More than just forgetting...

"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be BLOTTED OUT, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;" Acts 3:19

"I have BLOTTED OUT, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee." Isaiah 44:22

In your bible, you find that God forgets our sins. Our iniquities he will remember no more. But in these passages, I find an even deeper description of God's mindset toward our sin, past, present, and future: Blotted out.

When I forget something, it doesn't mean that it ceases to exist (I wish that were true in school). It simply means that I am unaware of it. But when something is blotted out, it literally ceases to exist! How can this be?

The almighty God that created our very being, hung stars we can't imagine in places we can't comprehend, and orchestrates the thunder I hear outside my window right now, said that your sins are "blotted out." I don't presume to understand my God in these things, but I have chosen to believe him when he says them. My sins aren't in a closet somewhere to be brought out by the adversary at the judgement. They simply don't exist. When I call to remembrance my sin, the Father turns to his Son, and says, "What is he talking about?"

I don't know about you, but many times when I pray it seems my sins are ever before me. I can't shut the sin out of my mind long enough to even talk to the Lord! If that happens to you, then that is the devil trying to distract you, hinder you, and stop you from praying. From now on, do what I do. I say to the Lord, "Lord, please hold on one second." Then I turn to the devil, and I say, "Devil, that sin is what Jesus took to Calvary, and I appreciate you reminding me of all that God did for me when he blotted out my sin. Anything else you need?" Then, without further delay, I continue praying.

That may seem strange to you, and you may think I'm crazy for talking to the devil like that. But just think of it this way--He doesn't mind interrupting you and God to talk to you, so you might as well take the time to shut him up. Just tell him that anything he wants to talk about is already gone in the blood of Jesus Christ, so he needs to go kick a coke can down the street, cause you don't have time to talk to him today. AMEN! Don't waste time with that old fool!

Remember saints, your sins are forgiven, and on top of that, they're blotted out!

The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad!

Fast Living and Long Vacations

Yes, I am alive, if you began to wonder. Life has just been extremely busy for me lately. I haven't had time for really anything but school and work. I used to go to the gym pretty regularly to play basketball...not anymore! I used to do my piano lessons on Friday, my morning off. Now I take my Sunday afternoon nap and do piano lessons in that time. You know it's bad when your next door neighbor who just happens to be your grandmother says, "I never see you anymore." Yeah, I know. I hardly see myself anymore, it seems. The mirror is forgetting what I look like. :D Just kidding.

Actually, in times of crash and burn, I get moments of tranquility. I have my little recesses that I can't really afford to take, but the cost of not taking them just happens to be higher. It's a nap here and there, or something like that. I just do it and then make up for it later somehow.

Anyway, college has been a quite an experience, so to speak. I have had many, many discussions with professors who profess to be wise, but really can't back up what they say. They are used to students who allow themselves to be spoon-fed everything without feedback. I couldn't even begin to tell on this blog the stories of class issues that come up. It boils down to the fact that this country is so ignorant of truth, that even the concept of making sure things are true is completely foreign to them.

So here I sit, looking at my laptop screen, getting ready to take an absence from school for the next 2 days, and thanking God more than ever before that vacations exist. I wonder sometimes just how much of my life is going to be at this level of fast-pace. I want to think that after college, it will slow down, and I'm sure it will. Whatever the case, I am willing to give my time, effort, and personal well-being to the cause of Jesus Christ. Making a difference for Christ will never be convenient, and I am resigned to that fact. As a lawyer, I don't plan on signing papers for corporations to do business to the tune of $300 per hour. I plan on really making trouble for the devil, if you want to look at it that way.

But for this next week or so, it's time to sleep, eat, laugh with family, bible read, sleep, bible read, eat, sleep, have fun with family, bible read, good book read, sleep...you get the picture. :D

Stay in the fight, for it will soon be night, Christian!

In Christ Alone,
Clay

God's Will for Me

Should I think beyond God's will for me
And dare to fall as prey
To future days too far from me
And miss God's perfect way?

Should I think above God's will for me
As though there is a place
That I could reach by my own lead
Surpassing God's daily grace?

Should I think behind God's will for me
And wonder how it would measure
If I returned God's will to flee
And wish for seeming pleasure?

Should I think around God's will for me
That other ways be known
Than the way I know and plainly see
That God has clearly shown?

Or should I rest on eagles wings
And determine not to wrest
The design with which God fulfills all things
And wait--cause He knows best?