Forget Your Past, God Has A New Beginning for You

Hi Everyone,

I recieved this from a very good friend of mines, as a matter of fact I consider her my Spirtual-Twin.

I want to post the email as well as the statement she made in regards to the contents of the email.

I hope you are blessed by the message as much as I am.

J. Hills
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Every week my daily devotional has a topic. This week's
topic is "Press On". Everyday has touched my heart more
and more. On this day, I feel the need to share this
one with everyone that I have a good email address for.
I hope that you all would read it, absorb it, meditate
on it,and past it along. I've noticed that in these
last years as we have all grown,more now than ever,
relationships are falling by the wayside for no reason.

I challenge each of you today to stand up and be more
than your situation. Whatever little things that may
have separated you from an old friend, an estranged
relative, or for that matter yourself, Let It Go! That
is my challenge to you. If you were in the wrong,
apologize! If you were right and the other person doesn't
apologize, let it go! It's not worth it. Life
is too short for the drama.

God forgives us every-time we sin, yet we can't forgive
our brother. What's up with that? It's time out for
playing church. God is looking for soldiers who aren't
afraid to stand up for him. I am not perfect, but I am
better than I was yesterday, and with God's help,I will
be even better tomorrow. That's all God asks of me.
It's that easy. I'm striving, are you? The balls in
your court!

All I have I give to you in love..

Be Blessed!

tjf
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Forget Your Past, God Has A New Beginning for You

Bishop Keith Butler

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter,
Simon,son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He
saith unto him, Yea Lord, thou knowest that I
love thee. He saith unto him, feed my lambs. John 21:15

Listen, if you're going to walk in the new beginning
that God has for you; then you're going to have to
let go of the past. Starting now, forget about what
you did, or what they did and look toward a new
beginning in your life. Today is your opportunity
for a fresh start, but letting go of the past is key.

Peter is a good example of a man who had to forget
his past. He denied the Lord three times and he
even cursed while doing it. However, when that cock
crowed three times, he knew he had blown it.

It hurt Peter so much that he had denied his Lord
and he had trouble getting past that. In fact,
even after Jesus had risen from the dead and
appeared to the disciples, Peter was still in
a depressed state. You see, Peter should have
been out preaching that, 'Jesus has risen from
the dead and he is alive!' But instead he decides
to gofishing and all the other disciples went with him.

So in John 21, verse 15, Jesus asks Peter, Do
you love me more than what you use to do,
your old profession? Do you love me more than
your self-pity?

Remember this: you can't have a new beginning if
you're stuck in the past feeling sorry for yourself
and drowning in self-pity. Sometimes self-pity
feels good because people will sympathize with
you and try to cheer you up;but Jesus didn't come
to Peter with that stuff. He said, "Peter, do you love
me more than this?"

And Simon Peter answered, "Lord, you know I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." Then Jesus asks Peter
the same question two more times and again
Peter's reply was Lord, you know I love you, for
you know all things." Jesus says, then get out
there and feed my sheep.

Then Peter gets it. He understands, I'm not supposed
to be sitting here doing nothing. I have a new
ministry. Jesus has forgiven me. He's telling me
to go preach even after I denied him.

Now, you might have denied the Lord and done some
things you shouldn't have done, but if you will
repent, God will forgive you. There is fresh mercy for
you every morning. God is still calling you.
He is saying, come to me, I
have a new beginning for you.

Scripture References: Philippians 3:12-15; John 21:3-17