Real life rarely looks like you planned it–at least not at my house.

Earlier this week I blogged about determination and discipline. The posts I found in my journal for today show my reality–some days you’re determined and disciplined and feel close to God, the world, and yourself. Others? Not so much.

Day 118 ~ Worked for the morning. Did 30 minutes of Pilates. Worked for the afternoon. Took a walk just before sunset. I felt drawn to a nearby middle school and circled it several times. Found myself praying a lot for the kids there. A bunch of guys played soccer in a field nearby, and I prayed God would raise a leader who would keep those kids engaged in healthy things, like that soccer game, and away from damaging choices. ~ Feb. 18

Day 119 ~ Another Tuesday without exercise. With my back to back appointments every Tuesday I don’t get it in unless I am very focused.. I am so proud of myself when I get up in time to go outside or do Pilates before my morning appointment, but I didn’t today. I didn’t even try. It was really cold, and I just couldn’t bring myself to face the outside temperatures. And I was in a bad mood, so no alternative exercise. Ugh. Someone with a bit more determination might come home and worked out late in the evening, but by the time I got home it was about 7:30, and I was starving and exhausted and done! ~  Feb. 19

And here we in May. Today was one of those determined/disciplined days when all feels right with the world and my heart. I’ve exercised, made healthy choices, been productive at my work, and enjoyed time with my God, my husband, and my best friend. Had a great conversation with the bride-to-be who, like her mother, seems to be having an all is right with the world day.

You probably wouldn’t have wanted to talk with either of us a couple of days ago, though, when we were still working on wedding stuff at 10 p.m., sitting at Village Inn, stuffing our faces, and trying not to cry . . .

If I were to search for take-away value for today’s blog I guess I’d say that snapshots of real life just aren’t picture perfect. They are . . . real. Some days the sun sets on disappointments. Some days when it sets we feel successful.

The question is what do we do with life’s ups and downs? What I’m hanging onto more every day is that whole idea that perseverance is only one choice away. Success on the weight loss journey, as well as in real life, is not about doing everything perfectly. It’s about getting up each morning and making the choices that lead to your goals. It’s about forgiving yourself when you think you don’t measure up and not letting the down days steal away the successful ones.

His mercies are new every morning.

So . . . let’s take THIS day, THIS choice, and use it to empower us toward success!

Encourage your friends:

His mercies are new every morning.

Real life isn’t perfect, but it is full of perfectly wonderful moments.

Don’t let a bad yesterday steal the promise of a successful today.

Just a few minutes to yourself to catch your breath, re-focus, gain some thinking space.

Yeah.

Me too.

Only, nobody puts you in time-out when you’re the mommy.

Yesterday was one of those days I just wanted a time-out.

Well, thankfully every day comes to an end and every tomorrow comes with a fresh start!

Lamentations 3:18-24

“So I say, ‘My strength has perished, And so has my hope from the LORD.’

Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness.

Surely my soul remembers And is bowed down within me.

This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope.

The LORD’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I have hope in him.”

Treasure the time,
Breathe deep the moments,
Behold the gift,
The beauty of a brand new day!

Because of the Lord’s great love
we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
~ Lamentations 3:22-23

That’s the question. The reason is because too many Christians are stuck in the increasingly distant past. They no longer seek God for miracles today. If your last miracle was a year or so ago, be worried. You need a miracle now!

Lamentations teaches us this (yes, there actually is something good in Lamentations (JK)). The Lord’s mercies are new every morning – Lam. 3:22-23 (paraphrased). If His mercies are new, then we need new miracles, new directions, new hopes, new challenges.

Christianity must be forward-looking. Some Christian glory in a spectacular past. Their testimony is always the same and about a past that keeps getting further into the past. While it is great to remember the testimonies of the past, we need to always be adding to our resume of God’s move in our lives. Pray for a miracle today!

Waking up every morning
Daily bread
Loving Parents
Medicine
Freedom
Arms
Legs
Ability to see
Protection
Fingers
Toes
Health
Roof over my head
Clean water
Plumbing
Teeth
Nature
Cloths on my back
Education

Can I be honest and tell you I really don’t like making mistakes? I’m okay with innocently not doing something right. Like every time I cook rice, and I think I’m following the directions to the t and it STILL doesn’t turn out right.  Or when I bought my teenager a cool shirt, that she hated intensely disliked. Even a big mistake that is unavoidable is alright with me.

But when it’s a rookie mistake, that’s when I beat myself up. Our tenants water getting shut off, because I just completely forgot to pay the bill. Or when not checking my son’s back pack the night before resulted in sending him to school with an empty sharing bag. (parents of preschoolers might know what that is) Missing my dentist appointment. Things that could have been so easily avoided if I was just a little bit more organized.

Today I realized I had booked a guest speaker at our church for a specific date, then planned everything, including non-refundable hotel reservations for a completely different weekend. I got so upset with myself thinking if I had just checked the calendar one more time before I planned anything, I wouldn’t have made that mistake. If I had purchased the cancellation insurance I could have gotten a refund for the hotel. If I hadn’t been so sure of myself, I wouldn’t have to reschedule an entire weekend of events that had already been advertised. And on, and on and on….

