Never underestimate power of small groups and close friends. If it weren’t for small groups, close friends and people who believe in me, there have been times during this past year, I don’t know what I would have done without them all. Never turn down an invitation from God to fellowship with a close group of friends, participate in an ABF class, or just share some quality time praying and believing in something or someone. Those four men never knew how far a hope, a prayer and a horse could go, but with God all things are possible.

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?