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Deb's Devotions

On the street where Bob and I live, city trash pickup is Thursday mornings. So, Wednesday evenings we go around the house and empty trash cans, place the bags in the Toter trash cart and wheel it out to the curb. Early Thursday mornings, the trash trucks empty all the carts and haul the trash away to the city landfill. One of us wheels the cart back into the garage where it silently waits to be again be filled with our trash.

I like the Wednesday evening trash round-up; having a clean and empty bag in each trash can is satisfying. Putting that trash out by the curb where it disappears from our home and our life makes me happy. A fresh start each week! But we know it doesn’t really disappear; it goes to the city landfill and I don’t know what happens to it there.

This past Sunday, the CBYF and leaders shared about their trip to the Momentum Youth Conference, at which the theme was “Rewired” based on Ezekiel 36:26, “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.”

They each shared an experience that has stayed with them, and I was deeply grateful for their testimonies! Here is the summary of the theme:

"What causes us to sin? What moves us to holiness? What part of
us initiates belief? What is inside of us that generates doubt?
There is only one thing – our hearts. Only the Gospel is beautiful
enough to REWIRE our heart and produce in it all the affections
that will cause us to live new lives. Throughout the Bible, God is
chiefly after our hearts. Enjoy Jesus, and he will change your
heart."

While the trash from my home is removed weekly to the landfill to slowly (or never) decompose, the trash/sin in my human heart is completely removed and destroyed through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord!

“The LORD is merciful and loving, slow to become angry and full

of constant love. He does not keep on rebuking; he is not angry

forever. He does not punish us as we deserve or repay us

according to our sins and wrongs. As high as the sky is above the

earth, so great is his love for those who honor him. As far as the

east is from the west, so far does he remove our sins from us.”

Psalm 103:8-12

Thank you CBYF for reminding us of this great and wonderful truth!

“There is no condemnation now for those who live in union with

Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit, which brings us life in union 

with Christ Jesus, has set me free from the law of sin and death.”

Romans 8:1-2