The God of Second Chances

Our Great God is still in the business of second chances and happy endings. He rebuilds shattered lives and restores all for His Glory.

I have experienced God pulling me through many trials in my lifetime. As a child, I lived in a dysfunctional family of divorce and alcoholism which drug me through too many types of abuses; physical, mental, neglect and sexual abuse. Shattered personal crises happened and unfortunately much of it carried on into my adulthood. Those challenges led me to interfere with God's plans and brought unnecessary suffering into my life. Depression, anxiety, relationship issues, mental challenges and low self esteem.

 

I refused to wait on God and walked away without obedience to Him. I had put no thought into having a real relationship with the Lord. I took life by the reigns and left the blessings He had for me far behind.

I have failed and each time, many numerous times, God prepared me for the next battle. I know what the taste of disappointment tastes like.  Yet, I have learned what second chances are over and over and over again. It meant a whole new start and a new life. A chance to make my life better and to make my life for Him matter. A second chance to make things right out of things that have gone wrong .

God turns things all around for His Glory. It did not matter how shattered, battered or torn my life had been, my Father God never once turned His back on me. He won't ever reject you. Trust in Him... that His second chance He  desires to give you is all part of His plan. He is working things out, by His divine process so that you will give praise and see the Glory in Him.

It doesn't matter what your past is, or what you are dealing with right this very moment. It doesn't matter where you are or where you have been, You can rise above it with the chance God has prepared  to give you. God will use the experiences you face to prepare you for what He wants to do in your life.

God took every excuse I had for turning away from Him and turned it into a victory, an overcoming and,to my surprise, a ministry. He turned my “been there, done that” moments around with many second chances.

When I feel alone, I need to remember that I am alone to be with God. To be able to request those, "Lord, please give me one more chance" requests. I will have to put my faith in God and realize that what matters most is my relationship with Him.

God is ready to meet you at your loneliest, at your lowest, when trials come to you, When you need another chance. He is always closer than you think and prepared with His perfect plan. God is always reaching out to people like you and me, people who need His touch again.

Will you say "yes" today to the God of second chances?

Psalm 30:2 (NIV)

Lord my God, I called to you for help,
and you healed me.

 I invite you to listen to a song that touched my heart,

 Forgive Me Lord

http://youtu.be/QOcgZ4Dvt6s

Mary Edwards, Guest Blogger

Faithful Friends

A man who has friends must himself be friendly,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24, NKJV)

"Your radio show today was terrific and I loved every minute of it." that was one of the first messages my dear friend Vonda Easley and I exchanged on facebook. Neither of us knew the friendship that would develop with those few words. Since then, we've laughed, we've cried and everything inbetween. The thing is, we've never met in person. Vonda has been a very faithful friend. But, there's a catch to this story. No matter how faithful Vonda and I are to our friendship, we have one faith that binds us together. That's our faith in God. Without that, our friendship would be meaningless. Though we're faithful to one another, God is even more faithful than either of us ever could be. I'm sure in days to come, we'll let one another down. But, God never will. Has God blessed you with a faithful friend? If not, ask Him to provide that special lady for you.

Father, thank You for the gift of friendship. I ask You to give each of my readers that special friend. Provide them with a woman they can trust and confide in. In Jesus name, Amen.

Who is God to You?

Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, “Who do men say that I am?”
So they answered, “John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.” (Mark 9:27-29, NKJV)

Who is God to you? This question was posed in my friend Shirley Lee's testimony. In this verse, we're told that some thought He was a disciple. Some thought He was John the Baptist. Still, others thought He was a profit. Let me tell you who He was to Shirley. He was her strength, her peace and in her final days He was her comfort. Who is He to You? You may be going through a battle just like Shirley. You may have cancer. Let Him be your comfort. If you're going through a job loss, let Him be your peace and provision. Ladies, whatever you need Him to be, He is.

Father, help us realize who You are. Whatever we need You to be, be that in our lives Father. In Jesus Name, Amen.