Walk in Love

Philemon 1:7
Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.

Ephesians 5:1-2
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

An array of colors hung on the wall in front of us. The rainbow reached from beautiful blues to passionate pinks and purples. Excited to experience a relaxing pedicure, we ladies perused the polishes. We wanted our toenails to be the loveliest shade of summer as they peeked from our sandals.

Every year my youngest daughter gifts myself and her sisters with pedicures for our birthdays. We have so much fun picking out the colors, admiring each other's toes, and laughing and talking together. The love we share makes the whole experience wonderful.

"Living in love is the color we bring to the world." -Didi Bacon

Our pastor, Didi, preached about a humble love we, as believers and followers of Christ, show the world. We are called to spread the most important color in the world—love. Share a smile, stand up for someone who's been hurt, offer help, give money, share a hug, talk to a friend about grace and faith, sit quietly beside the one who grieves, have the hard conversations. Jesus loves us more than we understand. He wants us to pour that love into other people. We need to see others the way God sees them and move beyond ourselves to love people.

Flower Friday: Black-eyed Susans

Every summer for as long as I can remember, Black-eyed Susans bloomed on my birthday. Seeing the beautiful sunshine-filled flowers reminds me how much God loves me. These lovely posies bloom in gardens and meadows. I remember seeing them in the fields and ditches and feeling blessed to have such lovely birthday bouquets.

Raise a Hallelujah!

Historical Fiction Review: Yours Truly, Thomas by Rachel Fordham

Book Description:

For three years, Penny Ercanbeck has been opening other people's mail.

Dead ends are a reality for clerks at the dead letter office, and she dreams of something more--a bit of intrigue, perhaps a taste of romance. When she comes across a letter from a brokenhearted man to his one true love, it becomes her mission to place this lost letter into the hands of its intended recipient.

But when Penny's undertaking leads her to the intriguing man who touched her soul with his words, everything grows more complicated. She wants to find the rightful owner of the letter, and yet . . . she finds herself caring--perhaps too much--for the one who wrote it.

My Review:
I'm picky about the historical fiction I read. I admit I was drawn to this book because the main character's name is Penny, like me. Yours Truly, Thomas is a wonderful story of forgiveness of self and others. Guilt is such a difficult burden to bear. Fordham's story of love and adventure creates a beautiful backdrop for a difficult journey. If you enjoy Hallmark's series and movies, Signed, Sealed, Delivered, you'll love this story. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 5 stars.

Children's Book Review: Seek and Explore Devotions for Kids by Yvonne H. Van Ee, PhD & Michael Williams, PhD

Book Description:

The Seek and Explore Book of Devotions is a full-color, interactive journey through every book of the Bible—365 days (plus one for leap day!) of reading and hands-on activities, like journaling, crosswords, word searches, puzzles, and more. During each week, your child will learn about one or two books of the Bible in short, easy-to-handle activities. Whether reading, writing, drawing, crafting, moving, or going out into the world, kids will learn about the Bible, God, and themselves. By the end of this interactive journey, your child will have a better understanding of the Bible as the story of God’s people and his love for them. Perfect for a child to use on his own, as a family, in a classroom, or even in a Sunday school setting, this devotional is unique and engaging for ages 6–10.

My Review:
I like the premise of Seek and Explore. The illustrations are engaging and fun. The devotional activities are varied. I'm not convinced a six to eight-year old would be able to use this book to the full extent. But with an adult or as a family, this would be a great addition to devotion time. For independent use, nine to twelve might be a better target age. The activities look enjoyable and will help the child have a better understanding of the scripture. I especially like the devos that are more like a puzzle than the writing activities. I can also see this as a good home school tool to prompt Bible discussion. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zonderkidz. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Cross and the Flag

2 Corinthians 3:17

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

As the fireworks flared and boomed, our country celebrated another year of independence. A freedom fought for and protected by our men and women in the armed forces. I thank God for their sacrifices and bravery. I cannot imagine being at war. Hunkering down in ditches, putting up with one-hundred-twenty degrees of heat, tolerating annoying insects, snakes, spiders, or being separated from family and friends.

Pray for the folks who defend American freedom. Give them a thank you, when you see them. My dad fought in WW 2, and I will be forever grateful to him.

As much as I thank God for our soldiers, even more I praise God for the one who sacrificed for the ultimate freedom. Jesus Christ gave his life so that my life could be saved. He allowed my sins to fall on him, so that grace could pour over me. Jesus paid the price, like many soldiers, he died for my liberty. Then he rose in victory. He won the battle.

When I think of freedom, I look to the cross and the flag, two symbols of sacrifice, hope and love.

Flower Friday: Chicory

The delicate light-blue blossoms of chicory wave hello to summer. 

Did you know, the roots of chicory are sometimes used to make coffee? I had the opportunity to taste this interesting drink at the Cafe Du Monde, in New Orleans. It was quite tasty along side a delicious beignet.