I opened the iPad, and the text message meanest text message stared at me. It cut to my heart, and I began to seethe with anger. My heart started beating fast and my whole body shook. I went straight to my phone to text a friend. “You should see the email I got! I’m done! Done!” Then I emailed my husband, who was at work. “You won’t believe the text message I got!”

Over the next hours I calculated my response. All the while Jesus kept coming to my mind. I tried to shoo Him away. At that moment, I didn’t want Jesus. I wanted justice. Justice was my right.

But He wouldn’t leave me alone.

Instead Jesus brought to my mind hurting words I’d said in the past. He showed me faces of people I’d hurt. He reminded me of “77 times.” Then, there was the gut-wrencher. He showed me the Cross.

By this time I was done fighting it. I knew I had to forgive this person. But I also knew I couldn’t do it myself. So I prayed and asked God to show me what righteous anger looks like. How can I be angry without sinning? How do I respond with forgiveness?

Over the course of the day my anger went away. I begin to see two broken people instead of one – her and me.

A Lot of Prayer

Who do you need to forgive today? Is it an ex-boyfriend or a spouse? Is it a parent? A friend? Is it the person you don’t even know anymore on Facebook, but for some reason every time her face comes onto your page you get angry?

Let this be our prayer this weekend – that we learn to forgive in the same way God forgave us.

This weekend I am praying for you. Please leave your requests in the comments or on the Facebook page.

And a Little Encouragement

I get so many emails asking about the One Year No Dating Challenge, that I’ve decided to help you with it! (If you don’t know what the One Year No Dating Challenge is, click here.) But first I want to know your exact needs. So will you please take this short survey to help me know how to help you? Thank you!

And Even Some Fun

Have you heard of Noonday? Here’s a little bit of what they’re about:

Noonday Collection‘s mission is to create economic opportunity for the vulnerable. We partner with artisans in the developing world, empowering them to grow sustainable businesses. By creating a marketplace for their goods, we create dignified jobs at living wages. This allows our artisans to earn more in order to support their families.”

My in-real-life-friend, Jessica, recently became a Noonday ambassador. That means she sells Noonday products. Here’s what she does in her words:

Noonday is way for me to be a voice for the oppressed. Noonday creates opportunities in some of the most desperate regions in the world, places where poverty forces many into “false” jobs with the hope of security. Sadly these lead to abuse, violence and at times human trafficking.

When you buy from Noonday Collection, you are contributing to the sustainable livelihood of another person. With every purchase, you are helping to change the lives of women, children and families around the world by providing a safe pathway out of poverty through honest work. When you wear jewelry and accessories from this collection, you share the story of the artisans who handcrafted each piece. In turn, you become a voice for the oppressed.”

Noonday products are the perfect way to support products made with Fair Trade principles in order to help people have dignified jobs and eventually give orphaned children homes.

Will you consider shopping Noonday for your upcoming Christmas gifts? Here are a few of the products you can buy.

(I do not receive any compensation for your purchases through Noonday, nor did I receive a commission for this post. These are not affiliate links of mine. I just highly support my friend, Jessica, and Noonday. I hope you love it too!)

Praying for you this weekend! Leave your requests below!