Remake / Do-Over

So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 
2nd Corinthians 5:16-17 NLT

Most all of us - at some point in time - have wished, prayed and/or begged God for a do-over. Some way to re-do or undo parts of our lives. The ONLY hope we have of that is in making Christ Jesus the Lord of our lives. Giving everything about ourselves over to His will and control. He wants it all - all the parts - good and bad. That's how He does it. He takes it all, uses it all, and makes us new. It's an extreme makeover - bought and paid for by Him.

Tenth Avenue North did a song called You Are More. Here's a portion of the lyric that speaks volumes on this very subject of a remake.

'Cause this is not about what you've done - But what's been done for you.

This is not about where you've been, But where your brokenness brings you to

This is not about what you feel, But what He felt to forgive you,
And what He felt to make you loved.

You are more than the choices that you've made,

You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,

You are more than the problems you created,

You've been remade.

Prayer:

Father,
            So often we come face to face with our human inadequacies and feel less than what You could ever put up with... but that's not Your Truth. You placed a priceless value on us when You sent Your Son to buy us back - "while we were yet sinners" is how Your Word defines it. How do we ever thank You for that? Lord, we give You our lives. You paid for them. Help us to walk the path You've chosen for the remake of our lives, following in Your footsteps. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

How'm I Doing? - by Request

Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

James 3:19 NKJV

You know, I really, REALLY don't like it when my actions become an illustrated sermon of how NOT to act. I have a sign at my desk - I think I told you about it before - It reads, "Lord, keep Your arm around my shoulder...and Your hand over my mouth." Unfortunately, there are days it's just a decoration hanging on the wall; not a prayer, nor an act of submission to God's greater good. I lost track of how many times in the last day and a half I muttered, "Idiot" under my breath...and I am terribly convicted by it. 

But there is a Promise for it - it's found in 1st John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Sometimes, God has to use an illustration to get our attention to make us see His Word... well, at least that's how it works in my life. I'm a hands-on, visual learner. Thankfully, He loves us enough to reprimand us when we need it, and then provides grace and mercy, along with His forgiveness.

The other point He drove home for me is that, if the prayer or the Word is just a decoration, just something sitting around and not actively in use, it doesn't do us or those around us any good. We are here to follow in Christ's footsteps, to do as He did (in fact, He said greater things shall we do). So, according to Acts 10:38a-b, ...you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good...  

So, what am I doing? How'm I doing?

Ask me in the morning... His mercies are new every morning.

Prayer:

Father,

         Thank You for loving us enough to correct us. Even though we may not like the correction at the time, thanks so much for caring enough about us to make the correction. By Your grace, and with Your provision, we strive to do better. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen