A few years back Donna and I went to Cancun, Mexico, for her 40th Birthday. I wanted it to be a very special week for her, but sometimes our great "plans" don't turn out exactly how we had hoped. The trip turned out to have several obstacles and difficulties. The place we were staying wasn't as we had been promised, and some other "character building" moments took place. Looking back we can see how the Lord used those moments in our lives, but at the time it wasn't very pleasant!
The most unpleasant moment took place as Donna and a friend were talking about the power of God. They were discussing how much they loved the ocean, and how God actually knows how many grains of sand there are in the ocean. As they were having that special moment sharing about their faith, Donna was re-positioning her wedding set & ring on her finger because it felt loose. It was the set that I had given her on our wedding day along with a brand new diamond we had bought a few years before. As she was moving it a huge wave came in and swept the ring out off her hands and found it's way into the very waves and beach they were talking about. She was devastated! We all began to scramble frantically looking for the ring in the sand on the beach. Even as I write about it, I feel sick at my stomach. It was such a helpless feeling to realize you had lost something so special and valuable to you in one moment. We continued looking, but as we watched the waves crash in over and over again it became apparent that our search was futile. Barring a miracle of some type, we weren't going to be able to locate the ring. I kept looking and praying that it would turn up somehow. A friend of ours, we found out later, actually would get up early every morning and go looking for the ring on the beach, but was unable to locate it. It was gone!
This past week as we were returning from a trip, and our oldest son had control of the Ipod cord in the car. He was playing different songs as we traveled. At one point he chose a song I hadn't heard in while by a group called Audio Adrenaline. The name of the song is called, "Ocean Floor." It is a powerful song about the power of God's forgiveness and love for us. As I listened to the lyrics I thought about that moment on the beach in Mexico, and how we knew first hand how things can disappear on the ocean floor. The lyrics to the first verse and the chorus say, "The mistakes I've made, that caused pain, I could have done without. All my selfish thoughts, all my pride, the things I hid, you have forgot about. They're all behind you, they'll never find you, they're on the ocean floor. Your sins are forgotten, there on the bottom, of the ocean floor."
As I listened to the song, I thought about how hard we looked for that ring. Every time anyone in our group came to the beach that week, we hoped to find it. It couldn't be found. The ocean floor had covered it up. That's what happens to our sins when we find forgiveness through Jesus Christ. In Micah 7:18-19, Micah is talking to God and says, "Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of His special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw then into the depths of the OCEAN!!"
I have made so many mistakes in my life! In fact, It feels like I have thought of new ways to screw things up in my life. We all makes mistakes and stupid choices. Then we battle guilt, fear, worry, sorrow, and sadness because of our failures. Not to mention the pain our mistakes inflict on others around us that we love and care about. We need to embrace that sadness, pain, and hurt, and comprehend what we are capable of as human beings. The Bible says in Romans 3:23, "we all have sinned and fall short of God's standard." We all need HELP! We all have to be honest and vulnerable about our failures and mistakes. That's when God can loves to step into our lives and give us what we need more than anything...Love and Forgiveness. All we have to do is ask! I John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL wickedness." Our sins can be wiped away and forgotten! Mercy, Salvation, and Payment for our sins has already been made. We just have acknowledge and receive.
When I heard "Ocean Floor" on the way home, I thought about this blog immediately. I felt impressed to write it ASAP. First of all, because I needed to hear it, but I also felt like there were people out there there today that needed to be reminded of this truth. Maybe some need to hear it for the first time. Your sins can be forgiven! You can be free! God's heart is to forgive and deliver you! He loves you! We can have a clean slate to make things right once and for all, because our sins are thrown to the ocean floor! This doesn't mean that the consequences of our actions magically disappear...they will still be there, but we can deal with them knowing that what's been done can be forgiven and forgotten so we can make a fresh start beginning right now.
I have put the Audio Adrenaline song below, and I hope it and this blog will encourage you today. I also pray that you will choose to let God throw your sins to the ocean floor. You can find help dealing with consequences, addictions, struggles, etc...ASK! There are great ministries in local churches and organizations that can help you as you move forward. But you can never begin that journey of recovery until you take this first step. Even if you are taking this step again as a believer...take it! We know from experience when something ends up on the ocean floor it can't be found! I also know from experience that God will do exactly what He promises! I hope and pray you will allow God to do the same for you!
Here are a few more verses to help you today.
(John 3:16, Romans 6:23, Romans 10:9-10, Romans 10:13, Jeremiah 31:7, Psalm 103:11-12, Proverbs 3:5-6)
If this blesses you today I hope you will share it with someone else. Maybe you know someone that is struggling with this very truth today...copy the address in the window and share it with them. Donna and I thank you for your prayers, support, and love as we continue to build weDIGit. If you feel led to contribute to us financially as we continue to walk by faith, you can do so by making your check out to "weDIGit" and send it to 504 Tumblweed, Forney, TX. 75126. Or you can click the DONATE button to the right.
