Opening Prayer

Loving heavenly Father we come to you this hour asking for your blessing and help as we are gathered together.
We pray for guidance in the matters at hand and ask that you would clearly show us how to conduct our work with
a spirit of joy and enthusiasm. Give us the desire to find ways to excel in our work. Help us to work together and
encourage each other to excellence. We ask that we would challenge each other to reach higher and farther to be
the best we can be. We ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father as we come to the end of our time together we thank you for what has been accomplished here
today. May the matters discussed serve as a catalyst to move us forward and cause us to advance and see growth in
all areas of our lives. May we leave here recognizing You are the God of all wisdom and You are willing to lead us
forward. This we pray in the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”  Luke 23:34a (NIV).

Forgiveness may be the most misused, misapplied, and misunderstood quality in our culture. We think we know
what forgiveness is all about, but we really don’t. Before reading further, take a minute to do this little quiz by
deciding if each statement is true or false.

1.    A person should not be forgiven until he asks for it.

2.    Forgiving includes minimizing the offense and the pain caused.
3.    Forgiveness includes restoring trust and reuniting a relationship.
4.    You haven’t really forgiven until you’ve forgotten the offense.
5.    When you see somebody hurt, it is your duty to forgive the offender.

When you read the Bible and see what God has to say about forgiveness, you discover that all five of those
statements are false. How did you do?

We’re going to spend the next few days looking at what forgiveness really is, because most people don’t
understand forgiveness.

First, real forgiveness is unconditional. There’s no attachment to it. You don’t earn it. You don’t deserve it. You
don’t bargain for it. Forgiveness is not based on a promise to never do it again. You offer it to somebody whether
they ask for it or not.

When Jesus stretched out his hands on the cross and said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are
doing,” nobody had asked for it (Luke 23:34a NIV). Nobody had said, “Please forgive me, Jesus, for what we’re doing
to you.” He just offered it. He took the initiative.

Second, forgiveness isn’t minimizing the seriousness of the offense. When somebody asks for your forgiveness
and you say, “It’s no big deal. It really didn’t hurt,” that actually cheapens forgiveness. If it wasn’t a big deal, you
don’t need forgiveness and you don’t need to offer it.

Forgiveness is only for the big stuff. You don’t use it for slights that are just minor issues. If something really
requires forgiveness, then you should not minimize it when somebody asks you for forgiveness. You shouldn’t say
it wasn’t a big deal. It was a big deal! If it wasn’t a big deal, just say, “You don’t need to ask forgiveness.” But if it is a
big deal, then you need to admit it.

There are a lot of big deals in life. Have you noticed that? But there is a difference in being wounded and being
wronged. Being wounded requires patience and acceptance, not forgiveness, because the person did it
unintentionally. Being wronged requires forgiveness.

“…for His name’s sake your sins were forgiven” (1 John 2:12).

We were flying to a conference. I was in the middle seat – certainly not my choice – but my husband and I have an
agreement that if a woman is sitting by the window, I sit in the middle, if a man is in the seat by the window,
Marvin sits in the middle.
Barely was I settled, when I discerned that the young woman sitting next to me was very sad and deep in thought.
Making conversation, I asked her where she was from, where she was going and what she did.
She was a student and had been attending university in Poland – the homeland of her father. Then she told me
sadly that her father had died. She had chosen to attend college in Poland against her father’s wishes and their
relationship had been strained. They hadn’t forgiven each other when he died.
She seemed so sad and I recognized a deeper issue. I asked her if she had forgiven herself for not complying with
her father’s wishes. She answered that she couldn’t forgive herself and felt so guilty. Slowly, I began to tell her
about God’s love and forgiveness. Because of Christ’s death on the cross, her sins were forgiven and guilt was
removed. I encouraged her to trust that because God had forgiven her, she could forgive herself no matter how
awful she thought she had been. As I spoke, I prayed and my husband prayed.
I told her about something I had done as a teenager for which I had felt guilty about for many years. How I had
come to the place where I was faced with the choice of forgiving myself because Christ had already forgiven me or I
could continue feeling guilty the rest of my life. I had chosen to forgive myself.
The light in her eyes went on. She began to understand she was totally forgiven and could forgive herself. She could
be free and happy. “God meant for you to sit with me today,” she told me at the end of the flight.
by Katherine Kehler
How about you? Is there something in your life for which you feel guilty? You don’t need to. Simply accept God’s
love and forgiveness.
If you don’t have Christ in your life, you can invite him by sayinig a simple prayer:
Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and
receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of my
life. Make me be the person you want me to be. Amen.

