The two sides of regret - the doing and the not doing.
1)Not doing: that sickening feeling that a person feels when they realize that they missed an opportunity to do something and didn't take it
2)Doing: that sickening feeling a person feels when they realize they said or did something they shouldn't have said or done.
No matter which side of regret I fall on, that feeling can be like a wave crashing over me. Can you relate? Unfortunately I have felt both sides and with the same results... miserable feelings of regret. It is so easy to get stuck in that place, living in the past and reliving our sense of failure (whether perceived or real). May I encourage you today to look at these experiences through the lens of scripture?
Romans 3:23 tells us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." But praise be to God that "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I John 1:9
One of the redeeming qualities of life is that we don't have to live in the past, we can make amends and move forward to make different, better decisions. God knows our frame, that we are weak and sinful yet He has provided a way for us to be reconciled to Himself: through Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection.
So next time you begin to get swallowed up by feelings of regret, remember that God has already made a way for you to be restored and get on the right path again.
Showing posts with label forgiveness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label forgiveness. Show all posts
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Friday, March 4, 2011
Evidence of Grace
"And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me."
II Corinthians 12:9
Again and again, I am humbled by the truth of this scripture. God's grace is truly sufficient and it is only by His power that I am able to do or be anything of worth. As I look back at my life, the challenging circumstances, the numerous failures, the fits and starts... I see evidence of God's grace just as I see the snow that covers our mountains after a good storm. It is unmistakeable and beautiful; it inspires awe and humility.
One of the greatest evidences of grace in my life is in the area of anger. Anger was my constant companion for years, it was a burden that seemed impossible to unload. Daily my family suffered from it, I crumbled under it, the enemy triumphed through it - hopeless and life draining, I felt deep in a pit that had no escape. Everyday I felt angry, everyday I struggled to cope with normal things. I knew in my head that it was destructive, it threatened to destroy me. That could be borne more than the destruction and damage to my family.
The evidence of God's grace starts here... BUT God did not leave me there. He rescued me! Not overnight, but by His sovereign will, over a period of a few years. I'm not sure if the sin was so deeply wrought in my heart or if I was just a really slow learner but God is sovereign. Plus the lesson learned slowly and painfully is not easily (or quickly) forgotten. It truly was one bloody battle at a time, one bible verse wielded like a sword at each strike of the enemy. Oh and the battles raged!
God brought into my life a battle companion, the woman who discipled me through those years. Yet another evidence of grace, my Bonnie said yes to meet with me not knowing the years of diligence and toil it would take. Yes God is good to keep these things from our view!! Think of the things we would never do if we knew. Bless her heart- she was my angel of mercy.
Drawing near to God's word and His people was key to turning the battle around. Like a giant ship trying turn against a powerful tide, at times it seemed as though the ocean and waves were too overwhelming for me to turn the ship around. Even if I didn't explode and yell, my heart still raged yet God poured out His grace abundantly, covering my sins again and again, forgiving me, giving my family patience and grace to endure. It was as though I crawled through those years on my knees begging for God's mercy and asking for forgiveness.
In spite of myself, God has redeemed those years and given us a home of peace, love and grace. Not a week goes by that I am not overwhelmed by that amazing work of grace in my life. That fire was hotter and harder to endure than I could've imagined BUT to have not gone through it would have been hell on earth for me and those around me. God's grace is abundantly sufficient, He is my strength, He deserves all the glory. Hallelujah!
II Corinthians 12:9
Again and again, I am humbled by the truth of this scripture. God's grace is truly sufficient and it is only by His power that I am able to do or be anything of worth. As I look back at my life, the challenging circumstances, the numerous failures, the fits and starts... I see evidence of God's grace just as I see the snow that covers our mountains after a good storm. It is unmistakeable and beautiful; it inspires awe and humility.
One of the greatest evidences of grace in my life is in the area of anger. Anger was my constant companion for years, it was a burden that seemed impossible to unload. Daily my family suffered from it, I crumbled under it, the enemy triumphed through it - hopeless and life draining, I felt deep in a pit that had no escape. Everyday I felt angry, everyday I struggled to cope with normal things. I knew in my head that it was destructive, it threatened to destroy me. That could be borne more than the destruction and damage to my family.
