCUSSION? THE POINT IS THIS: NO MATTER HOW YOU MAY HAVE OFFENDED YOUR OWN HEART OR THE HEART OF SOMEONE ELSE, IT IS NECESSARY FOR YOU TO ADMIT TO YOURSELF THAT YOU HAVE MADE MISTAKES, IF YOU REALLY HAVE, AND THAT YOUR ARE EXPERIENCING SORROW OR REGRET AS A RESULT OF YOUR CHOICES. A SKILLED COUNSELOR OR MINISTER OR PRIEST MAY TRULY BE QUALIFIED TO SAY: MAY YOUR MEMORIES BE HEALED. MAY YOU FORGIVE YOURSELF IF THAT IS WHAT YOU FINALLY NEED TO DO. MAY YOU RELEASE YOUR PROBLEM INTO THE HANDS OF GOD WHO UNDERSTANDS AND GRIEVES WITH YOU. MAY YOU EXPERIENCE HIS HEALING LOVE AS YOU SEEK TO FIND THE ANSWERS YOU NEED. MAY YOU EXPERIENCE LASTING PEACE IN HIS NAME. MAY YOUR JOURNEY END IN HIM AS HE POURS OUT HIS EVERLASTING LOVE ON YOU AND ALL OF YOUR LOVED ONES. IT CERTAINLY MAY BE THE COUNSELOR’S OPINION THAT GOD HAS AN EVERLASTING LOVE FOR ALL PEOPLE, AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE PATIENT AS THEY SEEKS THIS HEALING AND PEACE. IT HAS BEEN OUR EXPERIENCE THAT OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ADMITTED TO THEMSELVES THAT THEY ARE IN A GREAT DEAL OF PAIN AS A RESULT OF THEIR EXPERIENCES OFTEN TIMES TURN TO GOD FOR FORGIVENESS, HEALING, AND CONSOLATION. AS WE STATED BEFORE, WHATEVER THE PROBLEM IS, ADMITTING THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND THAT YOU NEED HELP IS REPORTED AS THE FIRST STEP TO HEALING. WITH FAITH THERE IS SALVATION. OUR IMAGE OF GOD, AT ASSURANCE, IS IN SCRIPTURE. WE OFFER THIS LITERATURE THINKING THAT IT MAY ALSO BE YOURS AND IN LIGHT OF THAT, WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT “APOSTLES,” PROPHETS,” AND “SAINTS” ALL HAVE TESTIMONIES OF GOD’S GREAT LOVE FOR US IN JESUS, THE CHRIST. FOR EXAMPLE, IN “THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN” A WOMAN IS TAKEN TO JESUS BECAUSE SHE WAS CAUGHT IN THE VERY ACT OF ADULTERY (JN 8,4). THE LORD JESUS SAYS TO HER, LET THE PERSON AMONG YOU WHO HAS ABSOLUTELY NO SINS BE THE FIRST TO THROW A ROCK AT HER (JN 8,7). ONE BY ONE THE PEOPLE WHO WERE ACCUSING HER WALKED AWAY. JESUS LOOKED UP AT HER WITH GREAT LOVE AND SAID, WOMEN, I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO DESIRE TO CONDEMN YOU BUT PERFORM THIS SIN NO MORE (JN 8, 10—11). DEAR FRIEND, THE EXTREME MERCY OF GOD IS ALSO FOUND IN THIS LITERATURE IN THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SON (LK 15, 11-32). THIS CHILD LEFT HIS FATHER TO PURSUE HIS OWN SELFISH, SELF CENTERED WILL. IN THIS PARABLE THE CHILD DECIDES TO RETURN TO HIS FATHER BUT WHILE HE WAS STILL A LONG WAY AWAY HIS FATHER RECOGNIZED HIM FROM A DISTANCE AND WAS FILLED WITH LOVE AND COMPASSION HE RAN TO HIS BELOVED CHILD, EMBRACED AND KISSED THE ONE HE MISSED SO VERY MUCH. HERE, ANYONE CAN EASILY SEE THAT THE FATHER ACTUALLY RAN TOWARDS HIS REPENTANT CHILD EVEN THOUGH HE WAS ORIGINALLY OFFENDED BY WHAT THE CHILD HAD DONE. THE FATHER RAN TO HIS CHILD, KISSED AND EMBRACED THE ONE HE LOVED SO MUCH (LK 15,20). THIS ACCOUNT IS CONSIDERED BY MANY SCHOLARS AS INDICATIVE OF THE INFINITE AND ABSOLUTE LOVE THAT GOD HAS FOR ALL OF HIS BELIEVERS WHO COME BACK TO HIM. THE GLORIOUS APOSTLE PAUL IS CONSIDERED AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THE