Gift of Second Chances

To forgive, by definition, is to stop feeling angry or resentful toward others for an offense or mistake or to cancel a debt.  

     Forgiveness may be one of the most difficult things to do. When Jesus took my sins upon Himself at the time He died on the cross, He gave me the "gift of second chances."  

     What makes it easy for me to forgive us to realize that it helps me. It releases the burden of weight which I do not have to carry around anymore. 

     When I think about it, I am not only giving myself a gift but the one being forgiven a gift, as well. For me, forgiveness is the gift of second chances. 

     I am so thankful I am given second chances daily. So, why not pass it on? 

 

 Here is my 2020 Christmas Gift I am passing on to all who will accept it.  However, no one can provide Peace, Love, and Good Will except Jesus who came to give it to us. 

2020 Christmas Gift

There was little time for 2020 Christmas shopping

since we were mostly in a lock down state.

My first thoughts were vintage, yet up-to-date.

This needed to be a special Christmas gift;

something to uplift.

It needed to be fuzzy and warm;

Something to get through any storm.

It was hard being so selective,

but I had an objective.

It still had to be attractive,

yet protective.

I repeated my list

to be sure something wasn't missed:

Fuzzy and warm,

Protective through any storm,

Attractive in every form.

Aha! Suddenly, I knew just the thing;

Something passed on from a King!

I quickly seized upon my precious find.

I was sure this gift would be cherished in heart and mind.

It was certainly warm and cozy, a bundle of delight;

Just what was needed to make the year more bright. 

This was a shield of protective covering

through the cold, even in sickness and suffering.

It was attractive in every way

and would stay that way throughout each day. 

So, I asked as I finished my task, 

"What better gift than one making every dark cloud lift?"

My choice - the gift of Peace, Love, and Good Will

given by the Christ Child born out in the chill.

                                             Mary Crisp Jameson

Gift of Life

     In this first week of 2017, I am still thinking about all the effort everyone makes with gift giving at Christmas time.  There is so much shopping, so many excessive bills created, so many cardboard boxes to throw away, and so much shredded wrapping paper.  Many of the gifts go unused, hidden away in closets, returned, or even some broken within weeks.  Often, we are not even told we got it wrong, which means no second chance this year to give that one gift our loved ones will love forever.
     The important thing to remember about gift giving and Christmas, is that we do have a God of second chances.  He never gets it wrong.  When God sent His Son to die on the cross to save us He gave us the greatest gift of all - one that cannot be returned once accepted.  He gave us the gift of grace. 
     With this gift, we may become broken in tribulation, but God is always with us.  We may once again sin because of our sin nature, but God's grace forgives.  The amazing thing about His gift is that, because we are His children, we are motivated to serve Him.
     In considering the gift of grace I came up with the following acronym.

G -race - gift of eternal life to those who believe in Jesus and His death on the cross for us
I -nheritance -gift of abundance of God's blessings and His promises
F- aith - gift of peace and comfort by believing in God and His Word
T- hankful- gift of peace and joy, knowing God's love surrounds us daily.

     In my reading of today's devotional in In Touch, the writer gives Romans 5:2 and makes a quote which I would like to share:  "Through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God." 
     The writer states, "This is no puddle of mercy that barely wets the toes, but rather a mighty ocean."