June 12th, 2023: Lavish Love and Grace

 

I agreed to go out with a young fellow and his kids. The children were excited about going out for ice cream. They were jumping and getting ready to go. He was trying to give them some instructions about getting ready. It was a chaotic outing, and it was full of life. We just went to a local McDonald's, so no one has to worry about kids making a mess.

The father is a young man who has tried his best to do the right thing. The mother of some of his kids has abandoned them emotionally and struggled with some form of addiction. In many ways kids his kids are his life.

As I pray for him and the kids, God reveals these truths to me:

Faithfulness starts with simple things in life. It is an ongoing commitment to care without reservation.

Love can be lavish without being outrageous. Generous giving starts with the heart and not things.

Our acceptance of others depends on our assurance that God is with us. Accepting God's grace and His caring commitment. 

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him." - 1 John 3:11