“God rejoices. Not because the problems of the world have been solved, not because all human pain and suffering have come to an end, nor because thousands of people have been converted and are now praising him for his goodness. No, God rejoices because one of his children who was lost has been found” (Henri Nouwen).

I love the parables about the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost a. k. a. prodigal son. They all show how God places immense value and worth on an individual life.

All lives matter to God, whether Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative, male or female, gay or straight, short or tall, fat or skinny. 2 Peter 3:9 says that God is not willing that anyone should perish but that everyone should come to repentance and faith and find freedom in Jesus.

And every time one of God’s children finds his or her way home, there’s a party in heaven. The angels rejoice. God rejoices.

It’s been hot here lately. As in upper 90’s with a ridiculous amount of humidity. I don’t know if I’m getting less tolerant of heat as I get older or just now realizing my lack of tolerance for uber-sweating, but I’m not a fan of the sticky heat. I’m sure those within smelling distance of me, especially those downwind of me, would agree.

Today the temperature dropped a bit into the 80’s, so that was nice. But it was still muggy, so that was not so great. I spent a fair bit of time checking out the Art Crawl in Downtown Franklin, and was actually pleased to get caught in a mild rain shower that broke the humidity a bit.

Still, I give thanks.

I give thanks for that Carrier guy who invented the wonderful and glorious contraption known as air conditioning. I give thanks to the good people at Fitz-It who got the A/C in my old Jeep running like a champ again.

I give thanks that Tennessee has seasons and variety, because if it stayed one way too long, I’d probably find something to complain about.

I give thanks that fall officially begins in 79 days. Until then, I’m wearing lots of deodorant and sticking to the shade. You’re welcome.

“See, I return good for evil, love for injuries, and for deeper wounds a deeper love” (Father Peter Chrysologus).

Holding on to grudges and anger is the bitter way. Forgiveness is the better way.

Loving people who love you back and think like you do is easy. Anyone can do that.

Loving people who are difficult to love, who hold opposing political and social and religious beliefs is much harder. In fact, it’s just about impossible apart from the indwelling love of Christ that has been shed abroad in our hearts.

This is the kind of love that people notice.

This is the kind of love that changes lives, and ultimately, the world.

This is the kind of love that wins in the end.

“Lord God Almighty, in whose Name the founders of this country won liberty for themselves and for us, and lit the torch of freedom for nations then unborn: Grant that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain our liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”

I’d only add one more thing: “Help us to remember that we are first and foremost citizens of a heavenly kingdom, and that our ultimate allegiance belongs to a King and a Kingdom over any flag, President, or country.

I’m content. I’m laying in bed, full of Chick-fil-A salad and milkshake, sleepy from a long day, and ready to turn off the alarm and sleep in tomorrow.

I can’t believe that tomorrow’s Independence Day. It feels like we just celebrated Easter two days ago, Memorial Day yesterday, and now the 4th of July.

Again, I truly repent of laughing at all those people back in the day who said that time flies. It does. I know it now from personal experience.

May tomorrow be a day not just of celebrating fireworks and food, but also of remembering that the freedoms that we enjoy came with a heavy price. May we never take those freedoms for granted, or they could one day be taken away.

Right now, I’m exercising my freedom to call it a night. It’s been real, people, but I’m pooped.

I’m trying something new, so it may or may not work. This is purely for entertainment purposes. I’m listing all the pros and cons of this day, July 2, 2018:

Pro: I woke up today.

Con: Today was Monday.

Pro: I was able to get my walking in on my lunch break and after work, so I got my 10,000+ steps in.

Con: It was Sweat-palooza with all the heat and extreme humidity.

Pro: I treated myself to a triple mocha frappucino from Starbucks that was delightful and delicious.

Con: It was over way too soon and I was sad.

Pro: With a holiday falling in the middle of the week, I essentially get two Fridays.

Con: I still have to wake up at 5 am tomorrow and manage to survive until that first cup of coffee.

All in all, there were way more pros than cons. As I’ve learned and continue to be reminded, attitude and perspective go a long way toward changing your outlook.

I still believe that giving thanks instead of counting your cons is the best way to live. Gratitude makes the miracles happen.

I’m not sure that I’ve got this life thing figured out just yet. I’m beginning to understand that most of us don’t, and a lot that say they do are lying.

Sometimes it feels like just when you’ve gotten one part of your life down, everything changes and you have to start all over again. Or maybe you look back at that glorious period when you had all your life figured out and say, “Well, that was a nice 45 seconds.”

I don’t have to understand it all. I only have to trust in the God who is in charge of it all. I don’t have to even understand God completely to trust Him, but I can trust in what I know to be true and what I’ve seen and heard up till now.

That’s it. Trusting from one moment to the next and being content to not have all the answers, but trusting in the One who does.

Today marks exactly one year since I went to the Williamson Animal Shelter and picked out a tiny little tortie. Or more accurately, she picked me, meowing pitifully and stretching out her little paw toward me from her cage.

I still believe that no cat could ever replace Lucy, my beloved first pet, but Peanut is her own gentle, sweet, hyper, often hilarious self. What sets her apart most is her one peanut butter colored foot that looks out of place but only serves to add to her charm.

She’s a lot better off than when she was rescued off I-65 and brought to the shelter. I’m a lot better off since she decided that I was to be her forever human.