PT, you n me both! Thanks!

Stu, love ya too, and God not only has my stinky breath to put up with but my dirty laundry too! (righteousness as filthy rags) God bless!

AV Girl - thanks! Simple truths strike a chord w/me I guess!

JS, my heart still goes out to you, hope the Lord smooths the way back into your home. Glad you're getting chances to hang with us!

Keith, hey bro! Yes he does, yes he does.

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Preston P and I had a delicioso conversation about our Father's love for us last night on my ride home from work and well into feeding dogs and coffee making. Mike you know I can talk! This perfectly illustrates it. I never shyed away from my children with dirty diapers or bad breath or bad temper or brattiness.

In fact, just last night my sister said my granddaughter had been kind of bratty with a response to me on her birthday. She had wanted to open a present while her mom was picking up pizza and I told her to wait until her mom got back. She said she was allowed and I repeated that she should wait and she was getting antsy and getting louder about wanting to open it before her mom returned. 

I felt so much love for her that I while I guided her back to obedience (waiting to open the present) I was enjoying her company and not put off by it like my sister was. I could see her level of maturity and the excitement of the day meant that she was on a going forward and somewhat selfish mode. I also know that there is nothing she could do to make me hate her. I feel such explosive love for her that I was somewhat uncomfortable with my sister's remark about my granddaughter and then had to think about my sister and the level of maturity she is dealing (not a believer ) and well...this Love business has a ripple effect. No man or woman is left out. Keep on loving!

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Great post mike, I am glad loves inspite of our stinkness, (sin) with Jesus we are made new... but only with Jesus. I am glad that God never leaves...

Great point Marilyn, God doesn't expect us to clean ourselves up so much as he does the cleaning when we choose to "allow" him. (The Holy Spirit is the cleaning agent, i.e. God himself, right?)

Thanks Jade!! :)

Bubbles, I'm a mess! Interestingly he hears my prayers (symbolized by fragrant incense in the OT), and yet is not put off by my stinky breath (misdeeds, usually quickly repented from).

Jerry....FUNNY comment!! lol.. 

MarJay...right on! It's grace and mercy, that's what it is. Thanks for putting your finger on that!

higherground(Juanita) - a perfect example! Thanks for sharing that, it really makes the point well. Our relationship (position) isn't threatened at all by our sin, but the QUALITY of our relationship sure can be.

ah but my dear Sherlock, I have bad breath too! lol..  (don't I?)

Mary, you said it!!! He "never gives up" on us!!! We give up on ourselves far quicker than he would ever give up on us!

Todd, great comment!! Love covers!!! (lol, yeah she puts up w/stuff too, scruffy whiskers, lol!)

Talking Mule...ain't it great?? (still love the new profile name Anthony, lol)

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When Sydney was little, she would run into the bedroom and put her hands around my face.  The she blow into my nose.

We called our morning bad breath, Smellagrams.   What a sweet memory.