When Grace Is Absent: a little story of being kicked out of church

It seems like a lot longer than three years. Since the last time I saw him cry.

Daniel, that man of mine, he's not really a tear kind of guy. Three times only that I can remember in our almost 12 years of marriage. This day was number three. 

Home early, midday. A car full of books, papers, plans, and dreams-- ready to be packed away for safe keeping. 

Those things, still packed away. 

It's a sad day. The day they say to you, go away and never come back. Don't say goodbye, don't finish the conversations you were having with so many people, just sign here.

"We are offering to pay a 60 day severance to be paid in normal payment cycles, providing you agree to the following terms.

A. Attendance to this church is forbidden

B. Any and all means to malign the church or its leaders by you or your spouse, Kathlean Gibson, will terminate the severance agreement immediately. This includes all forms of internet use, chat rooms, Facebook, texting, etc. Any behavior that is viewed as defamation will be reviewed and decided by the Elders of this Church. 

C. Contact with he youth of this church with the intent of defamation will also terminate the agreement. 

Additionally, if all terms are met, a letter of reference by the Senior Pastor will be provided. 

Sign Here"

Have your stuff out within 24 hours. Don't take it personally, they said-- it's just business"

He sat there. Just crying.

"They asked me not to contact anyone until after Sunday. I'm not allowed to talk about it until they tell the congregation." He explained, "They canceled all the service projects scheduled for this weeks spring break, not giving a reason to anyone--I can't even give people a reason." 

"What was their reason", I asked. 

"We're not relational enough." 

"I don't agree with the vision of the church."

No warning, just get out.

What in the world do you do friends when you've been told to go away and never come back? 

What do you say when your nine year old,  who eats, sleeps, and breathes church-- says, "Can't go back to church? But anyone can go to church- no matter what."

I'll tell you what you do, you die. 

When the church, the body of Christ, Christ's Bride, the place where grace is abounding, becomes a business- when they turn their face to you and say go away, you die. 

you die a slow and painful, lonely death.

We're still dying. We're different now. 

It has changed us. Oh, we love. We serve. And we worship the One True God. But we don't give our heart away. We don't talk about much with you anymore. We don't really discuss much about what God is teaching us. And when you are sitting next to us in church, we're wondering-- who are they really and when are they going to hurt us? Daniel? He's not going to open up to you, that's for sure. You can tell me how wrong all of that is-- I already know. But for now, for some reason, it's just something we cannot shake. We pray for people to come into our lives and aid the healing. We're waiting, leaning on Jesus, and hoping for a day when all of that is gone.

And you see, when there is a pain like this-- people don't mention it. It's like a secret they don't want to bring up. Like having a child pass or a spouse leave you. Doesn't anyone realize maybe you just need to hear, "Hey, how are your wounds and what can I do to help? Let me sit here with you in the ash of the painful wounds, let's heal together." 

The hurt, it does bring hope. Being ripped away from the gathering of believers, being told to go and never return--the pain it has caused, there is hope in it. 

There should be pain. 

In scripture we see a loving, jealous, and just God. Then, we are introduced to a radical, loving, and just Jesus. A Jesus who loved prostitutes and sinners. A Jesus who always told off the Pharisees, A Jesus who said, keep nothing, and give it all. A Jesus who taught us how to offer a kiss to the person planning to turn against us and ultimately lead to our unfair trial and death. 

When the church, or anyone who follows Jesus, has operated outside of this Jesus way. It hurts. But when your heart longs to be loved the way Jesus loves, unconditionally. There is hope. 

I listen to a lot of sermons online. There is something special about having a friends voice fill your home with words the Lord has laid on their heart. Many people who have discipled me in the past or friends who are pastors stream their video or audio online weekly. Last night I listened on the edge of my seat as Randy Gariss of College Heights in Joplin shared a sermon that will forever change my life. A sermon that has challenged me, as a person who has been so badly hurt-- to never give up the good fight. I encourage you to listen intently to this message and be changed. May your heart be slowly healed in the Fathers time, however long it may take and may bitterness have no place in your heart. 

May you realize the truth: When the church, or anyone who follows Jesus, has operated outside of this Jesus way. It hurts. But when your heart longs to be loved the way Jesus loves, unconditionally. There is hope. 

May you or I never be that person causing the pain. May we be life givers and deliverers of hope.

Randy Gariss -- Finding Your Sweet Spot --oh, the sweetness of this message, friends!

Where there is love, there is life. - Gandhi

Where there is love, there is God. God is love.- Mother Teresa

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. 1 John 3:16

Healing alongside you,

Outside of that crazy thing called love, there is no God? how He is crazy in love with you! {Amazing YOU}

Some people are just good, maybe. 

Others, are lots of things. 

I am of the latter. 

What? Surprised? I know, I know... not so much of a surprise, huh? 

