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| I confess, I am deeply in debt |
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Yes, it is true, I soberly admit it to you. So deeply in debt, that I don't know how I will ever get out from under it. In fact, I'm sure I won't. I can't! But that doesn't mean I shouldn't try. I will, I promise you that.
I'm somewhat ashamed to admit that my debt is so deep. Face it, nobody likes to admit they are beholden to someone else for so much! Friends, I'm depending on God's grace for this one like I've never depended before!
13:8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.
I am talking about a debt of love! Yes indeed, given how much love was expressed for me at the cross, I will never be able to repay it, never! But I'd better try. If I don't get on a payment plan fast I will be considered a lawbreaker in God's court. A court I'd never want to be dragged out of by the bailiff!! Forget about a monthly payment plan, it better be daily!
Given how much love was expressed for me by God, and continues to be expressed, how dare I not love others! I am without excuse!!!
Who should I start with? Well, the easy ones first (Rom. 12:10), I suppose. Followed closely by my neighbor (Lev. 19:18) - which means just about everyone else. Including, or especially, those I find rather distasteful or undeserving. Heck, I even need to love those I don't care for at all - that is, my enemies (Luke 6:27)!!! Anybody left? No, I don't think so...
I suspect anyone who reads this will be in the same boat as I am, so I wouldn't recommend looking on my plight in a smug or amused manner. In fact, I'd invite you to join in and love for all we're worth, and perhaps we might just start making some tiny dents together in our massive debt!! |
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| I owe, I owe, so to the cross I go! |
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Denise |
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February 06, 2008 at 4:39am |
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| Good morning! That would be ME standing next to you in the pay your debt line. Praise God! |
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MaKelly |
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February 06, 2008 at 4:47am |
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| Mike don't be ashamed your not by youself I owe out a lot to but I'm not going to stress or worry about it, once I did and the results was I was getting sick over it so, now I'm doing the best I can to pay off one at a time, auto deduction from our income, I know I have a problem with shopping and I togather with our God we are working on that. I'm at peace with it, just like you said I'm trying to get out od dept, that's they key making the efford putting things into action, and I'm too depending on God's grace & mercy to live long enough not to owe nobody. |
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Lourdes |
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February 06, 2008 at 5:28am |
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Because I know I can not repay this debt anytime soon. I just pay a little bit at a time everyday. Hey, sometimes I forget, and sometimes I feel like not doing it, but then Rom 13:8 comes back to hunt me! lol Love is not an easy debt to pay, but there is an awesome blessed feeling I get when I do it. YEP, that is right... OH way... I am due to pay this morning... I better get to it ;-) |
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Jenily |
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February 06, 2008 at 5:28am |
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Help! I know...sometimes I'm slow about English but when you say that you are deeply in debt, as all of us, you mean with the wonderful sacrifice and love expression in the cross? or are we talking about money?...I get confusssed between the post and the comments!...SORRY! |
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Carolyn |
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February 06, 2008 at 5:29am |
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| I am very blessed and thankful to say that I am debt free, Praise the Lord. However, I do remember a time when I had more bills than I had money and this is not a pleasant memory. Hard work and dedication brought me through, and believe it or not, it was a very pleasant trip with the Lord walking by my side. "I owed a debt I could not pay. He payed a debt He did not owe." With God all things are possible. Thank you Jesus. Good post Mike. One day you'll look back on all this and see where God has brought you from. What a mighty God we serve. |
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This is a great post, but also one of the most confusing. LOL The blog post is NOT talking about financial debt, but the debt of love for one another.
I've noticed several people post the same reaction (re: finances), so it might be good to re-label the post.
...especially for the good of those who won't get beyond the first two paragraphs. ;)
Blessings, everyone!! - Gio |
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Jenily |
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February 06, 2008 at 5:40am |
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THANK YOU GIO!...SO I WASN'T SO WRONG AT THE BEGINNING! |
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| Mike, don't re-label the post. I started reading it and thinking, what can I do to help my friend then I saw the real debt! The debt that none of us can completely repay. Thank you again for an awesome blog and a "just a reminder" that loving one another is due now! |
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No problem, Jenily. I'm glad I could help.
