“The heavens will not be filled with those who never made mistakes but with those who recognized that they were off course and corrected their ways to get back in the light of gospel truth.” ― Dieter F. Uchtdorf

In the second chapter of the book of Acts, we read about the event that marked the Holy Spirit’s descend after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension to heaven. Jerusalem was brimming with people from all over Israel and beyond, including the 12 disciples, Jesus’ mother Mary, Jesus’ brothers, and about 120 followers of Christ. They gathered together to celebrate Pentecost.

The term Pentecost in the original Greek means “fiftieth,” and it refers to the Jewish festival, also known as the “Feast of Weeks,” celebrated on the 50th day after Passover.

Jesus’ disciples and followers had been waiting for the promised “Helper,” the Spirit of God whom Jesus promised to send after his ascension to heaven.

The narrative in the chapter is dramatic. The verb used in the original text at the beginning of the chapter carries a connotation of fulfillment of prophecy.

According to the well-known account, as the people were all gathered in one place, a “mighty rushing wind” and “tongues of fire” descended over Christ’s followers. They began speaking in other tongues, “as the Spirit was giving them utterance,” which in the Christian tradition is a representation of the fulfillment of Christ’s references in the gospels that He would baptize His followers with the Holy Spirit.

The scene caused consternation to those present, especially to foreigners who could perfectly understand the message since the Galileans started miraculously speaking in their tongues. Others mocked Christ’s followers, declaring that they were “full of sweet wine.”

But as confusion and amazement grabbed the hearts of the audience, an unlikely figure stood up.

Peter. The disciple who had denied Christ three times on the day the Master was arrested and tried. The tempestuous follower who, filled with uncontrolled rage, amputated the ear of a soldier who came to take his Master to the Sanhedrim trial. The man who walked on water, only to start drowning with unbelief.

Intrepid, unrestrained, wavering Peter stands up at Pentecost and delivers a sermon so filled with God’s power, so bold and challenging, that, at the end of his speech, Scriptures say that 3,000 people put their trust in Christ and were baptized.

I love this story, especially as I think about Peter before the resurrection. Perhaps it is because I can relate to his Type A personality. Or maybe it is because Peter’s transparency and weaknesses make him more relatable than most disciples.

Peter is indeed the perfect example of brokenness and failure in the life of faith, followed by the redemptive transformation that forgiveness can bring. As he stands tall, shouting, quoting prophecies filled with God’s power at Pentecost, his passion and steady zeal for the Savior is not skin-deep. He is a changed man.

Peter is indeed the perfect example of brokenness and failure in the life of faith, followed by the redemptive transformation that forgiveness can bring. @AJC #TuesdayMotivation #Pentecost #forgiveness
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Peter did not allow his failures to define him. He did not let his betrayal become the end of his story. Unlike Judas, who did not even seek Christ’s forgiveness and ended up taking his own life, Peter was the first recipient of God’s redeeming grace. Instead of dwelling on his past, Peter accepted God’s forgiveness, changed his life course, and was used to light the fire that started the church that revolutionized the world’s history.

Peter accepted God’s forgiveness, changed his life course, and was used to light the fire that started the church that revolutionized the world’s history. His story gives me pause. @AJC #TuesdayMotivation #Pentecost #forgiveness
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Peter’s story gives me pause.

I wonder how many people remain caught up in the snares of their past mistakes, trapped in a mindset that does not allow change. As Peter before Christ’s resurrection, they waver between believing and fearing, trusting and doubting, simply because they do not let God’s love, forgiveness, and grace take hold of their weaknesses and transform them.

Peter did not anchor his heart in his past. Instead, he allowed Jesus’ forgiveness to revolutionize his thinking and his actions. God’s love and redemption severed the chains that kept Peter from becoming everything God designed him to be.

God’s love and redemption sever the chains that keep you from becoming everything God designed you to be. @AJC #TuesdayMotivation #Pentecost #forgiveness
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Judas allowed his mistakes to destroy his life. He sought neither forgiveness nor redemption.

On the other hand, Peter humbly acknowledged his inadequacy, repented from his mistakes and therefore received the gift of a changed life – a purpose-filled life.

God never meant for our mistakes to define us. May we learn from them, change the course that leads us to them, and accept that God has a better plan. And as we stand tall at the brink of this new revelation, God will fill us with the power to do exceedingly more than we can even imagine.

God never meant for our mistakes to define us. May we learn from them, change the course that leads us to them, and accept that God has a better plan. @AJC #TuesdayMotivation #Pentecost #forgiveness
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This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday, February 13, 2021. Click HERE to see it on the AJC’s website.

The post Past Mistakes Should Not Define Our Future {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

Born the first day of December, I enjoy celebrating my birthday in the same month as Christmas. Every year my special day proves fun-filled and momentous. And since it’s my birthday, I smile if I want to…smile if I want to…smile if I want to.

But where did the expression “Let’s paint the town red!” originate? And how exactly does one go about it when celebrating?

Painting the Town Red

I found a plethora of answers. Here’s a few:

• From Google, Go out and enjoy oneself flamboyantly; celebrate, have a party, live it up, have a ball.
• Go on a drinking bout; get drunk. Some believe it refers to setting something on fire (The Free Dictionary).
• Violence. Dating back to the 1800’s, an article in The Phrase Finder, “The allusion is to the kind of unruly behavior that results in much blood being spilt.”

It’s sad that a phrase of merriment is associated with drunkenness and violence.

Still, there’s no unruly behavior going on when the Friday’s celebrate. For my birthday, keep in mind the glitter and sparkle of painting the town red. Besides the birthday girl, yours truly, the entourage of red painters include: my husband, son, daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren and mother-in-law. No doubt, we’re a wild and crazy bunch.

The Red Blood of the Lamb

A powerful Bible story describes “much blood being spilt” to paint the town red. In Exodus 12, the Israelites put blood from a lamb without blemish on two doorposts and the panel above the door of each house. The Lord’s Passover.

It gave protection from the final plague God brought on Pharaoh and the land of Egypt for refusing to release His people from slavery. Every firstborn male, people and animals, would die.

“When I see the blood I will pass over you and I will not destroy your firstborn children when I smite the land of Egypt” (verse 13, TLB ).

After that fatal night, Pharaoh let the people go. So the Lord instructed His people to celebrate the Passover every year.

Red for Christmas 

Years later, a perfect Lamb without spot or blemish once again provided passover blood. Jesus, God’s Son, willingly gave His life and blood for spiritual death to passover God’s children. Physical death may strike, but spiritual death cannot touch those in Christ.

Jesus, God’s Son, willingly gave His life and blood for spiritual death to passover God’s children. @FridayKaren #celebrate #Christ
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“But [you were actually purchased] with precious blood, like that of a [sacrificial] lamb unblemished and spotless, the priceless blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:19 AMP).

In December, my birth month, we also celebrate the birth of Jesus. Joy marks the occasion and God, the Father, smiles. Because when we celebrate Jesus coming to earth, we also celebrate Calvary’s cross and the resurrection.

When we celebrate Jesus coming to earth, we also celebrate Calvary’s cross and the resurrection. #Christ @FridayKaren
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Let’s join God’s celebration crew; spread the glad tidings of Jesus; share the good news of the gospel, and proclaim that much blood was spilt to give us life.

Let’s celebrate! And let’s paint the town red!

Link up is open! @FridayKaren looks at how to paint the town red at Christmas by joining God's celebration crew, spreading glad tidings, and proclaiming that much blood was spilt to give us life. JOIN us and share your blog.
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The post Let’s Paint the Town Red {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.