29 Dec, 2010
Returned
—
A thief comes clean...
The money came in a plain, white envelope, addressed to Central Contractors’ Supply Co. of Johnstown – attention: Accounts Receivable.
Inside, a one-page, handwritten note accompanied the cash.
12-6-10, 3:04 p.m.
To Whom It May Concern,
Many years ago, 25-30?, I stole a hammer from this place of business. I knew it was wrong but I did it anyway.
Enclosed is $45 to cover the hammer plus a little extra for interest.
I’m sorry I stole it, but have changed my ways.
Hope God will forgive me for all the terrible things I have done in my life. This just being a small part.
The unsigned note was turned over to Lynne Gramling, company president.
Read more of the full story.
Psalm 32:1-5
Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
When I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.
What does God's Story Scripture teach us about Forgiveness?
From the first day that Adam and Eve ate from the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil" (Genesis 3:1-24) and changed our lives forever. Because of this we now feel things like guilt and shame.
We all have guilt or shame for things that have happened in our lives. Over, and over again God forgives us, and loves us despite our failures. There are countless stories in the Scripture that talk about forgiveness. God's forgiveness is also about, allowing God to free us from guilt that can hold you back. When we hold onto things in our past, we experience a "heavy heart" and we are not experiencing life to the fullest. There is freedom in asking for forgiveness, even 25+ years later.
How can I connect today's God's Story scripture to my life?
This person had taken the hammer 25 years ago, & I am sure that they on many different days felt bad that they had taken something. Or perhaps this was the first thing they had stole, that opened a door to a life of other sins. Or perhaps they took it and never looked back, until 25 years later, when they found God and remembered that fateful day in the hardware store.
Have you ever been so stirred by something that you where compelled to do what was right? It seems that something stirred in this person's heart so much that they where then compelled not only to write an apology, but to repay with interest.
God covers our sins. He wants to forgive you, He wants you to ask for forgiveness, He desires us to life a worthy life, He longs to give you freedom.
- What has been weighing on your heart from your past? have you asked for forgiveness from it?
- You may not have taken a "hammer" physically from a store, but do you need to repay, make right, or ask for forgiveness from someone because of your words, or actions.
- Take time to thank God for forgiving you, and setting you free from things that you messed up on.
- Once you bring stuff to God, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past" - Isaiah 43:18
How can I connect today's God's Story scripture and my story to others?
Too many people think that Christians are perfect, and often we want that to be our image and our brand. But really... we are all sinners, we all have junk in our lives, we all have regrets, and we are all not perfect. So why are we acting like we are.
- If you mess up this week and have to apologize, talk to your friends about it don't hide it. Chances are they have done the same thing.
- If you have wronged someone, be brave and tell them, you will never know how it will effect them, maybe they too have been holding on to what happened, maybe God can use you to set them free as well.
- May 2012 [14]
- April 2012 [19]
- March 2012 [21]
- February 2012 [19]
- January 2012 [18]
- December 2011 [20]
- November 2011 [15]
- October 2011 [15]
- September 2011 [14]
- August 2011 [22]
- July 2011 [19]
- June 2011 [21]
- May 2011 [20]
- April 2011 [20]
- March 2011 [21]
- February 2011 [20]
- January 2011 [21]
- December 2010 [21]
- November 2010 [21]
- October 2010 [21]
- September 2010 [22]
- August 2010 [21]
- July 2010 [22]
- June 2010 [20]
- May 2010 [18]
- April 2010 [20]
- March 2010 [23]
- February 2010 [19]
- January 2010 [22]
- December 2009 [22]
- November 2009 [21]
- October 2009 [22]
- September 2009 [21]
- August 2009 [20]
- July 2009 [21]
- June 2009 [22]
- May 2009 [18]
- April 2009 [15]
- March 2009 [7]
- February 2009 [17]
- January 2009 [20]
- December 2008 [23]
- November 2008 [19]
- October 2008 [22]
- September 2008 [22]
- August 2008 [19]
- July 2008 [22]
- June 2008 [11]
- May 2008 [19]
- April 2008 [22]
- March 2008 [21]
- February 2008 [18]
- January 2008 [20]
- December 2007 [18]
- November 2007 [15]
- October 2007 [19]
- September 2007 [18]
- August 2007 [12]
- July 2007 [12]
- June 2007 [9]
- May 2007 [11]
- April 2007 [10]
- March 2007 [11]
- February 2007 [14]
- January 2007 [7]
- December 2006 [4]
- November 2006 [13]
- October 2006 [17]
- September 2006 [11]
- August 2006 [16]
- July 2006 [10]
- June 2006 [3]
