Live. Love. Lead.

     We have ALL been part of relationships that did not work out the way we planned. We've experienced the hope of possibility, the brokenness of unmet expectations, and struggled with the realness of unforgiveness it leaves.       Why does unforgiveness hit us so hard in relationships?       I believe part of it is because the person did not become what we wanted and the relationship did not materialize the way we believed it should. And simply put...it hurts...and somebody was on the other end of that hurt. Intentionally or unintentionally the person hit us with the dizzying blow of disappointment.       As I work through my own wilderness journey of faith that includes such a tough part of unforgiveness, I was reminded of a few thoughts. First, "forgiveness is between you and God" (T.Hegg). I don't typically feel like forgiving. I have to work at it and...work some more. Struggle. Fall. Succeed. And when ...

     Faith. Why is it such a difficult word to understand? I have heard the word many times lately and it seems like a common definition of it is to "think hard enough that something will happen." Perhaps that's part of it; but definitely not the entirety.      This morning as I was studying Matthew 15, the Lord struck me with a statement I know I have read dozens of times, "Then Jesus said to her, 'O woman, your faith is great...'"      How did Yeshua know this woman's faith was great? Did other people (the disciples) recognize her for having great faith? What was it about this woman that demonstrated great faith? So I re-read.      According to Matthew 15, this woman approached Yeshua. She was intentional. She asked for mercy. She was humble to know this task was beyond her capabilities. She had all the right ingredients to prayer. But check out vs. 23, "Yeshua did not answer her a word." Wait, I know I have read in the Wo...