GETTING IT WRONG

A. Have you ever done something and realized (sometimes immediately) that you made the wrong decision?
1. Most likely you have, just like I have.
2. I think it is part of being human.
3. Sometimes the bad decisions are glaringly obvious, glaring things that stand out for everyone to see, yet, sometimes they are things of which only you are aware.
4. I started thinking about this when my daughter and granddaughter told me I was getting bubble wrap for Christmas and my birthday.
5. I read an article that told me that bubble wrap was originally marketed as wall paper.
6. I honestly can't see how they ever thought that would work, except as dead air space for insulation, but then I'm looking at it from a background of moving and mail, that says, "bubble wrap is used to pack everyday stuff.," and Murphy’s that keep falling down.

B. As I do a quick review of my life, I can quickly find many decisions that I made the wrong choice about.
1. Now, I could dwell on those things and worry about them and let them control my life and make me miserable, but I'm not going to do that.
2. I choose to focus on the good stuff.
3. I've known some folks in my life, who have done nothing but remember their wrong decisions.
4. They worry about them to the point that they come to believe that they have no worth; no value even to God.
5. How could God possibly forgive them if they can't forgive themselves?
6. If you are a fan of the Anne of Green Gables books and movies, you may remember one scene where Anne comments that "Everyday is brand new, free of mistakes."
7. What a wonderful concept and one that is so true.

C. In 1 John 1: 8-9 we read,
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9)
1. Honestly, this is one of my favorite Bible scriptures.
2. In this scripture we find hope when we make the wrong decisions.
3. We find promise that we can start over fresh with each new day.
4. What does it take? Admitting we messed up and believing what God says, when he says he will "cleanse"
us.
5. It seems sometimes that I work overtime at getting it wrong in my life; I think the wrong things, say the
wrong things and do the wrong things.
6. But our God "is faithful and just to forgive us our sins."
7. You see, it's God's love that brings us forgiveness when we get it wrong in life; it's our responsibility to get it right.

Invitation:
1. Where Do You Fit In? will you accept that forgiveness and get on with living for him.

By Gary D. Murphy

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