"When a man has a stubborn son, a real rebel who won't do a thing his mother and father tell him, and even though they discipline him he still won't obey, his father and mother shall forcibly bring him before the leaders at the city gate and say to the city fathers, "This son of ours is a stubborn rebel; he won't listen to a thing we say. He's a glutton and a drunk."

Then all the men of the town are to throw rocks at him until he's dead. You will have purged the evil pollution from among you. All Israel will hear what's happened and be in awe.

When a man has committed a capital crime, been given the death sentence, executed and hung from a tree, don't leave his dead body hanging overnight from the tree. Give him a decent burial that same day so that you don't desecrate your God-given land—a hanged man is an insult to God." Deuteronomy 21:18-23

Lord, I so deserve to be stoned for my rebellion. Yet You hung on a tree, died a God-insulting criminal's death - for ME! Oh Lord, why do You forgive me? How can You put up with me? Yet it's not because I'm living a "better" life now, or because of any promises I've made, or because You pity me, or even because Christ is covering over my sins. But it's because You are God! Knowing You are AGAPE, how could You NOT forgive and love me?!?

Likewise, how could You not forgive and love my mom? Well, because You're also Holy. So the "how" IS all about Christ. I pray that she would accept Your gift, Lord. Is she even close? Is she going that way? Are You still calling, or is she beyond hoping for? I have a feeling we should never give up hope for our unsaved neighbors.

Lord, You know my mom is coming to spend the day with us today. I want You to be glorified!!! I want her to see beyond a doubt that You are the cause of my fruit - not natural maturity or worldly comfort or anything else. But most of all, I want her to feel that she indeed is missing something. Her life cannot possibly be complete, even if she feels like it is (which I cannot fathom, but she insists). What will it take to wake her from slumber, Lord? How can I talk/walk/act that gives You the most advantage and effectiveness? I'm so sorry for the stumbling block that my life and my words could be. I mess up so many times, and I get sarcastic and disrespectful, and I get frustrated and disgusted. How can I love her the way You love her? Would You do that through me today?

Father, thank You for the opportunity. For the break she'll provide. For the resources to live comfortably in the warmth of our beautiful home. For warm clothes. For more food than we really need. For a family that loves me and that I love. For a husband who is above and beyond what I ever hoped for. I deserve NONE of this, God. I deserve to be stoned. But I thank You for my very breath and life - without You, I would be dead in my sin. You are my Sweet Jesus! I love You.