and coffee. With the rain and cold we were able to light a fire and spend a warm family evening together.

I have read reviews on the solio classic which were mixed. We were at REI today and i was looking at the classic by Solio and a Brunton Restore. Both seemed like good units but each seemed to be lacking a need in some way. I looked on another rack and saw the Goal Zero Guide 10 adventure kit. It really seems to have the features I was looking for. Its a litle bigger but it contains a seven amp solar panel which charges a four AA battery charger. The batteries can be removed. Also a usb device can be directly charged from the panels. The trick now is to test the systems. I did place some charged batteries in the power pack. Iphones can be a little picky about the power source. I was relieved when the iphone accepted the charge from the power pack. The next test will be the solar panel and power pack together and separate. Stay tuned.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control,
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and hath shed his own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
even so, it is well with my soul.

“It Is Well with My Soul” is a very influential hymn penned by hymnist Horatio Spafford and composed by Philip Bliss.

This hymn was written after several traumatic events in Spafford’s life. The first was the death of his only son in 1871, shortly followed by the great Chicago Fire which ruined him financially (he had been a successful lawyer). Then in 1873, he had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the SS Ville du Havre, but sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business concerning zoning problems following the Great Chicago Fire. While crossing the Atlantic, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with a sailing ship, the Loch Earn, and all four of Spafford’s daughters died. His wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, “Saved alone.” Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died.

When we think of forgiveness, most times we think about the act of forgiving others for wrong or hurt they have done to you. Before we open that topic there is one that I’d like to begin with first… That is the ability to forgive yourself. God tells us in Jeremiah 31:34 that when we confess our sins to Him they are “Forgiven” and “Remembered no more”. In other words its as though they did not happen. Once we have moved on and do not commit the same sin, it is us that allows the sin to resurface and fill our mind with guilt. When this does occur, remember the verse in Jeremiah, how great and wonderful God is and how much you are loved by Him.

As God states in Jeremiah that He forgives and forgets our wrongs against him, so are we to do the same. Here is some scripture I have found regarding forgiveness of others:

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13).  

“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times’” (Matthew 18:21-22 ).

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matthew 6:14).  

“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart” (Matthew 18:35).

In the verse from Matthew 18, Christ recognized how difficult forgiveness is in His response to Peter. Forgiving is not a one time deal because sometimes we are faced with a lifetime of forgiving. The importance of forgiving can be seen in the scriptures and what is said. We have to keep forgiving.

If we have been hurt, our natural thought is that we are “Owed” by the person that injured us.  God erases our debts just as we are to erase the debts of others. The parable of the Unforgiving Servant, Matthew 18: 21-35 is a great illustration of this and I liked the reference that our Pastor, Jim Haralson had used in a sermon of his some weeks back.

The act of forgiveness is for US. Behavior in other people may never change and we need to remember that God changes people, not us. It’s our job to set ourselves free from the pressure and pain of unforgiveness.

Charles Stanley provides fives steps to forgiveness in his piece “Forgiveness of Others“.  I thought the steps were well written.

I pray that God gives you the conviction to forgive those that have hurt you and that He continues to do the same for me as well. The act of forgiveness should start the moment you are wronged. Continue to forgive and allow God to be your focus.

Hayden