Hope in life Archives - Life Hope

Should we say “Sorry” – to others, and to God?

Ian Denness — Sat, 24 Sep 2022 11:42:39 +0000

“Sorry” is not so easy to say…

Probably because it hurts our pride!

Some said that saying “sorry” would go against their personal self-image, and that would hurt their self-confidence and self-respect. So, they wouldn’t say it.

Most thought it was a good thing to say to others when needed.

Many complained that God wasn’t in the picture for them, and so there was no need to say “sorry” to him.

The Bible verse used was:

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord…
Acts 3:19 (NIV)(http://www.laridian.com)

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Who do you most want to forgive you?

Ian Denness — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 02:56:13 +0000

God?

Other people?

Yourself?

They were the 3 choices!

Which would you choose?

On the day, the last was by far the most popular!

I chose the first. It is to do with the most important person I strongly believe I have most offended. Offending God is far worse for me than the way I have offended other people, as serious as that is.

As for myself, I don’t always forgive myself easily or quickly. We all have regrets!

However, offending God by ignoring him, even rejecting him previously in my life, and not always obeying him – that is the basis for my wanting to be forgiven by him.

That’s why I voted the way I did. When I was younger, there came a time when I found I could be forgiven completely by God. It was from what Jesus did, coming to live on this earth as a real human being as well as the Son of God. He willingly became our substitute by completely taking the penalty and shame we deserve ourselves from God, and thereby allowing us to be fully forgiven. I wasn’t looking for it, but it happened anyway. I am eternally grateful!

As for other people that I have offended? I try to ask forgiveness from them as necessary…

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Can God know your thoughts?

Ian Denness — Mon, 09 May 2022 01:42:32 +0000

Who is happy with God listening in to all their thoughts?

Those who voted ‘No God’ made it easy for themselves.

However, there were an equal number of votes for ‘Yes’, God can know our thoughts!

Some of those were Christians (Followers of Jesus).

The majority weren’t. They thought that since they had God in themselves (their pantheistic world view/belief system), then the God within knew the thoughts of the God itself. I am sure they would put that more clearly…

Some thought that this was scary stuff! What if this was true? No privacy!

A vote for ‘Yes’, I think is reality. God, being God, by definition, is ‘omiscient’, all-knowing. That means he knows all our thoughts, and all our words and actions. That’s why God will be the only one who can capably and fairly judge us…

Jesus said,

For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.

Matthew 15:19 (NIV) http://www.laridian.com)

What do you think?

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Is suicide ever ok?

Ian Denness — Sun, 05 Dec 2021 12:11:51 +0000

We have all seen the results of suicide in those left behind

When someone loses hope, the consequences for them and their friends and family can be disastrous.

How could they have found hope? Who could have reached out to them? Why didn’t I do enough? In retrospect, these are the questions those left behind continue to ask themselves.

It comes down to the dignity of human life. Each life being precious, and made in the “image of God”, according to the opening chapter in the Bible.

Also, the question has to be asked, “Will the trouble and depression really be over?”. What happens after we die? What if there really is life after death? What if the claim of the Bible proves true that we will all face judgement after we die?

So, as you can see from the votes opposite, I disagree with the majority!

What are your thoughts?

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Your tattoos – their meaning for you?

Ian Denness — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 10:55:10 +0000

There are some things we really want – like tattoos!

Then we research them, chase and nail them. It’s all a bit of fun. However, to get a tattoo takes time, a certain amount of pain, and money. It is also fairly permanent!

Those who choose tattoos, have their own good reasons for getting them.

That’s what I thought, anyway!

The day in the market with that question was enlightening.

Some loved their tattoos; others just hated theirs…

One thing in common was that they all had a story to tell about them.

It’s a bit like the way we all have a story to tell about each of our individual lives…

Some parts are happy, some are sad, and others are just confusing or embarrassing.

“I hate them all!”

That was the impassioned response of an Irish young woman. She had got them when under the influence at 15 years of age.

Others talked about some of the ones they had already partly removed – at greater expense than the original cost and with much greater pain! Ouch!

The theme of ‘regrets’ came up many times

That is also something that all of us can identify with in our lives, whether tattoos or not.

How many of our personal actions in our lives do we actually deeply regret?

Shame and embarrassment surround those actions in our memories.

What we have thought, what we have said, what we have done…

The list for each of us seems endless.

That’s what is so good about the good news about Jesus. We can have that shame and guilt taken away by what he purposely achieved for us on the cross. He can bring us to God, washed clean. It’s like he forgives my past, changes me on the inside, and makes me into a new person.

The reason for those regrets gets taken away. Amazing!

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