I recently read this excerpt from an interview with Andy Stanley:
The church, or should I say, church people, must quit adding the word "but" to the end of our sentances about grace. Grace plus is no longer grace. Grace minus is no longer grace. We are afraid people will abuse grace if presented in it's purest form. We need not fear that, we should assume that........of course grace will be abused. But grace is a powerful dynamic. Grace wins out in the end. It is not our responsibliity to qualify it . It is our responsibility to proclaim it and model it.
Andy Stanley.
It is so much easier to accept God's gift of grace, yet so difficult to extend grace without reservation. What if they hurt me again? What if they take advantage of this gift?
Thank you God for not qualifying Your grace to me. I don't deserve it. I've taken advantage so many times. Even now, I think of how I accept salvation yet stubbornly refuse to model the same gift to others. God save me from myself and let grace flow out of my life without reservation.
I just got back from our annual SBC ladies retreat in Blue Ridge, GA. Powerful and life changing. This song sums up what God whispered to me this weekend.
Tomorrow marks 19 years I have been Mrs. Welch. Alot has changed about me in 19 years. When I met Wayne, I was a city girl. Had no desire to tromp out in the woods, sit in a deer stand, or worse, sleep under the stars....that all has changed quite a bit.
Wayne has taught me:
how to walk softly in the woods so I won't scare the deer
that trout like to swim in the deep cold pools of water in the stream
that pure happiness can be found sitting beside a moutain stream and listening to the water run over the rocks
Oh. Wow. Just got home and got to sit and really look at Leslie's senior pictures. They are fantastic! Go here and let me know your favorite.
Go to photo gallery and then Leslie Welch senior pictures.
We are leaving in about an hour. I am sooo ready. I have never just taken a week off in the middle of the year to get away. I need it. Celebrating 19 years with Wayne. Love him. So here's my stash:
1. denim colored yarn, knitting a cross body bag.
2. mint green, cornflower blue and white cotton yarn...washcloths with intials in them..my newest project
3. Ipod with lots of Mark Driscoll, Matt Chandler and Kari Jobe loaded.
4. Hiking boots...lots of walks
5. puppy chow...a camping must
6. lots of coffee.
7. my fleece red camping jacket. It's really pathetic but I can't throw it away.
8. "The Jesus Way" my newest read.
9. A fishing pole, as if.....makes Wayne happy...I'll give him an obligatory cast or to before I settle in my chair to read.
10. Perhaps the most important thing of all...... this guy:
