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Thought for the Week
by Pastor Norman Burger, Jr.
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No Regrets
“I’ve got no regrets.” I have heard people say that at the end of a project, an endeavor, a career, and even a life. And I don’t buy it.
To honestly say that, we would have to mean we always said and did everything the way we really wanted to, or at least we would have to mean by that that we are OK with our bad decisions, foolish moves, hurtful actions, and the cowardice that kept us from taking a chance.
We all have regrets. And they hurt, because of what could have been, or what we had and lost, and never can be ours again. They hurt because our regrets often remind us of the hard truth that we are foolish, selfish, arrogant, cowardly, weak.
But here’s some good news. God is interested in healing the sting of regret. But he begins by making our regret worse. He lowers the boom on us by telling us that every hurtful and foolish thing we have done was really aimed at him. It was a violation of his commands that call for selflessness, not selfishness; love not hate; trust not fear. It hurts to hear God tell us we are failures. It really hurts to hear that we have wrecked our relationship with him beyond repair- if repairing it depended on us. But this is a good hurt, when it leads us to seek and find comfort from God. The Bible calls this “repentance.” And listen to what God says about repentance: Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret. (2 Corinthians 7:10)
We never regret seeking comfort from God, for God sent his Son to this world and finally to a cross to suffer and die for all wrong and foolish things we have done, the ones we regret and the ones we should but don’t. And get this. God has never regretted that he made that sacrifice for you! Not once! Not even when you were at your worst! For it was love for you that moved him to make that sacrifice for you, and love that moved the Son to willingly be that sacrifice. It was God’s desire all along that you be freed from the sting of guilt and regret and fear through the forgiveness of your sins. It was God’s longing all along to give you the comfort that your past has not and never will ruin your future- since it ends with God in heaven through your risen Savior Jesus.
This is why you won’t regret giving worship here a try, or taking a chance on the Bible Discovery Class we are offering in a few weeks. The focus is always on God’s love and what he did for us and what he will continue to do for us that allows us to live with our past, look forward to the future with confidence, and with his strength, be the kind of person he has called us to be today.
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JOIN US FOR WORSHIP:
Sunday: 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Monday: 7:00 p.m.
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TODAY'S GRACE MOMENT
9/6/10: Family Goals
Isn’t it funny how long it takes for human beings to mature? Animals in the wild can become fully functioning adults, with complex and interrelated lives, in a few years, in a few months or even weeks. But God designed people to need almost two decades to mature physically, and sometimes it takes even longer to mature emotionally and mentally.
Why do you suppose he did it that way? Well, perhaps because he knows that coming to understand human relationships, growing in them, getting good at taking care of them, is best cooked slowly. Or maybe he wants to teach parents how he feels as he deals with all his wayward children.
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Time of Grace Ministries
This daily "Grace Moment" is provided by Pastor Mark Jeske. If you would like more information or would like "Grace Moments" e-mailed to you daily, please click on the link.
Time of Grace is an outreach media ministry that was founded in 2001 by a small group of committed, focused Christians. The sole mission of this non-profit organization has always been to share the good news of Jesus Christ with as many people as possible through the most advanced technology available.
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