Don’t look back?

(07.28.21–Sin Escapes! –James 1: 13-15)

My friend, may I ask you a question? When it comes to changing our lives, is it a matter of no turning back? Sometimes dealing with sin in our lives takes. If we want to change our lives, do we have to commit to a new direction and not look back?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

I've built several decks here at Beech Springs. Since we've moved here years ago I've dismantled and rebuilt the badly rotting north deck overlooking Noname Creek. Then I rebuilt a similar rotting deck on the south side of the house. I next built a new deck on the east side of the house and then an even more ambitious deck project on the west side of the house. Although each deck took considerable time to build, there was one important facet of the east and west decks that set them apart. These two decks required concrete piers prior to constructing the decks whereas the older, reconstructed decks didn't. After tearing down the first two decks I could have opted to living with no decks. However, after sinking piers for the latter two decks, I had no choice but to keep going. Concrete piers with nothing built on them would have looked foolish. Once that concrete was poured, there was no going back. I had committed myself to building new decks even if time and money were the issues.

No turning back. Sometimes dealing with sin in our lives takes similar risk. If we want to change our lives, we may have to commit to a new direction and not look back.

Here's a story: When Julius Caesar landed on the shores of England with his well-armed legions he simultaneously made a bold and decisive move to guarantee the success of his campaign. He marched his men to the edge of the Cliffs of Dover and ordered them to look down at the ships that had brought them across the channel. As the troops took their turns looking over the cliffs each squad could see nothing but smoke coming from the area of where the Roman ships had docked. Every one of them was ablaze! General Caesar had cut off the possibility of a pullback or retreat and made defeat a non sequitur, a non-possibility. Now that his soldiers were unable to return to the continent, there was nothing left for them to do but advance and conquer; and that is precisely what they did. (Rubel Shelly)

Some Christians seem to have missed the significance of repentance for the new life to which God calls his children. Grace not only offers pardon but also demands and produces transformation. Some may say that repentance is as far as I can go. I just can't commit to changing my addictive, sinful behavior. "I truly believe in Christ, but I just can't break away from pornography (or cursing or fornication or alcohol)." Maybe. In order to defeat sin, however, we need to go beyond remorse and a willingness to change. We need to take an additional step of "burning the boats, taking the risk and not looking back.

We pray. Heavenly Father, forgive us when we miss the significance of repentance for the new life to which You have called us as children. Your grace not only offers pardon but also demands and produces transformation. Some may say Lord that repentance is as far as we can go. I just can't commit to changing my addictive, sinful behavior. "I truly believe in Christ, but I just can't break away from the sin." Maybe. In order to defeat sin, however, we need to go beyond remorse and a willingness to change. Help us to do that Lord. We need to take an additional step of "burning the boats, taking the risk and not looking back. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.

Don’t look back?

(07.28.21–Sin Escapes! –James 1: 13-15)

My friend, may I ask you a question? When it comes to changing our lives, is it a matter of no turning back? Sometimes dealing with sin in our lives takes. If we want to change our lives, do we have to commit to a new direction and not look back?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

I've built several decks here at Beech Springs. Since we've moved here years ago I've dismantled and rebuilt the badly rotting north deck overlooking Noname Creek. Then I rebuilt a similar rotting deck on the south side of the house. I next built a new deck on the east side of the house and then an even more ambitious deck project on the west side of the house. Although each deck took considerable time to build, there was one important facet of the east and west decks that set them apart. These two decks required concrete piers prior to constructing the decks whereas the older, reconstructed decks didn't. After tearing down the first two decks I could have opted to living with no decks. However, after sinking piers for the latter two decks, I had no choice but to keep going. Concrete piers with nothing built on them would have looked foolish. Once that concrete was poured, there was no going back. I had committed myself to building new decks even if time and money were the issues.

No turning back. Sometimes dealing with sin in our lives takes similar risk. If we want to change our lives, we may have to commit to a new direction and not look back.

Here's a story: When Julius Caesar landed on the shores of England with his well-armed legions he simultaneously made a bold and decisive move to guarantee the success of his campaign. He marched his men to the edge of the Cliffs of Dover and ordered them to look down at the ships that had brought them across the channel. As the troops took their turns looking over the cliffs each squad could see nothing but smoke coming from the area of where the Roman ships had docked. Every one of them was ablaze! General Caesar had cut off the possibility of a pullback or retreat and made defeat a non sequitur, a non-possibility. Now that his soldiers were unable to return to the continent, there was nothing left for them to do but advance and conquer; and that is precisely what they did. (Rubel Shelly)

Some Christians seem to have missed the significance of repentance for the new life to which God calls his children. Grace not only offers pardon but also demands and produces transformation. Some may say that repentance is as far as I can go. I just can't commit to changing my addictive, sinful behavior. "I truly believe in Christ, but I just can't break away from pornography (or cursing or fornication or alcohol)." Maybe. In order to defeat sin, however, we need to go beyond remorse and a willingness to change. We need to take an additional step of "burning the boats, taking the risk and not looking back.

We pray. Heavenly Father, forgive us when we miss the significance of repentance for the new life to which You have called us as children. Your grace not only offers pardon but also demands and produces transformation. Some may say Lord that repentance is as far as we can go. I just can't commit to changing my addictive, sinful behavior. "I truly believe in Christ, but I just can't break away from the sin." Maybe. In order to defeat sin, however, we need to go beyond remorse and a willingness to change. Help us to do that Lord. We need to take an additional step of "burning the boats, taking the risk and not looking back. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.