Forgiven and Loved

Hey guys,

What an awesome thing, our Saviors love and forgiveness. How amazing is it that even after we give our lives to God and grow in His ways and really fall in love with Him, that we can still sin, so disgustingly against Him. And even more amazing than that is our perfect, pure God's unconditional love and forgiveness.
I was reading the Adventure Devotional the other day and it gave an amazing analogy that really rocked my world. It said just like a piano teacher when we mess up, the Lord says, "again from the top." That is so cool, it God wipes our slate clean and lets us "start from the top," He doesn't even remember how we messed up. Because I mess up and sin against my God so continually, I have grown accustom to reading through Psalm 51. If you are not familiar Psalm 51 is the psalm that David wrote when he committed adultry with Bathsheba, and after the prophet Nathan called him out for his sin. David says in verse 10, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
For me that idea is amazing. That after we sin, so disgustingly against God, He can forgive us and create "a pure heart," one that is blameless and white as snow. That is unbelievable to think about, imagine being able to forgive like that? The fact that no matter, what we do our God will love us the same. Luke 17:4 says "if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says ,'I repent,' forgive him," that is how our Lord forgives, over and over again.
This being said, forgiveness is not an excuse for sin. Acts 26:20b says "I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds." Repentance does not only encompase asking for forgiveness but also turning from the sin committed because we love God and want to honor His name.
By the ways guys, I would also like to ask you all for prayer. I am in Dallas right now, taking discipleship classes and working out with my team before I leave for Nicaragua on saturday. We are working with the Hispanic community and with the spanish-speaking church here in Dallas. The community has been such a blessing, we went to church with my host family this morning at Crossroads Bible Church and the community has been so welcoming. Pray for strength and wisdom in speaking opportunites and that whatever said comes from the Spirit not from myself. Pray that our team molds and stays unified and lifts up the Name of our God and effectively shares the Gospel with people we come in contact with.
Grace and Peace.

Luke