In Christ - I am washed clean from my sins

I am washed clean from my sins...

Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."
Ezekiel 36:25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.
Truth for Life With Alistair Begg
July 6, 2012
Count Your Trespasses
Have you ever really weighed and considered how great the sin of God's people is? Think how heinous is your own transgression, and you will find that not only does a sin here and there tower up like an alp, but that your iniquities are heaped upon each other, as in the old fable of the giants who piled Pelian upon Ossa,¹ mountain upon mountain. What an aggregate of sin there is in the life of one of the most sanctified of God's children! Attempt to multiply this, the sin of one only, by the multitude of the redeemed, "a great multitude that no one could number,"² and you will have some conception of the great mass of the guilt of the people for whom Jesus shed His blood. But we arrive at a more adequate idea of the magnitude of sin by the greatness of the remedy provided.

It is the blood of Jesus Christ, God's only and well-beloved Son. God's Son! Angels cast their crowns before Him! All the choral symphonies of heaven surround His glorious throne. "God over all, blessed forever. Amen."³ And yet He takes upon Himself the form of a servant and is scourged and pierced, bruised and torn, and at last slain; nothing but the blood of the incarnate Son of God could make atonement for our offenses.

No human mind can adequately estimate the infinite value of the divine sacrifice, for although the sin of God's people is great, the atonement that takes it away is immeasurably greater. Therefore, even when sin rolls in like a flood, and the remembrance of the past is bitter, the believer can still stand before the blazing throne of the great and holy God and cry, "Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised."
⁴While the recollection of the believer's sin fills him with shame and sorrow, its very darkness serves to show the brightness of mercy; guilt is the dark night in which the fair star of divine love shines with serene splendor.

¹The giant sons of Iphimedia who tried to reach Olympus by piling Mt. Pelian on Mt. Ossa (The Odyssey).
²Revelation 7:9
³Romans 9:5

⁴Romans 8:34

Have you ever had something get so badly stained that nothing you did could get it clean? It never fails that when I wear something new to work I spill something on it – right down the front for everyone to see – and if it had tomato sauce in it I’ll NEVER get it out! I’ve lost many a good blouse to coffee – tea – tomato sauce – blood – and there’s just nothing I’ve ever tried that made it 100% clean again. There’s always a "shadow stain" – a stain I know is there even if it’s not something that other people see. Isn’t it great news that God washes away our sin COMPLETELY? NO STAIN – nothing that HE sees, anyway! The enemy would have us go back and take a look at the things we’ve done that caused the stains in the first place – and he’s NOT going to remind you that Jesus’ blood has been shed to take care of that stain once and for all! All he’ll do is make you feel miserable and keep you focused on that "shadow stain." Don’t let him do that! When you find yourself spending too much time looking back at something in your past – and feeling really bad about it – remind yourself that it was the blood of JESUS – the lover of your soul – that HAS cleansed you – HAS purified you – NOT "will" – but "HAS!" What Jesus did is a "done deal!" If you’ve come to God on His terms then you ARE washed clean from your sins – and those "shadow stains" are only there to remind you of His amazing grace! Sharon

In Christ - I am a child of God

Can I Call You "Daddy?"

Glynnis Whitwer

Devotion:

“Victoria gripped the phone, and dialed frantically. ‘Answer, answer, answer,’ she muttered. Finally, a deep male voice was heard on the other end.

“Victoria's words tumbled out in a rush, ‘Daddy, I'm in trouble. I need you.’

“This scene was from a favorite show. While it's not the most intellectual program out there, I'll admit I'm hooked on the characters. One in particular. The father of the panicked woman mentioned above. He's not a perfect dad; not even a good one most of the time. However, his children know he will hire a small army, spend any amount of money or fly his private jet to come to their rescue.

“His desire to help his children pulls at something deep within me. Although I grew up with a good father, I wouldn't have asked him for help. My father was scholarly. He was a teacher who adored his books, classical music and pipe. I knew he loved me ... that wasn't the issue. He just wasn't an active part of my life. My mother was my problem-solver and rescuer.