But, you know what they say,

There’s no use crying over spilt milk. Clean it up and pour another glass. Well actually ”they” only say the first part, I just added the rest.

In the midst of my self- degradation, I thought of the verse in 1 John 1:9 that  tells us If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Regardless of whether the mistakes we may make in our lives are big or small, isn’t it good to know that we can confess, repent and be made clean? So that’s exactly what I did!

P.S. If you’re wondering how everything worked out with today’s faux paus, I called and spoke to a very nice representative who refunded my non-refundable, hotel reservations. My assistant hadn’t yet printed this week’s church bulletin so was able to change the dates. And the actual weekend that our guest is coming works out even better than the one I planned everything on. Makes me think of where it says in Lamentations that His mercies are new every morning and great is His faithfulness!

This week we have looked at God’s gift of mercy so freely and abundantly given.  Accepting God’s forgiveness of the past means getting a new start at creating the best me I can be today and passing the Good News along to others. 

“Praise be to the…Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”  2 Corinthians 1:3,4

Like King David in Psalms 51, despite my past, my mistakes, my guilt and shame, I can seek the Lord God with all of my heart and He will wash me clean and restore my joy and give me a fresh start. 

Mercy is a freely given gift.  Yet, sometimes a gift can be hard to pick up, but the gift does not become our own until we actually agree to receive it—until we take ownership. 

Oh, Lord, help me in my unbelief.  I want this free gift.  I need this free gift.  Restore to me your joy so I am able to start anew today with those I love.  Amen.

Additional Study:  Micah 7:18, Luke 18:13, Gal 6:16, Jude 1:2,  

This isn’t about deserving forgiveness—because I can never “do” enough to deserve grace and mercy.  It is about accepting that God has painfully paid the price with the death of His Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross and I only have to accept it to be free of the guilt and shame. 

So, why do I fight accepting the freedom offered?  Because we think we have to be “good” enough or “deserve” God’s grace.  That is like saying you have to be clean to take a bath!  No, the dirt (sin), stains (guilt and shame), only evidence all the more reasons why we need Jesus. 

The sense of freshness after a great shower is exactly the sensation we can enjoy every day when we accept God’s mercy as the living water we bathe in through His Word and fellowship with others. 

Oh, Lord, help me to accept your forgiveness and to let go of the past; to truly leave yesterday with all of my mistakes and failures in Your Hands.  I accept that You have handled my yesterday and I can trust You with today.  Thank you for extending this forgiveness to me.  Give me the strength and courage to extend the same to others. 

Additional Study:  Psalms 78:38, Jer 3:12, I John 1:9, Hebrews 9:14-15

The only way I can do that is to load new “programs” and “files” into my internal hard drive—into my heart and mind.  Through reading His Word, prayer, and getting around the association of those walking with Him, I can learn principles that will offer guidance.  But equally, I have to believe that what He teaches me is true.  I have to accept that those past files and programs have been eliminated and I don’t have to return to the behaviors and attitudes that created them. 

The first step to that better me is to acknowledge that I have made mistakes in the past and ask for Him to show me mercy.  His Word says He will.  I have to trust that and accept it. 

Father, I want a fresh start today.  I have made so many mistakes as a woman, mom, and wife.  Help me leave the past in the past.  Please, Lord, show me how to keep from tainting today with the memories, guilt or regrets.  I am a new woman because of Your mercy; help me to reflect that in my attitude and actions today.   Amen.

Additional Study:  II Corinthians 5:17, Hebrews 4:16, I Peter 1:3, I Peter 2:10

While another person may not voluntarily grant me mercy because my actions or words hurt or offended, the Lord God hears my cry for mercy (Ps 30:8) and will not withhold His mercy from me. 

Romans 9:16 reminds us that we don’t receive God’s mercy by working harder, but that God extends mercy freely in fulfillment of His promises. 

Oh, Lord Jesus, mercy is a concept that is difficult for me.  I have made so many mistakes.  I have hurt my family with my sharp tongue and my impatience.  Thank you for Your promise of mercy.  Give me a heart to receive this free gift. Amen

Additional Study:  Psalms 6:9, Psalms 25:6, Psalms 40:11, Luke 1:50, Eph 2:4

Our Lord Jesus Christ provides that for us.  Each morning we can wake with a clean slate, leaving the baggage of hurts, pain, sorrow, mistakes, injuries and sadness from yesterday behind.  We can choose to start each morning with the attitude of the song; this is the first day of the rest of your life, because it is. 

We will explore this week in our Daily Devotionals how to find His mercy and grace in a fresh way that includes forgiving ourselves for yesterday and letting go of all that is in that past.  Remember, the past is past—it ended last night. 

The future is filled with a hope and an assurance that God’s plan is filled with His best for my life and yours. 

“The unfailing love of the Lord never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction.  Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my inheritance, therefore, I will hope in him! “   Lamentations 3:22-24

“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope, I will listen.’ “   Jeremiah 29:11