Peace

Why is it so hard for us to be content with our lives?  We should consider the benefits and blessings of being a Christian—joy, peace, contentment … with rivers of living waters flowing out of such a life.   Knowing Christ as personal Savior, experiencing the guiding presence of the Holy Spirit, and living with a glorious hope for eternity should produce a dramatic difference in the personality and lifestyle of every true believer. Christ’s redemptive work provides not only for our eternal glory, but also for a full and abundant life now.

The lie of the secularist is the notion that contentment in life is dependent upon material possessions. The going expression is “if I only had just a little more.” One of the important lessons that we should learn early in life is this: “If I am not satisfied with what I have, I will never be satisfied with what I want.” But contentment is an attitude that must be learned and developed. It is foreign to our human behavior. The apostle Paul was shut up in Nero’s dungeon in Rome when he penned these words: “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation …”  Paul’s contentment was a personal relationship with his Lord. Money can buy many wonderful things, but it never provides this kind of permanent satisfaction. Only an intimate daily relationship with our Creator can truly satisfy the human heart.

scriptures

The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace. Psalm 29:11

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”  John 7:38

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.  John 10:10

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  Philippians 4:12

FORGIVEN

Many Christians have suffered great internal anguish because they cannot accept that God has completely, 100% forgiven them. It is important to fully comprehend that when we ask God for forgiveness He forgives us completely and without conditions—the slate is forever clean. If we are forgiven by God than who are we to keep reminding ourselves of the past?  We are forgiven and should accept this gift of grace from our heavenly Father without guilt or  self-condemnation.  

We all have regrets and events that we relive in our mind that we wish we could forget.  Something we did or said that we wish we could take back.  Don’t you wish our mind had a delete button???  We don’t have to delete those memories but we can put them in their proper place……FORGIVEN. 

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.  Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.  For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah  

I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah  

Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.  You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.  Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.  Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD.   Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!  Psalm 31:1-11

I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for My own sake, and remembers your sins no more.         Isaiah 43:25

I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.  1 John 2:12

For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.  Matthew 26:28

God's Abundant Mercy

Often it’s disappointing when we discover that a person we admire has faults. A close friend, spouse, child or even someone we admire within our own church family who falls short of our expectations.  We feel bitterness that is sometimes hard to overcome. In order to make sense of their shortcomings we must remember that we too have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  None of us is perfect, no not one.

A look at David’s life shows us that we serve a merciful, forgiving God.  In spite of David’s lust for a married woman and the murder of her husband, David found forgiveness.  This gives us the confidence that we too can come before the Lord and receive forgiveness.  God won’t overlook our sins but He won’t be crushed by them either.  God knows that we are only human and as such we are sinners.

We are all miserable failures when it comes to being perfect.  There is only One perfect Man and that is Jesus.  We all have demons that we fight on a daily basis and though we sometimes give in to those demons we know that we can count on God to forgive us. God is not looking for a reason to condemn us; He is looking for a reason to rescue us.  The only way He can rescue us is for us to confess our sin just as David did when confronted by the Prophet Nathan.  He didn’t make excuses for the evil he had committed.  With a broken heart he confessed his sin.  He asked for and received forgiveness and his fellowship with the Lord was restored.

Through David we learn about the grace of God, and we are reminded that you and I are invited to come boldly to the Lord too that He may meet us—and our needs.

SCRIPTURE

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to Your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.  Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!  For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.  Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be justified in Your words and blameless in Your judgment.  Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.   Behold, You delight in truth in the inward being, and You teach me wisdom in the secret heart.   Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.  Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that You have broken rejoice.  Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.  Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You.  Psalm 51:1-13

FORGIVEN

Saturday, June 5^th I was honored to be the guest speaker at the “you make a difference” women’s conference at Texarkana’s Circle J Cowboy Church.  The women in attendance were seeking God and He showed up in a big way.  I wouldn’t expect anything less from my Savior.

There was a lot of brokenness in the audience; families that had been torn apart by drugs, divorce, tragedy, and ungodly living.  I believe lives were changed yesterday and praise God souls were added to the Kingdom of heaven. 

When we realize that our Savior endured much more than we could ever possibly imagine is when we get a glimpse of the depth of His love and grace.  Knowing that He loves us just the way we are because He made us just the way we are allows us to come to Him without fear of rejection or condemnation.

Jesus represents us before God’s throne. As our High Priest, He sympathizes with our weaknesses and temptations and gives us grace. As our Advocate, He helps us when we sin. When we confess our sins to God, because of Christ’s advocacy God forgives us. 

I AM FORGIVEN……………………………………..

SCRIPTURE

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.  Hebrews 4:15-16

Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.  Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need--one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.  Hebrews 7:23-26