From sin...to repentance..to joy and Life

        Oh how thankful I am for God's Word, for His forgiveness, and for His grace...and how desperately I need each of them--and Him--every moment of every hour!  Thank You, Lord Jesus!
        This past weekend, we had the pleasure of going to a golf tournament in Morganton called the Joe Cheves.  It's named for a wonderful man (and his son) whom we never had the privilege of meeting in this life, but boy, they both sound remarkable.  And the tournament was simply top notch--from the bagpiper and opening ceremony on the morning of the first day to the U.S. serviceman shaking the hands of every competitor on the last hole of the tournament the final day.
        So here I was: in a beautiful little town...with my husband and son...getting to watch our youngest son play golf...on a beautiful, sunny end-of-summer August weekend...at a truly delightful golf tournament...with a number of great golf friends...sharing several delicious dinners at terrific local restaurants...and all of this four years to the very weekend of Janie's accident.  You'd think I would have been one overwhelmingly thankful, joyful, contented girl, right?
        Sigh.  Well, that would be quite true about 99% of the time.  But then you've got to factor in yours truly's sin nature.  That would be my tendency to worry and fret--let's call that unbelief, doubt, and fear, because that's what it is. And then there's my tendency--in the heat of the moment--to lose all perspective on what really matters and Who is really in control.
         Yep, here we were enjoying the astounding beauty of God's creation all around us--

       Watching our son and some other really nice young men play golf (play--as in a game!)--

       Watching one of America's finest who so bravely and unselfishly serve our country and secure our freedoms--

     All good.  All wonderful...yet I somehow manage to allow my fickle heart to be hijacked by worry over how our son plays a--did I mention this?--game?  Are you kidding me?  Surrounded by blessings and overflowing goodness, yet my sinful nature can still find something to get upset about, with the sad result that I forfeit all the joy, peace, and wonder God had for me in that moment.  
      It didn't take me long to realize how badly I had run off the rails to my own detriment.  Worry is such a dirty thief--steals your joy, hurts your witness, destroys your peace.  And worst of all, blinds you to the glorious and good God who is right there with you, loving and calling you to come to Him, rather than jumping into that ugly, muddy pit of anxiety and discouragement.
      But no matter how deep our sin and blinding selfishness might be, His forgiveness and grace are infinitely deeper still.  Such is our Savior, and there is none other.
      I read this from Daily Light the very next morning: "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand." (Ps.37:23-24)  What beautiful, wondrous words.  Our good, good Father forgives and upholds, leads and delights, even when we fail and fall miserably.  Who can comprehend such astounding grace?
      The Lord Jesus not only takes away our sin, He carries away our shame--which often can be as, or even more, debilitating that the sin itself.  When we recognize and repent of our sin--meaning we see our sin for what it is, without making excuses, and choose to turn away from it--Jesus washes that sin and shame away.  "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9)
       I love that the very word "repentance" means "to change your mind."  That where it all begins, right?  In our minds.  With our thoughts.  And when we choose to confess those sinful actions and thoughts and "change our minds"--by turning away and rejecting them--everything changes!  Our status changes--we're now forgiven and cleansed.  Our attitude changes--we're peaceful and contented.  Our perspective changes--we're wiser and filled with gratitude.  Our outlook changes--we're hopeful and joyful.
         So today, if you're feeling anxious or discouraged or perhaps discontented, ask the Lord to reveal to you your sinful thoughts, attitudes, or actions.  And then be willing to go humbly and in repentance to the throne of all grace to receive forgiveness, mercy, and beautiful grace. "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb.4:16)
          There's nothing like the joy of coming home to your Savior and saying simply, "I'm so sorry.  Please forgive me, Abba."
        For He will.  Always.  He's promised in His Word and by His never-changing faithfulness.  Don't waste another moment in the slimy, ugly pit of worry, anger, or whatever you're struggling with today.  Come to the Savior for forgiveness, and find freedom, joy, hope, peace, and Life.
        There's nothing like it.  There's nothing like Him.  To God be the glory.