“I never had any issues with my father. At least none that I knew of. Until someone told me that my relationship with my earthly father had already affected my relationship with my heavenly Father. Really? I thought I was pretty healthy. Then I started praying and thinking about it.

“Although I loved God deeply, I realized I didn't see Him as a close father. Maybe a distant one. But not one I could call when I'm in trouble. Not one who would hold me while I sat on His lap and cried. Not one who would move heaven and earth, or fire up the private jet, to save me.

“You see, I've never had a father like that. In the depth of my heart, I knew God could help me, but did He really want to? Was He motivated to help me with the same passion I have to help my children? Sadly, I realized I didn't know how to relate to God like a caring father. But I wanted to.

“So I started to change how I pray. Jesus modeled a close relationship with His Heavenly Father. In fact, Jesus called Him ‘Abba’ or ‘Daddy’ (Mark 14:36). I started to pray that way as well. I'll admit it was awkward, and still is at times. Yet, as I have drawn near to God in this tender new way, I realized He has been waiting for me all along.

“I'm coming to understand that God's longing for me is similar to how I feel for my own children. Even though my 18-year-old feels too big to need his mama, I still desire to mother him with protective and loving oversight. And just as I long for my growing children to come and sit on my lap or rest a head on my shoulder, God longs for me to come to Him.

“I'm still learning what all of this looks like. What I know for sure is that I've been invited into a precious relationship with my heavenly Father. In fact, I've been invited to call Him ‘Daddy.’

“Dear Daddy, how I long to fully understand Your love for me. I know in my head You are a tender father, but my heart still doesn't understand. Please reveal Yourself to me as a caring daddy. Help me to overcome all barriers I have to living like a chosen and precious daughter of Yours. I want to know You more. In Jesus' Name, Amen.”

I know I am blessed to have had (and STILL have) a father who was a daddy – someone I could turn to (and still do!) when I needed him.  It helped me relate to God as Father in a way that others have missed out on.  To this day my father will drop whatever he’s doing and come to my rescue – usually at times when it’s really not convenient for him – but I know he’ll come.   If you haven’t been as blessed, I hope you’ll make every effort to get to know God as “daddy” – because that’s what HIS heart is for you!  When Jesus told His followers that they were to address God as their “Father” it was shocking!  A good Jewish boy would NEVER have been so presumptuous!  God was to be revered – feared – respected – but not approached with familiarity.  All of that changed with Jesus.  He brought heaven to earth and opened the door for us to approach Yahweh in a new and more intimate way – as a “Daddy.”  That’s GOD’S heart for YOU – His precious child!  Sharon

__________________________

Sharon Pearce, Director

Silent Voices International

www.silentvoices.org

svoices@pacbell.net

619-422-0757

In Christ - I am strong in the LORD

I am strong in the Lord...

Psalms 18:1,2 I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalms 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid?

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

Isaiah 40:29-31 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Daily Word – Jack Graham – January 27, 2010

And when He [Jesus] had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." Luke 5:4

"Do you remember the story in the book of Luke when the disciples had fished all night and caught nothing? Seeing they were empty handed, Jesus told Simon Peter to throw the nets on the other side of the boat.

"Now, you can hear the lack of excitement in Simon Peter’s response when he said, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing!" But still he threw the net out as Jesus told him to do. And a miracle happened! They caught so many fish that their two boats began to take on water!

"So overwhelmed with what he saw, Simon Peter "fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." (Luke 5:8).

"You see, Simon Peter came to the end of himself, but Jesus was just beginning! In fact, Jesus gave him a new calling saying, "From now on you’ll be catching men."

"Have you reached the end of yourself? Has your toil left you empty-handed? Are you exhausted from working in your own strength? If so, then it’s time to fall at Jesus’ feet.

"Yield to Jesus completely. Follow His direction. And He will restore you and prepare you to fulfill your calling in His kingdom.

"HAVE YOU REACHED THE END OF YOURSELF? IF SO, THEN IT’S TIME TO FALL AT JESUS FEET."

