this was an email i got....i just wanted to share it with everyone...i think it has a great message...
One day a while back a man was walking in the woods, his heart heavy with
grief. As he thought about his life, he knew many things were not right. He
thought about those who had lied about him back when he had a job.
His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his things and cheated him. He
remembered family that had passed on. His mind turned to the illness he had
that no one could cure. His very soul was filled with anger, resentment, and
frustration.
Standing there this day, searching for answers he could not find, knowing all
else had failed him, he knelt at the base of an old oak tree to seek the one he
knew would always be there. And with tears in his eyes, he prayed:
'Lord:
You have done wonderful things for me in this life. You have told me to do many
things for you and I happily obeyed. Today, you have told me to forgive but I
am sad because I cannot, I don't know how. It is not fair Lord, I didn't
deserve these wrongs that were done against me and I shouldn't have to forgive.
As perfect as your way is Lord, this one thing I cannot do, for I don't know
how to forgive. My anger is so deep Lord, I fear I may not hear you, but I pray
you teach me to do the one thing I cannot do: Teach me to forgive .'
As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak tree, he felt something
fall onto his shoulder. He opened his eyes. Out of the corner of one eye, he
saw something red on his shirt. He could not turn to see what it was because
where the oak tree had been was a large square piece of wood in the ground. He
raised his head and saw two feet held to the wood with a large spike through
them.
He raised his head more and tears came to his eyes as he saw Jesus hanging on a
cross. He saw spikes in His hands, a gash in His side, a torn and battered
body, deep thorns sunk into His head. Finally he saw the suffering and pain on
His precious face. As their eyes met, the man's tears turned to sobbing, and
Jesus began to speak...
'Have you ever told a lie?' He asked
The man answered - 'Yes, Lord.'
'Have you ever been given too much change and kept it?'
The man answered - 'Yes. Lord.' And the man sobbed more and more.
'Have you ever taken something from work that wasn't yours?'
And the man answered, 'Yes, Lord.'
'Have you ever sworn, using my Father's name in vain?'
The man, crying now, answered - 'Yes, Lord.'
As Jesus asked many more times, 'Have you ever'? The man's crying became
uncontrollable for he could only answer - 'Yes, Lord'.
Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the other and the man felt
something fall on his other shoulder He looked and saw that it was the blood of
Jesus. When he looked back up, his eyes met those of Jesus, and there was a
look of love the man had never seen or known before.
Jesus said, 'I didn't deserve this either, but I forgive you'
It may be hard to see how you're going to get through something, but when you
look back in life, you know how true this statement is.
Read the following first line slowly and let it sink in.
If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it. When Jesus died on the cross, he was thinking of you!
