Plano, Final

Well, I am back from Plano. You know, the type of family that I stayed with is difficult to find. One that is abounding in kindness and love, one that gifts you with hospitality long forsaken, one that bans you from even writing thank you cards. And this specific kind of family, one that has suffered through grief and hardship, and yet displays these virtues, is the rarest.

To be the guest of honor, that is, to be honored above everyone else--how many of us have experienced that? How many of us have honored someone like that? How many of us should honor those around us above ourselves, with full humility, grace, and will? Do you see now how dear to my heart this family has become?

These things concerning honoring one another above ourselves, these are exhortations from the Bible to Christ-followers, and yet this family is not even Christian! Snap. Two things: I am now impelled further to live as an example of Christ, and I am deeply moved to pray for the salvation of this particular family.


Can you imagine how deeply Christ must have loved each and every one of us to take our betrayals, our forgetfulness, our cutting apathy, and still think, "But I love her so much....and even though it hurts, my love for her is greater than all the pain I suffer because of her, and so I will love her knowing I will be hurt."

Who would want to do that? Knowingly suffer rejection after rejection for someone who probably isn't even worth it? But that's where the miracle occurs, because somehow, we are worth it. And He does love us. Extremely.

And this is how we are to love our brothers and sisters in Christ, and even those not of our family. Mm. I, for one, am helplessly grateful that I don't have to do this by myself. 'Cause that would NOT work. All praise and glory be to God the Father, who makes all things possible. He makes possible the impossible, and causes my cup to overflow. Is He not wonderful? Amazing.

Will you show me?
Reveal yourself to me.
Because of your mercy
I fall down on my knees.


And I can feel your presence here with me.
Suddenly I'm lost within your beauty.
Caught up in the wonder of your touch
Here in this moment I surrender to your love.


I surrender to your grace.
I surrender to the one who took my place.


Here With Me
Mercy Me