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fear and failure :: Monday E-Devotion

"The grace of God turns final mistakes into single mistakes."  (Mark Batterson, Chase the Lion page 49)
 
God picks us, dusts us off and gets us going again.  Whether it is the first time we have fallen or the 10th time, God is the God of 2nd chances, big heart, compassion, love and understanding.  His hands bring healing and bring us home to hear from and to know Him. 
 
This weekend has been such a time of 'unlearning' the things that the world has helped me learn through the years.  Chase the Lion brings some thoughts that I don't always get at first.  Then I fall right in line with what God has to say.  One huge thought is this: "If you study the teachings of Christ, you'll realize that learning was not His primary goal.  His primary goal was unlearning.  He was reverse-engineering religious minds..." (CHASE page 50)
 
He shook up the world.  He shook up the church community, and often Jesus has to push out what is mixed up so that what was right can fit in.  Aren't you glad that Jesus chose you and me even though we have had some unlearning to do?  There He is ... our great God of 2nd chances.  He takes our fear and turns into faith.  He takes our failure and turns it into energy and encouragement.
 
Matthew 5:43-48 (nlt) --- "You have heard the law that says, 'Love your neighbor' and hate your enemy.  But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!  In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.  If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.  If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.  But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
 
Point proven!  Jesus came to set us free.  Not to make us be even more tied to some religious law.  But most people think that being free is doing what is selfish and pleasing to the almighty "me".  Jesus changes that thought.  He helps us unlearn what we have learned.  He reconditions our preconditioning.  He literally revolutionizes us so we can impact the world for Him.
 
Don't let your fear and failure keep you impotent any longer.  Let your faith and life count for Jesus.
 
 

PRAYER

Don Rea who is battling cancer and has pneumonia (his wife works at CPFilms).  Kelly Anderson who is about to have a baby.  Continue to pray for Dorothy Kasey.  Pray for a family having sever financial needs and another marriage that needs healing. 

 

E-DEVOTIONS are sent week days from Michael Harrison, lead Pastor of The Community Fellowship.  E-devotions are intended to encourage your walk with Jesus and are posted to Michael's blog, www.e-devotion.blogspot.com.  To subscribe, cancel or change your subscription, send an e-mail to mharrison@thecommunityfellowship.org.

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