“Our God of the second chance…”

Ever feel discouraged about “something you missed” in life? Have you thought about things that did not go as well as you expected? That marriage, that job, that college career? Your health? Maybe it was a “hidden sin” in your life, or something you really messed up?

Let’s look at a few of “God’s people” who messed up or needed a “second chance…” King Hezekiah was dying, and he “turned his face to the wall” and God added fifteen years to his life. (Isaiah 38:2) King David sinned against God with his act of adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband sent to the front lines of the battle to be killed. David had repented, and God had given him “another chance…” All through the Bible, God talks about giving Israel another chance “for my servant David’s sake.”

Eve sinned against God, and as a result of her sin one of her sons, Cain, killed his brother, Abel. But, God gave Eve another chance… “And Adam knew his wife again; she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, she said, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.” (Genesis 4:25) God gave her “another chance.”

And everyone knows the story of Samson. The “secret of his strength was in his hair.” He was never, never to cut his hair… And yet, he gave away the secret of his strength to Delila, who called in the Philistines and cut his hair. He ended up captured and blinded by the Philistines, and then was brought into the arena, so that he would “grind” with the big wheel and all his enemies could make fun of him! But, God “gave him another chance,” and let his hair grow back! He killed more enemies in his death than he had in his life!

Joel 2:25 declares, “And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten…” God is the “God of the second chance.” No matter how much you may have messed up or passed up that one good thing, God wants to give you “a second chance!” Take it and have a great day! Sherry

Years ago, we were invited to visit a church in California. We knew the pastor quite well. He had knowledge of the Word of God like we had never known. We visited on Saturday, so we expected no one would be there. We walked in and saw people singing and praising the Lord and cleaning the pulpit area! They shined all the musical instruments! They looked at us and said, “We are ministering unto the Lord!” We walked down the hall, and someone was singing and cleaning the room for the toddlers! They said, “This is my ministry! I’m cleaning the house of the Lord and I Iove it!” He had taught his people this…  “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” (Colossians 3:23) Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all do this unto the Lord! Have a blessed day. Sherry

“God can hear your prayer anywhere!”

The story of Jonah being swallowed by a whale is a remarkable story of God’s forgiveness. God had called Jonah to go to Nineveh to preach repentance to this sin filled city. But Jonah ran and caught a ride in a boat to “flee from the presence of the Lord!” I don’t have to tell you the story because you know that Jonah was “swallowed up by a whale!” As he lay there in the stinking belly of the whale, surrounded by fish guts, he cried out to the Lord! And God heard his prayer! God will hear your prayer any day, any time, and in any circumstance!

Sherry