just when you think you can not be forgiven...

we as humans always tend to think of God as one of us, we think that he feels and thinks the way we do. that's incorrect, God is 100% good, and 100% love and righteousness. people are fallen, and flawed at best. there are so many things i can not forgive myself for but i have faith that God has. i can have this faith because unlike people, God loves with out condition. the bible says that while we where yet sinners Christ died for us, you see we had not done anything to deserve to be loved yet he did the most loving act in the history of time. he sacrificed his son for people who hate him. he loved us when we where yet in our sin and rebels against God. we also must not try to reason from our point of view up, but we must try to reason from God down to us. you see, we can not forgive things that God has no trouble forgiving because God loves in ways we can not yet comprehend. when he gave his son on the cross he knew that there was not a single sin that this love could not wash away, no matter what it is, our death giving sin is not so much as even worthy to be compared to to the life giving blood of Jesus Christ. let's think on this next time we can not forgive, ourselves or others.

sadness becomes joy

... and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

yesterday would have been my best friends 29th birthday had he not committed suicide three years ago. it was a very sorrow filled day. after work i went out to meet his family at the grave site, again much sorrow. but the LORD started to turn things around for me there, the family came to me and asked if i would lead all of them in prayer. it was hard to do but i was happy to do it, also i felt some joy in that the family came to me to draw close to God in this time. the pain and sorrow of the day started to melt. after we went back to his mothers house. we talked about old times and new. through out the conversations i came to find out that his mother, grandmother, aunt, sister and brother in law have all come to know the lord as saviour. they are all in a local congregation and all very excited about their new found faith. the LORD took my sorrow and made it joy!! a thing only he can do.

i miss you john paul, rest in peace brother!