Today I had a Thirty One Gifts party at my home. Good friends stopped in for yummy food and lots of laughs, and of course a bit of shopping. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with my girlfriends. But, I have to tell you something unexpected happened.
As Julie, our consultant kicked off the party, she asked everyone to share something encouraging about the hostess. That’s me. I felt my face flush. Oh no. What would people say? Wait. Worse. What if they had nothing to say?
*gulp*
I sat there in my living room as my friends spoke some of the kindest words to me I have ever heard. lovely, thoughtful, kind, sincere words. about me. It was so simple, but very moving. I had to work at keeping the tears from coming.
Later, when the party was over, I went back to my room and opened up my laptop to follow up on a few emails. And there it was. in my inbox. It was a notice from the website (in)courage. They had accepted a submission of mine and were asking me to be a writer for their site. and again, tears. More significant words of affirmation.
Twice in one day, good news, in different forms, but beautiful words nonetheless.
As I thought about it tonight, I realize I am a recipient of the best news of all. Sometimes for just a moment I forget the life giving words; promising words of love, forgiveness and mercy. They are from the Heavenly Father himself, written down long ago. My best hope, really… from Ephesians 2:
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenlyplaces in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
And it is here, after reading these words, I am moved and the tears begin to flow… Truly this is the best good news for me: Jesus died on the cross and rose again, giving me everlasting, abundant life. Pardon and peace : This is the good news of the gospel!
Thank you Heavenly Father for these words, for they are better than good news. They truly are wonderful!
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I typically don’t think of this as an Easter Song – but oh, how it seems to fit today. Wonderful words of life! (especially verses two and three, below)
Christ, the blessed One, gives to all wonderful words of life
Sinner, list to the loving call, wonderful words of life
All so freely given, wooing us to heaven
Sweetly echo the Gospel call, wonderful words of life
Offer pardon and peace to all, wonderful words of life
Jesus, only Savior, sanctify us forever
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life
daily portion 
Greetings from Wordwise Hymns. It was your quotation from “Wonderful Words of Life” that caught my eye, as I posted an article on it this morning. Thanks for your testimony.