Psychologist James Dobson reports seeing a sign on a convent in Southern California reading: “Absolutely No Trespassing — Violators Will be Prosecuted to the Full Extent of the Law.” Signed, “The Sisters of Mercy.”

God knew before He ever created Adam and Eve that man would trespass against His laws and commands. As violators, our trespasses (or sins) deserve to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of God’s laws. Yet unlike the Sisters of Mercy, God is a God of compassion and mercy and He created a way for our trespasses to be forgiven us through the shed blood, death, and resurrection of His only Son, Jesus.

If each one of us trespass against God’s laws on a daily basis (and we do!), and God can forgive us, how much more should we forgive  people that we interact with?

During the time of the disciples and Jesus, the rabbis only required their student to forgive someone three times, so Peter was being generous when he offered to forgive seven times in his question to Jesus. Jesus replied with: not seven times, but seventy times seven. So for those of us who are math challenged – that equals 490 times. But the implication to what Jesus was saying is that forgiving others should be unlimited whenever there is true repentance.

Jesus was very serious when it came to the teaching that we are to forgive others. In Matthew 6:15, He taught: “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Forgiveness isn’t always easy. Sometimes we have to start all over and forgive again and again. The bigger the hurt or wrong, the harder forgiveness can be. But if Jesus can forgive me of my greatest wrong, then I can forgive others who have wronged me.

If you find forgiving difficult follow these ten steps:

1. Acknowledge the hurt or wrong.
2. Be honest about how you feel – even if you think you shouldn’t feel like you do.
3. Put yourself in the shoes of the one who wronged you. If you have difficulty with this then think about a time you needed to be forgiven and how you felt at that time.
4. Remember that God forgave you and that He commands us to forgive others.
5. Let go of the pain. Stop playing the offense over and over in your mind. Don’t rehearse the feelings of pain, loss, disappointment, etc.
6. Spend time in prayer – especially when your emotions do not agree with forgiving. Ask God to change your heart towards the person that wronged you.
7. If possible, voice you forgiveness to the offender. If you can not do this face to face, try writing a letter.
8. Continue to forgive. Each time the memories of the wrong resurface, you may need to forgive again. Do so quickly and pray about the situation again.
9.  Pray for the person that wronged you. Even if it is not possible to restore the relationship, you can pray for them.
10. If possible, do an act of kindness for your offender – even if done anonymously.

Whenever offering mercy and forgiveness is difficult take a moment to visualize what it cost Jesus to be able to offer you forgiveness and don’t be like the “Sisters of Mercy” who would prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. Matthew 7:1-2 says: “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Please share today’s Devotion to your social media accounts. We’re using the following hashtags: #Matthew #Peter #forgiveness #seventytimesseven #WCM

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Would you consider giving Wellspring a Christmas gift this year? We’re  raising fund for some media equipment needed for our ministry.  Click here to make your secure tax-deductible contribution.

Don’t forget to memorize this week’s Bible Verse.

In 2020 our emphasis is on revival for America with three key words: revive, renew, and redeem. You will begin to see the elements of our website and posts reflect this emphasis. We hope you’ll join us in praying for God to pour out the Holy Spirit with a mighty rushing wind of revival for our nation and around the world.

 

Our key verse for revival is 2 Chronicles 7:14. “If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.  Our verse last week focused on praying. This week, we’ll focus on seeking God’s face.

This week’s memory verse:

Jeremiah 29:13

You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Meditate and apply:

Will you commit to praying with us in 2020 that God will revive His people, renew our faith, and redeem our land? We feel such an urgency and desperation for revival. If God is moving your heart for revival, write your revival prayer in the comments along with your state or country. 

#revive #renew #redeem #revivalinAmerica #revivalin2020 #WCM

Now you can receive the weekly memory verse straight to your email inbox. Sign up below.

 

T-shirt Fundraiser Event:

As we focus on Revival for America, 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “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, forgive their sins, and heal their land.” This design was created as we focus this week on seeking the face of God for revival. Jeremiah tells us that when we seek God, we will find Him when we search with all our hearts. You’ll find the design in tees for women, mugs, bags, and other products. Check them out in the Spreadshirtand Teespringsshops.

Thank you for helping us grow!

Click here to view the Teespring store. 

Click here to view the Spreadshop Store 

#allyourheart #seekandfind #seekingGod #WCM #teespring #spreadshop

BOOKING NOW! Be a host site for the NEW God, Love & Marshmallow Wars Book Tour & Couples Conference:

This event helps couples understand why the daily activities found in the book will equip them to build a stronger marriage and the book provides them with 365 intentional activities to take what they learn at the event and apply it on a daily basis. Through the event, couples will discover the Biblical “why” behind the categories of activities found in the book and the “how” these activities are important to building a stronger marriage. Focus points of the event includes :

• How memorizing scripture together and studying God’s Word together as they study, meditate and apply scriptures related to marriage and life issues will help them develop marriages that honor God.
• Why utilizing fun conversation starters that spark meaningful conversations will keep interest alive as they continually learn new things about each other.
• Why keeping romance alive is essential to intimacy and connectivity.
• How making memories and working together builds relationship investment bonds and how these investment bonds can become the knots that keeps them together through the tough times.
• How they can understand what they are or are not contributing to the marriage as well as how they might be contributing to problems or potential problems within the relationship through the use of targeted, intentional personal reflections
• Why it is important that couples never stop dating and how group dates with Christian friends can be both an encouragement and accountability to their own relationship.

