No regrets

No Regrets, No Reserves, No Retreats

As I stand on the mount looking forward as the new year dawns and the shadows of the years gone by growing, I do so in faith. Both the sunrise and sunset have their own majesty when looked at through the eyes of faith.

The shadows of the past, regrets of would have's, should have's, could have's can haunt me if I allow them. I want to look back through the shadows of my past with the eyes of faith. Knowing I have not been perfect, I have made mistakes (many of them) yet by faith I can look back without regret.

I have been asked if I regret moving to PA, changing our whole life...I have to say no...because we followed God by faith, trusting Him to open the way before us and He did. As we followed Him then,so we follow Him now.

I know that God can and will cause all things to work together for good, to those that love Him and are called according to His purpose, using these things to transform those that are His into the image of Jesus. That is mind-blowing!!! Not only is He conforming me to the image of Christ but He can use my faults, mistakes and shortcomings to conform those I come in contact with into the image of Christ as well.

What a blessing, God is bigger than even my mistakes, so that through the eyes of faith I can look back without regret.

Standing looking out toward the new year, as yet unmarred by my shortcomings, I must do so by faith. For me, looking at a brand new journal or a blank canvas is daunting. I am almost paralyzed by fear. Instead of seeing all the new potential beauty and growth I tend to see potential failures. So by faith I step forward into the new year without reserve—holding nothing back (did I say by faith?) Knowing that God will work all things for good in the future, my failures not only in my life but also in the lives of others. I need not be held back by fear. I press on, in faith, no reserves, toward the goal. I have nothing to lose.

And finally here I stand, by faith, looking back at yesterday, with no regrets, and forward to tomorrow without reserve, I can stand steadfast and certain in the grace that my Jesus has given for today, not fearing, not cowering, NOT Retreating.

So I begin 2014 in grace by faith, NO regrets, NO reserves and NO retreats.