The evidence of God's grace starts here... BUT God did not leave me there. He rescued me! Not overnight, but by His sovereign will, over a period of a few years. I'm not sure if the sin was so deeply wrought in my heart or if I was just a really slow learner but God is sovereign. Plus the lesson learned slowly and painfully is not easily (or quickly) forgotten. It truly was one bloody battle at a time, one bible verse wielded like a sword at each strike of the enemy. Oh and the battles raged!
God brought into my life a battle companion, the woman who discipled me through those years. Yet another evidence of grace, my Bonnie said yes to meet with me not knowing the years of diligence and toil it would take. Yes God is good to keep these things from our view!! Think of the things we would never do if we knew. Bless her heart- she was my angel of mercy.
Drawing near to God's word and His people was key to turning the battle around. Like a giant ship trying turn against a powerful tide, at times it seemed as though the ocean and waves were too overwhelming for me to turn the ship around. Even if I didn't explode and yell, my heart still raged yet God poured out His grace abundantly, covering my sins again and again, forgiving me, giving my family patience and grace to endure. It was as though I crawled through those years on my knees begging for God's mercy and asking for forgiveness.
In spite of myself, God has redeemed those years and given us a home of peace, love and grace. Not a week goes by that I am not overwhelmed by that amazing work of grace in my life. That fire was hotter and harder to endure than I could've imagined BUT to have not gone through it would have been hell on earth for me and those around me. God's grace is abundantly sufficient, He is my strength, He deserves all the glory. Hallelujah!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Forgiven much?
Today I read the parable of the king and the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18. As I took my jog I thought hard about forgiveness and unforgiveness. Somehow although I have read this many times before, this time I saw it with more clarity. Maybe this is because I have been thinking about forgiveness a lot lately: what true forgiveness looks like, how to know you've truly forgiven someone, when do we need to ask for forgiveness, why forgiveness is so critical to our christian growth.
While reading the parable I pictured the king calling each of his servants to recover what they owed him. When he got to one servant who owed him a lifetime worth of money, the king realized the servant could not pay. As a result he ordered the servant's family and all that he owned to be sold in order to settle the debt.
At this point, I'm thinking that while the king probably doesn't need the money, it is his absolute right (and even fair) that he receive back what had been taken or borrowed from him. He was the sovereign owner of the money to begin with.
Back to the scene before us...The servant must have been overwhelmed at the thought of losing all he had, seeing his family sold away from him, and never having a chance to recover. The servant fell down before the king begging him to be patient until he could find a way to pay. The king in a move of great grace, shows compassion on the servant and instead of giving him TIME to repay, he releases the servant from his huge debt. Complete forgiveness, no strings attached.
Wow.
Had the story ended there it would be a pretty fantastic end. Instead it continues with an amazing twist. Here is where my mind stayed turning over and over the events that unfolded next.
The forgiven servant, who has received grace he did not deserve, turns around and goes in search of another servant. Did he go to share the joy of his forgiveness? Unfortunately we will find that is not the case. The forgiven servant finds a fellow servant who owed him a small debt. Upon finding him, he takes him by the throat and threatens him to pay what he owes! His fellow servant falls down at his feet and begs him for patience, he promises to pay all.
Again I pause and think to myself...Certainly here the forgiven servant will share a little bit of the great grace he just received. I mean, he has no debt to pay anymore so he must be willing to share that experience with a fellow debtor.
As it turns out, the forgiven servant tightly grips the grace he has receives, tucks it away, and pronounces judgement on his fellow servant- to debtors prison for you! Not until he received the pittance owed him would he release his fellow servant.
Really? REALLY? How did he so quickly forget the huge debt forgiven him? Why did it not free him to extend that grace to another?
