Happy Monday Wildflowers! How are you going? How have you weathered through this week?
It was our wedding anniversary this weekend. Which of course, for me, led us to an impromptu day adventure to the ocean in the rain. As whimsy (and God) would have it, we had three hours of sunshine. From when we walked on the ocean shoreline, squidged our toes in the sand, dived in the salty water and had a lay in on our towels by the sea – til we walked back to our car. Sunshine. After a week of downpours, and more predicted – and clouds completely surrounding the patch of beach we were on. It was a whimsy gift folks, and I’m grateful.
That aside, life has been busy lately. And I’ve been distracted. Achieving again, rather than receiving. My bad.
I heard a sermon which hit me to my core in so many ways. You can watch it here. One of the points that was shared was referencing the parables about what the kingdom of God (also known as ‘the reign of God’ as my Bible dictionary explains) is like. It was the parable about the pearl of great price that flipped my understanding of it on its head (you can read it in Matthew 13:45-46).
Ever since I was young, I had been told that this parable is about the value of the kingdom of God, and that we must seek it out above all other treasure – letting go of everything else to find it. And while this is true, what if the true meaning is this parable in reverse? What if the true meaning is that God wants us to understand that in His order of doing things – the upside-down currency to our culture and our world, these verses are explaining something else about God’s kingdom entirely? What if it’s this- ‘for God so loved the world’ – Who loved a one such as I – sold all that He had – His only begotten son – and bought me, a pearl of great price for Himself? What if, to God, WE are the pearl of great price? What if He desires us and values us THAT MUCH, that He would give everything to have us as His own?
Because this is what the kingdom of God is actually like. And I’m still trying to comprehend this kind of love.
We don’t have to achieve. We simply have to receive.
What a gift.
With wildflower whimsy,
Steph xo
P.S. Quote of the week:
The real luxuries in life:
– Madisun Gray
time
health
a quiet mind
slow mornings
ability to travel
rest without guilt
a good night’s sleep
calm and “boring” days
meaningful conversations
home-cooked meals
people you love
people who love you back
I’m letting go of all that I’ve been trying to ‘figure out’ and achieve again. It’s time. Time to wake up each day without an agenda, but rather a whole-hearted surrender. Surrender to what God has for me each day. To be open to His guiding my steps as well as all the details. To be a Mary heart and choose the ‘good portion’ which won’t be taken away from me. How to do this? It’s a moment by moment thing. A realizing of God’s love for me and His desire to lead me as my Good Shepherd. I am tired of trying to find my own path, and ready to lay down in green pastures. Who’s with me?
Love, Steph xo
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