As Sandi Patti once sang, "Love [DEBT] in any language, is fluently spoken here."
:) |
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The price I owe for the sacrifice that he made for me can never be repaid,however each day of my life since Jesus came in and sat down on my heart, I try to love as he did. Why shouldn't I? How can I not? Even the ones who I cannot stand to be around, I love from a distance and the love is genuine. I ask him to help me each and every step of the way. Oh, don't think the devil doesn't have a field day with this but you know who has the victory.
Insofar as my earthly debt, welllllll it is a struggle and I do the best I can. Sometimes we have no control (and I am not making excuses) because of the situations we are put into. I will be paying back earthly debtors for the rest of my life and the Lord is standing right there with me providing as I make that effort. I know he is because I cannot see how I am doing it \O/....
His sacrifice cannot be compared to nothing else in our lives, our debt for that sacrifice is miniscule compared to what JESUS gave.... |
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| Wow! That was deep and convicting! PASTOR!LOL |
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Glenn |
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February 06, 2008 at 6:00am |
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Mike you are so right, the only debt left for us to pay is to love one another as He loves us and to love our neighbor, and enemy! The most amazing part of this is that we can never love enough, but God has loved us enough and will give us the grace to love those he places in our path. Praise God for His Love and the debt He has already paid on our behalf!
Another well written post my friend.
peace |
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Glenn |
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February 06, 2008 at 6:01am |
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| forgot notify me box |
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Eliza |
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February 06, 2008 at 6:23am |
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| I am maxed out with God, but I know he still loves me....Great post Mike.... : ) |
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DeboraJ |
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February 06, 2008 at 6:38am |
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But brother, don't forget, you are Free. It is for freedom you have been set free!
You are free to be in debt, to sin, to love, to forgive. "All things are lawful not all things are profitable." 1 Cor 6:12. "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Ro 8:1. You are free!! Maybe while in debt you (and I) can learn what freedom there is. From a worldly perspective there is no freedom while in debt, those two words are contradictory. But you are of Christ and He says you are free. What is the freedom we are missing? |
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DeboraJ |
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February 06, 2008 at 6:41am |
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| I promise I'm not trying to inundate you with the same theme, really. |
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LOL! OOPS, I admit that I thought people would realize once they read the verse and then the paragraph after it, that the main theme of the blog was not money, but our debt of love! Sorry if it wasn't clear! Oh, and I so cherish the thoughts that some wanted to help us out. OMGosh, how lovely!!! (But don't worry, God is providing for us so abundantly, our only earthly $ debt is our house, praise God!) btw, Gio, you are on the ball, man!!! And Jenily, don't worry about it, dear!
Cheryl, I almost changed the title until I saw your post! (See you do have influence!)
Lourdes, right on. What a great comment! Romans 13:8 was added to my index cards last evening, the Lord put it on my heart as I rode the bus home last night. So now that I have it memorized, into my heart it goes!
Debora, that is a theme that cannot be overdone my friend. To this day, I've only bulletin'd my friends to announce one blog I wrote, and that was "What if free really meant free". Let's just say it's a very important topic! |
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Excellent post...I think we are in good shape when we realize the debt we have. It is when we feel we have paid the debt that we are in trouble. This post reminds me of an old song we used to sing years ago..
