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Matthew 13:1-23

In the parable of the sower, Jesus teaches that it takes good soil to produce a plentiful harvest. He advises against planting seed on the rocky places and warns about dangerous thorns that choke the plants. He directly applies this to our spiritual life, explaining that the seed is God’s truth; it’s only in good soil that the Word is received and spiritual fruitfulness is produced.

Biblical fasting can position our heart to receive God’s truth. It can make us ready for the planting of the Word, and through that, to receive greater insight, direction, and faith (Rom. 10:17). Then we will be better prepared to set ourselves apart from earthly concerns and spend time concentrating on heavenly matters. The Lord may use this time to reveal any stumps, rocks, and roots that entangle our heart and prevent spiritual growth. And He promises to be with us as we confess and face these obstacles.

What’s the condition of your heart’s soil? God wants to clear out the rocks and weeds in our life and break up any hard soil; biblical fasting prepares us for such tilling. God is calling His people to consecrate themselves to Him. Won’t you come before Him to be made ready?

Your stomach turns. In the heat of the moment, you said something hurtful to your partner that you now deeply regret. You know you need to apologize, but you just can’t bring yourself to do it. If the thought of saying I’m sorry gives you pause, you’re not alone. Countless people struggle to apologize, primarily because we feel shame when we think about how we hurt someone we love, says Tracy Ross, a couples therapist based in New York City.

People often struggle to say I’m sorry because they confuse having done something wrong with having something inherently wrong with them, Ross says. They don’t want to face this feeling—even though it’s misguided—so they put off apologizing. But it’s possible, of course, to have done or said something hurtful while still being a fundamentally good person. We all say and do things we regret.

The good news? Apologizing is a skill you can cultivate. Keep reading for six steps to saying I’m sorry to your partner.

Step 1: Be sincere.

There’s nothing worse than hearing I’m sorry and knowing the other person doesn’t mean it—they simply want to bypass whatever tension has arisen in the relationship. But a true apology is one that’s sincere and well thought-out.

“You want an apology to actually carry weight and not just become a throw-away comment or conversation ender,” Ross says. “Sincere apologies are validating and help you let go and move on, but hollow apologies are just momentary filler.”

Step 2: Act quickly.

Once you realize you’ve made a mistake and need to apologize, it’s important to act quickly, says Gabrielle Usatynski, a licensed professional counselor based in Boulder, Colorado.

“Quick repair is a hallmark of successful long-term intimate relationships,” Usatynski says. “The longer you wait to clean up a mess you made with your partner, the more you threaten the well-being of your relationship.”

Step 3: Watch your words.

Word choice is incredibly important when delivering an apology. Using the wrong words can make the entire apology come across as dismissive and insincere, says Caitlin Garstkiewicz, a therapist based in Chicago.

Garstkiewicz says it’s important to use “I” versus “you” statements. For example, instead of saying, “You seem mad at me,” opt for, “I hear you saying that you feel hurt.”

“When we use ‘I,’ we are making a statement of ownership,” Garstkiewicz says. “When we use ‘you,’ it can be perceived as a displacement of responsibility and feel very dismissive to our partner.”

Garstkiewicz also recommends avoiding the words “if” and “but,” as they can also come across as dismissive. For example, saying “I’m sorry if I made you feel that way… ” or “I’m sorry, but you… ” doesn’t feel as genuine as saying, “I’m so sorry I did that and made you feel that way.”

When choosing your words, be as specific as possible. Ross recommends the following phrases to get started:

I realize I hurt you by…

I misunderstood you and…

I understand that…

I wish that I had…

In the future, I will try to…

Step 4: Consider your delivery.

Words matter, but so does body language, tone, volume and eye contact.

“A smile, soft expression and gentle tone of voice are all important cues that signal to your partner that you’re non-threatening and truly regret what you did,” Usatynski says. “Words are important, but the best words in the world will not be meaningful if they’re delivered with an angry expression, eye-rolling or a lack of sincerity.”