Well, as things played out, news must have traveled fast. The other servants observed the unforgiving behavior of the servant who had been forgiven much and they felt very grieved. In their grief they shared the encounter with the king. The king in turn called in the forgiven servant and said, "You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?" (v.32-33)
As a result of this encounter, the offending servant went from debt free and forgiven to being given to the torturers until he could repay his original debt. Can you imagine? From debt to freedom to debt again... was it worth it?
Was it worth it? Is it worth it to not forgive? It seems to me that I can't afford NOT to forgive. I can't afford it because I have been forgiven a debt I cannot repay... a holy God has required perfection and I am a wretched sinner, unable to reach His standard. I am deserving of death. Romans 6:23 confirms this, "But the wages of sin is death..." All of my sin is a lifetime of debt just like the original servant. The king, God, has the right to expect full payment of my debt. Fortunately Romans 6:23 doesn't stop with the wages of sin, it finishes, "BUT the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
He has extended amazingly great grace to me by sending His Son to die on the cross for my debt, my sin. How can I, an undeserving servant who has been forgiven much and received such great grace not extend a little grace to another? What they owe me is so little compared to the immense debt I owe to my Lord and Savior. Not only that but my debt was so graciously paid for by Christ's blood. I do not deserve it, I cannot repay it.
To withhold forgiveness is to tightly grip the grace I've received, tuck it away, and pronounce judgement on others. To withhold forgiveness is to place the debt I perceive another person owes me as greater than the overwhelming debt I have been forgiven.
Bottom line, no one could ever "owe" me what I owe my Lord... what another owes me in comparison to what I owe my Lord is like comparing a cheap blow up dingy to the Queen Mary.
Bottom line: Forgiveness is not an option, it is an absolute requirement. One I cannot afford to withhold because I owe so much.
While reading the parable I pictured the king calling each of his servants to recover what they owed him. When he got to one servant who owed him a lifetime worth of money, the king realized the servant could not pay. As a result he ordered the servant's family and all that he owned to be sold in order to settle the debt.
At this point, I'm thinking that while the king probably doesn't need the money, it is his absolute right (and even fair) that he receive back what had been taken or borrowed from him. He was the sovereign owner of the money to begin with.
Back to the scene before us...The servant must have been overwhelmed at the thought of losing all he had, seeing his family sold away from him, and never having a chance to recover. The servant fell down before the king begging him to be patient until he could find a way to pay. The king in a move of great grace, shows compassion on the servant and instead of giving him TIME to repay, he releases the servant from his huge debt. Complete forgiveness, no strings attached.
Wow.
Had the story ended there it would be a pretty fantastic end. Instead it continues with an amazing twist. Here is where my mind stayed turning over and over the events that unfolded next.
The forgiven servant, who has received grace he did not deserve, turns around and goes in search of another servant. Did he go to share the joy of his forgiveness? Unfortunately we will find that is not the case. The forgiven servant finds a fellow servant who owed him a small debt. Upon finding him, he takes him by the throat and threatens him to pay what he owes! His fellow servant falls down at his feet and begs him for patience, he promises to pay all.
Again I pause and think to myself...Certainly here the forgiven servant will share a little bit of the great grace he just received. I mean, he has no debt to pay anymore so he must be willing to share that experience with a fellow debtor.
As it turns out, the forgiven servant tightly grips the grace he has receives, tucks it away, and pronounces judgement on his fellow servant- to debtors prison for you! Not until he received the pittance owed him would he release his fellow servant.
Really? REALLY? How did he so quickly forget the huge debt forgiven him? Why did it not free him to extend that grace to another?
Well, as things played out, news must have traveled fast. The other servants observed the unforgiving behavior of the servant who had been forgiven much and they felt very grieved. In their grief they shared the encounter with the king. The king in turn called in the forgiven servant and said, "You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?" (v.32-33)
As a result of this encounter, the offending servant went from debt free and forgiven to being given to the torturers until he could repay his original debt. Can you imagine? From debt to freedom to debt again... was it worth it?