WONDERFUL FORGIVENESS AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE GOD HAS FOR US ALL. EARLY CHRISTIAN LITERATURE CLEARLY INDICATES HE WAS ORIGINALLY A PERSECUTOR OF THE CHURCH AND CONSENTED IN THE KILLING OF SAINT STEPHEN, AN INNOCENT HUMAN BEING (ACTS 8,1). DESPITE ALL OF HIS MISTAKES, THE VERY BIG ONES AND THE LITTLE ONES, GOD CHOSE THIS MAN TO BRING THE GLORIOUS GOOD NEWS OF HIS GOSPEL TO THE GENTILES EVEN THOUGH THIS MAN HAD CONSENTED IN THE KILLING OF AND INNOCENT HUMAN BEING. GOD CHOSE, ELECTED, AND SANCTIFIED PAUL AS THE MESSENGER OF HIS TRUTH AND ABSOLUTE LOVE. WHAT A WONDERFUL MESSAGE OF FORGIVENESS, ACCEPTANCE, AND LOVE. ONE CAN SEE IN ALL OF THESE EXAMPLES GOD IS NOT CONDEMNING OR ACCUSING. HE DOES NOT HOLD A GRUDGE OR IN ANY WAY HURT, HINDER, OR REJECT THOSE WHO SINCERELY COME TO HIM. IN FACT, IN ALL OF THESE CASES GOD IS FILLED WITH MERCY AND COMPASSION FOR THOSE WHO SEEK HIS FORGIVENESS AND LOVE. ALL OF THIS SCRIPTURE TESTIFIES TO THIS AND IT IS PRECISELY BY THIS BELIEF THAT THESE EARLY CHRISTIANS ARE ABLE TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. WE FEEL COMPELLED TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT AS DEFINED BY THIS EARLY CHRISTIAN LITERATURE WE THINK THAT ANY PERSON SEEKING GOD ALREADY HAS THIS GOD LIKE IMAGE AT WORK IN THEIR HEART. WHAT A PASSION, DEATH, AND RESURRECTION EXPERIENCE ONE HAS BEEN THROUGH AS THEY EMPTY AND EXPOSE THEMSELVES TO GOD AS JESUS DID ON THE CROSS. WHO WOULD NOT ADMIRE THE COURAGE AND PERSEVERANCE OF SUCH A COMMITTED PERSON WHO SEEKS AN EVEN DEEPER UNION WITH GOD AS HE IS DEFINED IN THIS HOLY SCRIPTURE. HOW LIKE JESUS WHO BECAME SIN ON THE CROSS, DIED, BUT WAS THEN RAISED TO NEW LIFE BY THE HEALING AND POWER OF GOD THE FATHER WHO LOVES ALL THE SAME ALL THE TIME. GOD WHO REACHED OUT HEALED AND SAVED ALL WHO CAME TO JESUS WILL ALSO DO THIS FOR EVERYONE NOW IF WE CAN PLACE OUR FAITH AND TRUST IN HIM. IN ALL OF THE EXAMPLES JUST CITED, AND THERE ARE SO MANY MORE, THIS PICTURE OF JESUS IS NOT CONDEMNING OR ACCUSING, HE DOES NOT HOLD A GRUDGE OR IN ANY WAY HURT, HINDER, OR REJECT THOSE WHO SINCERELY COME TO HIM. IN FACT, THIS SAME JESUS IS FILLED WITH MERCY AND COMPASSION NO MATTER WHAT THE PERCEIVED MISTAKE, FAULT, FAILURE OR SIN. HIS FORGIVENESS AND LOVE IN TRUTH IS REPORTEDLY STRONGER THAN OUR GREATEST BLUNDERS, DEEPEST FAULTS, OR MOST INTENTIONAL SINS. HE IS PICTURED AS READY TO FORGIVE, HEAL, AND CONSOLE ALL WHO SINCERELY SEEK HIM. WE ALSO BELIEVE THERE ARE SEVERAL STORIES IN EARLY HEBREW LITERATURE MANY REFER TO AS “THE OLD TESTAMENT” WHICH ALSO TEACH AN IMAGE OF GOD WHO IS CONTINUALLY CARING AND CONSTANTLY WATCHING OVER EVERYTHING HE HAS CREATED. IN THESE EXAMPLES, AND THERE ARE SO VERY MANY MORE, GOD IS NOT CONDEMNING OR ACCUSING, HE DOES NOT HOLD A GRUDGE OR IN ANY WAY HURT OR HINDER OR REJECT THOSE WHO SINCERELY COME TO HIM. IN FACT, IN ALL OF THESE CASES GOD IS FILLED WITH MERCY AND COMPASSION FOR THOSE WHO SEEK HIS FORGIVENESS AND LOVE. ALL OF SCRIPTURE TESTIFIES TO THIS AND IT IS PRECISELY BY THIS BELIEF THAT ANYONE OF US ARE ABLE TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. THERE ARE STORIES