Grace...

This song has been replaying in my head for the last week or so, so I thought I would share it with you...

He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us oh
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us oh,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

And we are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If His grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
And heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…

That He loves us,
Oh how He loves us

"How He Loves Us" David Crowder Band

Funny...

Jesus is funny...He shows up in funny ways and does funny things in our life and the only thing we can do is laugh...

So the other night my roommate Jody and I went to Bolivar (which is a little ways outside of Springfield) for a barbecue and then after that we had to make our way back into town to be at a birthday party for our friend Jon.

Both our hearts are very much for the inner city, and Jody's is especially for the homeless. Both of us miss the cities we spent our summers in and they are both constantly on our minds. I know what Jody is thinking when we see the homeless in our city and feel helpless.

Well, this particular evening we got off the highway and stopped at a stoplight where there always seems to be someone who is homeless flying a sign...and as usual there was a man standing there. I saw the look on Jody's face and she looked at me, both of us wishing we could do something. She keeps a box in her trunk of food things and other supplies for moments like this. And our discussion went something like this...

Jody: I have stuff in my trunk, but I don't think we can get it before the light changes.
Me: What do we do?
Jody: I don't know.
(I look at my feet where there is a gift bag of this popcorn snack Jon likes)
Me: You could give him Jon's gift...
Jody: ........Ok...yes!

I pull the tissue paper out of the bag and Jody rolls down her window.

Jody: Excuse me! We have this for you!
Man: What? For me?
Jody: Yes!
(looking at the gift bag confused) Man: What is it?
Jody: Popcorn!
(does a funny, excited sort of jig) Man: I love popcorn!
Jody: Good! What's your name?
Man: Jon!
Jody: Hahahaha! God bless, Jon! We'll be praying for you!
Jon: You too! Thank you!

What?! His name was Jon too! What are the odds? Jody and I just looked at each other and all we could do was laugh and cry...