Truth is, it's the truth. 

I'm a mess.

 

I think, however, I am finding-- being a mess is the new "in" as far as Christian culture goes. The days of looking like the cookie cutter perfect Christian are going by the wayside and the "I'm not perfect, I'm flawed and I need Jesus look is in." 

And I wear it well. 

I am very flawed and crazy in need of Jesus. 

The trouble with being this new kind of "cool" is: We're all here.  I'm here, you're here, she's here, he's there, some of them are there, our parents are here, and even some of our grandparents. Problem is, being cool is harder than you think. 

Track with me here. 

I wonder if being "messed up and in need of grace" is really as cool as we think. 

Take myself for example: Let us expose my "coolness" - shall we?

I don't like crosses. I don't have them in my house, I don't wear them as jewelry, or apparel. I don't say, "God Bless America", and I don't pledge my allegiance to a flag. I like secular and christian music both, I love to dance like crazy with music loud and crazy kids. I drink the occasional glass of wine, sometimes a swear word comes out in adult conversation, and I often justify my haughtiness towards people who look down on the poor. Sometimes, the bible totally confuses me-- even makes me question, religious people make me super sad, I don't know where I totally stand on abortion or gay rights, I struggle with feeling worthy or of worth. If you eat processed foods often, I have to remind myself, it's OK. My children don't watch Disney channels or follow any of the recent "Bieber" type fads... sometimes (OK, always) I wonder why other children do.  Why do I do that when it's none of my business? *sigh* 

I digress. 

I don't wear or own crosses because I don't feel it is something Jesus would want me to make a fashion statement or "bling out" I think he would rather I smile, show love, talk with someone, help someone, rather than wear an item of fashion. (I know you do all those and wear crosses) I also realize it is a big step for some to wear a cross. It's OK, It's just me. I don't judge your crosses. 

I don't say "God Bless America" I'd rather say, "God Bless Everyone" It's just me. 

Come on, I don't listen to hard core rap or anything icky. But I love me a little Maroon 5 Moves Like Jagger (but we can't watch their videos), or Train from time to time. Along with various folk songs. 

Hold it, hold it, I like wine occasionally-- I didn't say I get drunk. And when in paid ministry, daily attending to the needs and mentorship of teenagers and parents, wine was not even a thought. You can't tell teenagers not to be drinking if you are, no matter how rare it is. 

I don't know where I stand on abortion or gay rights because I think everyone has free will- we can't force non-Christians to follow the ways of Jesus and we can't pretend to walk in other peoples shoes.  Now, government funding? I know where I stand on that, not a fan. 

There are days when I justify all of these and there are days when some of these make me fall to my knees. And this is just to name a few.  There are days when I wish I could just wear by best dress to church on Sunday morning, sing some songs, listen to some talking, go home feeling all christian and be happy- be safe.

Honestly, there are days when following Jesus is hard and confusing. Things I use to think were important aren't anymore. Things I use to think we're "Biblical" maybe never were, and always I'm starting back at square one. 

On my knees. Literally. Asking, begging, pleading with God.

"O to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be!
Let thy goodness like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee
Prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above"

One thing never changes.

I am absolutely in love with our savior.

How do we serve a non-changing but totally supernatural GOD of the universe? How do we just love. Love unconditionally. How do we condemn people for things of today when people of 100 years ago would have condemned us for what we Christians now do and allow in our homes today? How do we confront sin in a brother instead of talking to another brother about it? How do we forgive those hard to forgive people? Better yet, how do we forgive ourselves?

Do you see what I mean? Where is that church dress, fancy music, and sermon? Buffet afterwards? I need to just feel "safe" and quit thinking!  Maybe this "cool" messed up club isn't very fun.

----------------------------------

How do we protect ourselves from the enemies lies of worthlessness? After all, he is always out to destroy us. He is always reminding us of all our wrongs. To have it his way: we would be his next reckless, Adam Lanza. He wants to get inside of us and destroy our minds, our relationships, our everything. He wants our yuckiness to spill over and infect all those close to us.

He wants to steal our gift. 

Our gift of grace. He wants us to think we are not worthy of such a gift. As though he would understand worthy. HA!

He whispers little lies like, "Oh, it's not that bad... is it?" OR "Remember what you did? God wouldn't choose someone like you." He is the king of justifying our sinful, selfish nature and then reminding us of it.  Because he wants to devour us.

He's out to steal our worth.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8NIV

 Looking for me. Looking for you. 

Sometimes he makes us feel like we are better than others. But how can that be when Jesus loves us all the same? Sometimes he makes us feel more holy because we "do" more. Or he makes us feel worthless because we just don't do enough. 

Sometimes, he simply tricks us into staying so busy-- trying to be perfect, that we don't make time for being broken.

