All have sinned ... but do not despair!

It was a seaside blessing with ripple effect...

A couple of weeks ago one of our daughters took her two children to the beach where, in the midst of a busy "mom" time, the Father manifested His presence. While the children played, Mom had begun to collect stones, and soon settled upon the goal of gathering white stones.

At some point in the collection process, she discovered a particularly beautiful stone, pearly white and shaped to perfection by years of tidal action. She held this stone in one hand, and then examined a stone in the other hand. Upon close inspection, she saw that this "white" stone actually had spots and veins of gray and black. It was irregularly shaped, and ragged to the touch.

"This is me, rough and spotty," mom thought to herself.

"No, my precious one," the Lord responded immediately, directing her attention back to the beautiful white stone in her other hand. "THIS is you!"

In that moment, with children scrambling and giggling at her feet, mother experienced a special opportunity to see herself through God's eyes. In His love, the Father chose that simple time of family adventure to remind His beloved child that she is forever washed clean and pure in the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.

In essence, mom was correct when she saw herself in the imperfect stone. There is no way, after all, that we can understand and accept God's perfect grace without first coming to the end of ourselves ... without coming to grips with the fact that left to our own works, we are hopelessly lost in sin.

It is critical, however, that we also accept fully the amazing gift of His grace ... life "in and through Jesus Christ" on "the other side of the cross." Surrendered to Him, we step into the promise of eternal relationship as part of His family. In this life, to be sure, we will stumble on our walk toward eternity. But thanks be to God for His blessed assurance! For the promise that because of His Son's sacrifice on our behalf, we are free from the enemy's lie that we must "perform" to perfection to "earn" His love and a place in His eternal home.

Thank you, Father, for this supernatural expression of your love in the midst of "routine" -- and for the shared blessing this experience will yield for all who hear about it.

Psalm 103: 12
"...as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us."

Isaiah 1:18
"Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD. "Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool."

Song of Songs 4:7
"All beautiful you are, my darling; there is no flaw in you."