Rahly, I Duuuu - Psalm 15

Psalm 15

A psalm of David.

1 LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?

2 He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart

3 and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,

4 who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,

5 who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken.

You know, if one were to just flip open their Bible and read this chapter without reading the "rest of the story", one might tend to think that only "GOOD" people get into heaven; that only those who do this and this and this can have a relationship with the Heavenly Father.

WHOA, NELLIE!!

It says right HERE that we are not allowed a relationship with God because of what we DO, but only through His Grace. Know why? Why can't we "work our way to heaven"? Because none of us CAN be good enough no matter how hard we try. Isaiah 64:6 says "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."

I know several pillars of local churches who haven't figured this out yet. And it breaks my heart. How scary it must be to think that you might die to stand before the Throne on Judgement day NOT KNOWING for sure if your "good pile" will outweigh your "Bad pile".

Now, don't get me wrong. I TRY to be good and do the right thing. Rahly, I duuu! *Bats eyelashes, cute little smirk". Seriously!!

OK, you can STOP LAUGHING now!!

But I will be the first to tell you, I don't always make the cut. There is LOTSA stuff I look back on now and SMACK myself in the forehead - DOH, what was I THINKING???? Or WAS I even thinking?

I am forever grateful to my God that He loves me anyway.

I'm forever grateful that He KNOWS I can't be good ALL the time.

I'm forever grateful that He made a provision for that, so I can live eternally with Him anyway as long as I ask forgiveness and try my best not to do it again.

For God SO LOVED the world (lil' ol' ME!!) that He gave His ONLY son; that who soever believes on Him will NOT DIE (WOOOHOOO!!) but have ever lasting life.

John 3:16 KJV (paraphrased, emphasis added by Janean)

Whew!!! Thought I was a goner there for awhile!!

One thing I do have to say, though. Even though the blood of Jesus, God's Son, covers my sins and makes me look righteous doesn't mean that I am! In order to be happy; in order to be blessed, in order to keep from hurting others (MG, My kids, my parents...My GOD) as I stumble along this life-path, I've found from experience that I need to be in a "right standing" with the Father. I need to confess it when I do wrong. I need to apologize and repent (or try my darndest not to EVER do it again). I need to talk to Him, share my days with Him; Basically treat Him like my BEST FRIEND.

Proverbs 18:24 "...there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

And I'm SOOOOOOoooo GLAD!

Rahly, I ahmmm!