Weekly Favorite Links (July 2-8, 2015)

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If there is one thing that always surprises and never ceases to leave me utterly speechless and in streams of tears, it is grace.

I have been the recipient of so much undeserved grace lately.

I am amazed at how loved I am by those around me. I suppose I’ve always had this internal struggle that I needed to earn that love and so throughout my life, I sought to please. But grace is something that I cannot earn, which makes it so much more precious when it’s given. God has placed people in my life that have seen me at my worst and ugliest moments. Instead of judging me and telling me that I’m a disappointment or that I should’ve known better than to fall into certain sins, their eyes have only grown more tender and compassionate when all is laid bare.

Most importantly, they have readily forgiven me when oftentimes I struggled to forgive myself. When I am feeling overwhelmed with shame and guilt, they have patiently pointed me to Scripture to help me train my thoughts to find comfort in what is true. Not only have they embraced me in spite of my failures, they have firmly reminded me of the grace that is found at the foot of the cross. By no means do they condone my mistakes. But they have demonstrated what it means to love in hard times and to bear one another’s burdens because we all fall short. Instead of allowing me to run away from my trials, these brothers and sisters of mine have cheered for me to press on and to finish well.

I am so thankful for these individuals.

But you know what’s even crazier? These dear friends of mine are testaments of God’s faithfulness and work in their lives. More than their love for me is the mysterious love that my Savior and Lord displayed on the cross. In order so that I could be freed from the bondage of sin, He who knew no sin became sin in my place and bore my weaknesses. In this life, I will never be able to understand why Christ would die for someone like me. I will never be worthy of God’s love, of His Son’s sacrificial death on my behalf. However, if it was not for the grace of God, if Christ did not bear my guilt and shame, I would still be in chains today.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. 

Romans 8:1-11

Christianity:

40 Questions For Christians Now Waving Rainbow Flags – Worth pondering. I think #32 might be one of the most important questions to consider. It’d be a thought-provoking conversation starter, that’s for sure.

50 Resources For Equipping The Church On Homosexuality and Same-Sex Marriage – This list tops the one I posted last week. Perhaps by the end of the year, we’ll have hundreds.

Counting It All Joy – It’s true that God commands us to be joyful in trials. It’s also true that I’m often not thankful. Like 99% of the time.

Rosaria Butterfield has a new book out and here are 20 awesome quotes that piqued my interest.

The True Hero – A refreshing insight on Luke 10. We should all strive to be more like Jesus.

What Friendship Is Made Of –  “Friendship doesn’t always come easily. Sometimes, it’s hard fought and sacrificial. My friendship with my husband has taught me that the deepest relationships in our lives take effort and sacrifice. They also take the patience and humility to get close enough to another person long enough to get to know them, warts and all, and work at understanding and loving them better.”

Food:

Arugula Kale Reggiano Salad – Cheeeessseee! A salad just isn’t a salad without cheese.

Churroffle and Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwich – CHURRO WAFFLES. AHHH. I CAN’T BELIEVE. (But I can.)

Cinnamon Snickerdoodle Ice Cream – I think I can definitely use cookies in my ice cream.

Don’t know what kind of sandwich to make in this summer weather? Here’s 25 of them from Saveur.

Milk Chocolate Cookies and Cream – Looks so soft and gooey.

Peanut Butter and Grape Galette – Pretty much a PB&J pizza. Making this one day.

Turkey Banh Mi Burger – This looks do-able.

Misc:

There have been some recent buzz in Taiwan over attractive street vendors. Here’s another one and this one cracked me up so much. Seriously so random. Only in Taiwan.

According to Buzzfeed, here’s why I used to be such a fan girl over Jesse McCartney. Yesyesyes it was the eyes. Totally listening to Beautiful Soul now. NOSTALGIAAA.

Music:

One of my favorite bands is being sued again, and this time it’s a Federal case. They’re offering all their music for free for the next month in hopes that you’d consider donating to their fundraiser. Click here to go to their fundraiser page.

TV and Movies:

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No news on when Sherlock Season 4 will be expected to premiere, but here’s a photo teaser of an upcoming special episode. I’ve missed this perfect duo.