I’ve spent a LOT of time at the feet of Jesus – sadly, it’s not the first thing I think of when I’m "in a fix" and overwhelmed. I’m getting better at seeking Him and His strength for the tasks ahead - but I’ve got lots of room to grow. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard someone say "I know that God won’t give me more than I can bear" – implying that it’s God’s will that we try to handle life on our own strength and with our own limited resources. I’ve got some news for you! That’s not in the Bible – ANYWHERE!
In fact, quite the opposite is true! We see God putting people in situations and circumstances that are WAY over their ability to bear – they couldn’t do it in their own strength – and when they tried they just made a bigger mess! There are many times when God WILL – and DOES – give us more than we can bear – and when He does, we have a choice – do we try to "hang in there" in our own strength and ability – or do we cast our cares on Him, knowing that He is faithful? There are many things in my life right now that I "can’t bear" – I "can’t bear" the constant pain I’m in – I "can’t bear" the stress and strain of a ministry that is underfunded and deals with life and death decisions on a daily bases. I "can’t bear" the pain I see in my friends – the raw emotions that are overwhelming them right now. I can’t bear it – but JESUS can. I can choose to cast all of my pain – all of my stress – all of those feelings that weigh me down – on the broad and strong back of my Savior – because HE CAN – and HAS borne it for me! SO – if you’re feeling like things in your life are out of control – take time with Jesus – let Him bear those burdens for you!(PS – God DOES say "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." 1Cor 10:13 SO – in the context of our battle over temptation HE won’t allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. BUT – we still have free will – and we can push Him aside and do what we want – and when we do we can’t blame God for the outcome – WE did it to ourselves! If you’ve fallen into sexual sin (or any other sin), it’s not that you "couldn’t" resist – it’s that
you "wouldn’t.")
Sharon Pearce, Director
Silent Voices International
www.silentvoices.org
svoices@pacbell.net
619-422-0757

I am the "apple" of God's eye...


Psalms 17:8
Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings.
Deuteronomy 32:10 In a desert land He found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; He guarded him as the apple of His eye...
Erin Cosshttp://shelovesgod.com/LIBRARY/article.cfm?articleid=9709&wherefrom=PROFILE
"I recently heard a teaching in which the teacher declared "You are the apple of God's eye." I thought to myself ‘That's nice.’ It made me feel good. But then my next thought was ‘What does that mean anyway?’ I'm sure you may have heard the saying and may possibly have understood it, but if you haven't please bear with me as I explore this coined phrase.

"In Psalm 17, David cries out to the Lord and asks to be kept as the apple of His eye. David thought that must be a significant place to be, but why? There are 5 pieces of scripture that I found that referenced this saying.
"In Deuteronomy 32:10 we find Moses speaking of how the Lord cared for Jacob. He says ‘In a desert land He found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; He guarded him as the apple of His eye,’ The definition of apple used here found in the original Hebrew means ‘pupil of the eye.’ Ok - this makes a little more sense. ‘Apple’ in this scripture is not used in the form of a fruit.

"As I continued, I came across a scripture found in Zechariah 2:8,9 - ‘For this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘After he has honored me and has sent me against the nations that have plundered you--for whoever touches you touches the apple of His eye, I will surely raise my hand against them so that their slaves will plunder them. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me.’

"A commentary related to verse 8 stated ‘You are so dear to God, that He can no more allow your enemies to hurt you, than a man can endure to be thrust in the eye;’ I can appreciate that type of love. If someone was attacking me and trying to poke me in the eye, I'm sure I would protect my eye to the best of my ability.

"There is another place where this phrase is found. Proverbs 7:2 says ‘Keep
my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.’

"The word of God is so cool isn't it? After further examination we find that we are the pupil of God's eye, or the center of His eye or vision. Could we say we are the center of His attention? He loves us so much He protects us as He would someone trying to poke His eye out, with fervent passion! The Lord in return asks us to think the same of His word. I think we owe Him that at the very least, don't you?

"Thank you so much for bearing with me as I explore these verses. I hope you've gained insight and a deeper love for the Lord like I have. I pray today that you will ‘guard (His) teachings as the apple of your eye.’

