My Walk to Emmaus… MORE than Expected!!

Love. Grace. Two word that I thought I knew very well.
(My first talk in church was on “Love”, and “Grace” is one of my favorite themes.)

Even so, my experience on Walk to Emmaus last week was more than expected, specifically in both of those areas. We were told NOT to anticipate…but I did it anyway (I’m still not perfect). Yet it didn’t matter much, because the expressions of agape’ love were much more than I could have imagined (and I have a pretty big imagination!)

Walk to Emmaus is a three-day experience based on the story in Luke 24:13-35.
It was truly amazing how I could feel so big, and yet so small at the same time. Big for being honored so much by so many; and small because of the humility in realizing that so many who served, did not even know me. They served voluntarily because of the love and grace that they had already received from the Lord and from others.

I know this! (I teach this.) And yet, being on the receiving end of ministry is such a powerful testimony of how the grace of God works. It was wonderful! More than expected! That’s the way the “grace” of God is. That’s the way the “Love of Christ” is.
That’s the way I want to be – MORE like Jesus. More gracious. More loving. More than is expected by others (except Jesus). This is the way Jesus was. And this is what He expected all along from those walking with Him. After all, we are His disciples.

“Everybody talks about the Weather…”

“…but nobody does anything about it.”

I wish that I wasn’t affected by the weather! (But, I admit that I often am). It was a dreary morning today. Steady rain, gloomy sky, standing water. It wasn’t even cold enough for a fire; it’s just muggy. It influences my mood. I know that it is good to get more rain (we have been in a drought in Texas) yet… I wish it were sunny. It’s said that “every cloud has a silver lining.” (At least I won’t have to mow the yard today!)

I want to be less like a thermometer (reacting to the environment around me) and more like a thermostat (influencing the environment around me). And so, I thank God for this day, rain or shine, come what may. “This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

God is good and good to me! I am blessed! I am alive in Jesus! I am part of the family of God! (Just thinking of God’s grace and goodness brought sunshine into my life).