Saying this prayer is the first step towards a personal relationship with Jesus, who will guide and
encourage you every step of the way.

The Power of Forgiveness

Are you someone who has suffered emotionally, and perhaps physically at the hands of others? Have emotions
such as anger, resentment, hate, hostility, bitterness and revenge entered your heart and mind? Have you become
filled with an unforgiving spirit?
Unforgiveness can be a hidden culprit. It can make you a prisoner within yourself.
When an unforgiving spirit LIVES inside you, it isn’t bothering those who have wronged you. They’ve gone on their
way. But you are still holding onto something that has taken control of your thoughts, actions and words. It eats
away at you like a poisonous cancer, and you find yourself bound, with no peace. In reality, you are punishing
yourself.
But to forgive in your own power becomes futile, because your heart must first be cleansed of all that the things
that unforgiveness creates. Only Jesus can make that happen. He laid down His life and shed His blood to give us
the gift of salvation and clean up our hearts. Through Him, there is freedom and victory.
God says
“Come unto Me, all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28, KJV)

Isn’t rest what we long for when filled with the torture of an unforgiving spirit?
According to 1 John 1:9,
if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (KJV).

So why not dare to invite Christ into your heart? Cast your care upon Him. Let Him do the cleansing. Allow Him to
take that unforgiving spirit out of your heart and give you a new heart with a forgiving spirit. You could pray a
prayer like this –
“Lord Jesus, forgive me for bearing a grudge toward the person who has wronged me. Come into my heart, take
control of my life. Cleanse me of this unforgiving spirit, and fill me with a forgiving spirit.”

One man who prayed a similar prayer said,

“I’ve got peace in my heart, and I’ve got love in my heart for those who have wronged me. One of the greatest
possessions I own now is a forgiving heart.”

His burden had been surrendered, and freedom was his.

The Bible says
“If you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will forgive you. If you do not forgive men their
trespasses, neither will your Heavenly Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14,15, KJV).

That may seem harsh. But why shouldn’t God expect you to forgive those who have offended you, when He has
forgiven you of so much more?
Choosing to forgive, is a choice of your will. When you make that choice your heart is then open and ready for the
Lord’s cleansing.
Choosing not to forgive, is also a choice of your will. But the door of your heart is then shut and God will not do His
cleansing work.
by Dr. Henry Brandt
Author, Teacher, Christian Counselor, Consulting Psychologist

THINK ABOUT IT. . .

Are you harbouring an unforgiving spirit? What’s preventing you from letting it go? Remember, it is harming you
far more than the person who has made you angry. Give it to God and ask Him to cleanse your heart and free you to
experience His love and freedom.
If you would like to experience the reality of God’s presence in your life and have a personal relationship with God
through Jesus Christ, you can say this prayer:
Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my
Saviour and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life.
Make the kind of person You want me to be.

Saying this prayer is the first step towards a personal relationship with Jesus, who will guide and encourage you
every step of the way.
God Bless you.
If you prayed this prayer we would love to hear from you . If you would like to know God deeper we can connect
you with an email mentor and/or send you some great links.