IN THE “OLD TESTAMENT” THAT WE BELIEVE MAY BRING HEALING TO EVERYONE. CONSIDER MOSES WHO WAS CHOSEN TO LEAD THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL OUT OF EGYPT AND INTO THE PROMISED LAND. MOSES, WHILE HE WAS A YOUNGER MAN, KILLED AN EGYPTIAN WHO WAS FIGHTING WITH A JEWISH PERSON. THROUGH THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF HIS LIFE HE CAME TO BETTER KNOW WHO GOD WAS AND HOW TO FOLLOW HIM. THIS WAS~ THE MOSES, THE OLDER PURIFIED MOSES, WHO GOD EVENTUALLY USED TO LEAD HIS PEOPLE ACROSS THE RED SEA WITH OUTSTRETCHED ARM. GOD DID NOT GIVE UP ON HIM OR ABANDONED HIM SIMPLY BECAUSE OF A MISTAKE HE MADE IN HIS YOUTH. PEACE BE WITH YOUR SPIRIT, JESUS SAID (JN 20,19); 0 DEATH, YOU HAVE NO REAL AND LASTING VICTORY (1 COR 15,5); IT IS THE GREAT HOPE OF THIS SERVICE THAT EVERYONE WILL ALLOW THIS EARLY HEBREW AND CHRISTIAN LITERATURE TO PENETRATE THEIR HEARTS AND MINDS. WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS THE WILL OF GOD FOR US TO FORGIVE OURSELVES AND TO ALLOW OURSELVES THE PEACE AND SERENITY OF ACCEPTING GOD’S LOVE. IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH, IF WE ARE WILLING, WE RELEASE ALL NEGATIVE THOUGHTS THAT MIGHT COME AGAINST OUR HEARTS AND MINDS AND CHOOSE TO BELIEVE IN THE BOUNTIFUL LIFE GOD HAS PREPARED FOR US ALL. PLEASE, CONSIDER THE WOMAN RACHAEL FOUND IN EARLY HEBREW LITERATURE WHO HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY IN BEING CONSOLED AT THE DEATH OF HER CHILD IN JEREMIAH 31, 15-17. SHE WAS IN MOURNING BECAUSE HERE CHILD WAS KILLED. BUT THE LORD SAYS TO HER THAT SHE IS NOW ABLE TO CEASE HER SORROW AND HER MOURNING. TO WIPE THE TEARS FROM HER EYES BECAUSE THE SORROW SHE HAS SHOWN WILL HAVE ITS REWARD. THERE IS A BEAUTIFUL HOPE FOR HER FUTURE. TRUSTING IN THE SAME HOLY SPIRIT FOUND IN THIS LITERATURE I BELIEVE FOR ANYONE WHO IS SINCERELY SORRY FOR ANY MISTAKE THEY MAY HAVE MADE THIS SAME JESUS WOULD SAY, “MY FRIEND PLEASE DO NOT PUNISH YOURSELF FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. FORGIVE YOURSELF NOW I REALLY REALLY WANT YOU TO ACCEPT THIS LOVE AND BE HEALED. LET GO OF THE GUILT. LET GO OF THE SHAME. RELEASE FEELINGS OF DEPRESSION. NO ONE ON THE WHOLE EARTH IS WITHOUT FAULT. YOU HAVE MADE MISTAKES JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER HUMAN BEING WHO IS ON THE EARTH NOW. I FORGIVE YOU, FORGIVE YOURSELF AND BE FREE. START A NEW LIFE IN ME NOW. YOU ARE ONE MORE PERSON JOURNEYING THROUGH THIS LIFE. ONE MORE PERSON WHO I LOVE INTENSELY. BE FREE NOW OF ALL THAT HAS UPSET YOU. I FORGAVE YOU A LONG LONG TIME AGO. I DIED FOR YOU. I DIED FOR EVERYONE. NY BLOOD IS THICKER THAN ALL OF THE MISTAKES OF THE WHOLE WORLD. IT IS PURE VANITY TO THINK THAT YOUR FAULTS ARE GREATER THAN NY MERCY AND LOVE. DO YOU UNDERSTAND NOW? YOU GIVE ME GLORY WHEN YOU FORGIVE YOURSELF AND BELIEVE IN MY GREAT LOVE FOR YOU. I WANT IT THIS WAY. I PROVIDED FOR YOU, MY BELOVED, FOR IT TO BE THIS WAY. NO ONE IS PERFECT. ALL MUST FORGIVE THEMSELVES OF SOMETHING. I WANT YOU TO FORGIVE YOURSELF OF WHATEVER WEIGHS YOU DOWN AND WANT YOU TO BELIEVE IN MY INFINITE MERCY. THAT IS WHAT HEAVEN IS ALL ABOUT. ANYONE WHO WANTS TO WILL GET