en la parada de autobús

"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." John 7:38
this weekend i quasi-boasted about loving to talk to strangers. i am, after all, my grandfather's granddaughter and my mother's daughter.
driving home from a "tea luncheon" (isn't women's ministry funny?) i saw an elderly woman in a bright and very pink coat sitting at a bus stop. did i mention i could see her lipstick shade from my peripheral vision going 30mph? i turned my head to get another glance. i was intrigued.
God: you say you like talking to strangers? why don't you go talk to her?
Jess: what? are you serious?
God: see if she knows Jesus
(it's just like God to not answer when the questions are stupid... and sorry kids, whatever yr teacher told you, this teacher is going to tell you truth it's high time you knew: there is such a thing as a stupid question. i think i just proved that quite effectively.)
Jess: i'm losing my mind
but i figure, i've been hurting lately and people who don't know Jesus hurt all the time, so maybe i can minister to the pink lady somehow.
i make a u-dog.
Jess: maybe the bus is gone... that would be great
God: look
Jess: yeah... didn't think so
the strange thing? how easy it was.
the bummer thing?
i couldn't remember where the verse about the inerrancy of scripture was
the amazing thing?
i got the gospel to her right before the squeaking brakes pulled c-tran to a stop
the motivating thing?
couldn't remember the brilliant verse 1 Cor 15:3-4:
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance:
that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures...
He's gracious, though. gotta do my homework so i can do that whole being ready with an answer deally.

la cosa que ahorra, sostiene

the thing that saves, sustains.
matchless grace. grace without matching.
that God would bestow the gift of life upon me and then pour blessings upon me on top and brimming and over and above even that.
romans 8 is starting to make a lot more sense to me. this is good, since it is about living by the Spirit. the highest and noblest of callings.
who or what can be against me? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?... who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall trouble or hardship...?
He gives all good things. every good and perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights... comfort. joy.
what do the lost do without Him? my heart hurts to conjecture. a dark and scary place. it's a wonder to me the suicide rate isn't profoundly higher. tell them! Christ's love compels. tell them!

Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it,
Where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden,
Setting my spirit free;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Wonderful grace, all sufficient for me, for even me.
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame,
O magnify the precious Name of Jesus.
Praise His Name!

árboles de cereza

So... whether or not these are the reason for my sinus misery... commensurate to their great burden upon my histamines is their beauty upon the backdrop of shiny green grass. Cherry trees are everywhere and it makes the air feel soft and fresh.
Below the tree in our backyard are crocus and daffodils, as well. It makes me sing "All on a Golden Afternoon" (Alice in Wonderland).
Spring is a good thing.

a wintry sonnet

Christina Rossetti

A Robin said: The Spring will never come,
And I shall never care to build again.
A Rosebush said: These frosts are wearisome,
My sap will never stir for sun or rain.
The half Moon said: These nights are fogged and slow,
I neither care to wax nor care to wane.
The Ocean said: I thirst from long ago,
Because earth's rivers cannot fill the main.--
When Springtime came, red Robin built a nest,
And trilled a lover's song in sheer delight.
Grey hoarfrost vanished, and the Rose with might
Clothed her in leaves and buds of crimson core.
The dim Moon brightened. Ocean sunned his crest,
Dimpled his blue, yet thirsted evermore.