Anger or Forgiveness?

"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse." (Romans 12:14)

One of the most amazing stories of forgiveness in recent history is that of James Bain. On 12/17/09, after more than three decades in prison, this Florida man was set free following a DNA test that showed he did not kidnap and rape a 9-year-old boy in 1974.

"I'm not angry," said 54-year-old Bain, as he was getting ready to go home for the first time in 35 years. He was only 19 when he was convicted on charges of kidnapping, burglary and strong-arm rape for which he received a life sentence. "I got God in my head," he told reporters, "I knew one day he would reveal me."

The first thing Bain wanted to do when he left the courthouse was see his mom. He shed his button-down plaid shirt and put on a black T-shirt that read "Not Guilty" before walking outside to address the crowd. Someone handed him a cell phone — the first time he had ever used one. He said, "I'm going to see my mama."

This story amazes me because this innocent guy spent 35 years behind bars, yet came out saying, "I'm not angry."

Say what? I think if I were him, I would have had fire coming out of my ears. If I were his mom (and knew beyond a doubt that my son was innocent), I'm sure I would have!



But Bain didn't. In fact, he just says, "I got God in my head" ...

Lord, help me to have you in my head as much as this man did. No matter how much I am persecuted in this life, help me to walk away without anger. Help me to forgive those who knowingly (or unknowingly) seek to harm me. Amen

Where often are Heard ...Discouraging Words

Words. They can heal, encourage, uplift - or they can hurt and discourage. Yesterday's email from one of the head managers in my office was filled with words of the second kind. After I read them, my heart fell. Stress welled up within me. "Why are you so tense?" my coworker asked an hour later. "That email really got to me!"


Psalm 64 describes words as "deadly arrows." Suddenly, out of nowhere, they can penetrate our minds and hearts, completely crushing us! How can we survive such an attack? David has the answer: call out to God - with words!

"Hear me, O God, as I voice my complaint; protect my life from the threat of the enemy....they sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like deadly arrows. They shoot from ambush at the innocent man. They shoot at him suddenly without fear....But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be struck down. He will turn their own tongues against them...let the righteous rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him; let all the upright in heart praise him."

Today I will call out to God when negative or critical word-arrows come at me. God will give me his armor to protect my head and heart.