daily prayer

Good cold morning! Brrr! How are we faithing? Certain sins seem to conjure up irrational rational. The bible is very specific as to what is sin. It also is very specific about what is necessary on our part to approach the throne of God. Forgiveness comes from repentance. What is repentance? Sorrow for an offense and not just sorry you got caught. A change of mind about that sin to God's view on it. The only sin the Bible speaks of as the unforgivable sin is blaspheming the Holy Spirit. What is that? Refusing to recognise and accept the premise that salvation comes from believing and accepting Jesus as savior. With that acceptance comes a change of mind and heart. Do we immediately overcome sin? Heck no man, we're humans and sin is attractive otherwise we could resist completely. So many times we point fingers and fingers are pointed at us for infractions committed. I want my friends in Christ to let me know when I goof up but we cannot expect non believers to come to know the love and the gift of salvation by pointing out with ire their infractions. "With ire", that's the point here. Sin is still sin and it's wrong but who does it profit for us to condemn or berate and belittle someone for committing them. Sure, pushing for laws to correct certain actions is absolutely acceptable and punishment for those crimes is expected in a society or it will fall. We must approach people with the love Jesus had for all of us. Here's the problem, when we see sin in a life and we don't offer Jesus' love and pray for them, we've just sinned and like the Word tells us, sin is sin therefore we are no different than the sin we just pointed out. Do we need to point out sin? Well of course! How do you point it out? Not judgemental but in love for that person to find the forgiveness we have found. Repentance happens upon realization of the infraction and the desire to not commit it anymore. One reality of life is we men and women do indeed repeat sins we have repented for. There are many reasons why we repeat them but know we have a place to go without condemnation repentance and love can continue. Now that I've run totally around this barn, remember you only have to ask for forgiveness, with a contrite heart, and it is granted. Face the next time you sin when it comes and fret not but bask in the grace and forgiveness of Jesus the Christ that he promised. Pray for healing and wisdom so we can present Jesus as a respite and not a rod weilding ogre who beats us down for anything we do. Ponder this.

2 Chron 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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
NIV

2 Tim 3:13-17
while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
NIV

Rom 2:1-4
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?
NIV

Remember Nate Haney...remember Bud Perry...remember Tonya Fulfer...remember Anna Lynn...

Heavenly Father,
We ask for forgiveness for our sins and ask you for a restful heart and one that longs for the lost. Lord we ask for wisdom and the ability to love the sinner and hate the sin. Lord help us show your grace and not get caught up in judgemental thinking. Help us recognise others need you just like we did when we first came to you. We need you every day to guide and hold us. Lord, keep us safe this weekend and flip the switch to our worship so we can offer our praises to the only one who deserves it, you. In Jesus' name, Amen