THERE. NO ONE HAS EVER EARNED IT. IT IS A FREE GIFT FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO BELIEVE IN IT. BELIEF IS AN ACT OF THE WILL. IT IS SOMETHING I ASK YOU TO DO. THIS IS YOUR TRUE WORK ON THE EARTH. NOT ALL THE LABOR YOU THINK OF AND DO BUT RATHER TO BELIEVE IN ME. THIS IS THE ONLY “WORK” I REQUIRE OF YOU, TO HAVE FAITH IN ME. DO YOU UNDERSTAND NOW, BELOVED? I HAVE FORGIVEN YOU AND WANT YOU TO BE HEALED. I WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY. THIS IS WHY I MADE HEAVEN. I WANT YOU TO BE HERE WITH ME WHEN I FINALLY CALL YOU TO BE HERE. IT IS A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL PLACE. BUT I HAVE WORK FOR YOU NOW AND YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IT WELL IF YOU REMAIN STUCK IN THE PAST. BECOMING STUCK IN GUILT IS CERTAINLY NOT MY WILL FOR YOU. RELEASE ALL NEGATIVITY TO THE FOOT OF MY CROSS AND I WILL FILL YOU WITH THE POWER AND STRENGTH OF MY EARLY SAINTS. YOU ARE ONE TOO AS YOU TRUST IN MY WORDS AS THEY DID. ALLELUIA, I LOVE THE HEART WHO TRUSTS AND BELIEVES IN ME. SUCH A ONE I WILL HEAL AND GIVE ETERNAL LIFE TO. TRUST ME AND BE HEALED. READ MY WORDS. HEAR MY WORDS. GROW IN THE HOLY SPIRIT AND BELIEVE IN THE ONE WHO GIVES YOU A NEW BEGINNING, RIGHT NOW, TODAY AS YOU HAVE FAITH IN ME I LOVE YOU FOREVER AND WILL ALWAYS BE WITH YOU ... FOREVER. AMEN AND AMEN. DEAR GOD, I AGREE WITH ALL WHO PRAY TO YOU AS A RESULT OF THIS INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE. WHETHER THEY PRAY FOR HEALING, FORGIVENESS, OR WHATEVER THEIR CONCERN, I JOIN MY VOICE WITH THEIRS AND BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL ANSWER THEIR PRAYER. HOLY GOD IN HEAVEN, YOU ARE SO VERY GREAT AND AWESOME, THE UNIVERSE ITSELF IS A SIGN OF YOUR MIGHTY POWER. NOTHING AT ALL IS IMPOSSIBLE TO YOU. THANK YOU FOR HEARING OUR HUMBLE PETITIONS. THANK YOU FOR OUR FORGIVENESS AND HEALING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INFINITE MERCY WHICH ALWAYS LEADS TO OUR SALVATION. HELP US TO ONLY FOLLOW YOU MORE CLOSELY. MAY YOU RESPOND SPEEDILY WITH SIGNS AND WONDERS TO HELP US ALONG OUR JOURNEY. YOUR HOLY WORD CLEARLY STATES THAT IF WE HAD FAITH THE SIZE OF THE TINY MUSTARD SEED WE WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE MOUNTAINS. HELP US TO BELIEVE AND CATCH US IF WE SHOULD BEGIN TO FAULTER. AS A RESULT OF YOUR WORD WE ARE STRONGER NOW AND ARE TRUSTING THAT YOU WILL RESPOND WITH GREAT POWER TO OUR PETITIONS. BECAUSE WE ASK THIS IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, YOUR ONLY SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU FOREVER AND EVER AMEN, AND AMEN. THANK YOU LORD JESUS FOR TAKING OVER OUR WHOLE HEARTS. THANK YOU LORD JESUS FOR TAKING OVER OUR WHOLE SOULS. THANK YOU LORD JESUS FOR TAKING OVER OUR WHOLE MINDS. THANK YOU LORD JESUS FOR TAKING OVER OUR WHOLE LIVES. I FORGIVE EVERONE IN MY LIFE WHO EVER HURT ME INCLUDING MYSELF. THANK YOU FOR BAPTIZING ME IN YOUR HOLY SPIRIT. THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING ME AND MY LIFE IN YOUR MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD. THANK YOU NOW FOR GIVING ME ETERNAL LIFE. THANK YOU LORD JESUS. AMEN AND AMEN.