SPOKEN POETRY 💓
“Ang Pagmamahal ng Magulang sa Anak"
By: Mark Raffy Saga
Halos kabataan ngayon puro pag-ibig ang nasa isipan,
At kung silay masasaktan, tiyak! luhaan.
Kaya bago kayo magmahal ng ibang tao,
Mahalin mo muna ang totoong nagmamahal sayo, 
Walang iba kundi ang magulang mo.
Magulang may dalawang taong tumatayo dito.
Ang Babae na tinatawag nating ina,nanay,mama,mommy, mudra,mang at siya ang ilaw ng tahanan.
Hindi niyo lang napapansin,
Bawat saya na kanyang ipaparating,
Sakit ng damdamin ang kanyang nilihim.
Ang pagiging Ina ang pinakamahirap na trabaho dito sa mundo.
Walang day off, walang break time at walang sweldo.
Pero lahat ng yan ay kinaya ng iyong Ina para lang ikay lumigaya.
At ang lalaki naman ay tinawag nating ama,tatay,papa,daddy,pang at siya ang haligi ng tahanan.
Siya ay naghirap sa pagtatrabaho,
Para lang matustusan ang pangangailangan mo.
Palagi siyang alerto sa kababantay sayo para lang mailayo ka sa peligro.
Nakalimutan mo na ba?
Pinaghirapan ka nila,
Laking tuwa ng iyong magulang,
Nang inilabas ang batang sanggol sa sinapupunan,
Na naging bunga ng kanilang pagmamahalan,
Dahil sa wakas meron na silang tatawaging anak.
Oo meron na silang tatawaging anak at IKAW yun.
Ikaw!
Noong ikay bata pa na walang kamalay-malay,
Malaki talaga ang paghihirap ng iyong nanay at tatay.
Ikay pinakain ng maayos,
Kahit ang pera man ay maubos.
Ikay pinalaki ng mabuti para maging isang responsabli.
Ikay bihilhan ng sapatos, damit,
Kahit ang kapalit ay sakit!
Sakit na pagsakripisyo na pinagdaanan ng pawis at dugo ng magulang mo,
para lang maibigay ang gusto mo.
At yan Ang Pagmamahal ng Magulang sa Anak.
Pero anong nangyari sayo?
Habang lumalaki, lumalaki din ang iyong ulo.
Palagi kang sumusoway sa kanilang payo,
Ang gusto lang naman nila ay mailayo ka sa peligro.
Ikay hindi nakikinig sa tuwing silay nagagalit,
Dahil feeling mo tama ka,
Pero ang totoo mali ka!
Palaging nanghihingi ng pera dahil meron daw proyekto na ipinapagawa sa kanila.
Laging may oras sa barkada,
Pero pag alaga sa ina at ama,
Hindi naman ipinadama.
Hindi man makapagtanong na kumain naba sila? Okay ba sila?
Ang important ay masaya ka kahit silay nagdurusa.
Mabuti pa yung Girlfriend/boyfriend mo,
Palagi mong sinasabahin ng I Love You,
I love babe, I love you baby, I love you honey, I love mahal.
Pero simpling I Love you sa magulang,
Hindi mo naman ito pinagutan,
Saan ba nagkulang ang iyong magulang?
Kahit pa baliktarin ang mundo,
Sila parin ang magulang na nagmamahal ng totoo sayo.
Wala ka ngayon sa iyong kinakatayuan kundi dahil sayong magulang.
Ang simpling hiling lang naman nila sayo,
Ay pagmamahal at pag respeto mo.
Kaya mga kaibigan,
Hanggat maaga pa,
Ipadama mo na sa kanila na mahal mo sila.
Dahil hindi mo malalaman ang takbo ng panahon,
Baka sayong pagbangon..... Huli na ang lahat.
Draw anything that could describe you.

Draw anything that could describe you.

NAME:______________________________________ SECTION:________________________________

POSITIVE NEGATIVE

NAME:______________________________________ SECTION:________________________________

POSITIVE NEGATIVE