steve penny » Forgiveness

People of a higher realm

Steve Penny — Thu, 20 May 2010 05:42:17 +0000

In life there are many people who enter our world. Some stay and become partners and friends on our journey of faith. Others leave almost as quickly as they came. Still others seem to hang around just long enough to cause trouble and pain.
I have come to the conclusion that there are people who for many reasons have chosen to walk through life at a low level. Perhaps they have been hurt or abused and so judge all people from their disadvantaged state. When such people cross our path – as they will – we must learn to respond as people from a higher realm.
Love flows from a higher realm – hate from a lower realm.
Acceptance and respect for others flows from a higher realm – while criticism and dishonour flow from a lower realm.
Forgiveness flows from a higher realm -whereas unforgiveness flows from a lower realm.
You cannot live at a lower realm and still hope to reach great heights in God.
You must choose to be people of a higher realm and at times that is very painful.
Often living at a higher realm requires humility before God and a choosing to forgive those who have judged you from their own realm.
Be the bigger person – show humility and forgiveness in all things and in due time God will promote you to a higher realm.
I refuse to listen to voices from a lower realm as they are usually trying to get you to respond at their level.
However I greatly value the voices of those friends who have chosen to walk the journey of faith with us. Their input and wisdom is priceless.
Voices from a lower realm are always pulling down – while voices from a higher realm are always lifting up.
Remember – a leader with a low level mouth will ever only produce low level followers.

Pressure

Steve Penny — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:20:35 +0000

Pressure comes into our lives in a number of ways.
A. The pressure of circumstances
These pressure come and go throughout life and can be very disruptive and challenging. My response to circumstantial pressure is the famous quote, “this too will pass”.
B. Seasonal pressure.
In life there are various seasons that come and go like clockwork. It is important to know what each season does to you. Some people handle summer better than winter etc.
C. Life cycle pressure
Over time it is possible to measure the cycles of your life. Some people need breaks every six months. Some people change vocation or location every five years etc. Some people need to buy a new car every two years. Some people get depressed annually. These cycles bring pressure into our lives and if not identified cause us to react unwittingly and make unwise decisions.
These life cycles are very important as they have developed over time and must be addressed.
D. Relational conflict pressure
The pressure of relational conflict is one of the most extreme forms of pressure. The closer the person is to you the stronger the pressure.
Forgiveness is the only way to remedy relational conflict. If you cover it over it will become a root of bitterness that defiles you and hurts others.
You must deal with this kind of pressure because it goes deep into your soul. If allowed to reside in your soul it will produce all kinds of physical illness as well.
E. Reaping harvests pressure
There is pressure that builds over time from continual wrong decisions or habits. Bad behaviour produces it’s own harvest of pressure that cannot be avoided until the behaviour or attitude is confessed and then changed.
F. Inner flaw pressure
We all have areas of weakness that cause us to lack confidence in certain situations.
However if the areas of weakness are fed or allowed to grow they actually become areas of negative strength. These negative strengths then outweigh your positive strengths and therefore start to control your life in an adverse manner thus creating huge pressure. You need help to identify your blind spots and have people help you to see ways to overcome them and reduce pressure.
G. Leadership pressure
There is no pressure like leadership pressure. Especially moral and spiritual leadership. That is why there is such a vacuum of great spiritual leaders.
I am amazed at novices who profess to understand leadership pressure and I am also amazed to watch great leaders as they handle such pressure so well.
Pressure is important in our lives as long as we allow it to adjust us and change our lives for the better.
To overcome all kinds of pressure.
Stay thankful.
Keep good relationships
Do life with friends
Keep a generous spirit
Keep clean on the inside.
Learn to take the lid off.

