Summertime is a great time of the year! There is nothing I enjoy more than spending a day at the swimming pool, having a cookout in the park, watching my favorite baseball team play late on a warm evening and watching the neighborhood kids play without the slightest care about school or homework. The early year blues have passed, tax season is behind, and the holidays are too far away to worry about. The only thing I’m considering is where to vacation and how long I can get away.

It amazes me that some people actually don't enjoy summertime. The days at the swimming pool turn to weeks of sunburn, they have no time for cookouts in the park, their baseball team is on a losing streak and kids out of school just mean months of high priced daycare and babysitters. Summer, like so many things in life, is all about your perspective.

As individuals we all have different perspectives of God's love and His Grace. Some people see His Grace as a safety net that makes us feel comfortable just in case we ever mess up. For others it's a new start to a life filled with big mess ups. The same is true with God's unending love. Some people view God's love as a reflection of an earthly father's love, while others are amazed at the power of love, having never connected with their earthly father. God's presence in our life is a unique experience that we each treasure in our own way.

The one common ground we find in our relationship with God is at the cross. As we approach the cross of Christ, we are on level ground: all have sinned and take part in His punishment for our actions. This commonality in Christ is what allows the church to come together in unity.

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. He is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier... (Ephesians 2:13).

I may never understand why someone doesn't love summertime, I may never feel God's love the same as you, but I know the feeling of needing grace. I stand at the cross just as guilty as anyone; together we can worship God who loved us anyway.

The one common ground we find in our relationship with God is at the cross.
If you would like to talk more about finding God's grace or would like me to pray for you, please contact me at skye@hopeforlife.org.

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