(End)ure

So, there's this song you've probably heard. We sing it in church, we hear it on the radio. The song quotes Psalm 30:5 as it says this:

There may be pain in the night, but joy comes in the morning.

You may be like me, walking through a season of hardship and pain. You may take great solace in hearing that joy will come again, in the morning.

You may also be like me when you ask, "Lord, it's been a pretty long night. This night is straight up out of Alaska. When will morning come?"

I asked God this yesterday as I was driving to the studio and the answer He sent me was plain and clear and loud and NOT AT ALL WHAT I WANTED TO HEAR:

Endure.

One word.

Off I go to the studio, meditating on this word, trying to recall scripture that contains this word.

I do what any good artist does and I decide to paint this word. It comes out looking like this:

Hmmm...okay. What next? I put it to the side. I've got things to do, people coming in, classes to teach.

A few hours later I come back to my painting and God whispers, What do you see?

Do you see it, friend?

End. Staring at me plain as day as it sits at the beginning of the word. 

Your enduring will come to an end.

I don't pretend to know when or how. And I do know there's pain. But I also know God has promised joy in the morning. 

I notice this as the colors reflect back to me in orange and yellows, the colors of a glorious sunrise. The colors I thought I had just randomly chosen.

Joshua 1:9 tells us to "be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." This includes these seasons of long-night darkness. 

Joshua goes on to tell his people this:

The LORD your God is providing you a place of rest and will give you this land.

Our morning is coming. One day our mourning will be over. I don't know the whens, the whys, or the hows. But I do know as sure as the sun will rise in the east tomorrow morning, God is faithful to His Word. 

And our enduring will end.

Rest.

I'm tired.

I'm the kind of tired that shows up on your face. In moments of where did those lines come from? And when did I start looking my age? I'm supposed to be perpetually 25.

This kind of tired really has nothing to do with the heaviness of my eyelids or the aches in my body. My heart is tired. My mind is tired. Life is good, but life is complicated. Because, well, the world is complicated. The world is imperfect and is full of imperfect people.

That's the recipe of life - 1 cup of good with a pinch of complicated and a heaping tablespoon of imperfection.

And that's okay. Jesus Himself told us what to expect from life:

In this world, you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

I'm tired. I need rest.

I don't mean hammock by the ocean rest, either. (Although, if anyone is offering this, I will not refuse. Private message me later.)

I need the kind of rest that calms my heart and my mind. The kind of rest where my soul, the very most inner part of me, takes a big breath and acknowledges her Creator.

Jesus tells me I will have trouble in this world. But He also tells me He has overcome it. He tells me to take heart! Which literally means to be of good cheer.

This cheer we should have isn't something we can create inside ourselves. God has to supply it. Isaiah 30:15 tells us this:

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: 

"Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. 

In quietness and confidence is your strength."

The only way I can cure my aching, aging, this-world-is-one-monkey-short-of-a-barrel-crazy is to return. When I return to my God and find rest in His holy, loving, perfect presence I see clearly that Jesus has overcome the crazy. That He has overcome the imperfect. I will come and sit in His presence. I will be quiet, knowing I need only to be and listen and feel loved. And I will be confident that this is enough. That God will take care of all that I need.

Because here my soul turns upward toward it's resting place, it's home.

I'm still going to be tired. My bones and brain and boy-raising heart need to make peace with the fact that this season of life is putting wrinkles on my face and gray in my hair.

But every day I turn to Him, the One who has overcome, and I whisper, "I'm so tired."

Then another whisper comes back in a burst of love and peace:

Then come, dear one. And rest.

James Week 10 - The Prayer of Faith

Watch what a GREAT videographer my 7 year old son is...

(emphasis on the sarcasm).

Here's our final teaching, a short and sweet message on prayer.

Thanks for letting me spend the summer with you.

James Week 9 ~ Patience

Those trials you face that crush you and break you and sadden you? Hold steadfast through them, my friend. Because God will repay your loss.

James Week 8 ~ What Is Your Life?

We're small and we're human, but we are loved intently by one big God. So when making plans about our lives, what are four tenants James tells us to live by? Let's see in this week's lesson. (Also, this is what I look like after the first work week of a new school year. She's tired, y'all.)

