Glimpses of Fall

Autumn.  The shortest of seasons.  But arguably, the most beautiful.
With its reds & oranges, and crisp, clean air, and the invitation to boots & hoodies, and the roar of a nearby football stadium.  I love this season.  And I have been having a blast celebrating with the dearest of people in my life.

Just some snapshots........

 

Camp Palmer Lake 

 

Sometimes I visit cemeteries to remind myself of the brevity of life.  Is that weird?  Yeah, probably.  But this was a beautiful shot of fall leaves and life come and gone.

 

Pumpkins at MacQueen's Orchard

 

Zach making caramel apples!

 

 

With my dear friend, Tim, carving pumpkins.

 

Just for the record, our pumpkin won in the in pumpkin carving contest.  But it's cool.  I'm remaining humble.

 

Kala and I with our caramel apples!

 

The whole Butler gang!  

 

Zach and I's "Grand Beginning Date" @ Cedar Point and a surprise ending!

Better than I deserve

I've been reading this power-packed little book by a guy named CJ Mahaney.  Mahaney is a pastor is Lousiville, Kentucky and has been offering some incredible insight into life and faith as I work my way through his book.

He shares this gem of story in my today's reading, "It was a crowded morning in Starbucks.  ...As my turn came to step forward and order coffee, the young man serving me smiled and said, 'Hey, how are you?'  ...'Better than I deserve,' I answered."

A small, simple response.  Filled with meaning and intrigue.  Surpasses, by far, the typical response, "I'm good."

"Better than I deserve."

...on my worst day.  I'm still better than I deserve.
...on my best day.  I'm better than I deserve, by far.

My heart is beating and my lungs fill with air.  I am far better than I deserve.

I deserve my heart to robbed of its beats.  My lungs to be nothing more than a dry, cracked desert floor.

I am a sinner.  I am full of deceit.  And manipulation.  And counterfeit gods.  And lies.  And cutting corners.  And compromise.  And laziness.  And "me-firstness."

But, BUT, the grace of God intervenes.  The grace of God does not sit passively aside.  The grace of God answers.  And my heart beats.  And my lungs breath.  And I am way better than I deserve.