The Past – Escape it or embrace it? Hate it or cherish it?

If you have had a difficult past then perhaps you want to escape it. Perhaps you have been abused and hurt and so you may harbour feelings of anger and hatred. If you have had a past full of love and joy then you are likely blessed with memories you treasure.

Regardless of whether you want to escape your past or cherish it, it does not need to define the rest of your life.

It’s possible to spend a lot of your life grieving your past, feeling guilty about the bad choices you made and the consequences those choices had.   I met someone once who said to me “Guilt is only useful if it prevents you from doing something you should not be doing in the present.” Do you agree?

I personally think “remorse for our sins” that is likely accompanied by feelings of guilt is something that assists us not just in changing our pattern of behaviour, but also in atoning for the pain that we have caused God and one another. I remember going to Confession once and then telling God afterwards that in my opinion the “Confession” didn’t work because I felt more sad after the Confession than I did before.

Why did I feel more sorry about my sins after the Confession? Maybe in the process of hearing myself say my sins out loud, I truly realized the pain I had caused God.   Maybe it was simply grace that I received from God that permitted me to feel sorry I had sinned. After telling God I felt the Confession didn’t work, because in that moment I thought now I should feel happy because I have got this off my chest I heard God say, “your remorse cleanses you.”

After this I went to sit in the Church pews as I awaited Mass to begin and someone came to ask me if I would bring the gifts up to the Altar during the Mass.   I said “yes I would” and once again God spoke to my heart. God said, “bring me the gifts and give me your pain and leave them at the Altar.” I remember feeling mystified as to what God was telling me, but as I reflect on this I believe God was teaching me about how our remorse for our sins constitutes the “broken heart” that He restores. “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” Psalm 51:17  Through the Sacrament of the Eucharist, Jesus gives us His Body and Blood, and what He wants from us is true contrition, true repentance…the broken and contrite heart God will not refuse to embrace and fill with His grace!

If we truly believe in God, then we must believe that He has the power to “set the captives free.” Sin holds us captive; it prevents us from achieving our God given potential. In the captivity of sin our souls belong to the devil, but Jesus can release us from this captivity by cleansing and purifying our souls and giving us a new beginning, restoring us and changing us into the people He wants us to be.

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18 Rejoice and find hope in this message from God, for God wants us to be beautiful!

God is willing to wash away all our sins. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

So the past need not define our futures. Let’s allow our past to inform us, teach us and make us wise as to that which pleases God and that which does not. “Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.” 1 Peter 3:11

The Present – Love Is a Choice You can Make TODAY!

At the beginning of my spiritual journey I had a conversation with God that changed my life. Jesus asked me “What is love?” I thought I knew the answer. I replied “Love is a feeling.” But God interrupted me and said “Wrong.” I puzzled over His reply and asked Him “What is it then?” God replied “Love is a choice.”

Now maybe you believe that I am telling you the truth, maybe you don’t. I am doing my very best to tell you exactly what I experienced because I truly believe that this AMAZING GRACE that I received is meant to be shared.

Ask yourself this question: “How many choices will you make today that you are truly aware of?” Most of us make choices quite intuitively based on how we FEEL. But if we don’t consider the choice and consider the WILL OF GOD, odds are that we may miss opportunity to show God how much we love Him.

These are God’s instructions: “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” Isaiah 1:17

You may be wondering how do I do these things? Maybe this Christmas you could make a donation to help an orphan somewhere in the world go to school. So many children in developing countries dream of the opportunity to go to school, but often their parents can’t afford to pay the fees. Maybe you can help with that. If you don’t have the financial resources to assist, could you pray for them that God provides them with an answer to their hopes and dreams?

I realized when God said to me that “Love is a choice” that I had the opportunity to create a loving design for God, one choice at a time, each choice communicating “I love You Lord Jesus!” Live today as a gift from God and make a choice to make God smile!

The Future – Heaven is the destination! Remember that!

It’s possible to forget that heaven is our real home. This life is a journey. We are pilgrims travelling to the “promised land”. However hard the current moment is savor the eternal possibility which is unlimited. Jesus promised He was going to create a place for us and in this place there will be no pain or tears, only ecstasy, only joy, only the fulfillment that comes in knowing we have at last reached our final resting place. We are in the arms of God and we are safe!

Never stop looking into the eternal horizon as you live today to the fullest. Let not its pain and sacrifice discourage you for God is hope and God is love and God never gives up on His people and He will never give up on YOU! God bless you!