You can fill in the blank with many words but for this message I complete the sentence with “Reconciliation”. There has been many battles leading to all out war without reconciliation. It is tough when we have our own thoughts that we want to get off our tongues. Out of the abundance of the heart the tongue speaks. What does that mean? Well, it could mean that we have put good ideas and positive consideration into our hearts so that when we speak, we are heard with understanding. Or, it could mean that we have put garbage ideas and negative thoughts into our hearts so that what we speak is thrown out by others so that there is no compromise. I believe the art of reconciliation is listening before speaking then taking the time to allow your positive response to overcome your spontaneous outburst. As I listen to the candidates from both sides of the presidential race, I have a hard time seeing signs of reconciliation. We are all humans and therefore full of faults (sin). Why not accept our weakness and look to a higher strength to help us learn reconciliation. According to 2 Corinthians 5:18, we are given the “ministry of reconciliation”. Remember the story of the lost son in Luke 15? The father accepted him back in-spite of his rebellion even at the expense of hurting his other son who never strayed from home. The wayward son was lost and now is alive. What if the father had written him off as useless trash? Let us all practice the art of reconciliation and pray for peace. (Hear my message below.)
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