I happened to be an adopted child at 5 days old. I grew up around my biological family of four siblings. I chose not to have a relationship with them for thirty-six years for a number of reasons that were not good ones. It was only until last year in a hospital shared by my adopted mother and their father (not my biological father) that God gave me an opportunity to voice to all of them in one room of my regrets. Growing up I regretted not being a close brother for all those years when I had chance to. I regretted not being an uncle to their children when they didn’t understand my actions. And I regretted my prideful nature of thinking it was their choice to come to me. All this didn’t change past, yet it built some bridges so we could move forward. But, in some creative way of God’s in that hospital room that summer day, eight people came together from all over country. Maybe, just maybe for reason that one of us or all of us could walk away that day having one less regret to remember. In what originally were two people having life threating surgeries turned out to be a miracle of God’s. Coincidence? I don’t believe so. God’s perfect plan? Yes, I have no doubt. Do I feel better by healing that regret? You bet! Yes, I do regret some of my failures, but there’s one regret I will be able to forget for rest of my life. Bob talked about beatitudes this weekend. What better way to be merciful, and a peacemaker than to take care of a regret.

How do you think Jesus felt after he was resurrected from grave? Glad he did it? Yes! What will you do this week to be able to forget one or more of your regrets in life? Will you be merciful? Will you be a peacemaker? Or will you push it away again, OR WILL YOU ACT?

Now that might sound harsh, but it’s truth, not only in exercise, but also in our spiritual walk with Christ as well. Our lives will continue to be way they are until we get to point maybe down on our knees and say to God, “No excuse is good enough, I can’t turn back I need you in my life there are no more options available and can not and will not live a second more with out you.”

Lance Armstrong famous Tour De France bike racer who is also a cancer survivor writes in his most recent book entitled, Every Second Counts, “ Each day not only on my bike, but with my wife, children and those I love, I live with attitude that it can all end in a second and with that, every second does counts for something and failure is not an option.”

Where are you in your attitude toward Christ? Do you make excuses? Do you explore other easier options in life? This year make a difference!!! Remember, every second counts and failure is not an option!!!