expiration passed. past: expired.

What I learned today: I have a hard time throwing away chapstick containers...empty ones that is. Random, I know, but I discovered this while cleaning out my nightstand. I found several different chapsticks that were beyond gone...to the point where you have to dip your lip in it to get the chapstick to even slightly apply. What does this have to do with anything? Well, the reason behind my keeping chapstick for so long is generally that I don't want to be wasteful, so I get all I can out of it. But this got me thinking (imagine that). I find that often we have things in our lives that we hold on to far beyond their date of expiration. Whatever it may be--addictions, relationships, past mistakes, dreams we shouldn't be dreaming, and so on. The great news: God forgives....completely. Here's the verses playing backup dancer to that statement:

Psalm 103: 8-12, "8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us."
Do you know how far the east is from the west?...That description in that day meant as far apart as possible...P.S. transgression is a fancy word for something you've done wrong or a sin.

2 Chronicles 7:14- "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
...give your burdens to Him!

Romans 10:9-11, " If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”

Take that, regret!

There's a God that's bigger than regret,
a God bigger than your last cigarette,
a God that fights each fight at your side,
a God who wants to be your Guide, out of the pain and into His joy :)