The act by which God restores a relationship of harmony and unity between himself and human beings. Through God’s atoning grace and forgiveness we are reinstated. Through faith and belief in Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are you saved by faith; and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:13-20 But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partion  between us;

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace

And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father

Now therefore you are no more stranger and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Romans 3:22 Even the rightousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference.

Romans 5:8 - 11 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being justified by his blood,we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

5:11 We also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

5:17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:9-10 If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall belive in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto rightousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord. If you’ve never confessed him as Lord you really should because the end of time as we all know it is at hand. Don’t let that day take you unaware. The bible says he will come as a thief in the night. Call upon the Lord and you shall be saved. The blood of Jesus will wash you white as snow. You will be clean before God.

Let’s live for eternity! Receive Jesus and receive the gift of life!

Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement is a day of self-denial in an effort to cleanse ourselves of sins.

Have you ever been to this place called, Brokenness?  As you read through the Psalms, can you relate to any of David’s cries, pleas for deliverance from his enemies?  Well, I have lived these Psalms as many of you have!

We have some property that we rent each month that was my mom and dad’s homestead. That was recently rented to a family that required Mercy and Grace, lots of it.  Let me back up some to get you familiar with the property.  This property was bought at the point of my dad’s retirement.  It was my dad and I that put up the large security fence around the property.  It was my dad and I that planted the trees on the property.  As with many property owners, my dad and mom made this piece of land into a beautiful sight for your eyes. My mom and dad have now gone on to be with our Lord and Savior.   So, you can only image how more precious this now has become to me.  Now that you have this picture painted in your mind of the hard work that was put into the making of this piece of land, not to mention all the love of this property and home.  Let me proceed on.

I was reluctant to rent to these people, but the State of Georgia became involved and as always, my heart was on my sleeve.  They moved into this home, nothing like they had ever had before.  It had more rooms, hardwood floors, tiled kitchen, you name it we made sure that we placed it into this home.  For people to enjoy and be proud of, like we once was.  One can only hope that people will become more aware of their living conditions and want to change after being given a chance like this.  But, being as sad as it is, this type of revelation did not happen to these people.

The first month went by and I went to the home to collect rent.  This is when the brokenness in my life started.  I found bags upon bags of garbage in the yard.  The inside was damaged and trashed beyond belief.  The fence had been broken down in places, with different objects by the teenagers that lived there.  The storage buildings had been destroyed.  All this damage was looking me straight in the face.  To top all of this off – she did not have any money for the rent due.  Full blown Brokenness, like I had never known, now was looking me straight in the eyes.  My test was beginning.  Thank God it was an open book test!

All I could do for the next several weeks was weep.  Not just the crying because you are hurt, but that uncontrollable type of weeping.  The brokenness inside was for the children that lived in these circumstances, along with having to deal with watching them destroy what we as a family built up.  I watch as the damages still occurred over the weeks that lied ahead, there was nothing I could do about it until my court date arrived.  The damage to the property was as traumatic as the damage on the inside of me.

This was a trial that I had not yet had to deal with until this point.  It was too big for me in the natural.  I had no choice but to give it to God and depend on him to bring me out of this battle still standing.  I opened the book of Psalms and cried out every day and night, for God to deliver this property and me from the works of Satan.  I wanted God to answer this prayer instantly, but it did not happen that way.  As with many of our prayers we must be patience and wait on God.  That is what I did.  I never became angry with these people; I only showed God’s mercy and grace to them.  Each time of having to see the damages and dealing with the lies of the enemy, I just became more broken.  Can anyone relate?

Now, the court has issued an eviction notice and they have moved on out of my life.  But, like many of life’s battles, the scars are still visible.  Yes, the property was destroyed, but not to the point that it cannot be restored.  I think more importantly I have been restored.  Not like I was, but now I have a closer walk with God and his plans are clearer to me.

Each of us will have brokenness in our lives, which is a promise when we follow Jesus.  It is how we deal with it that matters.  In the book of James 1:1 it tells us to count it all joy when trials and tribulations come our way.   Why?  I think that when the trials and tribulations come our way and we deal with them the way that God has instructed us in his word to do.  We keep our eyes on Jesus not our problems, and then we pass this test in our lives and can move on into the blessings that God had in store for us all along.  If we do not handle these issues that we face, with the Spirit of Jesus, we will handle them all wrong and will not grow spiritually.  If I may say, “Going around the same old mountain and never getting pass the problems – staying babes in Christ”.  During all of this I was deeply saddened by what was happening to my parent’s property, but I welcome what I had to go thought to get to where I am now.  That’s a story for later.

If we only keep the Word of God in our hearts during the time of troubles, we will not be wounded, just broken.  Brokenness has to come, for you to be humbled to hear what God needs you to hear to learn and move on in your life.

Penny Tow – Freelance Writer

Principles for Possessing Your Promise – The following can be applied to every area of your life – this one is to be applied to the healing of your body.

#1        Leave and Cleave: Leave your past behind you and cleave to tomorrow and what is promised you.  Stand on God’s word – not the doctors, not your feelings.

#2        Change Your Focus:  Stop looking at your circumstances in front of you and lift up your eyes.  Change your perspective and your attitude.  Thou I may feel sick I know that I am healed by the Blood of Jesus.

#3         Vision: See It and Receive It:  You will die without vision.  Be sensitive to the glimpse God gives you about the future He wants you to posses.  You know what the word of God tells you about the healing of your body stop listening to the lies of the devil.  Who is greater?

#4         Understand the Purpose for the Storm:  When God gives you a revelation; the enemy will send a storm (a distraction) to take away the Word.  God will use the storm to build your patience so you can inherit the promise. The promise being, healing within your body.  Without tests there can be no results.  Without a storm, you do not learn how to stand firm (on the word of God) in any situation.

#5        Endurance:  It Takes Commitment:  Make the decision to be consistent in your faith so that God will deliver His promise to you.  You are only rewarded for that which you endure in life. Remember: It’s not how much faith you have – it is using the faith that you have.

#6        Learn to Operate in God’s system: There are two systems in operation – the world’s system and God’s system.  If you operate in God’s system, your needs will be met.  To do that, you must seek first the kingdom of God (knowing what the bible tells you to do in any situation), understand what the kingdom is, and operate in that kingdom.

#7        Seedtime and Harvest:  You have a seed to plant and the authority to plant it, but remember: The seed you plant today is what you will reap tomorrow.  So, don’t wait until you’re sick or broke to plant your seeds!  Sow positive thoughts and you will reap Positive results.

Forgiveness is necessary for results in your life – Matt. 6:14-15.  You have to forgive all things intentionally and unintentionally done to you (people gossiping, backbiting, telling lies about you, trying to hurt you with words) for your heart to be open and ready to receive God’s blessings.

Scripture to apply:

Ps. 30:2 O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

Ps. 29:4 The voice of the Lord is powerful, the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

Ps. 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil (sickness, suffering): for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Ps.23:6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Matthew 9:28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saidth unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, yea Lord!

Note to remember:  Do not let people “dump” their garbage in you.  Don’t listen to gossip and backbiting about others.  This to is a blessing blocker.  Keep your mind, heart and spirit clean – this way you know that you know – Jesus feels welcome in his temple.

 Penny Tow – Freelance Writer