On and on

I watched a little video on grace today that was made by a redeemed Christian author.  She's a saint with a past, which includes drug and alcohol addiction and having an abortion.  She mentioned that she received a critique of a book she wrote about her life from a fellow Christian wanting to know why she didn't have more shame about the abortion.  Her answer was a good one.  She's been forgiven.  She's repented.  She is redeemed, thanks to grace.  This woman is right and today was a good day to be reminded of God's grace.  She says not living in God's grace is akin to going to a party and standing against the wall and refusing to dance or have a good time.  She can't change her mistakes, but God can and did change her, and me too.

Today is Psalm 51 day.  I wasn't going to post it because, like the woman in the story above, I too am forgiven by God's grace and Christ's sacrifice on the cross.  There is no need to be at the party and refusing to dance, but I think it's right to be respectful to those who were hurt by my selfish and sinful actions.   I'm no longer engaged in trying to change the outcome of a situation.  It is what it is.

I sinned against God.  Psalm 51 speaks of that failure but of forgiveness, repentance, and restoration.  I think all three are good topics today for whoever stops by and reads the blog.


Psalm 51

For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

1 Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
    blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
    and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
    and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
    you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
    and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
    so that sinners will turn back to you.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
    you who are God my Savior,
    and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 Open my lips, Lord,
    and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
    you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 My sacrifice, O God, is[b] a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart
    you, God, will not despise.
18 May it please you to prosper Zion,
    to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
    in burnt offerings offered whole;
    then bulls will be offered on your altar.