Thoughts for Life: THE GOD OF SECOND CHANCES

The God of Second Chances

Karen Huffaker-

As we venture into another New Year, we have a clear calendar—a clean slate to start things fresh and anew. Committing to new diets and exercise plans, starting new jobs or retirement, dreaming about new travel plans, and launching new hobbies are just a few. We can build new relationships or pledge to work better at old ones.

We may want to mend our ways, put aside bad habits, or face up to sins where we have shown weakness. As much as the apostle Peter loved the Lord and pledged his heart to His teaching, he denied his Lord in moments of weakness. In fact, because of fear, Peter denied that he knew Jesus three times. Immediately, Peter was crushed and heartbroken. But he pulled himself together, admitted his failure, and determined to overcome flaws and fears.

Peter became a solid rock—a force to reckon with—and helped lay the foundation for spreading the gospel in the early church. God gave him a second chance. Peter didn’t give up and quit. His love for Jesus and the good news of God’s saving grace motivated him to move forward in step with God. He claimed victory over his failures.

God is a God of second chances. Many times—most of the time, but not always—God will help us overcome our fears, sins, and failures. Not everyone will get a second chance, but if you are reading this, you still have time.

Ask God to do a new work in your life during this New Year.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9 NIV

Let's pray-

Lord, today I choose to become a student of the bible. Strengthen me through your truth and empower me to stand against temptation and sin. I also choose to make prayer a natural part of every day. Make me more aware of your presence and power, Lord. I want to be a godly person of discipline, and whose life honors you and draws other to you. Amen.

#82 Testimony- Job, in the Bible (As taken from pages 112-114 of Merlin R. Carothers' book, Power in Praise.

Job was tested through Satan's troubles that he brought on him, after he asked permission from God. Satan may be the actor who acts out his role in the drama of our life, but God is still the Director.

So what was Job's respnse? He fell down on the ground before God and tore his clothes in grief.

"I came naked from my mother's womb . . . and I shall have nothing when I die. the Lord gave me everything I had, and they were His to take away. Blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21).

But that wasn't the end of Job's troubles. Satan came and asked permission once more to torment Job, and God gave it.

This time Job was struck with boils all over his body, until he became so disfigured that no one could bear to look at him. His own wife told him to curse God and die, and his neighbors, who had always respected him, now mocked him and turned away. Three of his best friends came to tell him that his suffering was caused by his sins, and advised him to repent.

Job never doubted that God had brought his misfortune. He cried out for mercy, but was convinced that it was not his sins that had brought about his suffering. Job knew in his heart that he was a righteous man, and he trusted God.

"Though He slay me, yet will I . . . trust Him. Nevertheless, I will . . . argue my ways before him - even to His face"(Job 13:15 Amp).

Job's faith that God was in charge never wavered, but his understanding questioned God's purpose and methods. Job's questions have been echoed by all of us, at one time or another.

"Why do you allow poverty, God? Why do you allow the innocent to suffer? Why are evil men living in ease and comfort? Why don't you listen to my plea? God, why don't you let me die so my suffering will end and I can rest with you?"

When God answered Job, it was the stern rebuke of a Father to a son.

"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much . . . Have you ever commanded the morning to appear, and cause the dawn to rise in the east? . . . Where is the path to the distribution point of light? Where is the home of the east wind? . . . Can you hold back the stars? . . . Can you ensure the proper sequence of the seasons? . . . Who gives intuition and instinct? Who makes the wild donkeys wild? . . . Have you given the horse strength, or clothed his neck with a quivering maine? . . . Is it at your command that the eagle rises high upon the cliffs to make her nest? . . . Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? Or will you yield? do you - God's critic - have the answers?" (Job 38:4, 12, 24, 31-32, 36; 39:5, 19, 27; 40:2).

Job replied, "I am nothing, How could I ever find the answers? I lay my hand upon my mouth in silence. I have said too much already" (Job 40:4-5). Job had learned his lesson.

It is interesting to note that God blessed Job after Job prayed for those friends who had accused him wrongly. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before (Job 42:10).

1436-1440 One-line Scriptures for those of you who want to learn some more verses this week- or to review them from when they were first posted-

1436- 2 Chron. 20:20b "Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established."

1437- Pro. 8:4 "Unto you, O man, I call and my voice is to the sons of Man.'

1438- Ps. 101:2a "I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way."

1439- Ps. 71:14 "But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more."

1440- Is. 56:7b "For mine house shall be called a house of prayer for all people."

#82 Hymn- There is Power in the Blood

The information about this song, is taken from the book by Robert J. Morgan, THEN SINGS MY SOUL (pg. 249)

"Both the words and music of this old hymn were written during a camp meeting at Mountain Lake Park, Marland by Lewis Jones. Jones, a California naive, graduated from Moody Bible Insitute and spent his vocaitonal life with the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA).

Some encouraging words-

Prayerlessness, or weak praying and even unbelieving prayer, restrains God's power, disabling His divine interactioin. The gift to a community, town or person is a praying church. It alone can change the history of a people.

"Paul’s sufferings were nothing compared to those of Jesus. Jesus endured beatings, rejection, humiliation, torture, and death on the cross of Calvary to save us all from our sins. Jesus had a choice and chose to pay our sin debt in full. He obeyed His Father and endured such suffering to show how much He loves us. We can’t help but be drawn to the one who loves us so much." Karen Huffaker

Church Notes:

God guides mis-guided people, attempting to show them they need to be wise and intentional in their service for the Lord. Our fulfillment is found in the Lord Jesus, and we can find His will for each of us through asking the Father for guidance. He wants to fan our faith into flames of fire for the Kingdom through faithful praying.

1) Entirely depending on the Lord for our lives.

2) Be separated from all sin.

3) Have faith in God's Word.

4) Ask according to God's will so He'll hear our prayers.

We're to persist in our praying and never give up!

Luke18:1 Always pray!

Upcoming posts:

4/26th- FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS- Jesmie GOH

5/1st- DANGERS- Kevin Spencer

10th- SATISFY YOUR HEART- Diane Ohlson