Tag: forgiveness

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No Regrets by Allen Hunt and Matthew Kelly

I bought this book from a local thrift store because I enjoy reading fables about living. I thought that it would be similar to Who Moved the Cheese but I was surprised that it had a Christian perspective on “living your fourth quarter intentionally.” Since I am 51, I am curious to read about and think about how to live the last half of my life.

The main character meets a mentor at her church. He shares with her “5 keys to living and dying with no regrets.”

Say yes to God

God invites you onto a wonderful journey, When you say yes to God’s invitation, you know where you’re going.

Focus on a Fourth Quarter Virtue

Pursue one fourth quarter virtue God has specifically placed in you. Then watch it create blossoms in all areas of your life.

Give.It.Away

The more you give yourself away, the happier you’ll be.

Forgive Often

Bitter and resentful is no way to live. And it’s definitely no way to die.

Be Open to Life

Your fourth quarter can be more of a birthing than a dying. Be Open to what can be.

The first statement about God inviting us to journey with him makes me think of a path in the woods. I imagine God and I walking the path together.

I read a list of 15 virtues that the author shared in the back of the book. I related to the virtues of hope, love,justice and kindness. If I choose a “fourth quarter virtue” it will be one of these.

I want to bloom just like this statement says.

When I read “give it away” I think of my painted rocks, this blog and my YouTube channel. I want to encourage others to keep fighting for their dreams.

How do you relate to these five keys?

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Group Confession

My church has a confession that we read aloud near the start of our services.

This is one of my former pastors.

“Most merciful God, we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought,word and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved out neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.”

During the moments of silence, I try to itemize my sins of the week. Sometimes, I can’t think of any while I remember getting angry with someone on some weeks. I appreciate the fact that my church encourages me and other members to reflect on their past week for moments when we fell short of the glory of God.

This is followed up by my pastor reading a statement forgiving us of our sins. I know that a pastor can’t forgive sin. Only God can forgive sin. It is a great reminder of how forgiving God is due to the sacrifice that Jesus made for all of us regardless of our church affiliation.

“In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” (Evangelical Lutheran Worship, 2006)

What sins do you feel the need to confess?

If you feel very guilty and have repeatedly confessed and repented, consider having a one-on-one confession with a pastor. Sometimes, another person re-assuring you that you are forgiven can help you to let go of the guilt. Carrying guilt around can be too hard for you to carry. Trust me, I sometimes joke that I am a walking guilt trip.