During the event, couples will be given an activity from each focus point to do together, making this event an interactive, fun, and engaging event with practical, hands-on learning. Unlike other couple events that are over when the event ends, couples who attend the GLMW event will be able to apply what they learn when utilizing the book on a daily basis for a year. Since the book is not dated, couples are able to reuse the activities year after year to continue being intentional in strengthening their relationship with each other and with God as they strive to live out God’s design for marriage every day.

Learn more about hosting this event at your church or conference site by clicking here.

About the book: The GLMW book contains 365 daily challenges for couples to strengthen their relationships to each other and with God. Couples will complete activities such as Scripture memory, conversation starters, relationship builders, learning about Biblical marriage, romance builders, personal reflections, and date ideas. Click here to purchase your copy. (This link will open a new widow and take you to Westbow Press’ bookstore.) It is also available at Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble

#GLMW #couplesevent #GLMWbook #intentionalmarriage #Godlymarriage

Looking for a keynote speaker for your next ministry event? Julia is now booking for 2019 and 2020 Christian events for women’s and couples’ ministries for both small and large events.
Book with us now.

Julia is CEO of Wellspring Christian Ministries, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people and couples develop a passionate relationship with God. A public speaker, conference trainer, event planner, and blog writer, Julia is a two-time graduate from Grand Canyon University with a bachelor in Psychology and a masters in Professional Counseling. Saved as a child and raised in church and in a Christian home and private Christian School as a Pastor’s kid, Julia has taught Sunday school, led music, played the piano, served as Children’s Director, and engaged her gifts in many other areas of church life. Previously employed with the Florida Baptist Convention, Julia organized events and led conferences for church ministry assistants. Today, Julia enjoys sharing her journey as a growing Christian with others looking for a deeper connection with God. Through Bible study and her own life experiences, God has given Julia a passion to help couples understand God’s design for marriage while they learn to place God first in their marriage, cultivate meaningful relationships, build intimacy, and address the tougher issues that come in every marriage so that they can experience a marriage that honors and glorifies God. Julia also loves mentoring, teaching, and working with women to help them learn to live as Godly women.

With her history and experience growing up in both small and large churches, Julia enjoys bringing top level quality events to churches of all sizes. Her father largely pastored small churches and therefore she understands that these vital parts of the believing community need to be good stewards of the resources God provides them with. This knowledge inspires her passion for being available with a fresh perspective for those who want to provide their congregations with meaningful spiritual growth opportunities, regardless of size.

To request more information or a booking, 
fill out the online form here.

Or call us at 904.524.8073

#JuliaBruce #speaker #keynote #author

Wellspring receives an 8% commission for any item purchased
at CBD through any of these links. Your cost to purchase any item through an affiliate link is the same as purchasing directly from CBD.

Clicking any affiliate link will open a new browser page and take you to Christian Book Distributor’s website.

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We are praying and seeking God for Revival in America in 2020. The path to revival can be found in 2 Chronicles 7:14. Watch the video on this verse created by our CEO.

2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves….” This week we have featured several resources on prayer. We hope you’ll choose one for your own personal Bible study and join us in seeking God with a heart of humility and pray with us for God to send a revival to America in 2020.

Check out the Christian Book Distributor resources below.

Our organization receives an 8% commission on any item you purchase through these links. However, the product price is the same for you. There is no increase in your cost for us to receive the commission. All commissions receive support the work and ministry of Wellspring Christian Ministries. 

Seeing Jesus: Seeking and Finding Him in the Scriptures

By Nancy Guthrie / Tyndale House

In Seeing Jesus, author and Bible teacher Nancy Guthrie shows how Jesus is revealed in the Old Testament through 60 brief, but insightful readings. Your eyes will be opened to the epic scope of the Bible’s story like never before, as you see Jesus at the center of God’s plan to save his creation from the very beginning. Adapted from The One Year Book of Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament. Features an imitation leather binding and a ribbon bookmark.

Experiencing God’s Presence: Learning to Listen While You Pray

By Linda Evans Shepherd / Revell

What if every time you had a conversation, your best friend never got a word in edgewise? Your relationship would be less than fulfilling–for both of you! In the same way, a fulfilling prayer life is more than just regularly talking to God. And it’s more than checking items off a prayer list. God loves us so much that he wants us to draw close enough not only to talk but also to listen.

