I {LOVE} Sunday::to be righteous through faith in Christ and to flourish...

Linking today with Lisha Epperson's #Give Me Grace

To live like it...

Meeting at Starbucks to continue working out the details for our May book launch, Robbi and I sat outside with our drinks and the warmth of the sun on our shoulders.

I can't recall what prompted the detour in our conversation -- from launch party plans to the sharing of a piece of the puzzle that's my story, but I mentioned to Robbi that in the prodigal years early in our marriage, my husband and I believed, but we didn't have faith. 

If you asked us if we were Christians, we would have said yes, but we certainly weren't living like it, I explained. 

Later that day, I heard faith described as acting like you really believe what God says is true.

Exactly. We didn't act like we believed much of anything.

If I truly believe that in Christ I've been forgiven, I won't wallow in shame and condemnation.

If I truly believe God has and will meet my every need, I won't be consumed by fretting and worrying.

If I truly believe in God's sovereignty, I won't entertain woe-is-me's or be paralyzed by fear.

If I truly believe God is loving and good, I'll cheerfully obey His commandments and trust that what He allows in my life will be redeemed for my good.

I believe you, Lord. Thank you for the grace to live like it.

{Photos - a few of the feathery visitors to Pollywog Creek last week}

To radiate the beauty...

Truly charity has no limit; for the love of God has been poured into our hearts by His Spirit dwelling in each one of us, calling us to a life of devotion and inviting us to bloom in the garden where He has planted and directing us to radiate the beauty and spread the fragrance of His Providence.

St. Francis de Sales

I haven't always cared much for the garden where [I've been] planted. In fact, I downright refused to grow roots here or to see the beauty that radiated from what and who did.

Twenty-five years later, I'm embarrassed to remember that season of ingratitude and rebellion against God's providence and sovereignty. But remember, I must - for like the Israelites, who in the hard desert wandering, forgot the oppression of Egypt, to forget makes it easier to return to a season of discontent.

Like wildflowers that flourish in fields of glory or roadside ditches - the choice is not theirs to make. They cheerfully root and bloom where ever the wind takes them. 

So be it with me, Lord. So be it with me.

Still Saturday::still in need...

Jesus did not call us because of our righteousness or gifting. He called us when we were dead in our sins (Eph. 2.1) and blinded by the god of this world (2 Cor. 4.4). He called us when all we had was need.

And now that we are his disciples, all we redeemed sinners still really have is our need of his him. He is the Vine, and we are the branches; apart from him we can do nothing (John 15.5). He supplies us with the Spirit (Gal. 3.5)so that we serve in only the strength and grace that he supplies (I Peter 4.11).

Jon Bloom, Not By Sight, p.196