Usatynski says the importance of these signals reinforces the fact that apologies should always be done in person—not via text, email or phone call. “Ninety-seven percent of our communication is non-verbal,” she says. “Your partner needs to be able to see your face, your expression and your body language in order to know you are sincere.”

Step 5: Look for cues you’ve been forgiven.

When you apologize well, you’ll know it, Usatynski says. You’ll see a noticeable change in your partner’s face and body language that indicates they’re starting to relax. They might take a deep breath, smile a little, give out a sigh of relief or visibly loosen their shoulders.

Step 6: Be patient.

If you don’t notice any of the above cues following an apology, there’s a good chance your partner isn’t ready to forgive you right away. And that’s OK.

If your partner isn’t ready to forgive, you need to figure out why by asking open-ended questions. “Focus on the feelings and the emotional experience, not the content of what happened or who said what,” Ross says.

Remember that just because your partner isn’t ready to forgive you right away doesn’t mean they’re holding a grudge. “Forgiveness can’t always be immediate,” Ross says. “It has to come after some sort of process you go through together as a couple, and the timeline can vary.”

Even if you feel irritated or angered by the fact that your partner isn’t ready to forgive you, it’s crucial to not act on these impulses, Garstkiewicz says. Don’t challenge your partner if they aren’t ready to forgive, as this can cause additional hurt instead of putting you on the path to repair.

“Picture the process of forgiveness like riding a wave,” she says. “The wave can feel unsettling, bumpy and turbulent, and at the same time we can feel content, patient and hopeful. Instead of fighting the wave of forgiveness and the uncomfortable feelings it can create, we can choose to sit with it and understand that the current uncomfortable feelings will not last forever.”

Heavenly Father, it is through the pure Name of Jesus that I come today to thank You for the opportunity to celebrate the amazing freedoms that You have bestowed on the United States. We have had the privilege to celebrate many 4th of Julys since the first one many years ago. Unfortunately, many in this country have turned from You and have instead turned to destructive ways. I am sorry that some are not showing any appreciation for the blessing of living in a free country.

In spite of all of this, You are still sustaining this country and its freedoms. We ask that You forgive us individually and as a nation for taking Your blessings for granted. Thank you that just as Israel had the opportunity to turn back to You, we in America also have the possibility of turning to turn from our wicked ways and returning to you.

Encourage us as a nation and individually to practice 2 Chronicles 7:14. “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Thank you for the joy of all the different aspects ​of celebrating with our family and friends this great freedom we have. Most of all, remind us often to give thanks to the One who provides everything we have. Lamentations 3:22-23 says “through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

Thank you that I can bring this prayer in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

For more prayers, visit www.timewithourcreator.com

Lord almighty, I come to You through the Name of Your Son Jesus to praise You for the gift of our earthly fathers. Thank you for the leadership, courage and protection that our fathers provide and for the opportunity we have to honor them and appreciate all the work they have put into our lives. I praise You that there are fathers all across the country leading ​their families according to the Word of God. Thank you for enabling these men to live a life honoring to You.

I realize that although Your creation of fathers was perfect in nature, sin has entered and corrupted that perfection. Because of this corruption, many have been left with long-lasting scars and pains from their earthly fathers. Direct those who have had an unpleasant relationship with their father or never knew him, for their own peace, to forgive him and cast all their past hurts onto Jesus. "Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" 1 Peter 5:7. For the fathers who have been hurt, I ask that You draw them to Yourself and restore their relationships with their children.

Thank you that no matter how much our earthly fathers have failed us, You will never fail us. Your Word tells us in Psalm 27:10 that "when my father and mother forsake me, then the LORD, will take care of me." You will always be there, arms wide open, ready to receive, and that is a promise no one can take away. I ask that You would teach fathers and future fathers to rely on You for wisdom and strength to lead and instruct their families. Show them how to model their lives and shape their influence to better reflect the example You have given in Your Word.

