Love It All

Then Peter said to them,
'Repent and let every one of you be baptized
in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins;
and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
For the promise is to you and your children,
and to all are far off,
as many as the Lord our God will call."
~ Acts 2:38-39

What does it mean to repent? Repentance is an agreement with God that He is right, we are wrong, and a turning away from sin. Is there a marked turning away from sin in our lives? A growing in holiness?

Salvation is by faith alone in Jesus Christ.


"And faith alone in Jesus Christ is proceeded
and followed by repentance.
A turning away from sin.
A hatred for the things that God hates
and a love for the things that God loves.
A growing in holiness and a desire-
Not to be like Brittany Spears.
Not to be like the world.
And not to be like the great majority of
American Christians.

But to be like Jesus Christ."
~Paul Washer


Amen.

I was sharing God's faithfulness and transforming power on the phone with a dear friend recently who is an unbeliever. I was sharing with her that I cannot rightly imagine how poor and depraved our lives would be without the Lord.

I would not be the person I am. I would not love the things I love. It was God who transformed me. Before the Lord rescued me, I wasn't even a "kid person." I expected to put my children in Day Care and get back to work- I had goals after all. I didn't count on marriages lasting a life time. I had never seen it done. This is so unlike the world our children are experiencing. In truth, I didn't understand a great many mysteries. But GOD. He is rich in mercy.

This weekend I had the best time with my husband and my children. I love them so very much.


I absolutely love that our two year old mistakes glue sticks for chap stick. We confiscate it immediately, but there is nothing cuter that seeing a two year old say "Mama" with lips that stick a little.

I love the way our five year old sounds out words perfectly in slow motion and then says them in her own "little person" way: "R-U-N... Wun!" What could be more heartwarming than teaching a child?



I love that our 8 year old tells stories about "way back when she was 7 1/2..." and begs her Mama to jump on the trampoline with her.



I love our almost 11 year old still likes to play at the park, play tag with her Daddy and roll down grassy hills with her Mama.



I love our almost 13 year old loves to hang out with her family, cooking from scratch and tidying the kitchen. I also I love that she will pull out the concordance and write out Bible verses if Mama needs a little encouragement.



I love it all! And that is just God.

Blessings to you!

________________
Photos: Homemade Resurrection Eggs and eggs to hunt; Easter dinner- our family favorites. Steak (we all dislike ham- shhh... don't tell the Easter police), mashed potatoes, steamed veggies, corn and rolls.

P.S. Amanda- I think it was Amanda- I'm sorry. I lost your comment! About Jenness Park, actually Ted Jones is my brother-in-law. Are you attending the Spring Camp in a couple of weeks? If so, we'll see you there, Lord willing!