What I Deserve

Ok, first I have to say how excited I am that I finally figured out how to post a picture on here!! Yeah, me! I'm sure I'm doing it the more difficult way, but oh well!

Yesterday, I completely enjoyed my Labor Day, celebrating by doing absolutely NO labor at all! The kids were gone, I had cleaned the day before, papers were graded, so I didn't feel too guilty. I usually think I have to be doing something on my day off, but this time, I was worthless! I guess I felt I "deserved" a break......so playing into that, I tried to convince Jason I deserved some ice-cream, and I deserved a nap!!

I must say, I have a wonderful husband. My mama told me recently that "he would give me the world if he could." Often, people will comment on something I'm wearing, and I have to say, "My husband picked it out." And more often than not, he has!

When he and the kids came home today, he had been shopping for me.

4 outfits

2 pair of shorts

1 skirt

2 sweaters

1 pair of shoes

3 bottles of lotion/bath gel

and the new Ted Dekker book!!

Now, maybe yesterday, I MIGHT have "deserved" a little time off, but today, I really don't know that I deserved all those gifts!

As I've been doing my Bible study this week, I am learning how truly undeserving I am. As I take a spiritual inventory, there is absolutely nothing in me that deserves any of the blessings God has offered, much less salvation. Angela Thomas, author of the study, says that "we live in such a dark society that I think we've come to accept our society's darkness as an unavoidable part of our own."

One of my all-time favorite authors is Ted Dekker. Most of his books deal with the battle of good and evil, and so often I see myself in one of his characters, just how sinful I really am. Yet he also shows the lavishing love of the Father in his books as well. Ephesians 2 speaks of this lavishing love: "You let the world tell you how to live......You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience.....It's a wonder God didn't lose His temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us." (Message)

It goes on and on.........

Today's "prizes" from Jason were so unexpected, (except the Dekker book! I did ask for that one!), but I know without a doubt he loves me and that is one way he shows it.

Often the Father gives us unexpected gifts, all because of He loves us. One song says it best, "If grace is an ocean we're all sinking.........Oh, how He loves us....."

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! Thank you, Lord, for your mercy and grace.