It is in the perfect Name of Jesus that we pray, Amen.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15), Anthony Gonzalez (OH-16), Tim Ryan (OH-13), Dave Joyce (OH-14), and Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) partnered to introduce the Isolate COVID-19 Act. This legislation will establish a federal program where states can receive funding to lease hotel properties for the purpose of temporarily housing individuals with COVID-19 who lack the ability to isolate or quarantine in their own homes and wish to voluntarily isolate themselves.

Research into the spread of COVID-19 indicates that transmission of the virus often occurs between household members and co-workers in close contact with each other. These transmissions fall hardest on low-income Americans, who are more likely to work in tight quarters and live in small, multi-generational households. The Isolate COVID-19 Act would help to reduce the number of COVID-19 transmissions by ensuring states have the necessary funding to lease hotel properties and provide a safe space for individuals to voluntarily isolate themselves from their loved ones.

“The 15th District of Texas is a majority-minority district with a high Latino population. Our culture is to spend time with loved ones and family, which in normal circumstances is a blessing, but during a pandemic it’s detrimental to those we mean to protect,” said Congressman Vicente Gonzalez. “As we’ve seen from recent CDC data, Latinos are more likely to contract, spread and die because of the coronavirus. This legislation provides for those individuals who do not want to risk the health and wellbeing of their families to isolate in participating hotels in our communities while at the same time boost our suffering travel industry. We need to lay every option on the table to beat this deadly virus.”

“Opening up hotels for voluntary isolation will help protect our families who need it the most, especially low-income Americans, wage workers, and minorities who are unable to effectively self-isolate in their homes,” said Congressman Anthony Gonzalez. “Until we can widely administer a vaccine for COVID-19, we need every tool at our disposal to help suppress the spread of the virus, including improving our ability to voluntarily isolate infected individuals,” “With nearly 80% of states seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases, we have to be thinking critically about how we’re going to decrease transmission. Because most transmissions occur between household members, this legislation is a key step in overcoming the spread of the virus. It also has the added benefit of giving a boost to local hotels who have been among the hardest-hit businesses during this pandemic” said Congressman Tim Ryan. “To beat this crisis, economic measures and health measures have to work hand-in-hand. If we don’t get transmission of the virus under control, we will not only continue to lose precious lives, but we’ll continue to prolong the economic downturn that has already hurt so many working class families.”“This virus is a two-headed monster, having created both a health crisis and an economic one,” said Rep. Dave Joyce. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan bill that will not only help slow the spread of COVID-19, but also provide a lifeline for some of Ohio’s hardest hit businesses. To date, Ohio has had more than 69,311 reported cases of COVID-19 and more than 100,000 workers have lost their hotel-related jobs. By isolating individuals who have been infected away from their homes, we can dramatically reduce COVID-19 transmission in our communities and create much-needed revenue for struggling hotels and those they employ. I look forward to working with Reps. Gonzalez (OH), Ryan (OH), Gonzalez (TX) and Gottheimer (NJ) to get this bill across the finish line so that we can protect Buckeye families and their jobs.”

“This bipartisan bill will help provide safe places for those infected to self-isolate during the coronavirus pandemic, especially those who aren’t able to quarantine in their own homes,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer. “Measures like these can help stop the spread and protect our communities.” The Isolate COVID-19 Act seeks to build on successes seen in other countries who have implemented similar programs by utilizing partnerships between state, local health officials and the hotel industry to provide a means of voluntary isolation in hotel facilities to significantly reduce the risk of another wave of infections and protect those, like low-income Americans, wage workers and minorities,who may have a more difficult time self-isolating in their homes.

This legislation provides important protections to make sure that states have in place plans for hotels to have proper workplace safety standards and cleaning protocols for rooms and facilities as well as having at least one health care professional on site or on call at all times to monitor the health of individuals being housed at the hotels.

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