WHEN SHAME COMES CRASHING DOWN...

Every now and then a memory will come crashing back into my consciousness - not a good memory - but a bad memory.  A memory of something awful, of a time when I said or did something horrible.  Something I would go back and correct if I could - but I cannot.  There are two or three of these memories which come back regularly.  Please understand I have confessed these things to the Lord Jesus and I know that they are forgiven.  Yet they come back - many times at a moment of weakness. These memories bring horrible remorse and terrible shame.  That is why these words from Romans were such an encouragement. 

Romans 9:33 (NLT) ...I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall. But anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.

Romans 9:33 (HCS) ...the one who believes on Him will not be put to shame.

The stone in Jerusalem was Jesus Christ - many stumbled over Him and would not accept the fact that He was the Messiah and that salvation could be found only through Him.  But to ALL who do believe to those who TRUST in Him He gives the right to become sons and daughters of God. (Jn. 1:12) When we are forgiven and enter into a relationship with God - one of the things we can count on is that God will not disgrace us or SHAME us because of those things that we have said and done in the past.  They are truly covered once and for all at the cross. Psalm 103 tells that HE has removed our sins as far as the east is from the west.  He has FORGIVEN us and those sins are GONE forever! What an amazing God of Mercy and Grace.  So when I feel the shame of those old sins - I remember that God will NEVER remember those sins and He will NOT shame me with them.  I must choose to believe the TRUTH about my forgiveness and stand in His grace putting  behind me (100 times a day if necessary) ALL those memories that come flooding back.  How do I put them behind me?  By focusing on Jesus. I pray and thank God for His Mercy and Grace. I sing a song of worship, or review verses I am memorizing, or open my Bible and start to read.  WHY?  Why can I do this?  Because "..the one who believes on Him will not be put to shame."  Praise God what an awesome Savior we have. A song I heard many years ago says it well.

And though your body lay weary from wasting, and your eyes show the sorrow they've had.

Oh the love that your heart is now tasting -  has opened the gate, Be Ye Glad.
And there is no disease or no struggle, that can pull you from God, Be Ye Glad.

Be Ye Glad, Be Ye Glad, Every debt that you ever had

Has been paid up in full by the grace of the Lord,
Be Ye Glad, Be Ye Glad, Be Ye Glad.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus thank You that You did PAY in FULL for my sin and shame.  Thank You that I do NOT live under the crushing weight of guilt and sin. Thank you that forgiveness cleanses me from sin and shame here and now as well as forever. Amen

I choose HOPE and PRAISE in JOY and SORROW

Christmas can be a time of joy for some and a time of discouragement or others. Many times how we see it is based on the things we have experienced or the things that we are currently going through in our own lives.  This time of the year which normally brings me so much joy is different. Please do NOT misunderstanding me I am thrilled and proud as I can be that Tascha and Kathryn are serving the Lord in Quito, Ecuador.  But I miss them, I miss their laughter, and I miss the tears when we are moved by something, I miss the conversations we have, and the special times we spend together. Yes I am thankful that God has called them and that they are serving Him but Christmas will be different without them.  So these verses today were encouraging. 

Psalm 42:5-6 (NLT) Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will  praise him again - my Savior and my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will  remember you...

I love the way the Psalmist honestly says what he is feeling. He is deeply discouraged, sad and down.  But he does NOT stop with the statement of what he is feeling. He goes onto remind himself of what he should do.  He goes on to make three statements of purpose.  I WILL put my hope in God, I WILL  praise Him, I WILL remember You.  WHY?  Why can the writer say I will Hope, Praise, and Remember even during the difficult things he is facing?  After all he cannot control the circumstances he cannot change the things that are happening all around him.  However,  he can choose to Believe and Trust God.  He can DECIDE that he will put his TRUST in God’s promises.  Many times life may feel like the waves of fear and doubt are crashing over us vs. 7.  But this writer reminds that ...each day the Lord pours His unfailing love upon us... vs.8.  So he speaks of commitment when he says I will choose to HOPE in God, I will choose to PRAISE God,  I will always seek to REMEMBER God - even during those times when nothing is going right and God FEELS like He is far, far away.   My prayer is that this Christmas will be all you hoped it would be and that you will be full of joy as you PRAISE God for His wonderful gift.  But then maybe you are going to be separated from those you love, or perhaps you will not be able to buy the gifts that you wish you could have.  That is when it is important to REMEMBER God, to HOPE and Trust Him, and no matter what happens ALWAYS respond by PRAISING Him.  May we see Christ Jesus and the HOPE and JOY only He can bring this Christmas.

 
PRAYER: Lord Jesus thank you that I can choose Hope and Joy no matter what. Thank You that we can share Tascha and Kathryn with others... Please give them Your Joy and Hope this Christmas.  May we all worship YOU - You are worthy.