Was it worth it? Is it worth it to not forgive? It seems to me that I can't afford NOT to forgive. I can't afford it because I have been forgiven a debt I cannot repay... a holy God has required perfection and I am a wretched sinner, unable to reach His standard. I am deserving of death. Romans 6:23 confirms this, "But the wages of sin is death..." All of my sin is a lifetime of debt just like the original servant. The king, God, has the right to expect full payment of my debt. Fortunately Romans 6:23 doesn't stop with the wages of sin, it finishes, "BUT the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
He has extended amazingly great grace to me by sending His Son to die on the cross for my debt, my sin. How can I, an undeserving servant who has been forgiven much and received such great grace not extend a little grace to another? What they owe me is so little compared to the immense debt I owe to my Lord and Savior. Not only that but my debt was so graciously paid for by Christ's blood. I do not deserve it, I cannot repay it.
To withhold forgiveness is to tightly grip the grace I've received, tuck it away, and pronounce judgement on others. To withhold forgiveness is to place the debt I perceive another person owes me as greater than the overwhelming debt I have been forgiven.
Bottom line, no one could ever "owe" me what I owe my Lord... what another owes me in comparison to what I owe my Lord is like comparing a cheap blow up dingy to the Queen Mary.
Bottom line: Forgiveness is not an option, it is an absolute requirement. One I cannot afford to withhold because I owe so much.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Yahweh Tsuri ~ The Lord My Rock Pt 2
There may be times when we are falsely accused or slandered, unfairly mistreated or rejected. During those times, we may be tempted to defend ourselves by fighting back, slandering in return, or retaliating in some other form.
If you have confessed with your mouth and believed in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again to save you from your sins then you have a powerful defense... you can forgive them and freely turn it all over to God.
Should you find yourself in a situation like the ones I described above, let me encourage you to consider that God is your rock - He is your deliverer, He is your defender. Take refuge in Him, He is your salvation. Trust Him with those people, with that situation, with your hurt.
Echo David's prayer in II Samuel 22:2-4:
"He (David) said,
'The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
3 My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge;
My savior, You save me from violence.
4"I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
And I am saved from my enemies.' "
If you have confessed with your mouth and believed in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again to save you from your sins then you have a powerful defense... you can forgive them and freely turn it all over to God.
Should you find yourself in a situation like the ones I described above, let me encourage you to consider that God is your rock - He is your deliverer, He is your defender. Take refuge in Him, He is your salvation. Trust Him with those people, with that situation, with your hurt.
Echo David's prayer in II Samuel 22:2-4:
"He (David) said,
'The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
3 My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge;
My savior, You save me from violence.
4"I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
And I am saved from my enemies.' "
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Pilgrim's Progression
This world is not my home, I am a pilgrim on a journey to a heavenly city. As I travel this earth I find myself getting too comfortable, too complacent, too willing to delay the purposes of my journey here. At times I even get caught up in serving to the point that I lose my perspective. There are moments when I get a glimpse of my future home and it's splendor and at those moments my vision is renewed to live as a pilgrim.
Too often I lay my armor down and drop my guard only to come under attack from the enemy in a myriad of ways. Those attacks can be subtle or they can be sudden and violent. Either way the attack comes and my lack of care and continual preparation for the battle causes me injury- sometimes it can cause others injury. As for my Lord, I cause Him grief. Oh the remorse that follows, the realization of my own fault and foolishness. And oh the precious comfort my gracious Lord pours out on on me through His Holy Spirit as I repent of my sins.
Praise be to God that:
~Christ is my righteousness (I Corinthians 1:30).
~He understands that I am a sinner, weak and defiled, prone to wander (Romans 3:10-12, 23).
~He is my refuge in times of trouble (Psalm 18:2).
~He never leaves me nor forsakes me (Hebrews 13:5b) even when I fail.
~His forgiveness is full and complete as I come to Him in repentance (Psalm 103:12).
"Lord I am in awe of Your mercy and grace toward me a sinner. I praise You because You are worthy of my praise, my life, my all. Enable me to live a life that is a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to You. Tranform me by the renewing of my mind that I may prove what Your will is, that which is good, acceptable, and perfect (Romans 12:1-2). Amen."
