seattle and its parks

I am
overwhelmed by this city...by its natural beauty; by its people... And here I thought I wasn't a city girl.

I'm not, actually. If you dropped me in the middle of paris and told me I had to live there for 5 years, I'd have a hard time. Sure, the croissants and cafe au laits would sustain me for a good 6 months, the musee d'orsay for another 3, but then...I would long for the mountains. Or, at least a view of something more than buildings and metro signs.

This is why Seattle is so appealing; so out of the ordinary. It's a full blown city with buildings and metro signs; one-way streets and pedestrians galore. But, no more than 11 minutes by car from where i presently sit, I am on the beach, sitting on a piece of driftwood, watching sail boats--the olympic mountains, a dramatic backdrop.

I was dead in my sins, but have been made alive in Jesus!

Sometimes, I forget that. I get so caught up; so horrified by effects of my sinful nature, that I miss the entire point. The tomb is empty. Jesus is alive. And, so am I! That does not mean that I neglect daily repentance. Martin Luther did not in vanity usher in the reformation by writing in his 95 thesis, the Christian life is one of repentance. He was right. We are not saved by our works, our deeds, or our moral lives. We are saved because Jesus loved us first! And in that, I rejoice! And, because of that I have every desire in the world to put to death any sin that manifests itself in my life, and that desire, I owe to him and his redemptive work on the cross But, I won't win every battle. And, by His grace, that is OK. The war has already been won. Jesus is the victor! And,I am on his team. I can't forget that. How could I? It's the most beautiful thing ever. Ever.