11.19- Do you celebrate the reality that people get a do over?

 11.19-

Do you celebrate the reality that people get a do over? There are people I know who allowed a good marriage to drift off course. Love got cold.

Almost had a separation and divorce. Then they got good, wise counsel and changed in a positive direction. You heard the couple had come back together, more centered on the right things and totally in love again. Great relationship with each other and their kids and grandkids. Can you rejoice with them? Or do you resent the love they enjoy?

The Master told the story of the elder brother. His lost, homeless, pig smelling brother came to his senses and admitted he was missing out on food that came from good,, clean hard work.

The boy's dad saw him coming home a long way off and ran to him and hugged and kissed him. Dad said to the servants "fire up the grill, crank up the music and let's party".

Everyone is happy? Right? No. The older brother resented that fact that other son got a do over.

I will celebrate do overs. How many have I had in my life? Jobwise. Family. Friends. Thousands.

Celebrate do overs and have a fresh start for yourself if you want.

Luke 15.

11 And He said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that [e]is coming to me.’ And so he divided his [f]wealth between them. 13 And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his estate in [g]wild living. 14 Now when he had [h]spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began doing without. 15 So he went and [i]hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he longed to have his fill of the carob pods that the pigs were eating, and no one was giving him anything. 17 But when he came to [j]his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired laborers have more than enough bread, but I am dying here [k]from hunger! 18 I will set out and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and [l]in your sight; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired laborers.”’ 20 So he set out and came to [m]his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and [n]embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and [o]in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and [p]put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf, slaughter it, and let’s eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.

25 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. 29 But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never [q]neglected a command of yours; and yet you never gave me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; 30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your [r]wealth with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you [s]have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”

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10Daniel Wishard, Carol Wishard and 8 others