Hi! Come on in...

I remember growing up in the islands how people would drop by or we would drop by unannounced at the homes of friends or relatives on the way home from the beach frequently. I remember how one of us would quickly go to the 'shop' nearby to purchase some 'sweet drink' (soda pop) and or cakes. I remember that there was always food to offer. I remember how lovely and exciting it was to visit.

I miss those days. Here in Canada, I am often terrified that someone will drop in. You see, many times my cupboard only has enough to feed my family. At times, especially in winter, there is clutter everywhere as I struggle with depression to do basic tasks. My spiritual and emotional reservoirs are occasionally bare because I have not taken the time for refills and have completely used up yesterday's grace. I often feel I have nothing to give.

When I looked at the blogs chosen by Lysa for the radio show and I see how many people pop by to visit those blogs, I suddenly am so grateful I was not chosen. Most people are afraid of failure, I am afraid of 'success'. I am afraid of sudden popularity. I am afraid of jealousy. I am afraid that people will think I am 'something'. I am afraid they will expect something I was not equipped to give. Wow, so many "I'm afraids". Why? Because His love, although perfect in me because He lives in me, is not quite grasped by me 100% just yet. 1 John 4 says: God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

What I have to offer in my own strength is a fading offering. It will not satisfy anyone's hunger or thirst in any lasting way. But when I, with my own 2 fishes and loaves reserved for my own family, offer it up to God, I have faith to welcome you in to partake of what He has done with my paltry offering. He has made a banqueting table with His perfect love. He and He alone will serve you with a satisfying, life-giving portion of His love. I need not fear for my confidence lies in Him, in His love. So, if you are visiting today, please know that it is God Himself who prompted you to come. He wants to feed you today. Will you go to Him now?

Isaiah 55 (The Message)
Buy Without Money

1-5 "Hey there! All who are thirsty, come to the water!

Are you penniless? Come anyway—buy and eat!

Come, buy your drinks, buy wine and milk.

Buy without money—everything's free!

Why do you spend your money on junk food,

your hard-earned cash on cotton candy?

Listen to me, listen well: Eat only the best,

fill yourself with only the finest.

Pay attention, come close now,

listen carefully to my life-giving, life-nourishing words.

I'm making a lasting covenant commitment with you,

the same that I made with David: sure, solid, enduring love.

I set him up as a witness to the nations,

made him a prince and leader of the nations,

And now I'm doing it to you:

You'll summon nations you've never heard of,

and nations who've never heard of you will come running to you

Because of me, your God,

because The Holy of Israel has honored you."

6-7 Seek God while he's here to be found,

pray to him while he's close at hand.

Let the wicked abandon their way of life

and the evil their way of thinking.

Let them come back to God, who is merciful,

come back to our God, who is lavish with forgiveness.

8-11"I don't think the way you think.

The way you work isn't the way I work."

God's Decree.

"For as the sky soars high above earth,

so the way I work surpasses the way you work,

and the way I think is beyond the way you think.

Just as rain and snow descend from the skies

and don't go back until they've watered the earth,

Doing their work of making things grow and blossom,

producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry,

So will the words that come out of my mouth

not come back empty-handed.

They'll do the work I sent them to do,

they'll complete the assignment I gave them.

12-13 "So you'll go out in joy,

you'll be led into a whole and complete life.

The mountains and hills will lead the parade,

bursting with song.

All the trees of the forest will join the procession,

exuberant with applause.

No more thistles, but giant sequoias,

no more thornbushes, but stately pines—

Monuments to me, to God,

living and lasting evidence of God."