Weekly Reflections – Intentional Families VI

April 7, 2020

Weekly Reflections – Intentional Families VI

INTENTIONAL FAMILIES: Ask for Forgiveness

This is the seventh weekly reflection in a series on “Forming Intentional Families.” We continue addressing each of ten tenets over the remaining four weeks. The producers of this program wisely wrote, “Intentional means that we do more than just react to life. Instead, we must create a vision, make purposeful choices, and then decisively take action to make our families all that God desires them to be.” Can you choose to be intentional when it comes to your family?

When God saves us, our sins are forgiven forever. Because of Christ, we have the opportunity to love our enemy and choose forgiveness. The apostle Paul urges us to “be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” It is only from God that we can receive the grace of forgiveness. Ask for forgiveness from God and trust in His wisdom to make better choices.

Blessings and peace with my prayer for “forgiveness” and to bury the sins of the past,”

Chaplain Allen
chaplain@nationsu.edu
chaplainscorner.org

TENET 6: Ask for Forgiveness

1. Jesus died for the forgiveness of our sins. To share in his offer of salvation, we too must forgive and recognize our own need for forgiveness.
2. Be the first to forgive. Be a model of humility and forgiveness for your family.
3. “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.” Luke 18:13
4. Forgiveness is a decision of the will. It is a choice, not a feeling.
5. “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18:20-22
6. “Go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:24
7. “Please forgive me,” expresses contrition and humility and is preferable to “I’m sorry.”

“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you
will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.”
Luke 6:37

forgiveness

The Ten Tenets of the “Forming Intentional Families” program.

1. Set family priorities.
2. Share family meals.
3. Lead family prayer and teach the faith.
4. Manage/limit media intake.
5. Control pace of life.
6. Forgive easily and often/ask for forgiveness.
7. Encourage active listening/open and honest communication.
8. Schedule family fun and play time.
9. Teach/model responsibility and accountability.
10. Acknowledge and share our gifts and talents.

Source: This program was developed over several years by the St. Laurence Pastoral Council (distributed April 2019) in Sugar Land, Texas.

Note: The opinions expressed in this Reflection are intended to be those of the author alone based on his understanding of the Bible and how God works with his people.

April 7, 2020