Recently, I was going to visit my mom who lives several states south.
I kept myself plenty entertained by admiring all the delights one can find while riding the back country roads of a Southern state.
Dilapidated barns were tucked in fields of chopped down crops I couldn’t name. JR’s Barbecue sat right beside the Red Shed Store proudly proclaiming,
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Of the plethora of things I love about you, I think I treasure your humility the most. You are just REAL and don’t mind sharing your weaknesses with us.
I usually roll my eyes at those kind of signs, but I now feel convicted to see them as a personal reminder for my prideful little self.
Thank you for this! Have a great weekend.
Years ago when I was temporarily relocated for an internship my daily commute took me past a few white signs nailed to trees alongside the highway. I remember only one of them, but it never failed to make me smile: “Jesus is excellent.” It gave me pause then, and still does, for all the right reasons.
Thanks for this walk down memory lane (I’ve driven a lot of those southern roads), and for the reminder that we are always a work in progress, sins and all.
I live in the south & love your observation. I look forward to reading the signs “up in my neck of the woods”, drinking that scalded coffee,chatting with the old men behind the counter & his buddies that meet each morning around the woodstove. I always hope that I’ve touched someone’s heart, as they touch mine most times. Jesus is excellent! Thanks Lysa for your beautiful heart.
Thinking back on my years as a believer, I imagine having varied responses…In my college days as a camoflauge christian, I would have been embarrased…Who would believe that? People will make a mockery of me!…In my new wife and momma days, I would have thought, oh sure, scare them into Christianity…yeah right!…Today, that very phrase serves as a precious reminder of a God who pursues, forgives and has abundant grace. I am taken back to the Church of Ephesus, who, despite their incredible patience, perseverance, and labor, left their first love. Jesus recognized that their labor was for labor’s sake. They forgot the essence of serving Him. Love.
“Return to your first love. Remember from where you have fallen, repent and do the deeds you did at first….To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.” Rev 2:4, 5a, 7
It was His personal message to believers. It became a message to me. Jesus said, “Behold I am coming quickly!” There is no time to waste. Yes, today, as a prodigal wife who was been forgiven and restored, Jesus simply says, repent and return to Me…I will give you life.
Here’s one of my favorite signs from a trip to Hawaii. I said to my husband, “Yep, that pretty much sums it up!”
http://uniquely-yours-scrapbooks.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2007/06/20/img_1954.jpg
I always think of the joke about the painter who was watering down his paint – Repaint and Thin no more. Then I think about the little run down building in our little college town. It was some type of small hardware store that had been abandoned long ago. The worn out letters on the sign called REPENT. I always wondered why. The college was a Christian college in a town with over 60 little churches. Who would be left in that little town that hadn’t heard the name of Christ. I was embarrassed. Never occurred to me the sign was meant for us, telling us to turn from our ways. I hope it’s still there.
im from the south, not deep south, but the south none the less, pickled pigfeet do not suprise me, but my attitude does at times. i used to live UP north. And while more money and more opps seemed like i had less Jesus. I realized that a situation i thought was somebody elses fault was actually mine. I needed to repent and i deserved everything I got. I lost out but it’s a good lose. because I really got the chance to see who i really was, and yes the sign was for me and you. thanks.
Hmmm…I always think those signs are a little outdated and wonder does anyone really pay attention to them anymore or have they become a joke to most people. They remind me of the hell fire and brimstone preachers scaring everyone into repenting, so I usually don’t pay much attention to them. It’s the soft words that touch my heart. Those words that fine tune my spirit’s hearing and remind me to be more loving or give a little time to someone in need. It’s the still small voice that calls me. I was touched today by my husband’s generousity and warm fellowship with friends. I suppose God uses all kinds of ways to reach people.
Thank you Lysa. ((hugs))
Isn’t it amazing how God can focus on us indivudually and still control the world around us! I am so glad he touches us with simple things like signs on the side of the road. The question is….. Will we pay attention and be open-hearted enough to think it may actually be meant for us?
Thank you, Lysa, for being that open-hearted person! May God bless you heartily, (y’all)!
“And I can be more concerned over the dust on gas station gum packets than the soul of the tired old man working behind the counter.” Yeah, me too. Thank you for this. Like you, I always roll my eyes at signs like that, and just get annoyed. Instead of letting God remind me that I need Him. Absolutely. No holds barred.
God bless you.
Were you traveling in or through West Virginia? You are describing my home state beautifully and accurately.
This is a wonderful post. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.