Hey, friends!
We are just days away from America’s Semiquincentennial! Hooray for 250 years of the Red, White, and Blue, and happy birthday to the U.S.A.! This nation was built by people seeking freedom—including the freedom to worship Jesus—and that’s something to celebrate!
It reminds me that Jesus welcomes everyone. No one will ever be rejected by Him. It’s not like junior high. Raise your hand if that was an awesome experience because you might be the only one! Imagine you’re in 7th grade in a brand new neighborhood. You’re shorter than all the other kids, you look younger than your 12 years, and you’ve got pimples and braces. Everywhere you look, there are groups of people who fit with each other—jocks, theatre kids, skaters, gamers, overachievers, rebels, and band kids. That angst you can feel right now almost viscerally is the fear that you won’t be accepted and the desire to be welcomed and included. No one wants to feel rejected and alone, right? It’s the stuff of nightmares!
In Mark 2:13-17, we read three invitations that show us Jesus’ response to outsiders and sinners like us.
Invitation 1: One guy—Levi, the tax collector. Tax collectors were considered traitors to the Jews and yet Jesus called out to Levi, “Follow Me” (Mark 2:14). Jesus then took it a step further and dined at his house! And, as if that wasn’t “bad” enough, Levi invited his pals to meet Jesus…
Invitation 2: Other guys—Levi’s tax collector friends were also at the dinner party. That was a giant faux pas in Jesus’ day. And finally, Mark 2:15 tells us Jesus included all the riff-raff.
Invitation 3: All the guys—many sinners.
So, you and I don’t have to steel ourselves against the pain of rejection we expect and even deserve because with Jesus, we will never experience it!
Which reminds me, don’t miss our next Online Bible Study — God Won’t Leave You There by Anne Graham Lotz and Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright starting July 13th! We’re going to study the life of Joseph and discover the unshakable presence of God in every season and circumstance of our lives.
Here are my devotionals recommendations for your summer reading pleasure:
If you’re headed to the movies to avoid the swelter, I heard that The Odyssey movie is coming out soon with Matt Damon and a great cast. So, if you’re like me and you follow the read-before-watching rule, pick up the classic book here! While you’re at it, you can grab:
On our blog, you can find some inspiration for the summer doldrums with your kids here: Christian Kids Activity Books for Summer Fun.
Remember to have fun this month, friends! You don’t have anything to worry about because you are wanted, welcome, and loved by Jesus! You’re free to enjoy this beautiful life and celebrate!
Grace and peace,
Laurie McClure, Editor
P.S. – ❤️🤍💙 Independence Day Sale — Get FREE shipping with code FREEDOM.
P.P.S. – For the 4th, here’s a recipe from Me, Myself, and Pie by Sherry Gore.
APPLE SKILLET PIE
The expression goes, “as American as apple pie,” so go ahead, be a patriot. The skillet allows for an exceptionally crispy crust—a nice improvisation for a classic that never goes out of style.
For the Crust
One 9-inch unbaked pastry pie crust
Ingredients
4 or more medium-sized cooking apples, such as Granny Smith
3 tablespoons maple syrup
2 heaping tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup warm water
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
To Prepare
Preheat oven to 450°F. Peel, core, and slice apples. Place in a bowl and pour maple syrup over the apple slices. Place apple slices in the pie crust so that it’s generously filled. In a bowl, stir flour, sugar, and warm water together until smooth. Pour over apple-filled pie crust. Dot with butter. Sprinkle cinnamon over apples. Bake at 450°F until the crust is browned. Reduce heat to 350°F and continue baking until apples are tender.
Tip: To create a beautiful pie, spiral-cut the apples and place in circles around the pan, working inward. Enjoy!
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