Thoughts for Life: Another Chance

Patricia Raybon- At the Second Chance Bike Shop near our neighborhood, volunteers rebuild cast-off bicycles and donate them to needy kids.

Shop Ernie Clark also donates bikes to needy adults, including the homeless, the disabled, and military veterans struggling to make it in civilian life. Not only do the bicycles get a second chance but sometimes the recipients get a new start too. One veteran used his new bike to get to a job interview. (Google image, Free bicycles)

Second chances can transform a person's life, especially when the second chance comes from God. The prophet Micah extolled such grace during a time the nation of Israel groveled in bribery, fraud, and other despicable sins.

As Micah lamented, "The godly people have all disappeared; not one honest person is left on the earth" (Micah 7:2 NLT).

God would rightly punish evil, Micah knew. But being loving, He would give those who repented another chance. Humbled by such love, Micah asked, "Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people?" (v. 18 NLT).

We too can rejoice that God doesn't abandon us because of our sins if we ask for forgiveness. As Micah declared of God, "Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!"
(v. 19 NLT). Italics added, 10/26/19 Our Daily Bread devotions)

Let's pray-

"LORD, I cried out to you in my distress. You sent Your word and healed me, and delivered me from my destructions. I give You thanks for Your goodness, and for Your wonderful works to my children. I sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare Your works with joyful singing in the name of Jesus. Amen."
Psalm 107:19-22 (Shared by Germaine Copeland)

136 - 140 of 200 one-line Scriptures for those of you who want to learn some more this week-

136- Ps. 16:11 "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."
137- Col. 4:2 "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving."
138- Is. 1:19 "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land."
139- Ps. 71:14 "I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more."
140- Is. 26:12 LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us."

Today's quotes-

Our All in All

King of Kings and Lord of Lords…

Jesus, God’s own Son.

Redeemer, Shepherd, great High Priest,

Most awesome Holy One.

You came to earth to cleanse our sins

By dying in our place.

Eternal life You offer us

Through Your amazing grace.

You truly are our All in All,

Our Savior and our King,

The greatest gift we can receive…

The Lord of everything.

©Frances Gregory Pasch

(Used by permission)

~ Tonya Cotto- "If we choose faith, we acknowledge that a relationship with the Lord entails more than dressing up and arriving at a building—and that a blessed life is not necessarily one with an overabundance of amenities. We experience the real blessing when we stand firm in our relationship with God—no matter what we face."

Today's information for marriages-

5 Easy Steps to Wreck Your Marriage
appeared first on Jill Savage

Words of wisdom-

~ God's Presence goes with our love ones when we entrust them into His care. He will see to it that they will benefit from our prayers.

~ As we have been cleansed by Christ's blood, we don't have anything to fear. He is closer than our own breath and reads us like an open large-print book.

List of recent sermons of CFC ministers. CFC Potsdam NY church has a live service at 10 am Sunday's for shut-ins. If for some reason you can't make it to the church you usually attend, click on the above link, and still get fed!

Today's sermon spotlight-

God of Justice and Righteousness [Excellent message]