Too often I lay my armor down and drop my guard only to come under attack from the enemy in a myriad of ways. Those attacks can be subtle or they can be sudden and violent. Either way the attack comes and my lack of care and continual preparation for the battle causes me injury- sometimes it can cause others injury. As for my Lord, I cause Him grief. Oh the remorse that follows, the realization of my own fault and foolishness. And oh the precious comfort my gracious Lord pours out on on me through His Holy Spirit as I repent of my sins.
Praise be to God that:
~Christ is my righteousness (I Corinthians 1:30).
~He understands that I am a sinner, weak and defiled, prone to wander (Romans 3:10-12, 23).
~He is my refuge in times of trouble (Psalm 18:2).
~He never leaves me nor forsakes me (Hebrews 13:5b) even when I fail.
~His forgiveness is full and complete as I come to Him in repentance (Psalm 103:12).
"Lord I am in awe of Your mercy and grace toward me a sinner. I praise You because You are worthy of my praise, my life, my all. Enable me to live a life that is a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to You. Tranform me by the renewing of my mind that I may prove what Your will is, that which is good, acceptable, and perfect (Romans 12:1-2). Amen."
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Dryer Lint
Dryer lint- it's amazing stuff... it's never ending and it accumulates so quickly especially when I do a load of towels or blankets. Faithfully I clean the lint trap and I encourage my girls to do the same. Recently I was informed that the trap isn't the only place that lint accumulates, it accumulates in the dryer casing and in the dryer hose which over time creates a major fire hazard. The hose takes a little effort but it can be fairly easily cleaned. The dryer body is a completely different matter. Of course I haven't any idea how to get in there to clean it out, the lint is hidden, unreachable so I tend to forget about it. Putting off cleaning is pretty easy because the lint is out of sight but it still exists... so does the danger.
As I pondered dryer lint (strange as that is), I saw a correlation to sin in my life; sin is never ending and it temptations, pitfalls, residue accumulates quickly in my heart. The obvious sins I try to keep on short account with God... you know those everyday ones we know are a problem and everyone around us know are an issue- those are my lint trap sins. These sins are visible and fairly easy to find out. It can be tempting to stop there and feel that I have dealt with my sin but like lint, there are hidden sins that accumulate in the recesses of my heart. While these sins aren't so easy to identify, they are in there growing and gaining ground in my heart creating a fire hazard. One day those sins will consume me if I do not take the time to do the hard thing and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal them to me then enable me to truly repent, put off those sins and put on the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14).
God will wash us thoroughly if we will only but fall at His feet in humble repentance. I praise God for the cross of Jesus Christ and the blood that was shed for my sins. I praise God for the victory won there. If I confess my sins God is faithful and just to forgive my sins and cleanse me from ALL unrighteousness (I John 1:9) Alleluia, Amen!
My prayer is this Lord:
"Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin." Psalm 51:2
As I pondered dryer lint (strange as that is), I saw a correlation to sin in my life; sin is never ending and it temptations, pitfalls, residue accumulates quickly in my heart. The obvious sins I try to keep on short account with God... you know those everyday ones we know are a problem and everyone around us know are an issue- those are my lint trap sins. These sins are visible and fairly easy to find out. It can be tempting to stop there and feel that I have dealt with my sin but like lint, there are hidden sins that accumulate in the recesses of my heart. While these sins aren't so easy to identify, they are in there growing and gaining ground in my heart creating a fire hazard. One day those sins will consume me if I do not take the time to do the hard thing and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal them to me then enable me to truly repent, put off those sins and put on the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14).
God will wash us thoroughly if we will only but fall at His feet in humble repentance. I praise God for the cross of Jesus Christ and the blood that was shed for my sins. I praise God for the victory won there. If I confess my sins God is faithful and just to forgive my sins and cleanse me from ALL unrighteousness (I John 1:9) Alleluia, Amen!
My prayer is this Lord:
"Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin." Psalm 51:2
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