The cold bit through my heavy coat, but once inside the church, warmth greeted me. We were filled to overflowing at our church. The crowded condition reminded me of the story in the Bible where the men had to remove part of the roof to lower the crippled and sick man inside the house to receive his healing (Mark 2:4). In that moment, I too was lowered in for my healing and to find peace through worship.
A young man and new convert spoke from the pulpit. Next to me on my crowded row, a woman fed her little baby boy a bottle. He fell a sleep on the bottle nipple still in his mouth.
The preacher, my son, spoke on fumbling in life. We get back up and brush ourselves off. We continue on. As he spoke, I wrote in my Sermon notes, “Our mistakes are like steam, evaporated, but will later pour down in a rain of lessons learned and a renewal of life. Their only value, the lesson of love and incredible truths that Christ give us. We are human, but we have a greater one who loves us even if we stumble or have personal fumbles.”
He will walk with us no matter our past failures. Our focus is forgiveness of ourselves because once we bring those failures to Him, He forgets them and never recalls them. We have to move forward in faith that His grace will prevail and is bigger than any of our shortcomings. His Word will never fail us. When we put them in our heart, we find the confidence and courage we need to point others to Him. His name is Jesus. His gift incredible and free.
This post was written for the March Slice of Life Challenge and for Two Shoes Tuesday where the prompts for this week are name and normal.
Also linking these posts up with: Monday’s Musings, Mondays at Soul Survival Linkup, Worshipful Living, Testimony Tuesdays, Titus 2sdays, The Totally Terrific Tuesday Link Party, Coffee for Your Heart, Sharing His Beauty Blog Link-Up, Tell It to me Tuesdays , and RaRa Linkup
I am so glad we have one who is greater than our personal stumbles. Just now I made a big mistake, but God forgives. I am so thankful for this.
Praise God for His unconditional love, unending patience, and overflowing grace! We are so blessed to call Him Father. Thank you for these beautiful words. I enjoyed reading your thoughts.
Tina recently posted…Blessings in Brokenness
This is the Name above all other names, the longing of our heart, the shelter of coming home! Thoughtful and beautifully written, Mary!
Josie Two Shoes recently posted…Not Normal, Not OK
Oh you are naughty, writing while he was preaching. I am sure he would give you a copy of the sermon after. I can remember one priest in our church had copies available after the service should we need reminding on what he had said!
Old Egg recently posted…It isn’t fair
The Name above all others. It must be wonderful to hear your son preach the sermon. One of my most special moments was when my son administered Communion to me during his confirmation practice.
Jesus’ gift truly is the most special one ever!
Susannah recently posted…I’m Not as Seasoned as I Should Be