We have a simple ring and hook game on our dock. Each person’s score is recorded with chalk on the wall. By the end of the summer that wall will be full of names and hash marks.
This past weekend several ladies and myself attended a women’s conference. The Greensboro Coliseum was overflowing with estrogen. Somehow in the midst of those 8,000 women (and a few brave men) God spoke directly to my heart.
I love it when God reveals something new to me. However, it is even more precious when he takes a passage I’m already familiar with (perhaps too familiar) and gives me a fresh perspective. Like when you find an old outfit packed away, and you realize you had forgotten it, and it becomes your new favorite once again. An oldie but a goodie.
“Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven,
Whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the one whose iniquities are not counted against them….
I acknowledge my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity,
I say “I confess my transgressions to the Lord”
and you forgave me.”
-Psalms 32
At the conference, I learned that some meaning of this verse was lost in translation. For example in the original Hebrew, Blessed = happy, Forgiven = carried off, Iniquities were not recorded.
Because of the cross, because of Jesus. I am three for three.
Sins –covered
Transgressions–carried off
Iniquities–not recorded
When I got home from the conference, my family was on the dock. When I looked at the wall I saw all the names and hash marks from last season. One glance at the wall and evil one tried to remind me of all my mistakes. But instead, I said out loud “I am three for three! My sins are covered, my transgression are carried off, and my iniquities are NOT RECORDED!”
From the storage area I grabbed a towel and a pair of black shorts. I gathered my family and taught them what I learned this weekend. Holding up the black shorts I said this represents our sin. Holding up the towel, I said this represents Jesus’ death on the cross covering our sin. Then I walked away with the shorts wrapped up in the towel. Then I looked to the wall with names and hash marks and explained that when we ask for forgiveness, our iniquities are not recorded!
I was a mess at church on Sunday…a good mess! When I heard Randy and and his red guitar play the the first few chords and sing the lyrics to Redeemed (by Big Daddy Weave) I could hardly contain myself. I am happy to be three for three!
~April
“May you and I be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” Romans 1:12
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