Rest-full day to you.

ThoughtfulEscapes — Sat, 10 Feb 2024 21:38:41 +0000

This is how I see spring right now – cut flowers from the grocery store. Aren’t they pretty and fresh? See the one I focused on here? It resembles how I think of life right now. The wilted, rough edges are bugging me. They resemble not being whole, good, beautiful. However, that isn’t true of the whole flower – just the edges. I purposely put this flower in the center to be a constant reminder. My eyes wander to this bouquet many times a day/hour. From a distance I can’t see the wilting flaws.

I want to remember to focus on the beauty and not the imperfections.

It makes me think of the sermon several Sunday’s back – it was from John 21:15-19, about Restoration. More specifically ~ Restoration for our failures. Reality is – I will fail! (v15-19) Because I need to type this out again – this is a lesson I’m still learning and working on….

We see the process of Peter’s Restoration:

– Jesus addresses Peter’s failure (v15) ~ twice more Jesus asks, each time addressing Peter’s failure (v16, 17)

– Peter responds with confident repentance ~ “…you know that I love you.” (v17)

– Jesus restores Peter ~ “Follow me” (v17-19)

Process of Restoration:

— I am not perfect – I will fail Jesus.

— He will confront me.

— If I respond with repentance, He will forgive and restore me.

Back to reality, I am not perfect – I will fail Jesus. This is a fact. Reality. It will happen.

(John 20:15-19)

He will confront me. The Holy Spirit will confront and convict me. Conviction from the Spirit always carries the promise of God’s affection. It is not my place to believe my sin is too big to be forgiven. He promises to forgive when I repent. Conviction from the Spirit does not lead to moralistic self-help. It’s not up to me to be better by trying harder.

If I respond with repentance, He will forgive and restore me. I must respond to conviction with a confident repentance. I am known deeply and personally by Him. He already knew I would fail, before I became His and yet He still chose me.

I must get on with the mission He passed on to me. Move on – I will fail again, but He promises to forgive me again. There will be a pattern by me ~ move on, fail, repent, move on, fail again, repent again, move on again….

{Can I just say, I really don’t like failure. Especially when it’s my failure.} sigh… This is one of those times I have to just have the faith to say, “Yes, Lord”.

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Rest-full day to you.