Now, from the award-winning author of When You Don’t Know What to Pray, comes a bold and life-transforming book that will help nurture a vibrant two-way relationship with God. Linda Evans Shepherd shows you how to develop a dialogue with God, continually seeking him and seeing him at work in your life. Steeped in Scripture and filled with personal stories of answered prayer, this book also includes sample prayers and action steps you can put into practice immediately.

Diligently Seeking God: Daily Motivation to Take God More Seriously

By Gary Henry / Wordpoints

What difference does it make whether we seek God? Diligently Seeking God offers a complete year of daily meditations that will help you look at this question more honestly. Each page explores a different dimension of our need for God and invites you into a deeper desire for Him.

Written in a style that is both reverent and comfortable, Diligently Seeking God meets us as real people and wrestles with the questions that come to us in our most personal moments.

No matter where your spiritual life is right now, this book will beckon you to higher ground. Whether you see yourself as being a Christian or not, Diligently Seeking God will: (1) Motivate you to take God more seriously every day, (2) encourage you to focus on God, rather than on yourself, (3) challenge you to make God a greater priority, (4) help you to make positive choices for the quality of your life, and (5) inspire you to keep going when life is hard.

Provocative and passionate about life’s most important subject, this book will make a difference in your spiritual growth. Diligently Seeking God will nudge you where you need to be nudged.

A Woman Seeking God: Discover God in the Places of Your Life – eBook

By Dorothy Kelley Patterson / B&H Books

Discover God in all aspects of your life! Examining everyday experiences in the light of God’s Word, Kelley Patterson will help affirm your faith in God’s daily presence. In this collection of 36 essays, she shares insights on family life, dealing with adversity, the power of prayer, intimacy in marriage, and evangelism. A daily Bible reading plan is included. eBook Version.

Seeking God’s Face: Praying with the Bible Through the Year

By Faith Alive Christian Resources

A daily prayer book drawn from an ancient Christian tradition.

For hundreds of years, Christians have observed the “daily office”–prayers offered to God at regular times of day. This practice, now experiencing a wide resurgence, can help your life become a vital, lifelong conversation with God. In Seeking God’s Face you’ll find a simplified daily office–intended for once-a-day use–designed especially for thoughtful Christians.

Seeking God’s Face provides an entire year of daily prayers and readings, each featuring seven elements, including:

• an opening prayer of adoration
• a psalm and Scripture reading
• suggestions for personal prayer
• a prayer based on a classic creed or confession
• a closing blessing

Forward by Eugene Peterson

Truly Seeking God

By Bernard Bonowitz / Cistercian Publications

52 Weeks: Seeking God Through His World and His Word

By Rachel Carter Welborn / Come and See Photography

21 Days of Praise: Seeking God’s Face Instead of His Hand

By Lucille Willis / WestBow Press

Overcomer DVD Bible Study Kit

By Stephen Kendrick & Alex Kendrick / B&H Books

Many people feel they are less than who God says they are. We get our identity from our careers, our political positions, family roles in the family, and other things. This small group study uses clips from the film Overcomer to examine how we determine our identity and how we can find our true identity in Christ.

The Bible study is geared for adult groups to use prior to the movie or just after seeing the movie. The study includes clips from the movie.

The Overcomer Bible Study Kit has five sessions and includes:

• one Bible Study Book
• one DVD with a promotional video and five 2-4 minute video sessions

Session Topics:

1. Who Are You?
2. You Are Broken
3. You Are Chosen
4. You Surrender
5. You Declare

Overcomer, Blu-ray/DVD/Digital By Provident Films From the creators of War Room, Courageous and Fireproof. Basketball coach John Harrison’s high school team is crushed by the closing of the town’s largest employer. Hundreds of families move, leaving him running a struggling cross-country program. But then he meets Hannah and begins helping this unlikely runner attempt the impossible in the year’s biggest race. Starring Alex Kendrick, Priscilla Shirer, and Aryn Wright-Thompson. Rated PG. Dove approved (12+). Approx. 119 minutes. Blu-ray Exclusives: The Heart of Overcomer Creating the Opening Drone Shot Working with the Kendricks Post-Production Behind-the-Scenes: Editing, Scoring, Coloring, and Sound Design “Enough” (Lyric Video) Featuring Koryn Hawthorne Don’t Mess with the Editors Special Features: The Making of Overcomer Bloopers 10 Minutes of Additional Scenes Commentary with Director Alex Kendrick and Producer Stephen Kendrick Overcomer in 60 Seconds The Theme of Identity The Power of Forgiveness “Overcomer” (Lip Sync Music Video) Featuring Mandisa and More! Other Features: Audio: English, French (PAR), Spanish, Thai Subtitles: English, English (SDH), Spanish, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), Tagalog, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese

God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars: 365 Daily Challenges to Grow Your Marriage