A blast from the past...

Ever have one of those moments where you want to crawl under a rock but all you do is stand there bumbling like an idiot, sweating profusely?

Ah, yes. Happens to the best of us, I guess.

It's amazing to think the past is all in the past and then someone from the past pushes their way into the present and reminds me of all I'd rather forget. Mainly reminds me that I was totally depraved and without merrit before Christ took control of my life, which is not necessarily a bad thing to remmeber.

Last week as I looked into the face of a former friend I stumbled over my words, mentioned the nice weather and excused myself, running in the opposite direction. The more I think of my actions the more I think of what an opportunity i missed. Why didn't I say "Oh ______ it's so nice to see you. Got time for a cup of coffee? I've heard you're struggling - can we sit and chat about what an awesome change God is made in my life in the past 10 years since we've spoken?" But instead all I could think of was the way I had acted then and couldn't get beyond it.

But praise the Lord for His grace. The past IS the past. I am no longer the same person bobbing through life without a purpose.

"For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, dceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds whih we have done in righteousness, but acording to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ, our savior."

Titus 3:3-6

So now I am prepared. The next time I see that individual or another that I have not in 10 years, I want to stand and speak of the glory of Christ and His power to overcome all that selfishness of the past. May I not blow an opportunity like that one again.