By Erika Glover
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The summer of my freshman year of high school, I went on a Steubenville Youth Conference. Lucky for me, that was when I grew so close to Chase, found my eternal weakness in the song cornerstone, and lived some of my greatest memories. On that retreat, I also made a purchase. I had, being the forgetful person I am, forgotten my rosary. So I went into the campus gift shop and purchased myself a ring. On it, It has ten bumps around the edges, a crucifix, many decades of prayer, & many tears shed on its delicate gold surface (now a bit tarnished from all its wear). I have a green ring mark pretty much permanently tatooed on my finger from the ring, but hey, not everything has to be perfect.
I went into the weekend with no experience of retreats, nothing to live up to, and nothing to pray about. One of my favorite things about our Savior is how he knows exactly what we need, when we need it, and I needed this retreat. On the first night, we heard a few speakers and entered into adoration. Now let me tell you- adoration is incredible, INCREDIBLE, fantastic, beyond words amazing. You can sit, stand, kneel- be with the Lord. He’s right there. And he wants to spend time with you. I prayed the rosary on my ring that night, because I didn’t know what else to pray about. Jesus knew what he wanted me to think about though. All at once, everything I had been ashamed of, hurt by, felt embarrassed by, all my mistakes made, my doubts, and fears, and my flaws, were brought upon my shoulders. Talk about a smack in the face. I immediately started bawling and all I remember was saying “I’m sorry. I’m sorry Jesus.” I went to confession later in the weekend, i was in there for a solid 20 minutes, letting years of burdens off my chest.
Now enough about me. Real talk, he will forgive you. He wants to forgive you. He wants to be with you without the boundaries. Remember the crucifix? He DIED to forgive you. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the creator of the heavens and earth was humiliated, doubted, beaten, belittled, and ultimately died on the cross, to save y o u. You. You and me, and the lady who cut you off driving to school this morning, and the guy who gave you a weird look in the halls, he died for us. He loves us so much. Ephesians 4:32 says this, “Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Forgiveness is the ultimate gift, and it doesn’t come free. It wasn’t just the swipe of a card in a campus gift shop to pay for our sins. Jesus paid the ultimate price in giving his life for us. We are healed though his wounds. He cleanses us though our tears and he brings us closer to him when we break down.
Forgiveness is a valuable gift that is neither easily obtained, nor easily given. Forgiveness is essential for life; it frees us from past wrongs and gives us hope for the future. It is for forgiveness sake that Jesus Christ came to earth to die for mankind. All knowing, God saddens even at the sheer thought of sin. Thus, ultimate forgiveness must also come from God. Jesus Christ died on the cross at Calvary in our place so that our sins may be forgiven. His suffering paid for our transgressions. His wounds, payments for our sins. "For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:28).
My tarnished ring I wear every day is a reminder to me of God’s love for me, even when I’m broken down crying, when I need him. Because I do. The first thing we must admit is that we are sinners. Now let me ask you this one final question, if you knew where you could buy a bottle of potion to have eternal life on earth, why wouldn’t you share it with the world? So thus, you have received knowledge of the gift of a way to eternal life, why don’t you share it? During his lifetime Christ sent out his followers to do his work. Just before he left us on earth, he gave the apostles special authority, ordering them to make God’s forgiveness available to all people. Go out and love, forgive those who fail to forgive you, and most importantly, shine the light of Christ for all to see. Be their reminder.
songs to jam to:
Our God is Able by Hillsong
Second Chance by Rend Collective
Build your Kingdom Here by Rend Collective
Love always,
Your sister in Christ, Erika
I went into the weekend with no experience of retreats, nothing to live up to, and nothing to pray about. One of my favorite things about our Savior is how he knows exactly what we need, when we need it, and I needed this retreat. On the first night, we heard a few speakers and entered into adoration. Now let me tell you- adoration is incredible, INCREDIBLE, fantastic, beyond words amazing. You can sit, stand, kneel- be with the Lord. He’s right there. And he wants to spend time with you. I prayed the rosary on my ring that night, because I didn’t know what else to pray about. Jesus knew what he wanted me to think about though. All at once, everything I had been ashamed of, hurt by, felt embarrassed by, all my mistakes made, my doubts, and fears, and my flaws, were brought upon my shoulders. Talk about a smack in the face. I immediately started bawling and all I remember was saying “I’m sorry. I’m sorry Jesus.” I went to confession later in the weekend, i was in there for a solid 20 minutes, letting years of burdens off my chest.
Now enough about me. Real talk, he will forgive you. He wants to forgive you. He wants to be with you without the boundaries. Remember the crucifix? He DIED to forgive you. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the creator of the heavens and earth was humiliated, doubted, beaten, belittled, and ultimately died on the cross, to save y o u. You. You and me, and the lady who cut you off driving to school this morning, and the guy who gave you a weird look in the halls, he died for us. He loves us so much. Ephesians 4:32 says this, “Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Forgiveness is the ultimate gift, and it doesn’t come free. It wasn’t just the swipe of a card in a campus gift shop to pay for our sins. Jesus paid the ultimate price in giving his life for us. We are healed though his wounds. He cleanses us though our tears and he brings us closer to him when we break down.
Forgiveness is a valuable gift that is neither easily obtained, nor easily given. Forgiveness is essential for life; it frees us from past wrongs and gives us hope for the future. It is for forgiveness sake that Jesus Christ came to earth to die for mankind. All knowing, God saddens even at the sheer thought of sin. Thus, ultimate forgiveness must also come from God. Jesus Christ died on the cross at Calvary in our place so that our sins may be forgiven. His suffering paid for our transgressions. His wounds, payments for our sins. "For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:28).
My tarnished ring I wear every day is a reminder to me of God’s love for me, even when I’m broken down crying, when I need him. Because I do. The first thing we must admit is that we are sinners. Now let me ask you this one final question, if you knew where you could buy a bottle of potion to have eternal life on earth, why wouldn’t you share it with the world? So thus, you have received knowledge of the gift of a way to eternal life, why don’t you share it? During his lifetime Christ sent out his followers to do his work. Just before he left us on earth, he gave the apostles special authority, ordering them to make God’s forgiveness available to all people. Go out and love, forgive those who fail to forgive you, and most importantly, shine the light of Christ for all to see. Be their reminder.
songs to jam to:
Our God is Able by Hillsong
Second Chance by Rend Collective
Build your Kingdom Here by Rend Collective
Love always,
Your sister in Christ, Erika