There are times where I get quite frustrated with myself.  I want to be holy and set apart for the Lord, but there are times where thoughts, desires and a loose tongue reveal my sinful nature.  The painful truth is that I am a sinner in desperate need of a savior.  I truly want to walk in the way of the Lord, but for some reason I keep tripping over obstacles that I should have spotted before taking a step.  These missteps depress and disappoint me.  The good news is that God loves me and that He is ready to forgive me.  Today's passage is one that God uses to uplift my spirits during those times where I am down on myself.          ^{Psalm 103:11} For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him.  God's love for those who fear Him is immeasurable.  If a correct calculation was given to us, the full force of the measurement would elude us because we have no way of understanding something bigger than we can imagine.  I remember as a small boy wondering how the cow could jump over the moon.  I didn't know how high the moon was, but it was higher than I could jump!  I wanted to find that cow and watch him close. 

        ^{Psalm 103:12} as far as the east is from the west,so far has he removed our transgressions from us.  It is a great comfort to know that the Lord God does not hold our sins against us. The song writer is talking about people who respect God and seek to do what He commands.  The greatest command is to love the Lord God. How do we do that?  We do that by obeying Him.  Our works must be preceded by the primary work which is believing in Jesus Christ.  ^{JN 6:28} Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"  ²⁹ Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."  When we believe in Jesus Christ we receive His righteousness.  He took our filth and paid for it at the cross.  There is no way to measure the extent of forgiveness that God has provided.  He removes our sin as far as the east is from the west when we believe in the one He has sent.

          ^{PS 103:13} As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.  I cannot communicate the love I have for my children.  I want to shield and protect them.  I want to give them every opportunity to experience the blessings of life.  Although there are times where my temper flares up because of childish misbehavior, my heart's deepest longing is to show my child compassion.  I don't like being upset with my kids.  As a matter of fact, some of my favorite moments are the times when one of the kids I disciplined comes to me and sits in my lap, crying.  I hug the kid close and say, "I love you."  The warmth that exudes from such times is one of life's true joys.  We are God's children and he longs to shower us with compassion. 

        If you happen to be beating yourself up over some sin that you have committed, stop it.  Remember that God's love is higher than the heavens are above the earth and that he has removed our transgressions from us as far as the east is from the west.  He is a compassionate father that loves to forgive His repentant child. I encourage you to go climb in the Heavenly Father's lap and get a hug.