Everybody Needs a lil P.D.L....;-)

Read Ephesians 4:32

"Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."

It's summer, fam! Well, almost. If you were to close your eyes, you'd think you were experiencing Seattle in the fall. (no offense my Seattle/Pacific NW homies ;-)) Although the rainy, overcast, coolish temperatures are screaming that it's anything but summer......MY calendar says that in a couple of weeks, SUMMER will OFFICIALLY be here, boy! Other than the warmer, sunshiny weather AND the incredibly shrinking amounts of clothing some will (uhhhh, won't) wear....there's, yet, another huge indicator that summer is right around the corner: lots and LOTS of "P.D.A.". P.D.A. is an acronym for "Public Displays of Affection" which is the social phenomena of being decidedly affectionate towards your "boo"; your spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, etc. It can range anywhere from holding hands and sharing loving gazes to reaching a point where you're being cited by the park police for lewd behavior! :-\ As the weather gets hot....so do some people, it seems. o_O

There's this quote from professor and social commentator, Dr. Cornel West, that goes, "justice is what love looks like in public". While I understand (and respect) what he means - I get where he's coming from, in context - I am actually more convinced that it is GRACE (and mercy), NOT justice, that most resemble what public (and private) love looks like. Forgiveness - that outpouring of mercy - is a gift that comes from grace emanating from love. Therefore, if there is no love, there is no genuine forgiveness. Consistently being and living and exercising grace and mercy are what love REALLY looks like in public.

For it was by love via grace - [a giving of (i.e. blessing, gift, forgiveness) what you don't deserve] AND mercy - [withholding of (i.e. natural consequences, justice) what you absolutely DO deserve] that inspired the most loving act ever committed on that day at Calvary by our Loving Savior, Christ Jesus.(1 John 3:16; 4:10, 11-16, 19)

Happy Friday, y'all! Publicly Display Love (P.D.L.), today....and er'ryday! ;)



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"For if we are beside ourselves [mad, as some say], it is for God and concerns Him; if we are in our right mind, it is for your benefit." ~ 2 Corinthians 5:13 (Amplified Bible)