James Week 7 Draw Near, My Dear

Drawing near to God takes more than just wishing for it. There are steps outlined in James 4:7-10 that help us see how to draw near to His peaceful, perfect presence. 

James Week 6

I look very aggressive in the screen shot below. Enjoy this lesson on Wisdom. I promise I do not attack you from the screen.

James Week 5

Our words can heal. Our words can hurt. Take a peek at what determines the intent of our words.

James Week 4

Here's week 4 of our study. We answer the question of whether we work for our salvation or whether simple faith is enough. And interestingly, the answer is yes to both. (Also, there are kittens in the video.)

James Week 3

It's here! Week 3 - Playing Favorites

James Week 2

Let's look at an old command in a new way:

Loving the Unloveable

James - Week One

Welcome to James! Week One is here!

Olly Olly Oxen Free {Safe Here with Me}

This week's blogger is my dear friend and studio co-owner, Andrea Noles. Sit down, tuck in, and listen. She always has a beautiful word to share.

___________________________________

Olly Olly Oxen Free!

Remember this childhood catchphrase?

It meant “Come on out now, it’s safe!”

We proclaimed this after a serious game of hide and go seek or capture the flag.

Sometimes childhood phrases come into my mind for no apparent reason, and today while having a little breakfast at McDonald’s, this particular one lingered. I almost dismissed it, but something said not to. A faint voice that whispered, “There’s more you need to know.”

Suddenly and sweetly he reminded me of the Prophet Elijah and his journey through strength and weakness, wilderness and abundance, boldness and fear. I remembered his darkness, his courage that eventually sent him running for his life, looking for a hiding place, not wanting a seeker, unless it was death.

Elijah- Prophet of Gilead, bold man of faith, whose whole life was devoted to the work of restoring true worship in Israel.

We first meet him 1 Kings 17 and soon realize his boldness as he predicts a drought and tells King Ahaz, “As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.”

MY WORD? That’s some authority.

We see his obedience as he listens for the voice of God and goes exactly where God tells him to go.

He raises a widow’s son from death.

He confronts Ahab.

He defeated and killed the prophets of Baal.

We see his strength and God’s glory in every place, in every part of his story.

Until the rain came.

And as word of his strength spread, revenge grew, as His enemies, King Ahab and Jezebel, sought to take his life.

He ran fast and hard into the wilderness and after a day’s journey, sat beneath a broom tree and begged God that he might die. “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”

The same voice that declared a drought was declaring death.

“Olly Olly Oxen Free!”

Our God proclaims freedom here by sending an angel to remind Elijah, “Come on out now, it’s safe here.”

The angel brings him bread and water.

The angel really brought him strength.

He pressed onward, still fleeing in fear and after forty days and forty nights, he finds a cave and hides in darkness.

“Olly Olly Oxen Free!”

Our Father called to him and said,

“What are you doing here, Elijah? I have more for you.”

“Listen to me and come out of hiding, it is safe here with me.”

Wrapped in a cloak, he stands at the entrance of the dark cave and faintly hears God whispering, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness, and when you arrive, you shall anoint a new King."

What a sweet savior. He found his fearful child and gently whispered truth back into his soul. He still had so much more for him.

Dear friend, have you been in hiding, holding back, keeping distance from the Lord?

Afraid of your sin?

Hiding secrets from your past?

Seeking darkness?

Roaming the wilderness, thirsty and desperate for God?

Psalm 32:7 says, “You are my hiding place, you protect me from trouble.”

The same sweet savior that spoke to Elijah at the entry of the cave, and under a tree, wants to speak to you. He has places to send you, people to reach, and a gospel to be told.

The nations are awaiting your courage and your simple obedience could bring forth rain in the midst of drought, hope in the face of darkness, love in a world of hate.

Father, teach us to seek refuge and safety under the shadow of your wings. Send your Holy Spirit to remind us of what we already know. Help us remember the story of Elijah and teach us to see your glory in every place.

We will hear your voice crying out to us,

“Olly Olly Oxen Free, you are safe here with me.”

