what's free?

making an easter card

quoted from a Good Friday missionary update I received from a family serving as missionaries in very rural China.

"The common US expression “Freedom isn’t free” describes how the blood-and-tear sacrifices of our militaries over two and a half centuries have secured for our citizens a freedom all can enjoy, though most do not fully appreciate its cost. In like manner, believers across the world enjoy a freedom in salvation which, although free for the taking, was never free for the giving, and most do not fully comprehend or appreciate its true cost.

If ever inclined to do so, sinful human beings can forgive others who’ve wronged them, simply “out of the goodness of the heart”; yet this is something that God could never do. Such arbitrary, inconsistent, and likely short-lived “forgiveness” finds little comparison to the forgiveness God offers (Matthew 18:21-35), for it truly costs us nothing. In reality, our holy and just God could never forgive sin simply because He’s kind and loving, for it is neither kind nor loving (nor holy nor just) to let a debt of sin go unpaid. God’s forgiveness had a cost: His forgiveness finds its kindness, love, holiness, and justice in the work of Jesus Christ, in the shedding of His Son’s own precious blood on the cross (Hebrews 9:22).

We often (redundantly) describe salvation as “God’s free gift,” and Scripture also speaks of our having been “freely justified” (Romans 3:24, ASV) and how God will “freely give us all things” (Romans 8:32, ASV; 1Corinthians 2:12, ESV), yet these descriptions are fully people-centered. We must never forget that—divinely speaking—our justification was far from free. At great expense to Himself, God provided the world with a Gift, the life of His own dear Son. In His death, Jesus “paid the ultimate price” for our redemption, and this cost—having satisfied our sin debt outstanding—is the very basis of divine forgiveness.

Christ’s sacrifice was so complete that when He “bought us with a price” (1Corinthians 6:20), His payment didn’t simply save us at a moment in the past, but instead continues to save us even now (1John 1:9). The death of Jesus Christ so many “Good Fridays” ago is truly the lynchpin to all history, human and divine, for it is the epitome of God’s immeasurable love, the declaration of His impossible mercy, and the foundation of His every grace. So as you celebrate this historical event this week, please remember: although it has cost us nothing, spiritual “freedom isn’t free.” "  AF family

Directly quoted from a missionary update I received; this family serves as missionaries in very rural China

showing a finish

handmade shawl/pattern by Michele DuNaier

I have been working on a crochet shawl in May, and it is now finished and blocked....

 the lace/eyelet edging is done in two layers....

there has been a lot going on ....all is well..and at the same time, depending on God every moment of every day, is something that is a learning process, no?

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: philippians 1:6

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. hebrews 13:21-22

Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. 2 thessalonians 2:16-17

just think of it - Our Lord Jesus HIMSELF! and God even our Father! has given us everlasting consolation AND good hope through grace AND shall comfort our hearts AND establish us in every good word and work!  AND hath loved us...He loves us

Together

Christmas reminds us

that God's promises

never fail -

He came to us,

to provide the way.

for us to be,

together forever with Him

right now

But God, who is rich in mercy,

for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Even when we were dead in sins,

hath quickened us

together with Christ,

(by grace ye are saved;)

And hath raised us up together,

and made us sit together

in heavenly places

in Christ Jesus:

That in the ages to come he might shew

the exceeding riches of his grace

in his kindness

toward us

through Christ Jesus    ephesians 2:4-7

Merry Christmas!~! every single day :)

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. romans 15:13

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 1 peter 1:8