No matter how badly I have failed He has never abandoned me. Men have! Organizations have! History has! Churches have! But He never has. I can testify this morning that He is able to deliver us from all we have done, help us recover and heal, and encourage us on...over and over again if necessary.
One of our Sunday School teachers wanted me to do a picture for her class. I prayed about it and came up with the picture of a little boy in bib overalls, flannel shirt, tousled hair and barefoot with a dandelion with a bent stem in his hand. The caption on the picture was: Please be patient teacher? God isn't through with me yet! God isn't done with any of us. We might decide to be done with Him, but He will never leave or forsake us unless we remain determined to exclude Him. He won't go where He isn't invited. God has never failed me and it is my desire to get into the place where I never fail Him. I am getting better at it as I get older. I remember visiting with a man who had known the Lord in his younger life, but had abandoned that life, abandoned his family, been married and divorced four times, and had come to realize what a failure he had been. I visited with him telling him about God's mercy and love. He told me it was too late. He had done too much, hurt too many, and failed too often. I can still see him with his hanging down, not able to look me in the eye. I was able to share with him how much God loved him and was ready to forgive and restore him. I was able to share that as long as he was able to breathe there was hope. All he had to do was turn around and go the other way asking for God's forgiveness and then, forgiving himself. He returned to God's fellowship and worship and the fellowship we were a part of welcomed him with open arms. I don't care who you are, what you have done, or how long you have been doing sin, God is still waiting for you with open arms. I remember when I felt hopelessly lost. It was a long time ago. I am thankful for His mercy and grace today!
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