Hi Friends,

It is freshly-squeezed orange juice season in Florida. The OJ pictured above is literally $15 per gallon and I can testify that it is worth every delicious penny. It’s like sunshine in a glass. I am utterly obsessed! I am also obsessed with this little water bottle that my son, an SEC athlete, gave me. Since I have two favorite SEC schools, and may add a third Fall 2025, it is just perfect for me. But today I found out that combining OJ and my SEC bottle may cause a nuclear reaction.

Last Thursday I left my beloved bottle — half filled with orange juice — at Bible study. I meant to swing by and get it during the week but I never did. I had no idea such a mistake would cause a near death experience. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that the force with which it exploded upon untwisting was many many many orders of magnitude stronger than the most intense champagne uncorking you’ve ever witnessed. Plus this “cork” is metal. David killed Goliath with a stone to the head, and so I praise God that somehow no one was injured. I mean the ceiling is scarred but you’d have to know where to look to see it. Once again my life is marked by grace upon grace!

But you know what else is a dangerously atomic combination? Godlessness and political fervor. I have strong political convictions and I always vote. But no matter the outcome, I know God is sovereign. In fact, even when things haven’t been decided how I may have liked, I have been blessed to see how God has used certain aspects to grow me personally. I believe God is at work in my life no matter who sits in the Oval Office. I believe the calling on my life to be invested in the people where I live is the same no matter who controls the Senate. I am certain we were never intended to have our identities wrapped up in politics. The meltdowns confirm that something is really wrong.

I am praying that a revival breaks out in our country — that all people would stop pretending that their “works” earn them anything. Instead may we daily adopt a posture of gratitude. Guess what? We woke up today. We live in a free and prosperous country. More importantly, Jesus died for our sins. Our works don’t mean a thing, but He wants to wrap us in His completed work. We don’t have to do anything — it is done. When we accept His offer, we can rest in His robe of righteousness.

Look with skepticism on those who want to push you towards victimhood, or towards identifying with a group. Reject identifying with a voting bloc or even an oppressed group. You are you unique. You were knit together with love and intention in your mother’s womb. You are loved beyond measure because you are YOU, made in the image of your Creator. No one “sees you” like He does. No one loves you like He does. Every single person on this earth will disappoint you. But you don’t have to be devastated by that when you find your identity in Christ.

He will never leave you nor forsake you. And His love is the more powerful, more transformative than nuclear energy. His love is the most powerful thing that exists. Why would you reject that?

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3: 16-17

With Love,

Kristie