Thank You For Forgetting
Thank You For Forgetting
By Dennis Huebshman
Before getting to a very inspirational song, I need to give some background of the ones who wrote and performed it. The Goldens are known all through East Texas, and have been featured on national radio stations for almost 25 years. My wife and I are proud to call them our Brother and Sister in Christ. This will not seem to follow my normal posts, but the ending is absolutely for the Father.
Since the early to mid-1990’s, I have been privileged to have the friendship of a marvelous Christian Couple. I first heard Dale and Cheryl Golden on a regular program they hosted on a local radio station. They would play Solid Gospel, also known as Southern Gospel, and had biblical messages that reached all of East Texas, and beyond. They would include music that they had recorded, and I was an instant fan. (any emphasis mine)
Dale is a great songwriter, and has written just about everything they have recorded. He is also an ordained minister, and works in a Cardiac Unit as a registered nurse at a large local hospital. At one time, I worked security at the same hospital, and was able to see him in action, ministering to critical patients while attending their physical needs.
Miss Cheryl is a true blessing, and has a wonderful harmonious voice. She is the daughter of a Baptist Minister of Music, which helped give her the gift of bringing a unique inspirational sound to the recordings of this amazing Duo. Miss Cheryl is a picture of a true amazing Christian wife, and this couple complements each other perfectly.
The radio station where they had their program went through some changes, and their much-needed program was ended. After this, they began to make more personal appearances in this area, and also performed with many Southern Gospel and Contemporary groups in various places around the country. They have recorded numerous albums, and in 2004 was named “Duet of the Year” and also was awarded the “Sunrise Award” at the SGN Scoops Diamond awards. This is only a couple of the many honors they have been given. (source: www.gigsalad.com/rdgclg)
For the personal side, I was honored later to be a part of the new radio station in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, and rotated Saturdays with another person, bringing Solid Gospel music to the area. The program was noon to 5pm, and during the program, prizes were given out to people who called in during contests. Brother Dale and Sister Cheryl always provided some of their cassettes to be given to the callers. This was just before CD’s became popular.
The station sponsored numerous Solid Gospel concerts in the area, and I was able to attend and introduce many wonderful artists. On a couple occasions, I attended church services where Dale and Cheryl had been invited to share their marvelous ministry, and was able to introduce them. They would sing their inspirational songs, and Dale would include Biblical messages as well. There was never a concert of theirs that was not soul-satisfying. All praise, glory and honor was always given to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There was never “feel-good tickle my ears” messages, but the true word straight from the Bible.
With all this, you would think they live an absolute trouble-free life. Truth be known, Brother Dale is a cancer survivor times two! It was not an overnight healing, but he never lost faith in the Savior. As soon as he was able, after each occasion, he and Cheryl were back on the road in active ministry, spreading the true word of the Father. The Lord has blessed this Christian couple, and they continue their faithful services to the Lord today.
They have numerous songs on YouTube, and anyone can access them by entering “Dale and Cheryl Golden” on the search bar. One such song has been an inspiration in my life from the first moment I heard it. It’s called, “Thank You For Forgetting”.
1. I struggle in my daily walk, to be all I should be. To lean upon your words, to be like you. Yet every time I stumble, it seems You’re there, Lord, to lift me up. Your forgiveness helps me start each day renewed.
(c.) Thank You for forgetting, my yesterdays. Unmerited favor, You give me every day. Though so unworthy of, Your merciful ways. Lord, thank You for forgetting, my yesterdays.
2. How can mercy shine, its radiant light, into my dark disgrace; when I am but a sinner, lost in shame? And bring the dawn of promise, into a new day saving grace; such compassion only found in Your great name. (c x 2)
After hearing this, I have found numerous bible verses that shows Brother Dale uses the true word to get his messages out to the world.
Psalm 103:10-12, “He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. (11) For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear (respect) Him; (12) as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us.”
Psalm 130:3-4, “If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? (4) But with You, there is forgiveness that You may be feared.” (totally respected)
Isaiah 1:18, “I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins.” Does this not put into perspective just how important the future sacrifice would be at Calvary? Jesus made the verses, up to here, to be very significant. There was no way an impure human could ever fill the qualifications for atonement of everyone’s sins, except the Son of the Father.
Micah 7:18-19 asks very pertinent questions; “Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity, and passing over transgressions for the remnant of His inheritance? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in steadfast love. (19) He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast out all our sins into the depths of the sea.”
Another that I have often referred to, to show the absolute mercy our Father has for us is 1 John 1:8-10, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (Romans 3:23, God already knows everything we have done.) (9) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (Confession is not “bragging” about what we’ve done, but to truly repent) (10) If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” This does not mean we will never sin again, as we will sin until the very moment we are taken out of here.
Brother Dale captures these and many more in this one song. It’s telling the Father we realize how weak we are, and how lost we would be without Him. We know He has already seen our failures, but is right there to lift us back up when we call out to Him.
It’s also a blessing to know that when He forgives, it’s complete. A lot of my problems is to get past my own guilt for causing any shame for my Savior. Dale points out we are blessed by God’s mercy and grace. We also have to remember He forgives us and expects us to forgive others as well.
Having said this, sometimes it’s extremely hard to forgive actions taken against us. We have to remember Jesus forgiving those who were crucifying Him. We are to love everyone for their immortal souls, but we don’t have to like them for their actions. We turn that part over to the Father to handle. As Dale said, “Your forgiveness helps me start each day renewed.”
For those who haven’t received Jesus and accepted His free gift, you’re missing all of this, and are on your own. Actually, those who reject Jesus automatically belong to Satan.
To remedy this, read Romans 10:9-13; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:23; and Romans 8:1. Then round this off with Ephesians 2:8-9. Hopefully, you will realize you need a Savior, and Jesus is the only One that can save you. Call out to Him; he’s there ready to accept you into His Flock. (John 10) He will be coming back soon to take all true believers up to meet Him in the air, and to take us Home. Don’t miss the event (Rapture) as it’s an eternal blessing.
Shalom – Maranatha (Peace and Come Lord Jesus)