Dear Partner,

I was recently asked by a good friend, "Gary, if you had to sum up in one word how your walk with the Lord has changed during the past ten years, what would you say?" Without hesitation I said, "TRUST!" I continued by explaining to my friend that over the past ten years, even with all of my best efforts and finest intentions, I have probably made just about every kind of mistake that a man can make. At times I have "heard and obeyed" fairly well. At other times I have "heard and obeyed" poorly. Yet I have found His love for me (and His help for me) to be unwavering under all circumstances. This verse has become one of the most important truths in my life:

Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

At the throne of our Father's grace we are able to obtain two things: 1) Mercy and 2) Grace to help in our time of need. I can't tell you how much it means to me that we find mercy "first" at His throne. What is mercy? Isn't mercy what you need when you've done something wrong? Mercy is for imperfect people. (I don't know about you, but that is sure good news to me!) Because our Father is so merciful, I can "boldly" approach His throne even when I already know I've messed up. He is my Father and He loves me. As long as I don't hide my failings, shortcomings, and … yes … even my sins from Him, He will have MERCY on me. The blood of Jesus Christ was shed in order to give me access to our Father's throne of grace.

1 John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I have found that old saying to be true: "When you miss it, don't run from God. Run to Him!" Nobody loves us like our heavenly Father. He is for us, not against us. It is the "accuser of the brethren" that bombards our souls with thoughts that our heavenly Father will reject us when we mess up. There is no bigger lie! As a parent myself who raised three daughters, there were many times they made mistakes, and sometimes … even outright rebelled against my instruction. It is true that while they remained in a state of rebellion, our fellowship was strained. But it is also true that my love for them never faltered. When they would eventually come to me in an attitude of repentance and did not try to hide their rebellion from me, all was quickly forgiven (mercy). Not only did they obtain mercy, but they also obtained my help to resolve whatever problem they had gotten themselves into.

That brings us to the second half of the verse where we obtain our Father's "grace to help" in our time of need. Think of it like this: If we, as mortal humans, have the capacity within us to forgive and help our children after they have made mistakes … how much more does our heavenly Father (Who IS love) have the capacity to have mercy upon us and then extend His grace (His power) to help us in our time of need? You've not gotten yourself into any problem that is too big for your Father to correct with His power. You've not strained your fellowship with Him to the point that His love for you has come to an end. With that thinking in mind, look afresh at these verses:

Rom 8:31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Rom 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Let your soul bask in these wonderful truths:

1. Your Father is for you, not against you.
2. Your Father is not withholding any good thing from you.
3. Your Father is your justifier, not your accuser.
4. Jesus Christ … HIMSELF … is at your Father's right hand praying for you!

I encourage you to run to God, your Father, today! Revel in His love for you. If there are mistakes, faults, and yes … even sins to be confessed, "boldly" go to your Father's throne of grace and pour your heart out to Him. The blood of Jesus Christ is on the mercy seat to cleanse you and wash you whiter than snow. You will obtain your Father's mercy and you will find His grace, His power, to help you in your time of need.

Sue and I love you and appreciate you. We thank God for your generous and giving heart. God bless you!

Your friend and co-laborer,

Gary Carpenter

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