Totally Flawed and Perfectly Forgiven

Man oh man I've made a lot of mistakes. I have said things I shouldn't have said and done things I shouldn't have done. I am totally flawed. But thank God that I'm not only totally flawed, I am also perfectly forgiven.

For anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by their mistakes, remember that You are not the sum of your mistakes, you are the sum of the mercies of God. Your mistakes will not disqualify you from who God has designed you to be. Despite how you may feel, you are still a child of God, whom He loves with an unfailing love. Your "doing" will not change your "being." It's crazy to think this may be true, but God is a loving God. Remember the story of the prodigal son. He had fallen so low, yet when he went back to his father's house, his father had been waiting for him. His father embraced him and kissed him BECAUSE he was still his son. You are still God's son, you are still God's daughter, no matter what.

Also, ALWAYS remember to lean on God's grace. Believe that God wants to forgive you.  The second we turn to Him he is there. He's always been there. Sometimes we think God will act like a human being. That we have tired him out and have exhausted our chances to start again. But remember God is not man! Hallelujah! God is God! He is God!

So you have fallen, you have made a mistake, you have sinned; well remember it's not over. Your life can begin again. It is difficult to comprehend but that's why we need faith! Come back to the Lord. Come back to Him for:

He does not deal with us according to our sins,

Nor repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

As a father shows compassion to his children,

so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

Psalm 103:10-13 

CAMP AWAKENING SONGS

Music is powerful. It doesn't take too long for people to hum or tap their foot the moment a song comes on. Music moves a person. Why? Because God created it. He is the author of music. Unfortunately nowadays the world has taken something God created and has twisted it. In one of the skits during College camp we saw how this was true...

"pop pop shoot the cop"..."if it ain't nasty it ain't right"...Say what?!

That's all crazy stuff and it is what our generation is singing, maybe not exactly in those words, but our songs nowadays provoke sin: hatred, emotional instability, and other things that are detrimental to our true happiness. And songs are like seeds that after they are planted, they will bear fruit. People listening to these songs will lead them to not care about values, about truth, about real love. 

So the question is, what are we listening to, what are we sowing in our hearts? The songs from awakening contained lyrics of hope and salvation...I hope you're able to add them to your playlist and let them sow seeds of praise, joy, hope, and love! 

1. Always Will...(Artist: Hillsong, Album: Glorious Ruins)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hqc4J2XCj8E  

2. Endless Praise... (Artist: Planetshakers, Album: Endless Praise)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHPht8UrPWM

3. Dance... (Artist: Planetshakers, Album: Endless Praise)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0VBFSIK2Cs

4. Oh Your Love... (Artist: Planetshakers, Album: Endless Praise)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmKdxX6KgHA

5. Rush... (Artist: The Vous Live, Album: Into the Night)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRYMwDIsnic

6. Wake... (Artist: Hillsong Young and Free, Album: Hillsong Young and Free)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e33zCUm1ZnY+

7. Awakening... (Artist: Hillsong, Album: God is Able)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AmvyGu1WeA

8. Thank You Jesus... (Artist: Hillsong, Album: No Other Name)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHaQDS1_uvA

9. Shalom... (Artist: The Vous Live, Album: Into the Night)
No youtube clip available

In my failings, He is there

Being a pastor I find that there is a high demand for my perfect behavior. And there should be. Jesus himself said,

You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:48

Perfection is my goal and it's a great goal. I want to say like Paul said,

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ

1 Corinthians 11:1

I can't ask people to imitate me if I am not striving to be perfect like my heavenly Father is perfect. But in my strive for perfection I still make mistakes. I fail. I say things that I shouldn't; things that I find myself later regretting. At times, during the night I repeat situations in my mind asking God to help me be better. And He is always there. In my failings He is there. I have to admit it has been during my times of failure that I have seen people who rise to love and forgive, but I have also seen that some people rise to do the opposite. David talks about these people,

He rescued me from my strong enemy

and from those who hated me,

for they were too mighty for me.

They confronted me in the day of my calamity,

but the Lord was my support.

He brought me out into a broad place;

he rescued me, because he delighted in me. 

Psalms 18:17-19

In the day of David's calamity, of his troublesome season, instead of people rising to comfort him, they rose to hate him; so much so that they were too strong for him. They rose in his moment of weakness, and instead of instilling hope and patience, they pushed him down. If you have people like this in your life, love them and forgive them, and decide not to be those kinds of people, so when they fail, you rise to love and help them.

But also know that the Lord will rescue you from people like that, He will be your support, He will bring you into a broad place, where you can breathe despite your failings and know that God will lift you up because he delights in you.

So if in your strive for perfection you make a mistake that people see. Do not be surprised if people judge you for it, rather get closer to God. He is the perfect friend. That is why David also said in that same chapter of his calamity,

I love you, O Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,

my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,

my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,

and I am saved from my enemies

Psalm 18:1-3

Take heart in His promise. And remember,

Though a righteous man falls seven times,

he will get up

Proverbs 24:16