Not only do I feel like I understand this verse better – I really appreciate Erin’s desire to "get it," too! How many of us have missed out on something from the Word because we haven’t taken the time to do the research to figure out what it’s saying – and how it applies to our own lives? I’d guess TOO many times – right? When we’re faced with something in scripture that seems obscure – or out of our frame of reference – or we just don’t understand it – it’s ALWAYS to our benefit to do the research! And – there’s really no excuse now with all the resources available on the internet – there are SO many places we can go for help – for FREE – so we really don’t have an excuse! Here are some of the free Bible study websites I use:  http://www.biblegateway.com/
http://www.biblestudytools.com/http://cf.blueletterbible.org/http://www.crosswalk.com/
I also have a collection of commentaries from Bible teachers I trust – as well as a word studies dictionary. If I can’t find what I’m looking for in any of these resources I can always ask a pastor. The point is – I take the time to figure it out so I can get the most out of my time in the Word as possible! Here’s another way to think about it – the Bible says that we’re to desire the "meat" of the Word – not just the "milk." If I go to a restaurant and order steak, baked potato, salad and pudding for dessert – but can only eat the pudding because I left my dentures at home – how much am I really going to enjoy that meal? How much will it benefit my body? Not much, right? It’s the same way with studying God’s Word – we need to use every resource we have to eat and digest the "meal" that is offered to us in the pages of the Bible. Don’t be lazy! Seek and search – don’t gloss over something you don’t understand – or you’ll miss out! Isn’t it AWESOME to understand that we’re the "apple of God’s eye?" That we have His attention? That He will do whatever He needs to do to protect us? Now – as Erin encouraged – make Him and His Word the "apple of YOUR eye!" Sharon

In Christ - I am able to sleep without fear

I am able to sleep without fear...

Psalms 3:5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. 

Psalms 4:8 I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. 

What does it take to believe that God will keep you safe through a difficult night?  The bottom line is that you have to TRUST Him completely – you have to KNOW in your heart of hearts that He has your back – that He’s watching over you – that He only has the best in mind for His children – and that He is FAITHFUL to keep His word.  It can be a tall order – difficult to believe – especially if the circumstances of your day have left you reeling and wondering where God is in the midst of your situation.  David was a man who was able to TRUST God – but he had to remind himself of God’s trustworthiness, and that’s what Psalm 3 and 4 are about.  In both, David is overwhelmed with suffering, injustice, and oppression.  In Psalm 3 lament and confidence are intermingled, and become a pattern for praise, peace, and prayer amidst pressure.  In Psalms 4 David moves from anxiety to assurance, as he travels down the road of prayer and trust in God.  At the end of another day of pressure, pain and persecution, David engages in three conversations which ultimately lead to a point of blessed relaxation: Praying to God for Preservation (4:1); Reasoning with His enemies about Repentance (4:2-5); Praising God for True Perspective (4:6-8). *

SO – while David is running for his life from his enemies (including one of his own sons), he finds himself at the end of the day being able to trust God to see him safely through the night.  I don’t know about you – but I think it would be difficult to put my head down on a rock in the back of a cave and fall peacefully asleep knowing that the people who are out to kill me haven’t given up the hunt!  David was able to do that because he kept his perspective – and he put his faith in a God that hadn’t let him down – EVER.  We see from the rest of David’s story that God did, in fact, sustain him.  He will sustain you, too!  Whatever your situation – no matter what’s going on – you CAN close your eyes at night and sleep peacefully, for “He who watches over Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps!”  Sharon

*Some notes from John MacArthur Bible Commentary

In Christ - I am blessed

I am blessed...

Deuteronomy 28:2-14 All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God:  The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock--the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.  Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.  The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land He is giving you. The LORD will establish you as His holy people, as He promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the LORD your God and walk in His ways.  Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will fear you. The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity--in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground--in the land He swore to your forefathers to give you. The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of His bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.  The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.  Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.

Psalms 1:1-3 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 

Psalms 65:4 Blessed are those You choose and bring near to live in Your courts! We are filled with the good things of Your house, of Your holy temple. 

Ephesians 1:3  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Page-a-Day Calendar/email edition/2/2/11

“’Bless you!’ a stranger said to me when I sneezed loudly in the supermarket once again.