He paid a debt He did not owe
I owed a debt, I could not pay
I needed someone to wash my sins away
And now I sing a brand new song amazing grace
Christ Jesus paid the debt that I could never pay |
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Mike, this is what I think: Okay, I am not a name-it-claim-it per se, but I do believe in what God's word says, and I believe in prosperity to a degree: that degree being that the Lord uses us to outpour His money, not for our selfish gain, lust or covetousness. I DO believe that the Lord can and will get you out of debt. Why? My parents have bailed us out, how much more our Heavenly Father? I believe, if it is due to a lack of responcibility, that He first wants us to learn good stewartship, because a good parent would not bail us out before we learn our lesson, as in "tough love." So, anyways, I have claimed scriptures, and tried to walk the walk, failing miserably much of the time. But God WILL make sure our bills are paid. We are in debt too, and my husband gets discouraged, especially this past week about getting ot of debt. But what hope do we have if we don't believe God can do even this? Deliver us from our debtors! We are suppose to be the head, and not the tail; the lenders and not the borrowers. Friends of mine sold their house, and not having a home church, they "tithed" the ten percent (and they got a lot of money for that house) where God wanted them to. They felt the Lord telling them to give that money to this couple. That money exactly cleared ALL of their debts. So He can do it in a moment if He wants to! Be encouraged. Believe. I do. And I speak as one in the same boat. Why would He get you out of debt? So you can bless others and help others in need financially speaking. That's why! |
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Megan |
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February 06, 2008 at 11:25am |
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| We all have moments of when we feel that we can give all that we want back to the Lord, but sometimes we do the best that we can even when that isn't easy. |
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| I did read all of it! I am just brain dead! lol One track mind, my friends. Forgive me. :P |
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Cheryl |
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February 06, 2008 at 12:08pm |
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Wow Mike~ No debt repayment plan here, its only surrender my life and my will! Even if we could try it brother, you know there is not enough hours in the day for what Christ did for us. The song Amazing Grace is running through my head!
To save a wretch like me, I once was lost but now I am found, was blind, but now I see.
You know~just simply knowing my sins nailed Him, my Lord, to the cross, makes me surrender all. (not as a negative-self anything, purely out of love) |
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Deb |
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February 06, 2008 at 12:22pm |
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| For all that God has done for us, we can never repay Him. And loving the unlovable can only be done with God's help, I cannot do it alone. Or loving the ones that have hurt us...but we owe it to our Father to do just that! Great post! |
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Lourdes |
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February 06, 2008 at 1:20pm |
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Well Mike n Laura, thanks to you, and after reading this blog, I decided to start memorizing verses as well. I have a better memory for Spanish "data" than English. It comes easier to me. Well, duhhh! lol lol, but seriously, after reading your blog I felt challenged to do some memorization of my own. Thank you!!!
If I could give you a second star I would... but I am not allow ;-) |
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Thanks Deb! Your post reminds me of another applicable scripture - the parable of the unmerciful servant. A debt he/we could never pay!
Megan - amen, sister. We do all we can...thus God's mercy makes a way!
Lara, you are such a caring sister. I love your desire to identify with those you help. It's precious, never apologize for that! :-) |
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| Amen!!!! What more could I add...except (AMEN) |
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Kathy |
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February 06, 2008 at 8:27pm |
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| So very indebted! Cool blog, Mike! |
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| Way awesome. Before I even uploaded this page, I had an idea of what it was about. It's great! |
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| Thanks Kathy, Kathy, and Shells Out! Shells...awesome! I'm glad you saw through my confusing writing style. :-) |
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13:8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.
...for he who loves...has fulfilled (paid in full)...
The other day I was thinking about this word love. It occured to me that perhaps the opposite of love is not hate. GOD is love and there are things he hates. What I came up with is that the opposite of love is pride. You cannot love without humility.
Humility remembers where it came from. Humility does not forget how long it took to go from where it was to where it is now. Humility knows its' journey is not over. And humility never walks alone.
Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
The debt of love is actually non-existent. We do not love because we have to. No, we love because we have to. Because we have been so loved, so blessed, so forgiven, that we love, not out of obligation but desire. Love is not something we do it is who we are.
Yes Mike, my debt was outstanding but because of His love it has been paid in full. No longer a stranger I am a child of the King. And so are you. I "owe" you continuing love because we are family. When we love one another the debt is paid in full.
How wonderful GOD made it so easy. How sad we make it so hard.
.....peace..... |
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"How wonderful GOD made it so easy. How sad we make it so hard."
Gordon, your conclusion completely resonates with me!
