True confession: while in grade school, summer boredom prompted unhealthy mischief. One of my go-to childish games was phone pranks. …I’d hang up after informing the unfortunate person on the other end of the line to chase their running refrigerator.
Trust me, I’m not bragging. On the contrary! I shudder at my former behavior. Why am I sharing this with you?
When a fellow prankster’s daughter rang our doorbell at 10 p.m. several weeks ago, memories of my immature summer “fun” rushed in like an unwelcome tsunami.
Maybe your less-than-stellar moments don’t include prank phone calls. But, perhaps events from your past still taunt you?
If the answer is yes, you’re not alone. Whether it’s a twinge or a stab in the gut, past deeds and guilt impose themselves like Charlie Brown’s friend Pigpen and his “dust of countless ages.”
We no longer see ourselves as dearly loved children of the Most High God. Clothed in His righteousness. Ours is the same as Pigpen’s clouded view.
The Good News is that if we’ve confessed our sins, God’s forgiven us.
To put a spin on Pigpen’s words, the countless woulda, coulda, shouldas are past dust! Our enemy might like to use guilt and other nonimaginative strategies to destroy our joy.
Don’t let him!
Shake off the dust, because it gets even better.
There’s a way out. …a gift that’s been offered!
Stretch out your arms, east and west. Look from the end of your right hand to the tip of your left. Our ability to reach is finite. Not so with God, who created the Heavens and the Earth and everything in it. His reach is infinite, His power and goodness unending.
God can’t lie! We can trust that He’s forgiven and removed every sin we’ve laid at His feet.
Isn’t it time we take the gift, accept His forgiveness, and let go?
By Amre Cortadino
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Amen!!! What seemed like fun at the time sure came back to bite!! UGH!! Thanks, Valerie! 🙂
So can relate!!! My girlfriend and I were phone pranksters also! (Our hometown was boring!)
So grateful for the forgiveness Christ offers!
Amen!! His grace is sufficient!!! Thanks for stopping by, Kathy! 🙂
Amen!! Whew is right!!! 🙂
Funny story, Gwen!!! Thanks for sharing!! And thanks for stopping by!! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by, Patti!! So thankful for God’s forgiveness!!! 🙂
I can relate!!! So thankful for His love!!! Thanks for stopping by, Deena!! 🙂
Amen!! He will always be there – no matter how many times, every time!!! Thanks for stopping by, Melissa!! 🙂
I am thankful for God’s forgiveness. I have failed many times in life and He is always there to pick me up. 🙂
I’m so thankful for God’s infinite love and forgiveness! I can be a brat!
Hi Amre. I love to recall that “as far as the east is from the west verse of scripture and frequently do when guilt over past transgressions rears it’s ugly head. Thank you for this reminder. Have a blessed day!
Great message! Ha ha, I used to try to prank my mom when we lived in Budapest and she worked with my dad at the American Embassy. I would get home from school, call her at work, and pretend to be an American in distress on foreign soil. Ha! Of course she never fell for it. 🙂
Whew!
Praise God for his infinite grace!:) Thank you.