Blessings to all who visit here!
I’ve decided to add something new to my home page. I usually place a devotional on Facebook every morning, and thought it might be good to share those daily messages with my friends that visit my website. At some point in the future, I will adding the link to Facebook and Twitter, but this is a work in progress. I hope this message touches your heart. Feel free to share it with those you know who might also benefit:
May 21, 2013
You’re Looking at a Child Forgiven
Some people believe that, as long as they live a good life, don’t break the law or do anything criminal, and live as responsible citizens, that they will be on God’s good side, that they will get into heaven. The rich young ruler thought this when he said to Jesus, “…All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?” (Matthew 19:20 KJV). He sensed that, although he had lived a proper life, he was lacking something. He did not recognize his own selfishness and greed which, although not listed by name in the 10 commandments, are sin just the same!
We have one thing of which we can be certain….when we fail, Christ covers us with His blood! We receive forgiveness, not because we deserve it, but because Jesus bought it for us! “Even as David also describes the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputes righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” (Romans 4:6-8 NKJV)
God does not keep an eraser handy to rub out our name, from the Book of Life, when we fail, and write it in if we are good enough. Once our sin is forgiven, He doesn’t recall them later to chastise us. They are as if they never happened! “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardons iniquity, and passes by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retains not his anger for ever, because he delights in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” (Micah 7:18-19 NKJV)
My <3 song is about that type of forgiveness that humans have trouble understanding, much less giving:
“I thought I had my bases covered
My destiny was in control, But
I could see I’d never reach perfection
the day I hit a slick spot in the road.
And after that I thought my life was over,
but Jesus had a different point of view.
All I did was confess and Jesus did the rest!
Thank God, I’ve been released and made brand new!
CHORUS:
You’re looking at a child forgiven
You’re looking at a soul set free
You’re looking at a pardoned prisoner
who’s walking now in liberty
I’m standing here because of wondrous grace,
my sins are in the deepest sea.
He washed me clean somehow
cause what you’re seeing now
is happy happy child set free!
Now what you see is not a perfect person
what you see is not a spotless soul
What you see is someone that was broken
until the hand of Jesus made me whole.
Now what you see is not a finished product
and what you see might sometimes miss the mark,
but I know my father’s eyes sees only his sweet prize
the perfect holy children that we are.
You’re looking at a child forgiven!
You’re looking at a soul set free!
You’re looking at a pardoned prisoner
who’s walking now in liberty!”
I saw a bumper sticker, once, that I think applies with this <3 song:
“Christians Aren’t Perfect, Just Forgiven!”
Have a blessed day!
ABOUT MY WRITING:
My first two books are available on amazon.com in either paperback, hardback, or ebook formats. they are the first two books in my group called “Journeys of Faith”. Take a look on my books page for “Through the Waters” and “Across the Wilderness”. “Out of the Valley” is coming along nicely. I am hoping to get it to the publisher within the next month or 6 weeks.
Meanwhile, look for several ebooks,not part of the “Journeys of Faith”. One is a compilation of my daughter’s poems, two are related to the grieving process: 1) a personal tribute to my daughter called, “Only in My Dreams”, and 2) an overview of the various ways we grieve other losses in our lives, named “White Crosses Line the Highways of Our Lives”. As they are released through Kindle Direct Publishing, links will be placed on this website.
With the holiday season behind us, don’t let’s forget the less fortunate among us. Take time to search for somebody in need. Donate time feeding the homeless. Find new, innovative ways to reach out in your community. Most of all, don’t forget the commission in James 1:27 “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”
Feel free to use the emails on this website to contact
me regarding scheduling a book-signing and/or talk to a reading
group, church group or just a gathering of friends. I am
always open to new experiences and meeting new people.
<>< Jeanne F. Brooks ><>
