Sorrow Over Sin

As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. - Psalm 103:13-14

For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it -- though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. - 2 Corinthians 7:8-10


I walked over to a table full of giggling girls, all simultaneously hitting the table, playing some sort of game. I was on "lunch duty." I had already told them that I thought they should stop banging on the table, and after confirming my judgment with another teacher, I walked back to the table to tell them to stop. When I arrived, I asked them to stop, and one of the girls hit the table one last time. Disrespect being clearly the offense, I told the girl to come and seem me in my classroom after school so that I could give her a demerit (essentially a "punishment" for bad behavior, which the students must show to their parents, and which will go on their school record). The student pleaded with me not to give her one, and said how sorry she was, but I knew that sometimes the most loving thing I can do for a student is to punish bad behavior.

The day went on, and I was undecided on whether or not to give her a demerit. When the bell rang to end school, I found her and told her to come to my class to discuss her actions at lunch. I had decided in my heart at this point not to give her a demerit, but I wanted to discuss with her the seriousness of her actions, the seriousness of disrespect. She was coming to my class room with the belief that she was receiving a demerit. When I sat her down, and began to talk to her about her behavior, she began to cry, even sob. I instantly felt compassion for her.

To some, her crying may have been simply an attempt to escape punishment (you girls know what I am talking about), but in my heart, I could see that she was intensely sorry for her actions. I told her that I was not giving her a demerit, but I made sure that she understood that her actions were wrong and that they deserved a punishment. Even after I made it clear that she would not be punished, she continued to sob. The compassion in my heart swelled, and I told her that God was pouring out His awesome grace to her through me. Eventually she left and went home, and only Jesus knows what was going on in her heart, but that moment made a lasting impression on me.

I thought about God and how He mercifully has compassion on us. But then I thought about how different my response may have been had she been cold and unrepentant for her actions. How God must love those who come to His throne of grace, sobbing over the wrong they have done. How His heart must melt with compassion when His children see their sin and are broken over it. I am not saying that God does not punish us after we come to Him sorry for our wrongs, for that is most often the best thing for us. Nonetheless, how God's heart must swell with compassion when His children turn to Him and are genuinely sorry. Perhaps we should pray for broken hearts. Pray for hearts that are so in love with our Heavenly Father that when we turn from Him, we are filled with "godly grieve" for having offended Him by our utter disrespect for His love, His truth, His guidance, and His mercy.


The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. - Psalm 51:17

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. - Psalm 34:18

But [God] gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." - James 4:6

This Thanksgiving

"Be joyful always; Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

As I stood singing praises to our God, my emotions were filled with desperation. Another emotional "ransacking" has recently entered my heart and my thoughts. I mean, let's call it what it is: "a ransacking," a plundering of my emotions. Yet, as I stood praising God, this glorious thought flooded my mind: I have Jesus. I have lost something dear to me in my life, yet I can never lose Jesus. I cannot lose Him!

Have you ever thought for one minute about the weight of time in your life? This life will end. Let's not ponder when that will be. God knows. It will be perfect timing. But ponder this: life is fleeting. "Things" are perishing. Yet the only being that will never be taken from us is Christ. If you have put your faith in Jesus, He is always with you. Always! And you cannot lose Him.

So as I sang a song that I cannot remember at this moment, I do remember this glorious thought: "Clay, you may think that you have lost something of value, and it is valuable, but you can never lose that which is of infinite value - My love, My presence, My protection, My hand."

This Thanksgiving, I praise God, singing, "Thank You Father for Your Son. Thank You for giving us that which never perishes, or leaves, or lacks love. Thank You for Jesus!"

"Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." - Psalm 73:25-26

The Ultimate Constant

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. - Hebrews 13:8



How beautiful it is to have a savior, lover, friend, and God Who is never changing. He will never change, never end, and never reduce in any way.

