As far as the East is from the West....

Last night my Princess was so excited to share with Handsome and myself after family Bible time that she was able to find the Bible verse of the day (from her Bible class) and read it for the very first time ALL BY HERSELF.  She didn't need Mama to show her that rather than chapter 14 verse 8 she needed to be in chapter 12 verse 8....or whatever it is that Mama has needed to help her with this year.  She was usually very close to the right place, but just off a few chapters.  Well she asked if she could read her verse to us.  She proudly went and retreived her Bible from her room, and in just a matter of seconds had found the verse again and began to read:

Psalm 103:12
"As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us."

Well that verse opens up an area for conversation...how did it happen that He removed our transgressions from us?  The death of Jesus on the cross takes away our sins if only we put our trust in Him our sins can be made white as snow!  PRECIOUS SALVATION!  

Though I didn't have much of a moment to dwell on this with her last night because I had a lap full of littles....my Handsome was able to talk in pretty great detail about it...but my heart was swelling with excitement and pride for this 8 year old Princess!  Even more exciting for me was the fact that SHE, too, WAS EXCITED about finding this verse and reading it all by herself!  Now she has been able to read her Bible (mostly) for almost 2 years....but she FOUND THE VERSE!!!

As with all things, immediately the Casting Crowns song came to mind.  And of course, after the kids were all dressed for bed I played it for them:

East to West by Casting Crowns

Here I am Lord and I'm drowning
In Your sea of forgetfulness
The chains of yesterday surround me
I yearn for peace and rest

I don't want to end up
Where You found me
And it echoes in my mindKeeps me awake tonight

I know You've cast my sin as far as
The east is from the west
And I stand before You now
As though I've never sinned

But today I feel like
I'm just one mistake away
From You leaving me this way

Jesus, can You show me just how far
The east is from the west?
'Cause I can't bear to see the man I've been
Rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
You know just how far
The east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other

I start the day, the war begins
Endless reminding of my sin
And time and time again
Your truth is drowned out by the storm I'm in
Today I feel like
I'm just one mistake away
From You leaving me this way

Jesus, can You show me just how far
The east is from the west?
'Cause I can't bear to see the man I've been
Come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
'Cause You know just how far
The east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other

I know You've washed me white
Turned my darkness into light
I need Your peace to get me through
To get me through this night
I can't live by what I feel
But by the truth Your word reveals
And I'm not holding onto You
But You're holding onto me, You're holding onto me

Jesus, You know just how far
The east is from the west
I don't have to see the man I've been
Come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
'Cause You know just how far
The east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other

Just how far
The east is from the west
Just how far
From one scarred hand to the other

You know just how far
The east is from the west
Just how far
From one scarred hand to the other

Sure gives you something to chew on.  The stanza that reads 'I start the day, the war begins, endless reminding of my sin and time and time again Your truth is drowned out by the storm I'm in.  Today I feel like I'm just one mistake away from You leaving me this way.'  This really hits home for me.  Being an adoptive mother of a mentally disabled son (behavioral disorders) brings a storm each and every day....trying to watch him constantly, not allowing him free moments also means that Handsome and myself do not have free moments.  And this is just one of our 6 kids....plus we both have jobs.  Every day feels like a storm, every day feels like the same mistake, and every day I have to purposefully make the decision to remember God loves me still.  He has taken my transgressions and made them as far as the East is from the West...He doesn't hold them against me...He doesn't bring them up again and again.  He just gives me a fresh start with each new day.  In fact with my own personal devotions this morning the author (Beth Moore) wrote that God never misses a single tear, He sees our suffering and know the depth of our needs.  He waits for us to cry out to Him, and when we do we know the One and Only who redeems us.  Every moment of every day...He waits for us to pour out our tears if heartbreak and pain before His throne.