My SINS they are many, HIS MERCY is MORE!

Many of you know in my FORMER LIFE I was a Cross-Country Coach. I loved coaching this sport. Probably one of the greatest reasons I loved coaching this sport and track is that I got to coach one of my daughters. For those that have played sports for one of their parents, YOU will know what I am about to say. It is not easy being a COACH'S KID. She never could skip a summer workout. She had a strict training regimen during the OFF-SEASON, and she was FORCED to be a leader. My daughters infamous story is that she was sick the night before her last sectional cross country meet. HER DAD (me, saying this with a cringe on my face!) made her run after she had spent the night in the ER getting fluids. Not one of my finer DAD MOMENTS. 

As Father's Day is approaching I often look back and say, "Man, I wish I hadn't done that!" Being a DAD is not for the faint at heart. There is only one thing I am sure of, YOU WILL MAKE MISTAKES. All you can do is pray that LOVE COVERS YOUR MULTITUDE OF SINS. You will have to ask LINDSAE if she ever forgave me. I think she has! LOL! 

"The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and discipled in your prayers. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:7-8, NLT)

I am sure I made many, many "CRINGE WORTHY" mistakes as a DAD, but my sins don't just stop when I leave the home. I am so thankful that the PEOPLE who love me, understand and they still love me even when I am seriously flawed and, well, SINFUL. YOUR BROTHERS & SISTERS in Christ should be the first to jump in and forgive. (Is that always the case?) Their love for you should be genuine enough to forgive you, because they know your heart! They should know that your love for them is real and genuine. They should know that you would NEVER intentionally harm them and that you only have THEIR best interest in mind, even though sometimes your actions don't seem to back that up.

The good news is this. EVEN if your past sins have destroyed some relationships beyond repair, YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER, has COVERED YOUR SINS through the blood of his SON, JESUS CHRIST.

I can sleep at night knowing that I am forgiven, my sins have been washed away, and I am no longer a slave to the sin that so easily consumes the world. 

"God's law was sgiven so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God's wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all pepole and brought them to death, now God's wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:20-21)

If God can forgive our wickedness, can we forgive the multitude of sins committed by our own brothers and sisters in Christ?