Onward ever,

Andrea

Studio Summer Schedule

Join us in the studio this summer! Here's the link to an amazing selection of activities for you and your family.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MDeqbUFPkZA7WRsbfIyAe28uf5m0wMNbw5QZt-gvAAw/edit

See you in the studio!

xxoo
Andrea, Vicki, and Jennifer

The Real Enemy

My James study is coming along nicely (Thank you, John MacArthur commentary.). Thanks to everyone who continues to pray! God is showing me some really wonderful things in His Word. And, once again, I'm so thankful for dear friends and good writers who are visiting us on the blog while I'm away. This week's guest is Kayla Cook, my sense-of-humor twin. We could stay in our own little bubble, talking and laughing, for hours. I know this is true because recently we stood outside an abandoned RiteAid (Don't ask.) talking about Donald Trump for a lengthy amount of time.

We also have the same sophisticated taste in pop culture as you'll see below. Happy reading.

Jennifer
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I'm a middle school teacher, so it should come as no surprise to you that I love middle school things.  The Biebs, Pretty Little Liars- they're my jam.  (I can feel you judging- really, it's fine.  I've accepted that I'm a nerd.)  Also on my list of middle school madness:  The Hunger Games series.

If you're not familiar with The Hunger Games, I'll give you time to google a synopsis.  (Go for it.  I'll be here all night ;-) ).  In the second book and film, Catching Fire, there's a point towards the end where Katniss (our heroine) has been separated from her love interest, Peeta, and it seems that her allies have turned against her.  This is a fight to the death, so the situation is fairly dire.  She hears Finnick, one of her allies (maybe?) shouting her name, and she gets a clear shot of him through some brush.  Katniss is an excellent archer; she has her bow pulled and her arrow ready to take flight.  Just then, she and Finnick make eye contact, and he says ever so clearly, "Katniss, remember who the real enemy is."

It was around Christmas time and I sat crying in the front seat of my husband's car because the holidays can be difficult for me as a 20-something recovering pleaser who is still newly married.  How in the world were we going to be in 38374 places at once?  And we can sing all that "all I want for Christmas is you", a la Mariah Carey, but what we were really singing in our hearts was "all I want for Christmas is you and for you to go along with all my family's traditions because I want those for Christmas too".  And while we sat in silence waiting (hoping?) for the other to be the first to offer compromise, I heard that precious whisper in my heart, not from a fictional character, but from the Lover of my soul:  "Remember who the real enemy is."  Hint:  his name is not Garrett Cook.  Nor families who wanted us to be in 38374 places at once.  Or anyone else I've met in the flesh.

See, "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12).  In the words of Priscilla Shirer in her book Fervent (stop reading this blog and go read her stuff immediately), "The real enemy isn't your husband.  Or your teenager.  Or your brother's wife.  Or your mother-in-law.  Or the weather.  Or your sweet tooth.  Or whatever powder keg of frustration really gets under your skin and sets you off before you can think straight."  We have an enemy, and he's real, and he's strong.  But Jesus is stronger, and when we belong to Him, the enemy has lost us for eternity, but that gives him all the more reason to mess with our here and now.

In the interest of being transparent, my heart has been bruised this week.  And for the first time in quite a while, I've found myself having to really fight for a soft heart.  To deliberately choose to show up and choose grace for myself and others.  To choose love over anger.  To consciously decide to remember who the real enemy is.  Jesus is the only one Who is perfectly faithful, and He is asking me to make these choices.

And so I do.  I make these choices sometimes through tears, which Jesus lovingly collects (Psalm 56:8).  I make these choices because when Jesus asks me to do something, I trust that His purpose is good and His heart is for me.  He loves me and He proves that love over and over; obedience is how I show I love Him back.

This week, when conflict erupts in big ways or small ways, when things get janky (janky:  a middle school term for busted and jacked up) and have to be made right, when you've been hurt or you're the one who has done the hurting (we've all been on both sides, by the way)- remember who the real enemy is.  And if he's working this hard, what amazing things is he trying to keep us from?  I can't wait to find out.

Run Your Race

I know I said I'd be posting reruns while I'm writing the Bible study, but what I didn't think about was that I have awesome friends who are incredible writers. So instead of Evergreen posts, the blog will have guest writers through June. Our first is from one of my favorite friends, Hannah Clements. This girl is my personal minister and she speaks to my heart so eloquently.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


If you are in education or have kids in school, you know the race of the year is almost over. Things are winding down and stress levels are winding up. End of year testing is in the midst and final lessons are being taught. All the while, middle school students revert to kindergarten behavior and teachers nearly lose their minds.