I have lately been involved in many changing circumstances. That is hard for me. Basically an emotional "roller coaster." No pity needed. But it is truthfully what is going on with me. I honestly do not even feel like writing this blog, but I will do it anyway. Why? Because my Jesus is unchanging. So, no matter the circumstances, no matter my sin, no matter my feelings or my social status, my Redeemer has never changed in His control of my life, His control of the whole world, nor in His love for me! He is the ultimate Constant.

Are you struggling with consistency in your friendships? ...relationships? Have you suffered from a lack of loyalty from friends, a spouse, or a child? Are you feeling the sadness of the reality that your flesh and your heart are corrupt, full of inconsistencies? Turn to the ultimate Constant. Find joy in the everlasting love of Jesus; the Unchanging, the Alpha and the Omega. He is the same today as He was 10 billion years ago; the same as He was 2000 years ago; the same as He will always be.

A Misdiagnosis

"They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. 'Peace, peace,' they say, when there is no peace." -Jeremiah 8:11


God's people have a mighty gash in their side. Sin is protruding from the wound of God's Beloved. Does the Church today see the sin-wound, wrap it with a dressing, and declare the wound as "minor," sending a child of God on his or her way only to die later from internal bleeding? By grace, let us not be like God's people during Jeremiah's day. He has redeemed us; let us not turn from His loving embrace. But when we do, when a member of our Body shifts his focus to the created, let us not say, "Peace! This is nothing serious!"

O The Love of Christ

If you are anything like me, you have trouble "picturing" or "comprehending" what Jesus truly did when He laid down is life for us. Perhaps we will never be able to comprehend it on this earth with these fallen bodies and minds. But as I wrestled through my lack of power to see and love and appreciate what Jesus did for the Redeemed, I "received" a picture in my head that helped me more fully and emotionally connect with the triumph of our Savior on the cross. I say "received" with quotes because I am not claiming that this is a direct revelation from the Father, but I like to assume that He was answering my cries for a better understanding and love for what Jesus did for me on the cross.

So I pictured a tangible person in my life who has clearly exhibited the love of God to me every day of my life, by the power of Christ. For me, it is my mother. Though our long relationship has not been all "roses," she has reflected the love of Jesus for me in a way that no one else ever has. Needless to say, I have developed a deep love for her. Then I pictured my deepest, darkest sin. One that, though I am truly forgiven of, I am deeply ashamed of. It was my fault. I chose to rebel against God. I said, "I want my own way, I want self-gratification, I know what is best!"

Then I pictured my lovely, tender mother saying, "I will take Clay's sin on me so that he does not have to suffer God's wrath, for I love him. I will take on God's wrath so that Clay can be free." She did not deserve my sin! I sinned! But O how she loves me! Then I saw, O the love of Christ!

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." -John 10:11

Merely A Clay Pot

I have no rights. Nothing is owed me. God owes me nothing.

"Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him" (Romans 11:35)?

No one. "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen" (Romans 11:36).

I am simply a humbled, lowly, man of dust; a rich beggar blessed by His love, mercy, and grace.

Who am I to question God? I am but a clay pot.

What if I was to mold with my hands a clay pot, and after it was finished, my perfect work of art, it yelled back at me, "You don't know what you are doing!"

"But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? 'Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, "Why did you make me like this" ' " (Romans 9:20)?

He raises me up and He lays me down. For His purpose I was created. I love my Maker. May He destroy every pride-driven longing inside of me, and may I always remember how sweet it is that I have an infinitely worthy Potter, and I am His clay pot.

Simply In Love With Jesus

Simply in love with Jesus
Each day this love satisfies
Temptations and lies, they call for me

Idols contend for my heart
"Why deny yourself"
"You are a foolish man"

I call out in desperation
"To whom shall I go?"
"I am in love with Jesus"

He gave His life for me
He truly loves me
He does not use me for gain

Is there any other hope?
I will die trusting in Him
He is the only being I have found worthy of my trust

When all my enemies, all my friends, and all my family have left me
He still remains
I cannot deny the One I am simply in love with