Friends, Life and Tattoos!

Yesterday I got a call from a friend of mine that I graduated with from Loma Linda.  She is a traveler like me, actually we work for the same company.  She lives down in King's City at the moment.  She asked me if I would like to meet up half way and have lunch.  So we met up in Milptas. I was a little nervous to drive that far, being that car is not in the best shape, but I did it anyway because  I missed my friend.  So we met up at El Torrito, but ended up going to Red Lobster instead.  It was great catching up.  Here we are at Starbucks!  This is one of the best two person photos I have ever taken on my phone!

Gina and I enjoying the sun

So my life here in Stockton is pretty good so far.  I feel like all I do is work and on the weekends I am recuperating from the week.  I am beginning to meet more people while I'm here.  Last Friday I hosted a purse party at a friends house.  Not many people from work showed up, but the ones that did enjoyed themselves I'm sure.  And as a bonus, I was able to get three purses and a wallet for a great price.  It beneficial to host parties like that.  

I am discovering new delicacies..

So...why didn't anyone ever tell me how delicious this is!!

Pampering myself...

My fingers look chubby here

All toes should be loved

And watching others get pampered...

Best Father's Day present ever!

And in other news....

Tetelestai

I feel that I need to clarify this one..

So I got this tattoo right after I graduated Bible college.  I thought long and hard  for a year about what I wanted because I knew that it would be with me forever, and forever is a long time.   People ask me all the time what it says/means.  My reply is always the same, it's one of the last thing Jesus said on the cross before he died.  I am realizing that not everyone knows what that is.  Here I thought that it was common knowledge.  How wrong was I? 

Literally translated the word tetelestai means, “It is finished.” The word occurs in John 19:28 and 19:30 and these are the only two places in the New Testament where it occurs. In 19:28 it is translated, “After this, when Jesus knew that all things were now completed, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, he said, ‘I thirst.’” Two verses later, he utters the word himself: “Then when he received the sour wine Jesus said, ‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

The word tetelestai was also written on business documents or receipts in New Testament times to show indicating that a bill had been paid in full. The Greek-English lexicon by Moulton and Milligan says this:

“Receipts are often introduced by the phrase [sic] tetelestai, usually written in an abbreviated manner...” (p. 630). The connection between receipts and what Christ accomplished would have been quite clear to John’s Greek-speaking readership; it would be unmistakable that Jesus Christ had died to pay for their sins.

 I heard it once said that Jesus took our debt, that was so high that there was NOTHING that we could ever do to repay it, and wrote on it "paid in full" with His blood. 

All this to say...Jesus Paid  it All!  There is nothing that I need to do to be a better Christian.  In the eyes of Christ, I already am bought and paid for.  I can't "earn" my way into heaven.  There is no amount of doors that I can knock on, no amount pamphlets or magazines that I can had out and no amount of people I can evangelize to that will "win" my way into heaven.  There is ONE way into heaven and ONE way to know that you know that you will be there.  By accepting the free gift of Salvation that is offered to us. 

John 3:16-17 says, "For God so loved the world, that He sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever should believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the would would be saved through Him."

God want's everyone, the WHOLE world, to be with Him forever in heaven.  All we have to do is accept it.  It's a FREE gift.  Trying to "payback" Jesus for this free gift is like a slap in the face.  Let me put it this way. Say you gave your son/daughter a gift for no particular reason, but just because you loved them and wanted to show it. If your son/daughter freely too that gift, said "Thank you very much, now how much do I owe you for this gift?", would you not be offended??  I  would think so.  That's how I would imagine Jesus reacting to it. 

So there you have it! The explanation behind my tattoo.  Until next time!!!

Remember that Jesus Paid it ALL!!