It must have been the tenth time I’d heard it that day as I suffered with yet another winter cold. I don’t feel all that blessed, I thought, sniffling and reaching for another tissue. I appreciated her kindness, but suddenly the phrase seemed silly. Who’s really thinking about God’s blessings when somebody sneezes? I’ve read that the origins of this tradition go far back in history, to a superstitious belief that an evil spirit could enter the body to steal the soul or to the fear that a sneeze signaled oncoming illness, requiring God’s protection for the sneezer. Whatever its origin, the average ‘Bless you’ is little more than a courtesy today.

“Still, all those ‘Bless yous’ made me think about the many times each day when I do feel blessed in small ways. I was blessed when a truck driver let me in ahead of him to make my left turn, instead of speeding up to beat me to the intersection. And I was blessed when a woman held the door open and waited for me as I struggled with my arms full of boxes for a school project. These weren’t big events, but little kindnesses that eased my way and brought much-needed help.

“Yet I’ve discovered something about these small, everyday blessings. They seem to mean the most to me when I’m on the giving end. The other day, I was waiting in the checkout line with my full cart, and I let a man with a huge box of diapers go ahead of me. ‘Thank you. You’re a blessing to me today,’ he said. But I also felt blessed, privileged to be able to pass on even the tiniest bit of God’s love that might make someone’s day go a little smoother. It’s one of God’s wonderful ironies: The more blessings I give others, the more blessed I am.

Heavenly Father, show me the ways I might shower others with blessings as You have showered me.” —GINA BRIDGEMA

God chooses to bless His children because of His great love for us – and His gifts and graces are always over the top!  The children of Israel were blessed by God – He was with them in the desert for 40 years providing for their every need – and He brought them to a land flowing with milk and honey – a land they didn’t have to work for – they didn’t have to build cities or plant vineyards – they were already built and planted.  In Deuteronomy 28:2-14 God spells out the extent of His blessings – every area of their lives would be blessed – IF.  IF they obeyed the Lord.  IF they walked in His ways.  IF they paid attention to His commands.  Why was He giving them so much?  So that they would be a witness to their neighbors – so that other nations would see God’s hand of blessing on the children of Israel and they would want it for themselves and come to see that the LORD was the King of kings and LORD of lords.  The rest of Deuteronomy 28 goes on to tell the Israelites what would happen if they DIDN’T obey Him  - didn’t walk in His ways – didn’t pay attention to His commands.  And, sadly, the history of Israel shows us what choice they made – over and over again – they rebelled – they walked away from Jehovah and served other gods – and they refused to be the light to the nations.  When they were walking in obedience (which wasn’t often) they hoarded God’s blessings – they saw His blessings as evidence that there was something pretty special about them – and anyone who wasn’t a Jew was worse than a dog.  Before you get too hasty and judge Israel for the choices they made, take a look at your own relationship with God.  When I did it wasn’t a pretty picture – there was a time when I was so caught up in my own self-righteousness that God couldn’t use me to be the “salt and light” I should have – and could have – been.  Then I was doing just what the Israelites did – walking in the world – worshipping other gods (not literally – I didn’t have any gold statues – but I had idols of the heart) – and I had removed myself from the blessings of God.  I am SO grateful that God continued to extend His hand of grace and mercy – and yes, His blessings – to me, His prodigal daughter.  I don’t want to hoard His blessings anymore – I want my life to shine for Him – for people to see what He’s done in my life and be drawn to Jesus as a result of my witness.  Is that what you want?  Then open your hands – let His blessings spill out of an overflowing heart of gratitude for all He’s done for you!  Sharon

In Christ - I am forgiven

I am forgiven...

II Samuel 12:13  Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan replied, "The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die."

Hebrews 9:11-15 But Christ came as our High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.  Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption .  For if the blood of bulls and goats and ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more, then, will the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!   And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

Colossians 1:14 In Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 

I John 2:12 I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of His name. 

I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 

The Broken Wing

by Charles R. Swindoll

Daniel 9:4-19; Luke 7:36-48; Acts 10:34-43

“It is quite probable that someone reading my words this moment is fighting an inner battle with a ghost from the past. The skeleton in one of yesterday's closets is beginning to rattle louder and louder. Putting adhesive tape around the closet and moving the bureau in front of the door does little to muffle the clattering bones. You wonder, possibly, ‘Who knows?’ You think, probably, ‘I've had it . . . can't win . . . party's over.’

