Had any visits from this fellow lately? If you find yourself going to church in order to be saved and not because you are saved, then you've been listening to him. If you find yourself doubting God could forgive you again for that, you've been sold some snake oil. If you are more cynical about Christians than sincere about Christ, then guess who came to dinner?

A happy saint is one who is at the same time aware of the severity of sin and the immensity of grace. Sin is not diminished, nor is God's ability to forgive it. The saint dwells in grace, not guilt. This is the tranquil soul.

Allow the spit of the soldiers to symbolize the filth in our hearts. And then observe what Jesus does with our filth. He carries it to the cross.

with this lesson: God hates pride. God resists the proud because the proud resist God. The heart of pride never confesses, never repents, never asks for forgiveness. Pride is the hidden reef that shipwrecks

Those who keep secrets from God keep their distance from God. Those who are honest with God draw near to God.

A guilty conscience becomes a curtain that separates us from God.

Our Savior kneels down and gazes upon the darkest acts of our lives. But rather than recoil in horror, he reaches out in kindness and says, "I can clean that if you want." And from the basin of his grace, he scoops a palm full of mercy and washes away our sin.

Guilt sucks the life out of our souls. Grace restores it.

Guilt leaves a tattooed heart.

not only was cleanliness next to Godliness, dirtiness was the inventor of misery.

I have made many mistakes and no doubt will make more before I die. When I have seen pain, when I have found that my ineptness has caused displeasure, I have learned to accept my responsibility and to forgive myself first, then to apologize to anyone injured by my misreckoning. Since I cannot in-live history, and repentance is all I can offer God, I have hopes that my sincere apologies were accepted.

I assure you that some of the most awesome things God has ever done for me have come out of the most awful things I'd done to myself.