Forgiven Because of Love
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I AM FORGIVEN
You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you.
Psalm 86:5
The song by Rebecca St. James called “Amazing Love” demonstrates God’s love for us by revealing to us how much we mean to our Heavenly Father. If you have heard this song before you know the opening line, which states, “I’m forgiven because you were forsaken.” [1]Isn’t that such a powerful opening line! Ask yourself how could one person face trials and tribulations for me? How could a man who has no sin take sin for me? But I tell you he took all your sin and pain and made it his own. He chose to be humiliated and tortured because JESUS LOVES YOU. He says that no matter what you have done in your life I love you. No matter what sin you have committed I love you. I am here for you if you want to be forgiven. It is a free offer. There is no compromise attached to this offer it is free!
Believe me when I say that God does not want anything from you. However, God does want to do something for you. He wants to release you from the bondages of your sin. He wants to set you free to worship Him and to live for Him. The bible says in John 3:16 that God loved us so much he gave his only begotten son for us. Picture this in your mind and in your thoughts Jesus hanging on the cross. A man who had committed no sin became sin for me. He became my redeemer and took my place on that cross. The cross that I was supposes to bear. That sin or those many thousands of sins that I have committed from the start of my life to the end of it. Jesus took them all and forgave me.
It is impossible to even fathom why God cares for each of us so much, especially when most of us have turned our backs on him and spit on his face. We have lied, cheated, stolen, and sinned with our eyes, our thoughts, our flesh and our lives. How could he love me? But I tell you the truth that no matter what sin(s) have caused you to turn away from God it is time to go back to your first love. It is time to draw nigh to our creator who has given everything for our salvation.
The Lord our God loves you and He longs for you to dwell forever with Him in His kingdom. He longs for a heart that will seek and pant after Him. He is just waiting for His children to ask Him to forgive them of their sins. 1 John 1:5-9 sums up how just and forgiving our God really is.
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About the Book
Forgiven Because of Love reminds us that there is a great God that loves us unconditionally and wants nothing more from us than merely being a part of our lives. This book is great for new believers and even mature Christians because it is a reminder of Jesus's sacrifice for us. Forgiven also reminds us that we are a chosen generation. Set apart to do a mighty work for God. As you read through the pages of this book it will remind you about God's love for you and give you a clearer picture of God's purpose for your life.
About the Author
Hello, my name is Norina Calilung, a Filipina born and raised on the small island of Guam. I am currently serving as a teacher in the Guam Public School System. I have been teaching for about 6 years with 2 of those years being at St. Paul Christian School.
I have been serving the Lord for over 10 years now with my time and gifts. I have been a Carecell leader, spiritual parent, district pastor, and assisted leaders at St. Paul Assemblies of God Church.
I have a wonderful husband and a son that lives to serve the Lord. I would call myself blessed because of the wonderful things God has done in my life.
I first came to know the Lord in 1975 when my parents took me a church called Teen Challenge. It was just a small church with tin roof all around. For reasons I can't explain we left the church after a typhoon devastated it in 1976. However, if God has a purpose for your life he will make a way for to come back. After we left Teen Challenge we went back to the Catholic Church and that is where I would learn more about God. For 20 years I would go to church because that's what we are told to do, but God always put people in my path that reminded me of God's love and forgiveness. Many of the ones that reminded me of God's love were the members of Teen Challenge. Growing up they have always been there showing concern and always praying for us.
In 1994 or 1995 my brother-in-law invited my husband and son to go with him to Teen Challenge which was now located in Harmon, Guam. As my family started going to Teen Challenge I longed for more and I asked the Lord where he wanted me to go. So, one day I went to Teen Challenge and prayed that the Lord would help me to let go of all my past hurts and experiences.
Soon after the congregation of Teen Challenge moved to a bigger facility and changed it's name to St. Paul Assembly of God church. It also became home for St. Paul Christian School. As I continued to grow in the Lord he led me to serve in various ministries. Where there was a need I would do my best to help out and serve.
All the while I was serving and desiring for more. For over 10 years I had been working as an accounting clerk/bookkeeper at various companies, but as I desired to serve God even more I could no longer ignore the stirring inside my heart to step out in faith. So, I told my boss that I was quitting and going back to school to become a teacher. I wanted to make a difference and by faith I went back to school and graduated 3 years later.
As I started my teaching career I still continued to pray for God's will for my life and about 2 years after I started teaching that desire turned in to an overwhelming urge to share God's word. I was already working at St. Paul Christian School and serving at the church 24-7, but then I had to step back because the call of God was undeniable.
So, I quit working at the school and went to teach at the public school. I also started stepping back from being active 24-7 at the church I had to you see because God wanted me to step out of the box. It was time to step out of the four walls of the church where I felt safe and do something more for him.
This book is the result of that. It took 3 years for this book to come to completion and God had done so much for me and changed me in so many ways. Moreover He has strengthened me in ways that I cannot even explain. The biggest change is in actually having the courage to share about God's love.
You know we are truly blessed my friends because we have someone who cares for us unconditionally and who loves us despite of our faults and shortcomings. God loved us so much that He gave His one and only son to save us and that was Jesus Christ. God still demonstrates His love for us today because He puts people in our path to tell us about Jesus and show us God's love.
I want to thank you for taking the time to read my book, Forgiven Because of Love. I pray that the Lord would move you and stir up your heart as you continue to read through the pages of this book. I pray that this book would change your life and give you a new beginning.