Repentance

restores and renews our intimacy with the Lord.

As a Christian, I am not perfect.
I sin. Some I know of and some I am unaware.
Those that I know, I told God and asked for forgiveness.
But some sins I struggle.
My mouth confesses the sin but my actions are not showing.
It is like just nodding in polite agreement with God,
and continuing the same way we are going.
It is only when we truly agree with God about what is right,
our behavior will follow.

The Daily Bread message on July 25th uses a great metaphor.

"Like a car, we go in the direction we are pointed.
So when we truly turn our minds and hearts toward God,
our actions change accordingly."

And on July 27th, the messge was: God's Heart Revealed

"It’s easy to think of God as a divine fly-swatter, just waiting for you to land so that—whap—He can nail you for your sins. But that’s not what we see in Revelation 2–3 in His letters to the seven churches. The pattern of the letters demonstrates God’s loving heart for wayward people."

O Lord, I pray for a pure heart and steadfast spirit within me.
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified hen you judge.
Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conveived me.
Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to e the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.

Amen.

Repentance

its a noun which has two meanings:
1. deep sorrow, compunction, or contrition for a past sin, wrongdoing, or the like.
2. regret for any past action.

But what does it mean in life application?

I thought if you have deep sorrow, it is enough. You are in repentance.

WRONG!

Imagine: You punched your friend. While saying sorry, you are still punching him/her.

Is this repentance? No.

When we are truly sorry, we'll stop punching the friend and change our behaviour. We'd be nice to that friend and not punch him/her.

The punching could be something that we are "sinning".

How can we be "sinning" and say sorry to God? I think it is not possible.

I had this sudden realization that you are truly wanting to repent only when you're determined to stop sinning because you deeply regret what you've done and feeling deep sorrow.

Where will I be without you here in my life?

I have never walked on water
felt the waves beneath my feet but
at Your word Lord, I'll receive Your
faith to walk on oceans deep

and I remember how You found me
in the very same place
all my failings surely would have drowned me
still You made a way

You are my freedom
Jesus, You're the reason
I'm kneeling again at Your throne
where would I be without You here in my life
here in my life

You have said that all the heavens
sing for joy at one who finds the
way to freedom, truth of Jesus
bought from death into His life

and I remember how You saw me
through the eyes of Your grace
and though the cost was Your beloved for me
still You made a way

song by Hillsongs.

Happy Independence Day~

For Americans.

cheers!

NUM.

I bought slippers.

Cost:$20
Colour: Pink
Paperbag colour: Orange~


^-^