Acclimatizing...

I have noticed over the years that it takes some time, usually a week or two, to acclimatize when returning from a mission trip or vacation. I looked up the word, acclimatize, and found this definition; to adapt or become accustomed to a new climate or environment. 

​Monique and I have recently returned from our 25th anniversary celebration in the Caribbean. We went on our first cruise together with Mercy Me at Sea, a cruise organized by Inspiration Cruises. The program included concerts by the band, worship and incredible teaching in the truths of God's love and grace by Rusty Kennedy and our friends at Trueface. The cruise and inspirational times soaking in the truths of God's grace were incredibly stress free, relaxing and refreshing for our souls and our marriage. Needless to say, we are now acclimatizing from 80 degree weather to 40 degree weather in the northwest. 

,However, that is not the acclimatizing that I want to talk about in the next couple of blogposts. The definition of the word acclimatize includes adapting to a new environment. I want to talk about a new environment to live relationally in with others that will rock your world and revolutionize your marriage.  It is the environment of grace. 

Quite simply, an environment of grace is a relational space where the worst about you can be known and you would be loved, and loved all the more in the telling of it. Sound supernatural? It is and it is real. Most often when I share with with someone I hear something like; "I've never experienced anything like that with people. Where do you find such a place?" 

When I introduce people to the Room of Grace, many times it seems to good to be true. Questions, doubts, disbelief seem to be part of the acclimatizing to this new room. This acclimatizing process is okay, our God is patient with us. He so loves us and desires us to experience His radical unconditional life altering love, that He waits patiently for us to acclimatize. 

Finding and living in the Room of Grace starts with me, Christ in Me. Monique and I were blessed to meet Tim Timmons on our cruise. He led us in worship many mornings with story and song. Tim song, Christ in Me is a jumping off point for this series of blog posts. Click here  to meet Tim and listen to his song, stirred from something his little daughter shared with him.