The Phil Files

Last week, news trickled out of North Korea about a mother being executed for simply handing out a Bible. Her husband and children were sent to labor camp. Charges were trumped up to justify the harsh treatment, but the fear is that North Korea will continue this policy if unchallenged by the free world. Clearly, believers should pray with and for our persecuted brothers and sisters throughout the world.

In addition, my heartlight.org this week is entitled “Follow Me” and focuses on the unjust suffering of by Christians and how process this problem through the eyes of faith. While I ask some questions at the end of the article, I also believe it is appropriate that we pray the Lord’s Prayer today with a special emphasis on being delivered from evil.

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.

For yours is the kingdom and the power
and the glory forever. Amen.

Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing!

Jesus’ words stand as a testimony to His great love, even for our those torturing and ridiculing Him.

Jesus’ words stand as a reminder of the Lord’s call to each of us to follow in His footsteps:

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32 tniv)

Jesus’ words stand as a beacon guiding each of us home after we have been cut to the heart by our own sin and wounded our Savior by our own reckless rebellion.

Forgiveness is hard, yet immensely rewarding work. It sets free the forgiver. It sets free the forgiven. It sets free the grace of God in the lives of community and changes all involved. That’s why it is such a huge part of the Lord’s prayer:

Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. (Matthew 6:12 nlt)

My heartlight.org article is about forgiveness this week, but in the terms of a broken pink lamp and a beautiful white stallion statue with glue lines and a piece missing. Our forgiveness, even at it’s best, only approximates God’s. He challenges us to forgive completely, and when we have sinned, He challenges us to confess completely. To call our sin what He does; to see our offense as He sees it. And when we do, an amazing thing happens with God that we cannot do for ourselves: he forgives us and makes us new by cleansing and purifying us.

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. (1 John 1:9)

But while we cannot cleanse a person when we forgive them, God can. Such grace is set loose in community where pettiness, gossip, mean-spirited talk, and rivalry exist. And just as evil could not triumph in the face of Jesus’ sacrifice and words of grace, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing,” neither can it survive a community, a family, a church, where forgiveness and grace are the lifestyle. This is a place where God’s Kingdom does come because His will is done.

So please pray the prayer with me and give thanks and mercy for the power of forgiveness to change everything!

Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.

May your Kingdom come soon.

May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.

Give us today the food we need,

and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin against us.

And don’t let us yield to temptation,
but rescue us from the evil one.

For yours is the Kingdom
and the power and the glory,
forever. Amen (Matthew 6:9-13 nlt)

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Today is July 14, or as we mark it on our calendars, 7/14. This date has led a number of folks to the reminder of 2 Chronicles 7:14. So all over the world, folks are hearing the call of the LORD and realizing that we individually and with the leadership in countries, our churches, and our homes need to humble ourselves and pray, seeking the Lord and His way.

So I ask you to join me in this effort and share this call with those you know in this work of a spiritual awakening and healing from the hand of the LORD.

Got to London and Copenhagen late, but safe. Good ol’ ATT came through with another flop, promising me data access in Europe and so far they are a big bust on Blackberry.

Interesting flights. Both international flights, Dallas to London and London to Copenhagen took off late. After waiting 7 hours to get a flight out of DFW, we waited on the tarmac another hour more with problems to a seat, the movie system, and some unknown things “not to worry about” as we were about to take off over the Ocean. About an hour into the flight, about the time dinner was to be served, we received the ill fated, “If you are a doctor or a certified emergency medical technician, please punch your call button.” Thankfully, the guy who had the broken seat and was moved to a seat without the movie only took two Ambien and was in a sleep induced zombie state and not worse off, but it sure spiced up supper.

When we arrived in Copenhagen, having a real heat wave, our luggage arrived … but my bag was the very last one off the plane. Whew! Then we had a bit of hike from the central rail station to the hotel — Donna my describe the “hike” in more dramatic terms, but since we do not have internet access except in the hotel office, that will have to wait.

Headed to the water tomorrow. Can’t wait and maybe I am not supposed to have internet for awhile!

Grace ya!ll

Phil