March 2009 Monthly Letter

"So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36

Imagine this: It is late one evening. You are having an argument with your spouse or mother -if single- who is ill. In your anger you say, "Tomorrow you are going to see the doctor and after that I am going to see the divorce lawyer or to leave home forever!"

And that very night your spouse or mother died of a massive heart attack!

Now, imagine the kind of thoughts that would be traveling through your mind!

This was the story told to me after Robert had pounded a nail in the cross at the Men's session. He had been haunted by guilt ridden thoughts for 22 years. "I killed her with my words, with the horrible things I said to her. I can not forgive myself. I can never be forgiven!"

He went on to say that he had become suicidal. He recalled going to a bridge and tempted to jump off and drowned him self. He was convinced he would carry this secret sin against his wife to his death.

About half way through the 22 years, he received Jesus Christ as his Savior. Some relief came to him. He even memorized 1 John 1:9 (If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.) BUT made one BIG exception to the "all"-he added the words-"except the words I said to my wife that fateful night."

Robert went on to say, "Like a 6 year old boy confessing to a parent when he did something wrong, I must have said to Jesus 'I'm sorry, so sorry' a million times."

He also tried in vain to appease himself with thoughts that his wife was now in a much better place, free from suffering; free from pain. But the peace he so sought only briefly visited his mind, never his troubled spirit. It was like a "fleeting mist," he said.

Preceding the opportunity for men to come to the cross and pound nails for people they desire to forgive, an in depth teaching of Colossians 2:13-14 occurs. The following words are emphasized:

"And you who were dead in your trespasses…God made alive"

"Having forgiven us ALL our trespasses"

"By cancelling the record of the debt that stood against us"

"This He set aside, nailing it to the cross."

These words in the Word of God spoke to Robert's heavy heart and smittened spirit. They literally set him free! When all the men have finished pounding their nails, thy lift the cross high in the air and together sing a verse from the old hymn "My sin-o the joy of glorious thought-my sin NOT IN PART, but the WHOLE. Is nailed to the cross, and I BEAR IT NO MORE, praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul."

And another great Godcidence occurred and YOU enabled this because of your partnership in this Ministry of UpBuilding others in their need.