On the First 3 Deadly Sins

From Pastor Mark-
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We have been discussing the 7 deadly sin for Lent. It has been very powerful for me to reflect on each of the sins along with their virtues. Pride, Envy, Anger/Rage, Sloth, Greed/Avarice, Gluttony, Lust. Each sins draws us away from God and towards Darkness. I fear as I look around I see all these Sins. Most particularly I see Anger. I see the way we are blinded by rage caused from our Pride (thinking we know better than God) and our Envy (our constantly comparing ourselves to others in a harmful way). We are lacking the virtues God gives us to set ourselves toward the God who loved into existence. The virtues of Humility, of Admiration and of Forgiveness. I pray, we come to know that we cannot fix the world by our own power but trust and rely on the wisdom and strength that only comes from God. I pray, we stop tearing each other down and indeed build each other up. Look for the good in each and every person that God created. I pray, we realize that God created each of us for a specific purpose and that we are not consumed by trying to out do each other for our own selfish gain. We are in this together. I pray, we most of all to forgive. Not Forgive and Forget but, do the hard work of forgiveness in which we share ourselves and hold each other accountable so we can move forward into new relationship and newness of life. The God who loved us into existence doesn’t need anything from us but just desires us to turn towards him(or her) to live the life that really is life.