Room with a view

Steve Penny — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:45:57 +0000

We checked into our room at Air on the Gold Coast on the 30th floor. The views along the beach back to Surfers Paradise are amazing.
However the furniture in the room had been arranged so that everyone could sit and watch TV. Which meant that we all had our backs to the view and were sitting looking at a wall.
Can’t help but think that some people do life like that. Instead of looking at the constant unfolding of life with wonder they tend to sit and watch the same repeat programs with the same old attitudes over and over.
Life is an amazIng gift from God.
1. His mercies are new and fresh every morning.
2. His people are constantly changing.
3. His creation declares His praise continually.
4. His gifts of grace are unique for every new day.
5. His strength is sufficient for every new challenge.
6. His forgiveness makes every new day a fresh canvas.
7. His provision can pay the way for new steps of faith.
And most of all His Coffee is new and fresh every morning – giving meaning to the moment and hope for the future.
Have a good day. SJP

The window of freedom

Steve Penny — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:51:42 +0000

I am sitting on the 19th floor of my hotel looking out to sea at the Island where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for such a long period of time. His years behind bars must have seemed an eternity to him and certainly appeared without hope. And yet one of the most haunting of all his paintings is one where he portrays the view he saw through the bars of his cell window. He was able to look back toward His beloved South Africa and see the outline of the mountains of Cape Town. His island prison looks to be only a few kilometres out to sea and yet the gulf of divide during the horrible years of apartheid must have seemed uncrossable. But to me the great story of Nelson Mandela is his vision. He continued to look through the tiny window of his cell and see a vision of his Africa of the future.
Remember there is no prison cell that can contain and restrict vision.
There is no regime that can crush the passion filled spirit.
There is no crisis that can stop the progress of a man or woman filled with hope of a better tomorrow.
To Nelson Mandela we owe a great debt.
He demonstrated to the world – the power of hope.
And then when change came and his hopes began to come to pass – he excercised the grace of forgiveness to all those who had opposed his dreams.
The island on the horizon looks so insignificant – yet to me it stands as a beacon of hope declaring that anything is possible – if you can just truly believe.

Segways – the cool transition

Steve Penny — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:24:06 +0000

I am sitting here at Sun City in Sth Africa watching people get from one point to another on these cool machines called Segways.
You can hire them here to take a ride along the wonderful bush paths.
They have become somewhat of an icon with new sayings being adopted using the word Segway.
That was a nice Segway now means – that was a nice transition from one point to another.
If you deftly change the subject it would be considered a smooth segway.
The truth is that we need to learn how to make smooth transitions in life.
So many people leave one place or one issue in life quite badly under the false impression that the new place will make all things new.
Wherever you go – you take you with you. The transition vehicle can be as cool as a Segway – but you are still the driver. When you leave a position or place in life make sure you attend to the following matters.
1. Pay your debts
Pay back any Debts whether of time, money, resource etc.
The world is a small place now and your indebtedness will follow you.
2. Ask for forgiveness
You will at some time have offended, disappointed or straight out hurt others so genuinely ask for forgiveness.
3. Strengthen friendships
New friends are never as good as old friends. They may appear to be the best friends ever but that is because they dont know you well.
Get all details so you can stay connected to your old friends and make sure it happens.
4. Keep your family happy
The next move may be good for you but make sure the rest of the team that do life with you are excited as well.
5. Don’t leave for a new world – expand the world you are in.
Just enlarge your sphere of connectedness. People who burn their bridges end up living on an island.
6. Don’t change your values for new opportunities.
You must learn to culturise your convictions into whatever context you find yourself in. Values have no boundaries. Who you are doesn’t change.
7. Above all leave slowly
Take time to say goodbye. Don’t just disappear. Stay connected and committed until you leave. Allow people the opportunity to express their thanks for all you mean to them.
And then wave royally as you go with both feelings of sadness and joy mixed together.

LIVE FREE THROUGH FORGIVENESS

Steve Penny — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:51:39 +0000

I FORGIVE YOU

Life was never meant to be complicated.

In our church we have a statement of purpose that says we exist to;

Love God – Love People – Love Life.

Sounds simple enough and yet many of us struggle to stay in love with life.

I think it is because we allow ourselves to become imprisoned in the biggest prison on the planet. It is called UNFORGIVENESS.

It is true that we all get ripped off, hurt, let down, abused, disappointed, offended etc. and that life can often be a tough road to walk.

However there is an escape route from all of the junk of life.

You do not have to live a restricted life if you will learn to practise forgiveness.

Forgive everyone, everywhere and you will stay free to love life to the full.

When someone does something to hurt you forgive them and you stay free of the hurt. When someone rips you off, forgive and you stay free of the offence.

The moment you choose to carry the hurt or remember the offence, it has you in its grasp. You are now imprisoned to that person or offence and will be bound by it, until you choose to forgive.

