Sometimes an old acquaintance posts something to Facebook that makes you stop and think:

I have no idea if she was talking about me or not.  Hopefully I wasn’t so bad to actually qualify as a “godless whore”, but you never know.  I was definitely a bit of a mess.  Either way, it got me thinking about so many things.  Like how the choices you make and the reputation you earn can follow you the rest of your life.  And also how amazing it is that a perfect and holy God can overlook it all.

I’ve battled against the Enemy’s lies this year and I finally feel myself becoming stronger again.  God’s truth is once again drowning out the sound of defeat and discouragement and I feel myself rising again to do battle against the Prince of Lies. These words of healing played through SUV speakers last week….

There’s a girl in the corner
With tear stains on her eyes
From the places she’s wandered
And the shame she can’t hide

She says, “How did I get here?
I’m not who I once was.
And I’m crippled by the fear
That I’ve fallen too far to love”

But don’t you know who you are, 
What’s been done for you?
Yeah don’t you know who you are?

You are more than the choices that you’ve made, 
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes, 
You are more than the problems you create, 
You’ve been remade. 

Well she tries to believe it
That she’s been given new life
But she can’t shake the feeling
That it’s not true tonight

She knows all the answers
And she’s rehearsed all the lines
And so she’ll try to do better
But then she’s too weak to try

But don’t you know who you are?

You are more than the choices that you’ve made, 

You are more than the sum of your past mistakes, 
You are more than the problems you create, 
You’ve been remade. 

You are more than the choices that you’ve made, 
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes, 
You are more than the problems you create, 
You’ve been remade. 

‘Cause this is not about what you’ve done, 
But what’s been done for you.
This is not about where you’ve been, 
But where your brokenness brings you to

This is not about what you feel, 
But what He felt to forgive you, 
And what He felt to make you loved. 

You are more than the choices that you’ve made, 
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes, 
You are more than the problems you create, 
You’ve been remade. 

You are more than the choices that you’ve made, 
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes, 
You are more than the problems you create, 
You’ve been remade. 

You’ve been remade
You’ve been remade. 
You’ve been remade.
You’ve been remade.

(You are More by Tenth Avenue North)

[ From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/t/tenth-avenue-north-lyrics/you-are-more-lyrics.html ]

And those lies that my sins are bigger than my Savior have haunted me in my past and they’ve haunted me this year.  The lie that all of my weaknesses and inadequacies, my struggles and my stumblings with these children, this husband, this life, that He’s not big enough to overcome it – all a lie from the one who seeks to devour and destroy.

A dear friend sends this quote yesterday from The Mother Letters:

It is a complete matter of trust that He will give our children what they need despite our shortcomings. ~ Rachel McAdams

And last night as we sat in worship we sang the lyrics,

Sing to Jesus
Lord of our shame
Lord of our sinful hearts
He is our great Redeemer
Sing to Jesus
Honor His name
Sing of His faithfulness
Pouring His life out unto death

Come, you weary
And He will give you rest
Come you who mourn
Lay on His breast

(Sing to Jesus by Fernando Ortega)

Oh the mighty Savior that He would bear our sins and shame and welcome us with open arms, a soft place to fall.  And that He would cover over my weaknesses and fill in the gaps with His strength and healing.

So as I come back to the Facebook post that prompted this spilling of words, two things come to mind.  First, for anyone young who happens to be reading this – what you do now matters.  Who you are now matters.  In a world of social networking and digital never-to-be-deleted connectedness, your choices now matter a lot.  But the second point, and this is for the young person and everyone else – this God, my God, He’s big enough to cover it with His grace.  Friends from fifteen years ago may not offer fresh-start grace, but Jesus does.

And for that grace, the thanksgiving never ends.

1714.  four days, five doctor’s offices

1715.  six and a half hours in outpatient care

1716.  a mended arm

1717.  a red cast

1718.  my girl feeling so much better

1719.  serving the hungry with my Chandler, my servant-child

1720.  going to the airport to welcome home the Jayhawks

1721.  making a memory with my girls

1722.  feeling the weight lift

1723.  James MacDonald study

1724.  bearing up

1725.  finding His blessings

1726.  the annual candy toss

1727.  Easter celebrations

1728.  a Texas trip with my Emma

1729.  evening with good friends from Matt’s past

1730.  audiobook on the iPod

1731.  discovering the joy of listening to a book

1732.  last days of school – the end is near!

1733.  pinpointing some of my struggles

1734.  praying through changes

1735.  a new office, a new chapter in our lives

1736.  home school conference, lunch, and shopping with my favorite

1737.  a two hour nap

1738.  quiet girls

1739.  Overflow worship

1740.  relentless, overwhelming grace

All for His glory ~

~ Sara