Posts by Jim Jamison

13 of 772 items

Failure: the back door to success

by Jim Jamison

Many people feel stuck in their past even when they respond properly, because they still struggle with a couple of questions. I explored the first yesterday, let me attempt to tackle the second today:2) How should I respond when I keep remembering my failures?We must remember that what occurs in my mind is a choice of our will. one of the reasons we become stuck in our past is that we replay our sin over and over in our minds. This often comes from:a) a lack of genuine repentance – I am sorry I got caught, but not sorry that I did the act.b) The fear of man – What will people think about me if they learn what I have done?c) an unwillingness to forsake our sin – We are enjoy the sinful behavior so much, that we continue the behavior even when we struggle with the guilt.d) We lose our awe of God’s forgiving grace – Forgiveness is never earned, and should be forever appreciated.As I evaluate these things, I need to do three things to overcome and allow my failure to lead to success in my life.a) Recognize that everyone has sin in their past – Romans … READ MORE

I Have Sinned – 1 John 1:9

by Jim Jamison

Many people feel stuck in their past even when they respond properly because they still struggle with the memory of their failure. Let me take a moment to encourage you.1. What should I do if I don’t feel forgiven?We must remember that our emotions are only reliable to the degree that they reflect biblical truth. After we have confessed our sin to God and to the appropriate people, we need to focus on what God’s Word has instructed us to believe about our status before Him, and what our Lord has done to make that status possible. We do that by remembering three things:1) God is a forgiving God – Ps 103:122) Jesus focused on forgiveness even while dying on the cross – Luke 23:34; 23:433) God promises to forgive His children as soon as we come in repentance and faith – 1 John 1:9One of the purposes of the Lord’s table, is to remind us as believers that our sins are forgiven because of 4-fold work of Christ in His Crucifixion, Resurrection, Ascension, and at Pentecost. We need to choose to live in the promises of God’s forgiveness whether our emotions accept that reality or not. Guilt is a … READ MORE

In My Father’s House – John 14:2

by Jim Jamison

We are reminded in John 14:2 ” In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you.” In telling the disciples this truth, he was emphasizing our oneness with the Father. Notice that there is only one house designated here with many dwelling places. Heaven is not just blocks of streets lined with mansions, it is one house with many rooms so that we may live with our Heavenly Father and He will provide for our needs. We as believers will live in the Father’s house because we are one with Him and members of the same family. We must remember, however, that we do not begin to live in this relationship when we go to heaven, we begin living in this unique oneness with the Father the moment we choose to follow His Son. Today, your Heavenly Father, will watch over you and provide for you in so many ways. May we rest in the knowledge of His goodness! … READ MORE