FORGIVENESS: AN UNDESERVED GIFT

He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. [Psalm 103:10-12 (NLT)]

Father of Second Chances, we are sinners and beg your pardon and mercy. Redeemed by your son Jesus Chris, we are grateful for this gift of forgiveness and salvation. Thank you for not tiring of forgiving us time after time. Fill us with your peace and guide us as we meet this day.

Remember When?

Wash away all my guilt and make me clean again. I know about my wrongs, and I can’t forget my sin. [Psalm 51:2-3 (NCV)]

As we gather with friends and family over the holidays, we may spend time reminiscing and sharing memories. “Remember when…?” we ask. Sometimes this recollecting causes us to pause and shudder. A memory of a wrong we committed rears its ugly head and we begin to feel shame and guilt. We remember the things we should have done and failed to do and the things we did that we shouldn’t have done but did. We remember harsh words, short tempers, deceitfulness, and other failings. We may remember, but, thank God, He doesn’t! Once forgiven, our sins are also forgotten.

Thank you, Lord, for your loving gifts of forgiveness and forgetfulness. Thank you, Lord, for this coming new year and another opportunity for us to get it right!

I will forgive them for the wicked things they did, and I will not remember their sins anymore.” [Jeremiah 31:34b (NCV)]

Look to the Lord

But even there you can look for the Lord your God, and you will find him if you look for him with your whole being. It will be hard when all these things happen to you. But after that you will come back to the Lord your God and obey him, because the Lord your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you. [Deuteronomy 4:29-31a (NCV)]

Because of their disobedience, the Lord told the Hebrews that difficult times and suffering lay ahead for them. God, however, also promised that He would neither leave nor destroy them. That promise holds true today. There are times that we, too, will suffer because of our failings, but God will neither abandon nor crush us. Although He will never turn his back on us, we can turn our backs on him just as the ancient Hebrews did. When that happens, we may end up destroying ourselves. Which way will we turn today?

Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will search for me. And when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me! I will let you find me,” says the Lord. [Jeremiah 29:12-14a (NCV)]

It’s His Birthday – Look What We Got!

2013-12-25Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). [Isaiah 7:14b (NLT)]

Thank you, Lord, for the best gift ever!

 

“The Gift” [lyrics by Randy Travis]
He was born in Bethlehem they say,
there was a star to light the path to where He lay.
Rich or poor they came from far and near,
cause they’d all heard the reason He was here.
He was the Son God sent to one and all.
Put on this earth to hang there on that cross.
Born to die so we could live.
He had the birthday, we got the gift.
They wrapped him up with gentle hands.
God hoped the world would understand.
Eternal life we shall receive.
And all that He asks in return is that we just believe.
He was the Son God sent to one and all.
Put on this earth to hang there on that cross.
Born to die so we could live.
He had the birthday, we got the gift.
There’s no way in this world we could repay
the miracle He gave us on that day.
He was the Son God sent to one and all,
Put on this earth to hang there on that cross,
Born to die so we could live.
He had the birthday, we got the gift.
On our Savior’s birthday, we got the gift.

We Are Loved

I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love which Christ Jesus our Lord shows us. We can’t be separated by death or life, by angels or rulers, by anything in the present or anything in the future, by forces or powers in the world above or in the world below, or by anything else in creation. [Romans 8:38-39 (GW)]

Thank you, Lord, for your abundant and unlimited love. Its depth is incomprehensible. I am so unworthy; make me worthy and show me how to share your love with others.

Christ died for us while we were still sinners. This demonstrates God’s love for us. [Romans 5:8 (GW)]