:. the message of the cross .:

"For the message of the cross is foolishness

to those who are perishing,

but to us who are being saved

it is the power of God."

~ 1 Corinthians 1:18 ~

What is the message of the cross?

It is a message of hope for hopeless people. Forgiveness and cleansing. Grace, mercy and peace. It is a message of God's unconditional love. Of redemption and relationship. It is a message of joy and pardon and a new way of being. Death to self and life eternal. It is strength for the weary and adoption as sons.

The cross is God, beckoning, pleading with us to return to Him. To be reunited with the One who formed us. It is God providing the Way to become the people we were created to be.

How is it possible for all this to be considered foolishness? Who could turn down such a gift?

Please, be reconciled to Him. He is stretching out His arms to you right now.

:. carnation lily lily rose .:

I love this John Singer Sargent painting: it is a breath of June as we sit at the tail-end of winter. Spring is coming . . . and roses . . . and lilies . . . oh, and Baby Girl!
(Im)patiently waiting!

:. thirty-seven .:

Yesterday the high hit 37°. With the winter we've had, that 37 felt like 77. Forget doing dishes, forget folding laundry, forget getting ready for family dinner! I naturally headed out to the garden to soak up some much-needed vitamin D. Hhhhmmm . . . where to sit?

Definitely not HERE. Notice where the ice chunk CRASHED off the roof and SPLINTERED my adirondack chair! Yikes!

Oh, there's a dry little seat . . if I can climb over mountains of snow in my chucks. [Note to self: buy snow boots for next winter.] I tell you, the 20 minutes I spent with that wonderfully warm sun on my face was HEAVEN. I would've stayed out longer, but I really did need to get ready for the birthday buddies.

Oh, and here's what spring-time looks like on the inside of my house:

I can't wait for the real thing!