Friends

Yesterday my friend Marilyn and her 3 year old daughter Amelia stopped in for a visit. I used to babysit Amelia before her mom's job was ended rudely. Actually poor Marilyn was downsized twice within 8 months. And she is still out of work. This bugs me so much because our country is sending money to another country. What about our own people? What about our people who are losing their homes right now? What about our American orphans waiting for a family? I know I'm gonna piss people of because I appear to have no compassion, but that really isn't true. I do feel bad for the Haitians. I simply feel worse for my fellow Americans. I enjoyed the fellowship Marilyn and I had and the coffee seemed to be a hit lol. It was great to spend a couple hours with Amelia and see how much she has grown. I'm so thankful for my country and the freedoms I have as an American! Now Pastor Hersch.

Shelly

He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. Proverbs 28:13

Unconfessed sin is the most needless form of self-punishment there is. When we refuse to acknowledge that we have disobeyed God, we voluntarily take on an extraordinary load of shame and deceit. The sad thing is, it's unnecessary.

God already knows that we've sinned. He doesn't need us to confess it for His benefit. He needs us to confess it for our own good. Unconfessed sin will eat away at you like a disease. We'll be plagued by worries : "Do others know what I've done? When will the truth come out?" We'll be weighed down by guilt and shame ;"How could I have been so stupid? Can the one I offended ever forgive me? Can God ever forgive me?" We’ll be dragged down into deception: "If i tell just one more lie, my secret will be safe."

When we have sinned, the last place we may want to be is the first place we should go, and that is straight to God. Go to Him and let Him show you your sin for what it is.

Let Him help you see the damage your sin has done so you won't be tempted to do it again. Let Him give you the courage to seek forgiveness from whomever you've sinned against. Let Him love you, and forgive you, and cleanse you, and give you a new start.

As long as we hold on to your sin and try to conceal it, it has mastery over us. But when we confess our sin to God and seek restoration, we will find mercy and freedom.

Amen to that !!



Pastor Hersch