WHEN THE DARKNESS WILL NOT LIFT

Jacob failed, deceiving his own father, stealing his brother’s inheritance (Genesis 27:19).

Jonah failed, running away from the call of God to reach the city of Nineveh (Jonah 1:3).

Demas failed, abandoning Paul, as Demas loved the world more than the Kingdom of God (2 Timothy 4:10).

Jacob is restored, as the Lord shows compassion, once again, to Jacob and Israel (Isaiah 14:1).

Jonah is restored, spewed up from the belly of a fish, in spite of Jonah’s stubborn disobedience (Jonah 2:10-3:1-5).

Demas is restored, traveling once again in the company of Godly men, doing God’s mission (Philemon 1:24).

“Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed [by affliction and failure] – for [God’s] compassions never fail. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Challenge The Regret “Pounding” In Our Head.

“If-Only.”

“…when David and his men came to Ziklag,” I Samuel 30 records – “…[and] found it destroyed… David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep…” (1 Samuel 30:3-4).

And so David did just that: David abided in the Almighty, finding “…strength…” I Samuel 30:6 tells us, “…in the Lord his God…” (1 Samuel 30:6).

And so what’s hooking you: your “if onlys” – or – God’s “only ifs”? Get hooked by God’s “only ifs” – for “only if” you trust God – “only if” you rely on God – “only if” you abide in God – can you maneuver the missteps of life.

Absorb God’s Mercy, God’s Hesed, ‘Forgiving Yourself.’

“Who is a God like you, who… forgives… transgression… You do not stay angry…but delight [in showing] mercy…”

(Micah 7:18-19).

hesed -- which means: undeserved kindness, unmerited forgiveness,

unconditional love!

“Fail Forward,” Adventuring With God, In Spite of Mistakes!

If ever there was one who failed it was Paul who “…persecuted the church… [trying] to destroy it….” (Galatians 1:13) But “when God…called me by his grace…” Paul notes in Galatians 1-- his life was changed, accelerated, as Paul failed forward, becoming the greatest Apostle ever, preaching so boldly, he “…did not consult any man…” (Galatians 1:16) -- so consumed by the grace and freedom of God.

As Winston Churchill notes: “success is going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiasm” -- but not just any enthusiasm, the enthusiasm, the passion of God -- who turns: mistakes into milestones – screw ups into stepping stones – advancing us toward His melody and Kingdom dream.

No matter the mess and mistakes, fail forward, claiming the hesed, the assistance of God “…who [does forgive]… [trash and] transgression… [who does delight in showing]… [marvelous] mercy…” (Micah 7:18-19, adapted).

For because of God’s great love, “…we are not consumed [by failure] – for [God’s] compassions never fail. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23) O Lord!

For we do have a God who delights in turning mistakes into milestones – screw ups into stepping stones – garbage into gain!!