I Messed Up the Bible - Really!

Recently (January 4th), Ryan and I had the awesome privilege of being a part of something was very important to us. The Bible Across America Tour came to our church and spent two days collecting hand written scriptures for a bible that is sure to be a keepsake. Zondervan will be releasing the first ever hand-written NIV bible later this year and we wrote two of the scriptures inside of that bible: Luke 6:40 & 41. This was my scripture:

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" Luke 6:41

Can I tell you that I messed up?

It is a good thing they take two samples because on the first try I realized that I had left out the words: "of sawdust."

You see, I just knew that I knew that I knew that scripture. I hardly even glanced at the lovely cue card that they give you and that you are supposed to copy. The whole crew on the bus tour are awesome and make it really easy for you to get it right. I mean, they had five-year-old children who were getting theirs correct and I didn't. I was so upset with myself.

Then I realized how much of life is like that experience. We think that we know that we know that we know something and so we set it in stone for our lives. Then, all of a sudden, we realize we have messed up. I'm so glad that God is a God of second chances and even better than the crew on the bus tour, He gives us more than two chances to get it right.

The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. Lamentations 3:22-23

• Maybe you volunteered or committed yourself to teach children's church and you realize what God was trying to tell you is that He wants you to teach your own child more about Him.
• Maybe you committed to fast from TV to get that breakthrough but what God really was trying to tell you is to give up those gossip magazines.
• Maybe you bought new outfits for a friend to bless her and later realized that God really wanted you to give her some of your old outfits.
  

Has this ever happened to you? Well, even if I am the only one with my hand up I know that I know that I know that we all make mistakes and that we have an amazing and loving God who is ready and willing to forgive us when we repent.

That is what it takes. A truly repentant heart. Asking your Father for forgiveness. Then, as only a good father will do, He takes your mistakes and makes something worthwhile out of them. That is exactly what He did with this blog post and if God can forgive me for messing up the bible and then make something worthwhile out of the experience then He will do the same for you!

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28

I'd love for you to visit me at my personal blog: In Pursuit of Proverbs 31