“The anchor that tumbled off your boat is dragging and snagging on the bottom. Guilt and anxiety have come aboard, pointing out the great dark hulks of shipwrecks below. They busy themselves drilling worry-holes in your hull and you are beginning to sink. Down in the hold, you can hear them chant an old lie as they work: ‘The bird with the broken pinion never soared as high again. . . .’

“Allow me to present a case in opposition to these destructive and inaccurate accusers. It may be true that you've done or experienced things which would embarrass you if they became public knowledge. You may have committed a terrible and tragic sin that was never traced back to you. You may have a criminal record or a moral charge or a domestic conflict that, to this moment, is private information. You may wrestle with a past that has been fractured and wounded by a mental or emotional breakdown. Futile attempts at suicide may add to the previous scar tissue and increase your fear of being labeled ‘sick’ or ‘nervous.’ It is possible that you live with memories, covered now by the sands of time, of an illicit relationship or a financial failure or a terrible habit or a divorce or a scandalous involvement. You feel that any one of these things might mar or cripple your reputation if the dirty details ever spilled on the table of gluttonous gossipers.

“But wait a minute. Before you surrender your case as hopeless, consider the liberating evidence offered in the Bible. Take an honest look at men and women whom God used in spite of their past! Abraham, founder of Israel and tagged ‘the friend of God,’ was once a worshiper of idols. Joseph had a prison record but later became prime minister of Egypt. Moses was a murderer, but later became the one who delivered his nation from the slavery of Pharaoh. Jephthah was an illegitimate child who ran around with a tough bunch of hoods before he was chosen by God to become His personal representative. Rahab was a harlot in the streets of Jericho but was later used in such a mighty way that God enlisted her among the members of His hall of fame in Hebrews 11.

“Still unconvinced? There's more. Eli and Samuel were both poor, inconsistent fathers, but proved to be strong men in God's hand regardless. Jonah and John Mark were missionaries who ran away from hardship like cowards but were ever-so-profitable later on. Peter openly denied the Lord and cursed Him, only to return and become God's choicest spokesman among the early years of the infant church. Paul was so hard and vicious in his early life the disciples and apostles refused to believe he'd actually become a Christian . . . but you know how greatly God used him. We could go on and on. The files of heaven are filled with stories of redeemed, refitted renegades and rebels.

“How magnificent is grace! How malignant is guilt! How sweet are the promises! How sour is the past! How precious and broad is God's love! How petty and narrow are man's limitations! How refreshing is the Lord! How rigid is the legalist!

“There is not a single saint who sits in a single church free from a few things he or she is ashamed of---not one of us! The one who thinks otherwise is worse than all the rest combined. In plain, garden-variety English, we were all taken from the same dunghill. And so we all fight the same fight with the filth of the flesh regardless of how loudly we sing, how piously we pray, or how sweetly we say hello.

“Mark it---when God forgives, He forgets. He is not only willing but pleased to use any vessel---just as long as it is clean today. It may be cracked or chipped. It may be worn or it may have never been used before. You can count on this---the past ended one second ago. From this point onward, you can be clean, filled with His Spirit, and used in many different ways for His honor. God's glorious grace says: ‘Throw guilt and anxiety overboard . . . draw the anchor . . . trim the sails . . . man the rudder . . . a strong gale is coming!’

Excerpted from Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life, Copyright © 1983 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc.

I lived a long time with my own personal and private failures – until I realized that it wasn’t the LORD reminding me of my past – it was my own inner voice and the voice of my enemy.  Over the years I’ve learned to recognize who is talking – and I choose NOT to listen to the enemy of my soul – he’s a liar and the father of all lies – so why should I give him ANY time in my head?!  I’ve also learned to weed out my own negative self-talk, and have replaced those old “tapes” with the truth of who I am “in Christ.”  It’s work – and it’s discipline – but it’s worth it!  I can feel the breeze in my face as I move forward with the Lord!  I hope you do, too! Sharon