The saddest people I know are those who travel through life in the prison of unforgiveness. They are always victims, and forever talking about what has happened in the past. Remember that forgiveness is your choice.

You can choose to live life free of all that junk and even more importantly, people who forgive have no enemies.

The world has its fair share of idiots; choose not to be one of them. Forgive daily.

Steve Penny

FAITH & A GOOD CONSCIENCE

Steve Penny — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:26:03 +0000

1 TIMOTHY 1:18-19 That you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience.

I am convinced that longevity in the Kingdom of God is sustained through balancing a life of faith and keeping a good conscience.

Sadly I have watched too many people endeavoring to live great entrepreneurial lives of faith, only to watch them cut corners and chase opportunities, that are clearly contrary to their Christian beliefs.

To maintain the blessing and presence of God upon our lives requires an honesty about the condition of our heart.

1 John 3:20 declares that our heart condemns us when we act in ways that are contrary to the ways of God.

Our own heart takes a stand against the things we are doing when out of line with the purposes of God.

It raises it’s voice in protest and can either be heeded or ignored.

It is at that point that we make decisions to either turn back to God and seek forgiveness, or to harden our hearts and turn away from God and His ways.

There must be a daily honesty about our spiritual condition in order to wage a good warfare in faith and a good conscience.

The simplicity of repentance and cleansing by the blood of Jesus is our guarantee of ongoing righteousness and right standing before God.

There is nothing in us that warrants being able to stand upright before God, except that we are covered by the Blood of Jesus and declared accepted in the Beloved.

You have a conscience and it is up to you to keep it in good condition.

Don’t ignore the inner voice of your heart, but respond and deal with issues that arise so that you can confidently come before God in faith believing for great grace to be your inheritance.

God wants you to live with a clean conscience so that you can confidently wage the good warfare – which is winning in life by faith in Christ Jesus.

POWERFUL PRAYER

Steve Penny — Tue, 19 May 2009 19:20:43 +0000

THE A TO Z OF PRAYER

PEOPLE OFTEN NEED A FRAMEWORK TO STAY FOCUSSED AND EFFECTIVE IN PRAYER.

THE EFFECTIVE FERVENT PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS PERSON ACHIEVES MUCH.

I USE MY “A TO Z” OF PRAYER, WHICH INCLUDES ALL FACETS OF THE LORDS PRAYER.

USING THIS LIST ANYONE CAN PRAY FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES A DAY.

A ALMIGHTY GOD MY EVERLASTING FATHER

B BEFORE TIME ETERNAL PLANS FOR ME

C CHRIST OUR HOPE CHRIST DIED TO LIFT ME UP

D DECLARE HIS GLORY HE IS EXALTED ABOVE ALL

E ENTER WITH THANKSGIVING COME BOLDLY BEFORE HIM

F FAITH WORKS I LIVE BY THE FAITH OF CHRIST

G GRACE IN ABUNDANCE ACCESS HIS AMAZING GRACE

H HE IS THE REWARDER BLESSINGS WILL FLOW TO ME

I I STAND FIRM I WILL NOT BE MOVED

J JESUS SAVES CLEANSE AND FORGIVE ME

K KINGDOM COME MY SPECIFIC REQUESTS

L LOVE COVERS ALL FORGIVENESS TOWARD ALL

M MONEY MATTERS PROSPERITY & POSSESSIONS

N NEW BEGINNINGS ALL THINGS ARE NEW DAILY

O OPEN GATES SET BEFORE ME OPEN DOORS

P PROMISE KEEPERS PROPHESY HIS PROMISES

Q QUICKENED BY THE SPIRIT MADE ALIVE AND STRONG

R REGIONS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS OUR REGION SHALL BE SAVED

S SAVE OTHERS MY “YES TO JESUS” LIST.

T TRUE TO HIS PLAN WISDOM TO MANAGE LIFE

U UNITED FOR IMPACT MAINTAINING UNITY

V VICTORY OVER THE DEVIL DELIVER ME FROM THE EVIL ONE

W WILLING TO GIVE GENEROSITY FOR THE CAUSE

X XTREME EXPLOITS SUPERNATURAL SIGNS

Y YOURS IS THE KINGDOM YOUR KINGDOM FOREVER

Z ZEALOUS FOREVER MY BEST I LAY AT YOUR FEET