Personally, I nearly thought about quitting - not finishing the race strong but just strolling through just to get by. I lost my caring and listening ear and truly didn't care if she called him a chicken nugget and he called her a tooth pick. (This happened, friends. Middle schoolers in May.)

But then my own motivational talk to a classroom pierced my own tired human heart. “Imagine I am running a race, does it make sense to stop running and stroll to the finish line when I can see it in sight? To start walking when the end is near after you ran your fastest and hardest the other part of the race?” I asked a classroom on middle schoolers with glazed eyes. “No! Of course not! If you were running a race, it is the end where you scrounge up every last bit of energy and run faster and harder than ever before to cross the finish line."

Then I remembered for about a week, I stopped running and started strolling. I gave up. The stress and drama won. But oh how I want my students to finish strongly, to hang in there and to not give up (in this race and in their next) and oh how I can't give up on my own beautiful, sometimes difficult race.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” - Hebrews 12:1

Jesus has called us to run the race that is set before us to the very end. Not to just meander through but to RUN. To love even when it is hard and they are not lovely. To give grace when grace has already been given 180 times before. To speak with kindness when the spoken words feel like they are on repeat. To carry joy like a banner even when our banner is worn.

Friends, we are surrounded by witnesses. Sometimes those witnesses fill our classrooms or our homes and are watching our every move. Let us strip off the things that slow us down - our bad attitudes, complaints, short temper, and carelessness and let Jesus replace those with His goodness for they are watching us.

Teachers, parents, believers, our race isn't to just make it through. Whatever your race may be it is one of great purpose. Purpose with each step of the way. RUN it as if you were doing it for Him.

Oh Lord, this race is long and I have grown weary. Renew my strength and replace the things that slow me down with joy and righteousness. Thank you for this beautiful race. May I seek your face and see your glory each step of the way.

Amen.

But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.They will soar high on wings like eagles.They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31

I'm Writing a Bible Study...

So, I'm a little crazy. Amidst the opening and preparation of the new studio in Mount Holly I've decided to write my very first Bible study.

Because there are 28 hours in a day, right? Right?

Kidding aside I'm super excited to take this step in my writing ministry and I hope you'll come along beside me. Sunday, June 19 here on the blog and on Wednesday, June 22 at Depot Church we'll begin the study of the book of James. This 10 week study will carry us into August. You can read more about the study in the introduction below.

Study guides will also be available for purchase by emailing me at the blog or contacting me through Facebook. Additional copies will be available at Create in Us Art Studio and Depot Church. Copies are just $5 a piece. Pre-orders are taking place now and you'll receive your copy by mail or by me before June 19. The sooner you order the better, so I'll know how many copies to order.

The study guide will feature 20 pages of hand lettered and watercolor text and art complete with response questions, prayers, and space for notes.

While I'm writing this study I will have to say goodbye to weekly blogging until the study starts up in June. I'll still be posting your favorite past posts as Evergreen posts each Sunday night.

So, let's start praying. Please pray for me as I write my first ever study. Pray that I will receive wisdom beyond my own ability. I will be praying for each of you, too. That Jesus will use the book of James to transform the way you see the world, yourself, and Him.

Let's get started.

James

Practical Wisdom

for a 

Present World

A 10-week study

When Jesus arose from the grave He appeared to lots of people. Many personal encounters

are recorded in the New Testament: His reassurance to a doubting Thomas, His forgiveness

given to a repentant Peter, His hope given to the heavy-hearted on the road to Emmaus. 

I Corinthians 15:7 says Jesus appeared to James as well, but that encounter isn't described.

Why? Well, as Beth Moore says, "Because it isn't any of our business."

See, Jesus and James had some things to discuss. Not only was James a follower of Jesus, 

but he and Jesus shared physical blood - they were brothers, both the sons of Mary.

Even before we read a word in the book of James some things have been revealed to us:

James was of personal importance to Jesus.

Jesus was of personal importance to James. 

Because Jesus is a personal God.

