Today is National Iced Tea Day, and my guest is Rose Chandler Johnson, author of God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea, a wonderful devotional book! We would love to hear your comments!
Wandering Wednesdays
And Holiness–What About Holiness?
Ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. Leviticus 11:45b
On the way to school every day I passed a little country church with an old sign out front near the road.
Be Ye Holy
Every morning it spoke to me. It didn’t change in all the weeks I drove by. And every time I read the words with consternation. I’d try to wrap my mind around that mandate as fleeting as the morning mist. By the time I drove into the parking lot, the words were lost in so much other stuff of my over-energized day. But as He will, the Spirit of God kept bringing those words back to my mind.
Be Ye Holy
Sensing my unworthiness, I felt a bit like Isaiah who said, “Woe is me! for I am undone.” (Isaiah 6:5)
Searching the Scriptures and my heart lead me to understand that “holiness” is not a presumption of my merit, nor is it an end in itself or a matter of my trying to be good. Holiness is based on the love of God, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the indwelling Holy Spirit. Faith to be holy is grounded on God’s all-sufficient grace and the power of the Holy Spirit to enable me to do the will of God by my obedience to His word, inspired by my love for Him, and the desire to glorify Him.
Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments,” (John 14:15) and God commands obedience. The outcome of living sixty minutes of every hour of each day in obedience is holiness: the result of the multitude of moral choices made in accordance to God’s will is holiness.
Holiness is possible because the Son of Man, our Lord Jesus Christ, lived a holy life and He has called us to follow Him.
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14.
So now, when I see those words “Be Ye Holy”, I don’t agonize over them, or think “I cannot” or “I’ll try”. I just say “Okay, Lord”.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5
© Rose Chandler Johnson
Book Blurb:
In the South, nothing is more refreshing than a glass of sweet iced tea. Nothing, that is, except experiencing God in those small, everyday moments. God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea is a deeply personal collection of spiritual treasures designed to help readers experience new mercies each morning. Seasoned with insight and grace, this tender devotional points to the divine presence of God in everyday moments. Whether purchased as a personal resource or given as a heartfelt gift, God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea will help readers develop a daily habit of turning to God in those quiet moments of reflection.
About the Author:
Rose Chandler Johnson’s devotional journal, God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea: Experiencing God in the Midst of Everyday Moments won the Georgia Author of the Year Finalist Award in 2014. It was also awarded the Selah Finalist Award in 2014. Rose enjoys writing for her blog, Write Moments with God and engaging with her readers, who have inspired her to write another devotional, presently a work in progress. Rose is a native Georgian, and has lived in a suburb of Augusta for the last thirty years. She was a French and English teacher for twenty years. She currently works as an outreach specialist for a public library. In addition to reading and writing, Rose enjoys baking, gardening, and spending time with her six children and their families.
Connect with Rose:
Blog: http://www.writemomentswithgod.blogspot.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rechanjo
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/rosecjohnson/boards/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosechandlerjohnsonauthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/18188725-rose-chandler-johnson
God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea is available for sale on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart.com, Christianbooks.com and through your local independent book stores.
Book Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/God-Sweet-Iced-Tea-Experiencing/dp/1938499867/
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/god-me-and-sweet-iced-tea-rose-chandler-johnson/1116061386?ean=9781938499869
Christianbook.com – http://www.christianbook.com/sweet-iced-experiencing-midst-everyday-moments/rose-johnson/9781938499869/pd/499862?event=ESRCG
7 Comments
Thanks so much Norma Gail for having me on the blog today! I hope your readers enjoy this mediation. Thanks for helping me celebrate National Iced Tea Day as well!
You are so very welcome, Rose!
Sounds like a great book, Norma Gail and Rose! I write on similar things (God in the everyday)! I need to bookmark this one! I befriended you on Goodreads, Facebook, and Twitter, Rose! Love the title! This line is awesome —> ” The outcome of living sixty minutes of every hour of each day in obedience is holiness: the result of the multitude of moral choices made in accordance to God’s will is holiness.” So true! Keeps us from tripping up in legalism and just learning to walk in it because we love Him. What motivates us is key. Love of God. Blessings from Espressos of Faith!
Bonnie, thanks for your heartfelt comment. I really appreciate hearing from you. I’ve liked you on Goodreads and will do the same on the other social media sites. Yes, you would be blessed by this devotional. It’s all about living our faith and walking with God in the everyday moments. Check out my blog also. Blessings!
Will do….thanks! Put you in my “to buy” list on Amazon. https://www.facebook.com/bonnielynsmith is my author FB page. Blessings! Great to connect with you! Sounds like a great book!
Thanks for stopping by, Bonnie! It’s a great book!
Thanks NormaGail. I’ve just reposted on my author page because the other link had been dropped.