Regarding the "debt" of love....I believe there is indeed a sense of "how dare I" when I decline to show love to my friends, neighbors, relatives, spouses, and yes, enemies too, in light of the full on love God unashamedly displayed at the cross. At least that's a lesson I get from the parable of the wicked servant (Matthew 18:21-35), which concludes with the statement, "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
But we're talking love, man! This is indeed an easy yoke! Oh the joy of loving! Yes, love is always out of desire, not obligation! A contradiction? Not really, but maybe a paradox. I owe someone some love, and it is my joy to pay it back as fully as I can! |
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| oops, make that "spouse" (singular!!!), lol |
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A certain medieval monk announced he would be preaching next Sunday evening on "The Love of God." As the shadows fell and the light ceased to come in through the cathedral windows, the congregation gathered. In the darkness of the altar, the monk lighted a candle and carried it to the crucifix. First of all, he illumined the crown of thorns, next, the two wounded hands, then the marks of the spear wound. In the hush that fell, he blew out the candle and left the chancel. There was nothing else to say. Source Unknown. |
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...and I too would sit transfixed on love personified...
thanks Pastor Tim, a beautiful contribution! |
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| Awsome Post Mike, And speaking as some one swimming or should I say drowning in a sea of financial debt. I'm claming Romans 13:8 for that to. |
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This is a good one Mike. I reckon I'm in debt up to my ears too, plus I got a high interest rate.
love ya bro |
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My debt is great, the interest is high and I keep making the minimum payment each month. Do this in the "real world" and you are headed for financial ruin.
Same is true spiritually.
.....peace..... |
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Jairah- amen to that, we can never repay God for the kindness he's shown! But he gave us the Holy Spirit, he put love in us, so he is the one who makes it possible for us to get started on that payment plan!
Gordon, a great analogy!
Thanks Rich n Dave! Rich, I wonder about that interest rate. It doesn't seem too bad. It's just there's so much principal!! Dave, claim away! I wish for your success brother - maybe we should cut up a card or two? |
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Mike,
Jesus paid it all, and all to Him I owe... yet I know I can never repay Him who settled my debt to the Kingdom... however, I too strive to share His Love through my actions, words and deeds. God is truly using you Mike.
Pastor Aminata |
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Fienie |
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February 11, 2008 at 11:20am |
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| Love this blog!!! I am starting from now on to pay my debts daily!!!! |
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Rosie |
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February 11, 2008 at 11:55am |
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I owed a dept i could not pay ... Jesus came and took it away......
So now to Him every thing i owe .. i am so glad that He loves me so..... |
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what if i told you there is a book out there that can get you out of it?
worlds rich's man ever lived king soloman find this book it pomiss that git you out in 6 mouth to one year .'
sorry my spelling stinks
gary smile is one of the backers of the book not shure the wrighters name |
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Christian-Bikers] this moved me so i live it in your hands not mine ok . Sometimes we need to pray, but other times we need to help our online friends find local resources to help them. Not knowing what the need is, I would suggest the person(s) find a local church, small group, community church and seek answers. If the need is a physical one, like food or payment of utilities or rent, then help the person find local resources for these things, like through food banks or community agencies.
Sometimes we need to help someone find other people in their area that know where resources are located. One good resource I know of is Bill Tinker, disabled, displaced human rights activist/advocate, with the New Hampshire Homeless group (you can google it). He is a believer, a biker and a great guy, and has a lot of resources to help folks. He knows about stuff all over the country |
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Fienie, great to know that we are making those payments together!
Pastor Aminata, yes Jesus paid it all....that is, all of our legal obligations, the cold hard currency of atonement. Now we have the pleasure of returning the favor, paying into a debt with the "soft" currency of love and devotion. Cool isn't it?
biker, thanks for the comment!
Rosie, I think I've heard that somewhere before lol. btw, are you still singing? |
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Gene |
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February 12, 2008 at 12:24pm |
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I've got to go along with Gordon on this one. I can barely keep up with the interest payments. Of course, love IS one of my interests. But the entire debt is more than the whole of the earth and stars.
Love ya!
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