January 3 - Second Chances (1/3/13)

January 3 - Second Chances

A second chance….ok, I am not talking about the dreaded New Year's Resolutions which we agreed are off limits. I did read in the newspaper that 60% of people have already broken their resolutions anyway! Here I am talking about getting another chance to get something right. Maybe it is a habit we are trying to establish. The key is not to add to our "to do" list but subtract from it in order to be successful. This is the great part: we can take away a useless or troublesome activity in order to add something positive without missing a step. One second chance I am giving myself is to get to sleep earlier, in order to be more rested for what I want to accomplish and for the fun I want to have the next day. So far, I have only pushed bedtime back by 30 minutes, but I already feel the extra energy from more sleep. The equation for me is like this: subtract one television show or a second newspaper and add an hour of sleep. It seems simple but the reality is tough for me. There is no one here to tell me to "go to bed, for heaven's sake!" So, I stay up, fall asleep in my chair, wake up at 2 am, go to bed then and wake up the next day tired. My example is silly to some of you, but I'll bet you can think of a better way to use your time, too. And I can't wait to hear who you "accidentally" encouraged yesterday!

Here is the thought for today: "It is not every day you find someone who will give you a second chance, much less one who will give you a second chance every day! In Jesus, I found both!" This is not an original quote, I write down sayings I love on pieces of paper everywhere, mostly in my Bible where I found this one. But I cannot find the source of this one for the life of me. Probably Max Lucado or Ron Holland, but I thank whoever said it! A second chance to get extra sleep will help me to succeed this time! Even if it is in having fun with the grandkids!

"If You, God, kept records on wrong doing, who would stand a chance? As it turns out, forgiveness is Your habit, and that's why You are worshipped." Psalm 130:3 (The Message Bible)

"God gives us chance after chance." Job 33:29 ESV

Pray:

Heavenly Father, we praise You for the second chances You give us every day. Even if we fail, we know "there is no shadow of turning with You, You change not, Your compassions fail not, great is Your faithfulness, Lord to us." 

Amen