God of Mercy, Grace and Second Chances

Well that went by quick! Yesterday (it seems) we were preparing for our annual trip to our Kids’ for Thanksgiving Dinner, followed by Christmas just a few short weeks later, then on to New Years and here we are!! February already. I can honestly say I am grateful for our abbreviated winter! Being from SoCal originally (don’t hate me, I’ve been in the PNW more than half of my life), my body still yearns for warmer climes. And there’s always golf and motorcycle riding to do, so…

I can’t help but think of Peter in regard to new starts, and second chances. We happen to be making our way through the Gospel of Mark, and God worked it out so that we will finish on Easter, just a year and a half since we began. A week ago we dealt with the passage in which Jesus predicted Peter’s denial, and then offers this, “But when you have returned, strengthen your brothers.” Isn’t that just like Jesus? His words and Word most often connect our failure with his promise. There is the reality that we will fall short, everyone of us; still there is the promise that he never leaves us behind. As we confess our failures, willful or unintended, he gives us a new start. How many scriptures come to your mind? “Your mercies are new every morning,” “The old is passed away, behold all things are become new,” “I will remove from you a heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh,” “Though we are faithless, he remains faithful,” are just a few of my favorites.

There is a whole new day dawning each and every day, and with it a chance to confess and be made righteous, given another second chance to bring him praise and honor!

“Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me.”

Tim