Everybody can agree with me that it can be so hard to love your enemy but by the grace of God you go thru the pain. No wonder many times we(born-again Christians) are termed all sorts of annoying names; we are silly, we are impetuously patient, they are endless. Imagine finding out who murdered your relative, you know him but have to forgive him and love him, incredible! Anyway knowing that God loves us all no matter what we have done before him, has also encouraged me to "TRY" and love my enemies. Tell me, what would any of you do if you shared with someone something (regardless whether is a friend)and immediately your back is turned what you have shared is given to somebody else, worse still you may see that happening!! The implication to me is that the person is not interested in what you are sharing. Tell me, what would your reaction be? How would you take it? How would you treat these people? We had a saying with some of my friends that: "It's hard to go to heaven"You really need to be perfect all the time! God forbid.

Praise The Lord, and Wasuze Otya, Erona!

I understand what you are saying about how hard it is to forgive, especially when it's someone you know that wronged you. Sometimes it seems like it's so much easier to forgive a stranger than it is to forgive someone we know. Maybe because we expect more of people we know, and they show us something different (and unpleasant)in their character when they commit trespasses against us.

The Lord never said that our Christian walk was going to be easy, so it is out of obedience that we do our best. And when we feel like our best is not good enough, we do what His Word tell us to do in:

Ephesians 6:18a
AND PRAY IN THE SPIRIT ON ALL OCCASIONS WITH ALL KINDS OF PRAYERS AND REQUESTS.

It is because we know that all things are possible with God; it is because we know that we can't do everything on our own; it is because we know that the Lord blesses us when we ask (because it shows that we believe that He will deliver), that we go to Him in prayer.

Matthew 6:33
BUT SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU AS WELL.

I think a lot of people think in terms of material things when they read these Scriptures. But, it is far deeper than that.

In that very same chapter of Matthew, The Word tells us not to worry about what we will eat or drink, or even what we will wear. God will provide those things to us. The deeper message in this Word is within us. So, go to God in prayer and ask Him to help you to forgive. He wants to give you His peace. All you have to do is ask. Forgiveness and peace probably won't happen overnight, but you can definitely trust that if you continue to seek Him in prayer, IT WILL HAPPEN!

May the Lord bless you in your search, in Jesus' Name! Amen!

The word says "we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us." When someone hurts you pray that much more for them. Keep praying for them until you have peace. They need your prayers and God will bless them and you. Remember, Christ loved us first when we didn't love him and were still in sin. As he has offered his grace and mercy so we also must not harbour unforgiveness but in faith release it to God and let Him deal with these persons. Love is better than faith.

Thx 2 PAX & KATHY about my querry on Love for enemies. "Webale nnyo" Kathy. You have some good Luganda language. Well I actually had a "funny" week, this week. On Wednesday(5th March) I was supposed to fast. I did. Our church is praying for more people to know God, so we were asked to fast at least once a week. Then at the end of the day, the devil really proved himself to me. I got into a public taxi back home. When I was almost getting off, I paid the conductor(money collector)and I needed some balance back. When I asked for it, he denied having got money from me. Funny enough, I dont know whether I have a sixth sense, sometimes I foresee things & I see them coincidently, literally happening, I had thought to myself "he's going to deny.." We had a big row in the taxi. I told him, "My friend am a born-again, I would never go away with a mere UGShs.300/=(about a sixth of a dollar!!) Only to deaf ears. He threw back to me UGshs.1000/= saying it was OK, he would not lose anything in his business because of me. I felt so terrible as I walked away. I wanted to cry; especially when I had fasted that day. I even had to attend a fellowship that day. It was so terrible!! I prayed that I would have peace over that encounter and am indeed recovering from it. KATHY, I think everybody needs to take your advice seriously. Forgiveness & Peace may not happen overnight but we (I) need to always put that in prayer 'coz we go thru alot everyday and the devil is out there always roaming to get somebody who is not alert. God bless U all.

Praise The Lord, and Wasuze Otya, Erona!

My pastor tells us a lot that trouble will always come, and it is true. But, as we get closer to the Lord through prayer, worship, the study of His Word, etc., we will find that the Lord will strenghten us so that it will be like the devil is shooting his darts at us and they will only bounce off. These hurts will not pierce your heart anymore.

So, keep your faith strong in the Lord. Pray every day for inner strength. And when you feel like something bad is going to happen, just ask the Lord to encamp His angels of protection all around you. Before you know it, you will notice yourself feeling stronger and having that peace that surpasses all understanding that is written in the Lord's Word.

God bless you and keep you, always. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

I would like to relate a true story about the power of forgiveness. A young woman in my church was kidnapped and raped repeatedly at the age of 16. She was convinced that the man was going to kill her, and she prayed that God would spare her life. After several days, her rapist dropped her at her home. When he was later arrested, she was somewhat relieved, but her hatred for him festered and she hated and distrusted all men. Extensive psychological counseling did not alleviate her pain. She then felt the Lord asking her to pray for this man who had abused her. She resisted, but finally, reluctantly, tried to pray for him.; she continued to do so for many months. At last she let go of the pain and hate she had felt. Then she began to feel pity for him. Today, she says she could walk into a room, see this man, and have only kind feelings for him; she prays that he will know God as she does. Isn't this a demonstration of how God can change our feelings for those who have hurt us?