James saw Jesus not only as brother, but also as Christ. And James sought to teach others

that a personal relationship with Jesus is the only way to live life.

James the book is described as a New Testament Proverbs, a book of practical living

that transcends place or time. 

James knew Jesus, possibly more than any other human ever did. He never went a single day 

of his life without knowing Jesus and this shaped his life in radical ways, causing him to do

radical things for God's glory.

James the book calls us to this same relationship and teaches us that knowing Jesus 

personally can cause us to do radical things for God's glory. 

So let's start our study, let's commit to reading, responding, and praying over this book

for 10 weeks. It's a real book for real people who want to know 

what walking with Jesus should look like. And who better than James to teach us?

Seek It Like Silver

One of my favorite books as a child was Anne of Green Gables. I carry many parts of this book with me as an adult. I think of Matthew and Marilla every time I hear the words “brown sugar” and often call my dearest friends “kindred spirits.” Anne taught me that asking questions was good and daring to answer questions was even better.

In this book a delightful question is posed by Anne and that question, for the first time in my short life, made me think philosophically (I was also reading The Babysitters Club, so this was not a common occurrence). Anne asks:

“Which would you rather be if you had the choice--divinely beautiful or dazzlingly clever or angelically good?”

My ten year old self (being the good, church-going girl I was) thought: I’d really like to say pretty, but I guess I need to say good. Because God wants me to be good.

I still think that’s a great answer, but as a grown up girl I think God wants more for me than just being good. So I change my answer. 

I want to be dazzlingly clever. 

Well actually, I want to be astoundingly wise.

See, I crave wisdom. I’m after it every day. And I don’t just mean knowledge or facts or know-how. I want to know the best, most merciful, most Christ-like reactions to any given situation. (Now granted, I don’t always use this wisdom. Just ask my husband.)

Today is Mother’s Day and my pastor asked me to do a watercolor print for all the women at church as their Mother’s Day gift. I knew exactly the passage I would paint because I was extremely excited to letter the word “rubies” in this delicious red color from my watercolor kit. So I painted:

She is worth far more than rubies.

As I finished the scripture I realized I needed the reference, so I Googled it. I was fascinated to learn this verse is mentioned twice in Proverbs, once in 3:15 and once in chapter 31 describing the revered Proverbs 31 woman. Well, if the chapter 31 verse was describing a godly woman, what was 3:15 describing?

“She” in verse 3:15 is describing, you guessed it - wisdom.

When I think of wisdom my mind immediately turns to Solomon, who when asked by God what gift he would like to have, Solomon wisely answers, “Wisdom.” God is so pleased with his answer that He gives this gift to Solomon and also makes him the richest man who ever lived.

So if wisdom is so perfect to have, where does it come from? I mean, can I study and become wise? Can I learn to be wise? If we listen to James 1:5, it says very clearly where the source of wisdom is. Not only does God give it directly to Solomon, we hear this:

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

The source of wisdom is God Himself. Scripture clearly tells us that if we want wisdom we should ask for it boldly and truly it will be given to us generously.

Solomon wrote this in Proverbs 2:

My son, if you receive my words
   and treasure up my commandments with you,
making your ear attentive to wisdom
   and inclining your heart to understanding;
yes, if you call out for insight
   and raise your voice for understanding,
if you seek it like silver
   and search for it as for hidden treasures,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
   and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
   from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
   he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
guarding the paths of justice
   and watching over the way of his saints.
Then you will understand righteousness and justice
   and equity, every good path;
for wisdom will come into your heart,
   and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
discretion will watch over you,
   understanding will guard you,
delivering you from the way of evil,
   from men of perverted speech,
who forsake the paths of uprightness
   to walk in the ways of darkness,
who rejoice in doing evil
   and delight in the perverseness of evil,
men whose paths are crooked,
   and who are devious in their ways.
So you will be delivered from the forbidden[a] woman,
   from the adulteress[b] with her smooth words,
who forsakes the companion of her youth
   and forgets the covenant of her God;
for her house sinks down to death,
   and her paths to the departed;[c]
none who go to her come back,
   nor do they regain the paths of life.
So you will walk in the way of the good
   and keep to the paths of the righteous.
For the upright will inhabit the land,
   and those with integrity will remain in it,
but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
   and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.

