Category Archives: Forgiveness

Monday, July 3, 2023

 

Pray this Lazaroo in totally trusting love:

“When Sihon and all his army came out to meet us in battle at Jahaz, the LORD our God delivered him over to us and we struck him down, together with his sons and his whole army. We completely destroyed them – men, women and children. We left no survivors.”
(Deuteronomy 2:32-34)

Our modern sensibilities can’t fathom this, Jesus –

the ruthless extermination of a whole nation of people.

But You – the God of love, forgiveness and mercy – ordered it!

So like it or not
that means it had to be done.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning (812) 473-7729…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

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Joshua 11:20; Joshua 23:6-8; 1 Kings 9:21; Ezekiel 25:7; 2 Corinthians 6:17; Galatians 4:11; Hebrews 10:29

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

 

Pray this Lazaroo in holy fear:

“You have wearied the Lord with your words. ‘How have we wearied him?’ you ask. By saying, ‘All who do evil are good in the eyes of the Lord, and he is pleased with them…’”
(Malachi 2:17)

To forgive me, Jesus

is a totally different thing
than being pleased with me.

The first happens after I’ve sinned and confessed it.

The second happens when I’ve refused to sin
and remain faithful.

I’m grateful beyond words for Your forgiveness!

But I’d rather You be pleased.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning (812) 473-7729…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

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Exodus 33:13-17; Numbers 14:8; Deuteronomy 33:11; 2 Samuel 15:26; 1 Chronicles 29:17; 1 Corinthians 10:5; Hebrews 10:8

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

 

Pray this Lazaroo in holy fear:

“The violence you have done to Lebanon will overwhelm you…”
(Habakkuk 2:17)

So what they sowed, Jesus

You’re going to make sure they reap.

They treated Lebanon violently
and with violence they will be treated.

I’ve sowed some bad seed myself, Father

seed I most assuredly do not wish to reap!

But I’ve forsaken my past sins.

I’ve repented, turned to You with all my heart

trusting in Your incomparable love, mercy and forgiveness.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning (812) 473-7729…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

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1 Kings 8:46-50; Job 42:6; Proverbs 1:23; Isaiah 43:25; Hosea 14:1; Acts 2:38; 2 Corinthians 7:10; James 2:13

Sunday, July 17, 2022

 

Pray this Lazaroo with burning emotion:

“‘Many times I struck your gardens and vineyards, destroying them with blight and mildew. Locusts devoured your fig and olive trees, yet you have not returned to me,’ declares the Lord.”
(Amos 4:9)

When our hearts are stubborn and unrepentant, Jesus

this is what it comes to.

Because Your loving kindness doesn’t compel us

all that’s left is pain.

O God!

May I respond to Your love
Your generosity to me
Your goodness, mercy and forgiveness!

May I never bring upon myself

Your wrath.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning (812) 473-7729…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

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Genesis 3:7; Genesis 20:9; Isaiah 3:9; Jeremiah 26:19; Romans 14:12; 1 Corinthians 11:31; Hebrews 2:1-3; 1 John 1:8

Tuesday, May 31, 2022

 

Pray this Lazaroo with bottomless trust:

“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
(Acts 2:38-39)

It wasn’t just for them, Jesus.

It wasn’t just for the world ever after.

It was also for me!

because with all my heart

I believe!

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning (812) 473-7729…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

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Genesis 15:6; Psalm 106:12; Isaiah 53:1; Matthew 8:13; Mark 1:15; John 1:11-13; John 3:16-17; Romans 10:9-10

Friday, May 27, 2022

 

Pray this Lazaroo in reverent awe:

“And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God…”
(Luke 1:76-78)

When Zechariah spoke these words, Jesus

He was filled with the Spirit.

Through Him You were revealing that His son – John the Baptist –

had one overriding purpose:

“to prepare the way

for You.”

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning (812) 473-7729…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

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Isaiah 40:3; Genesis 14:19; Deuteronomy 32:8; Psalm 7:10; Lamentations 3:38; Luke 6:35; John 1:23; Acts 7:48-49

Sunday, March 6, 2022

 

Pray this Lazaroo with burning emotion:

“Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate…Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing—”
(Joel 2:13-14)

Why do You treat us so much better than we deserve, Jesus?

It’s Your deep, abiding love, isn’t it?

Hallelujah!
Thank You!

But I can’t let it stop here, can I?

There are those who’ve wronged me
even as I have wronged You.

May I extend to them
Your deep, abiding love!

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning (812) 473-7729…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

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Deuteronomy 7:8; Jeremiah 31:3; Malachi 1:2; Matthew 6:14-15; John 13:34; John 15:9; John 15:12; 1 Thessalonians 2:8

Monday, August 30, 2021

 

Pray this Lazaroo in flabbergasted gratitude:

“You ask, ‘Why?’”
(Malachi 2:14)

They wanted to know why You were punishing them, Jesus.

But that’s not the reason I ask, “Why?”

What I want to know is why You love me this much!

You don’t punish me as my sins deserve.
You shower me with favor, mercy and forgiveness!

This much I know:

It’s not because of me, my good deeds, my righteousness.

It’s all…all…all because of You!

Oh, the height, width and depth of Your incomparable love!

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning (812) 473-7729…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

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Deuteronomy 3:24; 1 Chronicles 29:11; Psalms 103:10; Psalms 145:3; Isaiah 43:25; Romans 11:33; James 2:13

Saturday, April 3, 2021

 

Pray this Lazaroo in sobered assessment:

“…he has not remembered his footstool in the day of his anger. Without pity the Lord has swallowed up all the dwellings of Jacob; in his wrath he has torn down the strongholds of Daughter Judah. He has brought her kingdom and its princes down to the ground in dishonor.”
(Lamentations 2:1-2)

There’s a line I don’t want to cross, isn’t there, Jesus?

You treat us so well, so lovingly
with such mercy and forgiveness

that we forget…

out there somewhere…

that line is there.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning (812) 473-7729…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

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2 Samuel 24:14; Psalms 130:4; Matthew 26:28; Luke 1:50; Romans 9:22-24; Ephesians 1:7; Titus 3:4-7

Sunday, December 13, 2020

 

Pray this Lazaroo with sold-out surrender:

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’”
(Mark 2:5)

Forgiveness wasn’t what he came for, Jesus…

but it was what he needed.

He was focused on physical healing.

But first things first.

First I have to get right with You.
Then I can ask for Your healing, blessing, guidance.

I want what I want when I want it.

But You’re far more concerned about what You know that I need

when I need it.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning (812) 473-7729…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

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Exodus 15:26; 2 Samuel 22:3; Psalms 6:2; Isaiah 57:18; Acts 4:11-12; Romans 1:16; Hebrews 2:3