Sunny today, not much of a cloud cover – which means for a colder night.  Oh, well, it is winter, after all.

One of the nice things about snow is how it muffles noises.  Up here we can often hear the traffic on the freeway far below, or cars going up and down the street a couple blocks away, but when it snows it is like the outside world doesn’t exist, the noises are gone.

It is even more peaceful than normal.

Carla got called into work today.  One of her co-workers is ill, since she is very stable and dependable we are very much concerned about her health and praying for her.

Don’t know what is going around right now, but for those that ‘have it’ ‘twould appear it is serious and not just a light cold.

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2 Corinthians 7: 8-11  For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.

⁹ Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

¹⁰ For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

¹¹ For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.  KJV

Many people express sorrow, but it is not the sorrow of losing a friend or family member that Paul is concerned about, it is the sorrow of the person who comes before God and not only is sorry for what he has done, but is repentant.

His sorrow is real, genuine and cleanses the soul from the dredges of sin.

The world’s sorrow is not for their sins, but for getting caught.  They may claim their desire to do better, but it rings hollow in the ears of God.

There is much sorrow IN this world, the wars, the hatred, the needless deaths of others, and any decent human can fill the pain of the inflicted and can be truly sorry for what is happening.

Each person will one day stand before God.  When the video of his life is played before the soul and God, telling God, then, you are sorry is too late.

We have the honor of being forgiven through Jesus here on earth.  It is the only way to achieve eternity with God in heaven. 

We never know when our time is up and those that put off accepting the fact that they have sinned and are truly sorry for it, may get a rude awakening.  He may have run out of time.

As Christians we need to ask God to search our hearts and help us understand those things that come between us and Him. 

We need to be truly sorry and do all that we can to keep from sinning once again.  

Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance:

Satan knows our weaknesses and he will attack us at any time, especially when we are most vulnerable – but our salvation is before us and is assured; our God is faithful to forgive us when we come before Him and ask for His forgiveness.

Verse 1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

We have a will.  We can either continue in our sinful ways expressing a façade of sorrow; or we can truly come to God in all humility and ask His forgiveness through Christ – that is the only way we can cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and sprit.

Later, Art (-: