Something Beautiful

*Remembering the definition of grace: mercy contrary to merit

*two more anonymous donors (if you are one of them, thank you from the bottom of my heart- seriously.)

*the feeling that I am surrounded by support and encouragement from others

*an anonymous encouraging note in the mail (with a redhead girl on it!)

*beautiful blue flowers that blossom to a yellow streak of sunshine

*knowing I heard Him ask me to follow, and deciding in my heart that I will, no matter where He ends up going.

*driving home on a summer night with the windows down and listening to the sound of the crickets and cicada's

*that though we sometimes receive blessing through our efforts, we never receive it by our efforts or because of them. Grace would cease to be grace if it was given according to earnings or for that matter un-earnings. Grace is not only contrary to merit, but to demerit; it is given solely based on the Sovereign goodness of God without the slightest regard for my behavior.

*getting excited for fall bonfires, sweatshirts, crunchy leaves, hot cider and football games

*"and these are the days of the harvest
the fields are as white in the world,
and we are the laborers in your vineyard
declaring the Word of the Lord."

*this comic strip has been hanging on my refrigerator for about a year now, but this morning is has new meaning. There are two scruffy beggars on the sidewalk, one is standing up holding out a money jar that says "help." The other is sitting inside a cardboard box, holding out a similar jar to collect people's loose change. The guy who is standing up says to the one in the cardboard box, "you're lucky you get to work from home." While I'm not exactly homeless and while fundraising doesn't quite consist of holding out a coin jar, I often feel a lot like the guy in the cardboard box- trapped and needy. It feels like I am just sitting around all day asking people for money and sometimes I get so caught up in what ISN'T happening that I forget to rejoice in what is happening. So even if home is a "cardboard box" so to speak, I am blessed to spend extra time with my family and to have food to eat and a room to call my own. I am blessed beyond measure to have this ministry of raising my support, though it is hard and often way out of my comfort range, I am blessed to be learning dependence and coming to a fuller understanding of grace.

and the last "something beautiful" thought of the day:
*playing fetch with my dog. She doesn't care when I kick the ball incorrectly or when I get sick of playing- she just always wants to catch that ball and bring it right back to my feet. I love her endless excitement.