I’m shredding paper. Lots of paper. I’m under conviction because even though I answer the phone here, I could definitely offer to say “if you need me to do something, just let me know.” But instead I wait for someone to ask me if I will help them-clever, right? No, wrong. I’ve been very, very frightened to do anything, just because of messing something up, which I seem to do a lot. I’m not sure if I’ve used that as an excuse or what. Ashley D. said I could help her with some date entry type of stuff, but it’s not quite that easy. It has to be done is Word rather than in Excel because of the way the lines need to be; therefore it takes about 4 times as long. So I worked on it yesterday until 5:00. Then this morning she said that she would do the data entry if I’d rather shred paper. I was all for it.

I’m utterly amazed at the amount of paper shreds these stack of paper are generating. I’ve done less than half, and have filled the biggest trash bag I’ve ever seen. I know that often this paper is recycled to use again. Isn’t that something? One of these quotations that I’m shredding may eventually be a milk carton.

The other day I was thinking about my past. Almost confused as to how I share my testimony about my past if God can’t remember my past. How is God glorified if I’m talking about something He’s unaware of? I believe the answer if that God forgives and forgets about our sin. I believe that he sees our past, but absent of the sin. I don’t know quite how to articulate what I’m trying to say, but it’s like if a person commits a crime and serves their sentence, they are free. Roger talked about stealing last Sunday. I told you I was convicted and guilty of some of the things he talked about. If I ask God to forgive me, and then want to share what I went through, I think God can still see that situation, but now as free of sin. It makes no sense, but the ways of God don’t make sense.

So just like this shredded paper has the potential to eventually be a milk carton, or maybe some construction paper, or something else; in the same way your life has the potential to be recycled into a new creation. Yes you have a past, but now God sees it in a different way. What freedom!!!

The Bible says that when God forgives us, He “remembers our sins no more” (Jeremiah 31:34). This does not mean that the all-knowing God forgets because He forgives us. Rather, He chooses not to bring up our sin to Himself or others. When our former sins come to mind, we can choose to dwell upon them (with the resulting guilty feelings), or we can choose to fill our minds with thoughts of the awesome God who forgave us and thank and praise Him for it (Philippians 4:8). Remembering our sins is only beneficial when it reminds us of the extent of God’s forgiveness and makes it easier for us to forgive others (Matthew 18:21-35).

From gotquestions.org