Scanned picture of the newpaper advertisement .
Now Is The Time
by Veronica Leger and Dan Boeckman
(Omaha World-Herald, Sunday, May 2, 1993)
Few of us go through life without being hurt by someone. Maybe it is something they have said to us. Maybe it is something they have done to us. It might have happened only yesterday or possibly many years ago. But no matter what has happened or how badly you may have been hurt, today is the day to forgive that person.
It is important to do this today. Doctors tell us that many of our illnesses are caused by holding these hurts inside. They need to be brought to the surface and healed. In the prayer called The Lord's Prayer we ask God to forgive our wrongs as we forgive others who have wronged us. God in his great mercy has forgiven us and we must forgive others. Jesus was asked one day, 'Lord when my brother wrongs me, how often must I forgive him? Seven times?' Jesus replied, 'No, not seven times; I say, seventy times seven times.' Jesus then went on to tell the story of the merciless official which you can read in the 18th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew (starting at verse 23). Our heavenly Father will forgive us if we forgive each other.
We know that we have hurt others also. None of us is perfect. All of us have made mistakes and need to apologize for our actions. We all fall short of what God wants us to be. Go to that person today and say that you are sorry.
By doing this marriages can be saved and families brought back together. You can be friends once again with your neighbors. You can speak once again to all your relatives. You can return to going to church, now that you have forgiven the pastor. You can talk to that person at school again, that you always have to avoid. With God's help all these broken relationships can be restored. Cut this out and mail it along with a note that says you're sorry.
And most of all, your relationship with God needs to be restored. No person on earth can give you the love that you are searching for. No person on earth can give you the peace and joy that you are searching for. Only God above can give you what you need. Maybe you don't talk to God. Today is the day for you to get back in a right relationship with God. Ask Jesus to forgive you for all the ways that you have hurt him. Ask Jesus to come into your heart today. Start reading one chapter a day of the Bible. Begin with the Gospel of Matthew . Listen to Christian radio, like Chuck Smith at 7:00 AM on KCRO radio 660 AM. Pray to God every day and thank him for his many gifts. Attend church every Sunday. You need brothers and sisters to get to heaven. You cannot get there by yourself.
Spring To Life, P.O. Box 261, Omaha, NE 68101-0261
P.S. If you'd like a copy of '7 Days of Life', write to us. We have no mailing list. Happy Birthday, Mary D.! Happy 1st Communion to Danny and Katie. Hi D.A.N.
Spring To Life, P.O. Box 261, Omaha, NE 68101-0261 USA
