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Take a breath and let it out. Today is a day of renewal.

In a world where relationships are strained and bridges are broken, we celebrate a day dedicated to unconditional love. Let us explore forgiveness, a vital aspect of the work carried out by GiveSendGo.  Forgiveness is a profound act of love that liberates us, while bringing about healing and redemption. Through forgiveness, lives can be changed, and we can experience a love beyond our understanding. The Bible teaches us that forgiveness is not just a moral duty, but a divine commandment. We have all made mistakes and fallen short of perfection. However, God's boundless love offers us redemption through forgiveness, providing a pathway back to freedom and the perfection we once knew. In the same way, we are called to extend this grace to others, even when they may not deserve it.

Forgiveness is not a display of weakness, but a testament to the strength of love. When we choose forgiveness, we release ourselves from the chains of resentment and bitterness that hold us captive. Through forgiveness, we discover true freedom and experience healing, enabling us to move forward with renewed hope and restored relationships. GiveSendGo exemplifies God's love in action, providing a platform for individuals to extend forgiveness and support one another in times of need. By fostering a spirit of generosity and compassion, GiveSendGo enables tangible expressions of forgiveness. Through this, people can encounter the profound power of God's unconditional love in their own lives.

Forgiveness is not a trivial act; it carries immense significance. It demands that we let go of our pride, ego, and desire for revenge. It requires vulnerability, humility, and an acknowledgment of our shared humanity. Yet, it is within this surrender that we find the strength to rise above our pain and walk in the mercy of our Heavenly Father. Choosing forgiveness entails setting aside our notions of justice and allowing God to assume the role of judge. The same grace we extend to others will be extended to us.

On Forgiveness Day, let us embrace the profound significance of forgiveness, drawing inspiration from the teachings of the Bible and the compassionate work of GiveSendGo. As we extend forgiveness to others, we not only liberate ourselves from the burden of resentment but also contribute to the healing of a broken world. May this day serve as a reminder that forgiveness possesses the power to transform lives, heal wounds, and inspire hope, creating an endless ripple effect of love and redemption. Together, let us bear the gift of forgiveness, embracing its weight and spreading its light to even the darkest corners of our world.

Take some time to read about forgiveness today: Colossians 3:13 Luke 23:34 Luke 6:37 Matthew 6:14-15

Holy Week, otherwise known as Passion Week, is a time of remembrance and reflection for Christians all over the world. While Holy Week doesn’t technically include Easter Sunday we still spend this time honoring the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. This week followed by Resurrection Sunday depicts the Greatest Story ever told (featuring themes of love, despair, a suspenseful climax, hopelessness, joy, and even a happy “ending”), a structure in which every other story in the world we’ve heard or read follows. 

Holy Week begins with Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, a humble symbol of peace, but it became quickly apparent that the events to follow would be more complex and somber. In fact, the people who were there to celebrate Jesus’ entry, shouting “Hosanna!” and throwing down their cloaks and palm branches on the road for Jesus to walk upon, were the very same people who would later shout “Crucify him!”. They had a wrong understanding of why Jesus came in the first place. While they expected him to deliver them from Roman oppression, Jesus came to deliver them spiritually from their sins and the sin of the world. 

On Good Friday, Jesus was crucified, brutally whipped and beaten, and hung on a cross to die. Even still, Jesus gave his last breath willingly, no one took it from him. It was a moment of great sorrow and pain, and it seemed as though all hope was lost. But as the story goes, it was only the beginning of a greater narrative.

Easter Sunday, also known as Resurrection Sunday, is the day when Jesus rose from the dead. Something no one else could have expected. That moment marked his victory of life over death, and hope over despair. Jesus' resurrection proves he really is the Son of God, as he was claiming to be all along. It’s a testament to the fact that even death cannot defeat the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He’s been triumphant from the beginning. 

As Christians, we celebrate Easter not because of the egg hunts, fuzzy bunnies, or baskets jam-packed with chocolates and other goodies, but because of the significance of Jesus' resurrection. Jesus died on the cross to make a way for people to be saved and he rose from the dead so we could have life eternal with him. That was always God’s plan. 

We also see the power of God's love and grace. Jesus’ death and resurrection fulfilled the promises God made to us and to his people all the way back in the Old Testament - that He would provide the ultimate sacrifice who would make salvation possible. Jesus’ death and resurrection changed the course of history and it continues to provide hope and joy for us today. 

To summarize, Easter is a season of reflection and celebration, commemorating the incredible gift of salvation Jesus made possible for all of us through his life, death, and resurrection. His purpose was always to come in this way and through his resurrection, we are reminded that we can find eternal life through our belief, trust, and faith in Jesus Christ.
Why not accept this gift of salvation Jesus is so lovingly extending to you today?

The Passover is a significant event in Jewish history that commemorates God's deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. The Passover lamb was sacrificed, and its blood was placed on the doorposts to protect the Israelites from the angel of death. The Passover meal is observed annually as a reminder of this miraculous event. (Read more on the Passover in the book of Exodus).

But the Passover has a deeper meaning as well. It points to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who gave his life on the cross to save and provide hope for humanity from sin and death. He was God’s plan for salvation from the beginning of time. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus fulfilled the Passover in a way that no other sacrifice could.

First, Jesus was the perfect Passover Lamb. In John 1:29, John the Baptist calls Jesus "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." Jesus was without blemish, just as the Passover lamb had to be. His blood was shed to provide redemption for all who trust in him, just as the blood of the Passover lamb protected the Israelites.

Second, Jesus' death on the cross occurred during the Passover celebration. He was crucified on the day of preparation for the Passover, the same day that the Passover lambs were being slaughtered in the temple. This was not a coincidence; it was a divine appointment that God had orchestrated to show that Jesus was the ultimate Passover sacrifice.

Finally, Jesus' death on the cross inaugurated a new covenant between God and us. In Luke 22:20, Jesus tells his disciples that the cup of wine he shares with them represents "the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." This new covenant fulfills the promise that God made to Abraham, that through him all nations of the world would be blessed.

Through his death on the cross, Jesus fulfilled the Passover in a way that no other sacrifice could. It also serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness, redemption, and provision. He provided blessings and deliverance to the Israelites as He does for us now through Jesus Christ. As we remember the Passover, let’s also celebrate the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made for us and praise him for the redemption he’s provided.