Me (and Amy): Free to Fail

I have always liked Amy Grant's music. And some of it I have even loved. However, I had a hard time with the entire hypocrisy of the situation when she and Vince Gill were divorcing their spouses, getting married to each other and acting like this was fine with Jesus because He just wanted them to be happy. I would cringe as I thought, "Well, let's just add another Christian hypocrite to the pile." 
I've never expected anyone to be perfect (in fact I'm so pessimistic I usually expect the opposite) but I've always hoped that among the Christians at least, we would aim for a 'tad' of honesty.

Amy Grant
Hollywood "Walk of Fame"

Now, when I see Amy Grant interviewed I don't cringe because she says things like, "I might have fallen flat on my face but Jesus still loves me."

"Simple Things"
(like Honesty)

With simple statements like that, no longer dancing around topics and letting honesty take center stage I suspect she may do more to bring people closer to knowing Jesus than if she sang nothing but hymns for a thousand hours without stopping. 



And with the wisdom (and sometimes even bravery) that comes from owning our sins and weaknesses will also come the peace we long for. I know this from my own life as I've come in contact with God's limitless forgiveness which is available to me because Jesus paid the "debt of death" for MY sins when He died on the cross.

Now I have the freedom to fail and on a daily basis too. I don't have to pretend to be good when I'm evil, strong when I'm weak, happy when I'm sad, indestructible when I'm crumbling or smart when I can't think of the most basic of answers to the simplest of questions.
No pretending, no lies and nothing to prove.

Jesus loves me "just as I am" but promises to recreate me into what He wants me to be.


"[God's] most awesome work was done through the frailty of His Son."

LINK "A Look into the Life of Amy Grant" (YouTube)

Just as I Am, Without One Plea

The United Methodist Hymnal Number 357
Text: Charlotte Elliott, 1789-1871
Music: William B. Bradbury, 1816-1868
Tune: WOODWORTH, Meter: LM

---

1. Just as I am, without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me, and that thou bidst me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 2. Just as I am, and waiting not to rid my soul of one dark blot, to thee whose blood can cleanse each spot, O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 3. Just as I am, though tossed about with many a conflict, many a doubt, fightings and fears within, without, O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 4. Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind; sight, riches, healing of the mind, yea, all I need in thee to find, O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 5. Just as I am, thou wilt receive, wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve; because thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 6. Just as I am, thy love unknown hath broken every barrier down; now, to be thine, yea thine alone, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Happy Sabbath Sunday

When you turn 40 you're all concerned about gray hair, wrinkles, and aging. 

But, when you turn 50, you feel like you've really accomplished something and those scars and wrinkles seem like badges of honor for surviving half of 100 years.

And, of course, you get told the secret handshake. (Oops! I don't think I'm allowed to mention that.)

Have a happy and RESTful Sabbath. Doing NOTHING without any guilt because you know it's what God actually has Commanded you to do. 

(Of course, there's a "little" more to it than just being lazy for a day. But we'll get into that another time.)

Love Laura-Lee 

Exodus 20:8-11

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

Poetry for the Weary by M.S. Lowndes

A peaceful, RESTful Sabbath day to all my blog friends and visitors. Time to take a "breather" from a week of "hectic". And know that God desires you to do it more than you even realize you need it.

Love Laura-Lee

P.S. Remember: Poetry is best when said out loud.

Rest For The Weary

by M.S. Lowndes

There is rest for the weary
And there's strength for the weak,
That is what God offers
To those who humbly seek

For it's only in the seeking
That we will surely find
Rest for our weary bodies
And peace for our troubled minds

And it's there in the asking
That we will come to know
God in all His splendour
With His wisdom, we will grow

And it's only in the knocking
That the door will open wide
So we can walk into
What He graciously provides

So maybe for a while
We can rest along the road
And put on Jesus yoke,
For easy is His load.

(based on Matthew 11:28-30)

LINK to website where I found this poem http://www.heavensinspirations.com

"... He makes me lay down in green pastures.
He restores my soul"
Psalm 23 (the Shepherd's Psalm)

MONTY in the "doghouse"

MONTY'S been purposely acting bad and doing wrong. but he is still so cute. I wish I didn't have to discipline him and we could just cuddle and love each other. I long to hold him close when I know I can't.

I wonder if MY [heavenly] Master feels the same thing about me.

L-L

Thank you

you've kept me going beyond what I thot I could. Is that one of the definitions of friendship?

L-L

Memories. What We're Made Of

Sometimes a memory is too deep, too precious, too secret and not yet ripe enough to be shared. But they live on warm, bright and fragrant inside of me. 

 

How did I come to be so honored to hold the memories of four generations of my family?! 
"O Lord! Don't let me forget one second or the smallest nuance of the moments entrusted to my care."

Mom & Uncle Harvey
1958 Lake Eden