My children! Yes! “Shield from the scorn and cover from the chiding.” Often I have to shield My disciples from their own scorn and chiding.My poor Peter could never have done My work, never have had the courage to live on, or the daring to live for Me, but for the tender love with which I enwrapped him. Not from the anger of My Father, who is all Love, did I need to protect him — not from the scorn of My enemies, nor from the resentment of My friends. No! But from the hatred of Peter himself.

And so to My followers today, as then, there come the shame and remorse and contempt of themselves, of the weak selves. They meant to be so strong and brave for Me. And then I have to protect them with a shield of love, or never could they have the courage to fight and conquer. But this facing of the real self has to be — shame and remorse must come.

That is a stage in development, but only a stage. What use the glad wings of a butterfly if it remained Earth bound, weighed down with the thought of its contemptible past? And so now today I say to you both, that you are not to dwell for one moment on your sins, and mistakes, and faults, and bad habits of the past.

You must be as one who runs a race, stumbles and falls, rises and presses on to the goal. What avails it if he stays to examine the spot where he fell, to weep over the delay, over the shortsightedness that prevented his anticipating and avoiding the obstacles?

So with you, and I lay it on you as a command — no looking back. Give yourself, and all you have ever met a fresh start from today. Remember no more their sins and failures, or your own. The remembrance is a current of disappointment that hinders the swimmer.

When I sent My Disciples out, two by two, no scrip,  no two coats, no money, it was an injunction to be carried out literally, but figuratively too. On Life’s journey throw away all that is not important. Cast aside all the hindrances, the past imperfections of others – – the failure-sense.

Travel unladen, with a light heart, and a light heart means a weight of influence.

My children, I love you.

And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.  Acts 5:41