The most unpleasant moment took place as Donna and a friend were talking about the power of God. They were discussing how much they loved the ocean, and how God actually knows how many grains of sand there are in the ocean. As they were having that special moment sharing about their faith, Donna was re-positioning her wedding set & ring on her finger because it felt loose. It was the set that I had given her on our wedding day along with a brand new diamond we had bought a few years before. As she was moving it a huge wave came in and swept the ring out off her hands and found it's way into the very waves and beach they were talking about. She was devastated! We all began to scramble frantically looking for the ring in the sand on the beach. Even as I write about it, I feel sick at my stomach. It was such a helpless feeling to realize you had lost something so special and valuable to you in one moment. We continued looking, but as we watched the waves crash in over and over again it became apparent that our search was futile. Barring a miracle of some type, we weren't going to be able to locate the ring. I kept looking and praying that it would turn up somehow. A friend of ours, we found out later, actually would get up early every morning and go looking for the ring on the beach, but was unable to locate it. It was gone!
This past week as we were returning from a trip, and our oldest son had control of the Ipod cord in the car. He was playing different songs as we traveled. At one point he chose a song I hadn't heard in while by a group called Audio Adrenaline. The name of the song is called, "Ocean Floor." It is a powerful song about the power of God's forgiveness and love for us. As I listened to the lyrics I thought about that moment on the beach in Mexico, and how we knew first hand how things can disappear on the ocean floor. The lyrics to the first verse and the chorus say, "The mistakes I've made, that caused pain, I could have done without. All my selfish thoughts, all my pride, the things I hid, you have forgot about. They're all behind you, they'll never find you, they're on the ocean floor. Your sins are forgotten, there on the bottom, of the ocean floor."
As I listened to the song, I thought about how hard we looked for that ring. Every time anyone in our group came to the beach that week, we hoped to find it. It couldn't be found. The ocean floor had covered it up. That's what happens to our sins when we find forgiveness through Jesus Christ. In Micah 7:18-19, Micah is talking to God and says, "Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of His special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw then into the depths of the OCEAN!!"
I have made so many mistakes in my life! In fact, It feels like I have thought of new ways to screw things up in my life. We all makes mistakes and stupid choices. Then we battle guilt, fear, worry, sorrow, and sadness because of our failures. Not to mention the pain our mistakes inflict on others around us that we love and care about. We need to embrace that sadness, pain, and hurt, and comprehend what we are capable of as human beings. The Bible says in Romans 3:23, "we all have sinned and fall short of God's standard." We all need HELP! We all have to be honest and vulnerable about our failures and mistakes. That's when God can loves to step into our lives and give us what we need more than anything...Love and Forgiveness. All we have to do is ask! I John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL wickedness." Our sins can be wiped away and forgotten! Mercy, Salvation, and Payment for our sins has already been made. We just have acknowledge and receive.
When I heard "Ocean Floor" on the way home, I thought about this blog immediately. I felt impressed to write it ASAP. First of all, because I needed to hear it, but I also felt like there were people out there there today that needed to be reminded of this truth. Maybe some need to hear it for the first time. Your sins can be forgiven! You can be free! God's heart is to forgive and deliver you! He loves you! We can have a clean slate to make things right once and for all, because our sins are thrown to the ocean floor! This doesn't mean that the consequences of our actions magically disappear...they will still be there, but we can deal with them knowing that what's been done can be forgiven and forgotten so we can make a fresh start beginning right now.
I have put the Audio Adrenaline song below, and I hope it and this blog will encourage you today. I also pray that you will choose to let God throw your sins to the ocean floor. You can find help dealing with consequences, addictions, struggles, etc...ASK! There are great ministries in local churches and organizations that can help you as you move forward. But you can never begin that journey of recovery until you take this first step. Even if you are taking this step again as a believer...take it! We know from experience when something ends up on the ocean floor it can't be found! I also know from experience that God will do exactly what He promises! I hope and pray you will allow God to do the same for you!
Here are a few more verses to help you today.
(John 3:16, Romans 6:23, Romans 10:9-10, Romans 10:13, Jeremiah 31:7, Psalm 103:11-12, Proverbs 3:5-6)
If this blesses you today I hope you will share it with someone else. Maybe you know someone that is struggling with this very truth today...copy the address in the window and share it with them. Donna and I thank you for your prayers, support, and love as we continue to build weDIGit. If you feel led to contribute to us financially as we continue to walk by faith, you can do so by making your check out to "weDIGit" and send it to 504 Tumblweed, Forney, TX. 75126. Or you can click the DONATE button to the right.
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