“There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love.” – Bryant H. McGill

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.(1 John 1:8)

What sin do you need to confess?
Who do you need to ask for forgiveness TODAY?

Last night I went to bed around 10:00 PM. Because I felt quite tired, I chose not to set my PDA alarm for 5 AM as usual, but to get up when I felt well rested. Well, wouldn’t you know, I woke up at 5:08 AM feeling well rested. Just that 8 extra minutes of sleep felt like I had a new beginning.

I came downstairs, went to My Secret Place, knelt down, and began praying. One of my prayers, which I pray almost every morning, was this, “O Holy Spirit, Soul of my soul, I adore Thee. Enlighten, guide, strengthen, and console me. Tell me what I ought to do and command me to do it. I promise to accept everything You permit to happen to me, only show what is Thy will.”

Then I came to my desk to journal. The Holy Spirit prompted me out-of-the-blue to go to my basement to find two music CD’s by David Teens and load those into my iTunes. I hadn’t listened to those for 3 years since losing my iPod on an airplane when flying to Italy in March 2005.

Within seconds of listening to Credo, the very first song on David’s CD titled “Scars and Stripes,” I was ushered into the presence of God and overwhelmed by His mercy and grace. Quickly, I was convicted of failing to show mercy in a particular situation yesterday and instructed to ask that person for forgiveness later today.

Then as I was listening to the rest of the songs on the “Scars and Stripes” CD, I was prompted to sort some of my files related to my journaling. While doing that, I came across a document from my recent Life Focus leadership coaching course titled “Value and Pattern Statements.” Here is what my first value statement said:

1) Spiritual Life: I value PRAYER and my personal relationship with Jesus above all else; time alone to think, dream, reflect, distill, pray, and simply enjoy His presence. My active life flows out of my relationship with Him. I believe the whole duty of man is to enjoy God’s presence. I believe I will fulfill my destiny simply by obeying the Greatest Commandment – loving God while all my heart, with all my soul, with all my mind, and with all my strength. Loving my neighbor as myself flows naturally out of my relationship with Jesus. If there is ABIDING, JOURNALING, and REST, I’m good to go.

Reading this prompted me to start a blog at randypeck.com to share the rest of my value and pattern statements. I also wanted to share a powerful email I received from Anne Alder on Jan 30. May the blog at today’s Link of the Day bless and refresh  you as the dew unto Israel.

Prayer Power
Come, Holy Spirit, come! Come! Sweet, sweet Spirit, come! You are welcome in this place!

Link of the Day
Dr. Randy Peck’s blog

Blessings to be healed by His scars and stripes!