I carry a silver key on my keychain. It has one word on it - wisdom. Because I need to remember. I need to remember that wisdom is a conscious decision. I can choose to be wise or I can choose to turn away from wisdom. Wisdom isn’t about an IQ or an SAT score or a GPA. It isn’t something I either have or I don’t - it’s something that is mine if I choose to take it.

So grasp it boldly, friends. Just as Solomon says, if I want to be wise the first thing I should do is fear the Lord and know just Who’s in charge. Wisdom is actually admitting that I don’t know, but in the same breath saying But I know Who does.

We face that question Anne asks us every day: what do I want the world to recognize me for?

My outside appearance?

My smarts?

My peaceful demeanor?

It is up to me what the world sees when they look at me. And I choose to be wise. I seek it like silver. Because, I don’t know anything. And the admitting of it is exactly where wisdom is found.

All knowledge belongs to my God and He keeps it stored up for me. Not because I’m smart enough to obtain it, but because I simply asked for it.

Grace Jelly {An Evergreen Post}

My oldest son, for better or worse, is exactly like me. He is inquisitive, creative, and wholly excited to live life.

But, like his dear mother, he has a one-track mind, a tendency for the dramatics, and a decided opinion on the right way to do things.

We run joyfully through life, Wyatt and I, but sometimes we trip over obstacles in our way - those obstacles usually being our own two feet.

Tuesday was a tough day at the Smith house. Wyatt pulled a red card (RED!) in Kindergarten that day. Once he was home the behavior did not improve. Long story short, he was sent to bed early without his night time snack (a truly horrid punishment to any five year old).

At this point I, being his emotional doppelgänger, was HOT. Done. Yelling, angry, out of patience. My patience wasn't running on fumes - the tank was dry and the car of gentle, kind Mommy was five miles back down the road. I sat down on the couch replaying everything the child had done that day.

But...pitter patter. I heard his feet coming to the bedroom door. Creeeak - the door opens. And there, staring out at me from the darkened bedroom, are two big blue eyes. Just like mine.

My husband (always the voice of reason): "Jennifer, he's scared in there."

Begrudgingly, I walk down the hall. I hear his little feet running back to bed. (The same little feet that had tried to kick me a few minutes before.)

I walk to the bed and lay down, and there he is, weeping tears of repentance onto his pillow. "Mommy, I'm sorry I was bad today. I'm sorry."

I tell him I love him. That it's my job to make him a good person. I reassure him. And then I ask if he's hungry.

The silent nod - yes.

He humbly walks to the living room and sits on the carpet. I walk to the kitchen and fix toast. Dry toast.

He's been bad, right? I mean, I'll feed him, but he doesn't deserve his normal, frosted strawberry Pop-Tart.

"Mom, can I have some grape jelly?"

"No. This isn't a fun snack. This is just to fill your belly and then back to bed."

Another nod from my boy, accepting his punishment.

But then...my heart. My repentant child. Who, in earnest came to me. Admitting sin, accepting responsibility. Accepting his dry, tasteless toast.

I take his toast and walk back to the kitchen, open the refrigerator door, take out the jelly. And I slather it on.

And, in that moment, that jelly becomes something altogether different.

It became Grace Jelly.

Because, you know what? I too have been the weeping child, admitting guilt. Accepting the condemnation. But, my Father? He forgives freely, with joy, and offers me grace in abundance. I serve a God who walks my weeping, guilty self into the kitchen and offers me food.

And do I even need to ask?

He gives me toast, cut into triangles, no crust, and spread corner to corner with sweet, filling Grace Jelly.

Hosea chapters 5 and 6 tell us that when we come to the Lord in earnest repentance He will "heal us (6:1)."  As big as my sin is, His grace is still bigger (Romans 5:20).

My Father is the best and most perfect example of parenting. What is good for Him is most certainly right for me.

So my sweet son ate his toast and grape jelly.

Because, his mommy, who he is so much like, has been given Grace Jelly many, many times before.

And I will certainly eat it again.

Grace, grace, God's grace

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within

Grace, grace, God's grace

Grace that is greater than all our sin.

~Julia H. Johnston