Get Back Up~

May the Lord's blessings be upon us all today~

 

Yesterday we looked at how we should not take advantage of God's goodness by purposely doing the wrong thing just because He will forgive us. But the truth is that there will be times when we will mess up simply because we are human. What's the difference?

 

Proverbs 24:16 "For a righteous man falls seven times and rises again."

 

First of all who are the righteous? We are. We are upright and in right standing with God. Everything between Him and us is A-OK. We had a need to be loved, accepted, and forgiven. He sent us His Son so we could receive all these things, and the instant we said Yes to Him, He gave gave gave it all so we could have it all.

 

Except that we will still fall--over and over again.

 

Most of us know the "Our Father" prayer. One line in there says, "And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." Why is it in there? Because we mess up. The key difference between those who are righteous and those who are not, is that the righteous get right back up.

 

In other words, we don't wallow in the mud. Over the years I have often told Jorge that the bird may land on his head, but he better not let it make a nest.

 

I am not sure where I even heard that, but it's a powerful truth. As soon as you fall, ask Jesus to grab you by the hand and get up!!! The sooner the better. Don't let something become a habit.

 

Things have a way of escalating if we're not careful. And the longer you stay down, the harder it becomes to get up.

 

And we have all seen the commercial where a geriatric falls and says, "Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!" An entire industry of push-button alert devices has emerged as a result of this rampant problem plaguing our senior citizens. There's even a website, www.learnnottofall.com, dedicated to educating folks about this matter because, "By 80 years of age, over half of seniors fall annually."

 

That is a startling statistic, but I have another one: 100% of us will fall. What will we do?

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, You know we will fall, but You also know that getting up is possible, and that is what You are encouraging us to do today. Thank You that even when we make mistakes, You still love us. Your Word assures us that You have enough mercy to see us through. We're counting on it. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Dress in Love~

A hearty and happy hello to all:)




The DEVO from March 26 talked about coming alongside those you love, and one of my buddies is now living this out in the most beautiful way I think I have ever seen.



Colossians 3:12-14 says, "...dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered...quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it."



She recently found out she is going to be a grandmother. Her child will soon be married, so this news was surprising to say the least. Suddenly there were two options: Have a full-blown tizzy or remember that love is our basic, all-purpose garment that we are never without.



This fine and fabulous gal pal, fully arrayed in the wardrobe God would have us all wear, has withheld judgment and harshness. There's enough of that in the world already, don't you agree? Rather, she has rightly come alongside her daughter and is helping her navigate through all the whirlwind activities that come from preparing a wedding, preparing a baby shower, preparing a move, and preparing for the responsibilities of being a wife and mother. Is there even really any time to point a finger and be critical?



And may I add that everything being planned is to celebrate the love and commitment between two people who are aware that God is a forgiving Father Who desires to bless them?



What must we do to be blessed--even in the face of our own choices and consequences?



Proverbs 24:16 "The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.'



We will all trip, over and over again, in fact. BUT WE GET UP AGAIN.



We do not stay down. We do not live in the error. We get up and make it right. How wonderful when someone encourages us and helps us get up. And when we get up, we get blessed. Our life may go off track, but glory and praises, we can all steer right back on course.



Isn't that life in a nutshell?



PRAYER:

Dear Lord, Thank You that You know we are prone to falling down but that we also rise again. Life is a series of ups and downs, and You are with us each step of the way. Fill our lives with those who wear love like the life-affirming covering we each need. And if any of us is prone to being negative, rude, harsh, or critical, help us remove all that and replace it with the finest garment in Your wardrobe. In Jesus' name, AMEN~