When my foot went through the dirt, I knew I was in trouble. With one leg now sunk up to the hip in cool water with an unmistakable stench, the other was bent up to my face.

It was no way to start the day. This was supposed to be a ‘pretty simple’ job and my two boys were with me to help and enjoy some time together.

We stepped abound the old farmhouse into the wooded brush on the side that needed our services.

As my sons and I discussed what needed to be done, it happened – fast.

One step backward and down I went.

With one knee pointed toward the sky the other was now plunged into raw sewage.

The homeowner had covered part of their septic system with a small wooden frame and a sheet of plastic.

They also forgot to tell me it was there under that brush and dirt.

My boys thought it was hilarious, especially after the homeowner said, “well, at least we eat organic”.

I didn’t have a change of pants or shoes. Every other step made me mindful of how badly I wanted to be freed from that hole and get cleaned up.

Looking back, we can all laugh. But it was the one step backward I’ll never forget but to this day regret. Who wouldn’t?

Over the years I’ve met multitudes who’ve taken that step. Men and woman who, whether intentionally or unintentionally, live with regret and they can’t forget.

Like my one squishy shoe, every other step through life brings them an uncomfortable feeling that something has to change but they don’t have what they need with them.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about three words: Forgiveness, Redemption, Love.

We can all experience these from Jesus but not from others in a manner we need. We also can extend them to others who need them.

Forgiveness. Who hasn’t messed up in some manner that needs you and me to extend them some grace and help them get back on their feet? We can receive it from others too.

Redemption. Every one of us needs to know we can recover from the mess we’ve created or one we accidently stepped into. It’s our ministry and Paul nailed it (2 Tim. 2:24-26).

Love. I heard recently that God does not love the person we hope to be, want others to think we are, or think we should be. He can’t; that person doesn’t exist.

He loves the person you are right now.

Every one of us needs to know we are deeply loved by others too. Not for what we can give or do or how we perform - just acknowledged and loved. “I love you.”

We who profess Christ and enjoy His indwelling Spirit can find plenty of ministry when we help people who’ve “stepped in it” recover by offering these three things we’ve received from Jesus (Eph. 1:1-7).

Here’s my question for you: Who can you extend forgiveness, redemption, and love to (or receive it from) and help them take a step forward instead of back into more regret?

I’d love to hear your response. I read them all. Reply and share it with me, or better yet, share your comments about this post with others in our community space.

PS: Forwarding this email regularly is a great way to encourage others and partner with me in growing this ministry. Can you forward it to a few people you know and encourage them to subscribe? Thank you.

New (8/28) Upcoming Book Excerpt:

…Things were getting exciting, and Lorie wasn't even home yet. Both Scott and Brad offered some encouragement and helpful advice about where and how to begin reading Scripture. One week later, Lorie too had the most important conversation of her life with God and was more than ready to venture into our new life together with God.

It didn’t take long for questions to start pouring into my mind. Whose views about God, Jesus and the Bible are correct? Why do Christians argue and disagree on so much? Whose brand of Christianity was most aligned with Scripture and how would I know? Why are churches so different and why do some make such sensational claims?

But determined to start somewhere, I started in the beginning with God. Page one, chapter one, verse one. It immediately captured my attention, and I found the Bible hard to put down. But not too far into my journey through Genesis my eyes started to glaze over. I wondered if something was wrong with me. By the time I got to Leviticus, it was getting hard to pick up. I didn’t understand it and it was becoming intimidating and overwhelming.

We knew some friends who went to a large denominational church nearby and soon that became our church. We knew next to nothing about what was “biblical” but soon felt uneasy about some things we were hearing from the pulpit and experiencing in that church. Questions were piling up and discouragement was setting in.…

You can read the rest of the excerpt in the community space. Just click on the link below:

🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏼‍♂️There’s a new space right inside this newsletter where you can share prayer requests, comment on the newsletter, make some new friends and keep up on the latest with the book project. Click on this link, enter the email you already use for this newsletter and you’re in. You can use the app or just click in from this newsletter any time.

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