Summer Rain

There has been some summer rain here in NW Arkansas,, but it is always so beautiful after the rain. Just relaxing on the patio watching the world go by is our favorite past time right now. This morning we watched a tenny tiny blue tailed skink lizard scurry around on the patio. Even the black ants were bigger than he was. His tail is such a beautiful neon blue!!

looked out the kitchen door and this is what I saw - there were two of them

even the creepy spiders can show beauty - the intricate design of a morning spider web

If you enjoy cooking and like to experiment  with oils and vinegars, the place to visit is Cask and Grove in Fayetteville, AR. The have wonderful olive oils infused with a variety of flavors - my favorite being wild mushroom and sage. I did try the garlic and butter (you can taste all of the flavors) of which I bought some along with a mango white balsamic vinegar. The vinegar will be so tasty on salads, while the oils are great on sauteed veggies, etc. Even eggs fried in the garlic flavor oil sound delicious.

Pastor Vance is gone on a men's encounter, so we had Youth Minister Matt Tibbet give the sermon this this morning. He preaching is much different than Pastor Vance's, but so informative and easy to listen to. As believers, we have one job which is the the mission of taking the message reconciliation to the lost. If the disciples did not do this, we would not be here. The job itself has far reaching affects. Reconciliation actually means "exchange" from Greek. "The old had gone, the new is here." which is a verse from II Corinthians. Why should you care about God and bring reconciliation to the lost? The reason is simple - because He gave His own Son for us to be able to experience eternal life As we fulfill this mission we are concerned about how we should it. We should do nothing by our own vanity but in humility. Have the same mind set as Christ Jesus has.Be an ambassador in humility - lower yourself to be servants to the Lord. God does not count our sins against us just as we should not count others sins against them. How do we view others we are ministering to?  We should do so in the eyes of the spirit. Instead of seeing the sin, see the sinner in need. Do not look at them in the flesh - in their sin  or shortcomings - not of they were beneath you but in the eyes of the spirit. Be careful how you use your words.Are you coming across as humble, full of the spirit, or as pious superior? Love them all just as Jesus loves you.