-----------------------------------------

Lean near and let me whisper something sweet into your ear, friend. God is so in love with you. Broken, messy, wonderful, you!

And he is bigger than everything you could ever imagine. He is bigger than any storm, he is bigger than any lie of worthlessness or self righteous. He is bigger than any hurt and can heal any wound. He is bigger than politics, secular music, and processed foods.

You will never figure him out, you will never know all the answers. you will never display him-- outside of love, correctly.

Outside of love, there is no God.

 "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:8

He designed love.

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us."
John 3:16

He didn't come and rule with a strong hand, he came to die. 

A friend of mine recently said, "My way of seeing the world continually shifts. But through it all, the beauty of Jesus who sacrificed his life for the Kingdom of God compels me. His vision of a new humanity caused him to not only die for a cause, but to die for a cause when he could have killed to force his vision upon the world. "

He reminds us of it's attributes. 

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." 1 Corinthians 13: 4-6

Love is the only absolute when it comes to understanding the complexity, the diversity, the absolute magnificence of the one true God. 
 

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55 8-9

The drunk, He loves.

The gossip, He loves.

The preacher, He loves.

Me, He loves.

You, He loves.

That, and that alone is our secret weapon.

May His love silence out the roaring lion in your life and may you feel like the treasure you are. 

May you feel His love today and always, friends. And may that love cause you to be radical, different, and outstanding, you!

Simply because you are loved. 

Related Topics:
Because sometimes the enemies lies are louder than His whispers
A Painful Memory, the story of grace.
Grace

.

Six Questions That Might Just Change a Life

Perhaps time isn’t the enemy – maybe it’s how we use it.

In a world of spinning to do lists, places to go, things to plan, and people to love — how do we remember the most important person of all...

Follow me (little 'ol me) HERE today for a bit of (in)couragement? It is a pleasantly, perfectly happy day in the gibson home. {i feel like a grown up}

giggles!

Loves,  

.

for my love. REMEMBER? {a little story about you and me}

remember when i first met you?

it was raining and you didn't want to get your new shoes dirty.

i walked you down that hill to those trailer looking school rooms to collect the attendance.

i kind of liked you.

remember our first date? The one where you said, "i think i kind of like you" and i said, "i think i kind of like you, too."

remember that summer?

remember how i would sneak over to your house bringing you toaster strudels and you would hide the generic pop tarts from your mom so she would think you had eaten them?

remember all the countless movies?

remember all the basketball?

remember all the drama?

remember country grammer?

remember how much my mom hated you because you parked in her grass?

remember how everyone hated us being together?

remember when i kissed that other boy?

yeah, that was bad.

remember when i first said, "i love you"?

yeah, that's embarrassing.

remember when it all went crazy and we saw each other every day without sharing a single word?

remember how you spent your days at play while I prepared for a baby?

remember what it was like when you first held her?

remember how we decided to get married?

do we seriously remember any of that now?

remember how your grandma gave us $500 and we thought we had won the lottery?

remember the big FAT tv we bought with that money?

yeah, that was before flat screens. we thought we were real cool, didn't we?

remember when we both got "real jobs"?

remember how bad we always fought?

remember how i would totally beat you up?

that's hilarious. {hey, watch 'yo self!}

remember when we thought it was all a crazy mistake?

remember when we entered the doors and made those friends?

remember how that changed our lives?

remember how that Jesus rocked our world?

remember when we got into that big fight in the church parking lot and you got out of the car and walked home?

yeah, that was totally funny too-- we lived pretty far away.

remember how many times we fell -- trying to learn how to walk this whole jesus road with new legs?

remember when our love was finally for real? when we really felt it?

remember when we bought our first home and thought we'd live there forever?

remember when we bought all those other ones thinking the same thing?

remember all.the.times.we.moved?

remember all those kids we had?

remember how crazy we are about them?

remember when we decided to walk their roads with them, schooling them and training them, each and every day?

remember the time we danced and danced and danced--living our cinderella story?

remember the first hitch hiker i picked up? 

remember how mad it made you? {ok, that's still super funny}

remember when you worked for a church?

remember how that broke our hearts?

remember how, once again, we walked that road-- that crazy winding, long, hard road with those new legs?

remember how nothing ever makes sense but it all makes perfect sense?

remember how we agree on everything? 

seriously.

remember when we thought we'd move to my hometown?

remember how totally crazy and hard that was?

remember how we sort of liked it after all?

remember how we like the kids in bed by 8:30 so we can sit and chat?

remember when we were 20 and we decided to make ourselves like coffee, starting with decaf?

we're so big now.

remember how we are happy with little or happy with much?

yeah, we've had some cool lessons.

remember when i cheated at stratego all those times and you still beat me?

remember all the prayers we prayed to live a crazy life-- poor in africa, teaching in taiwan, hippies in new england, watching wildlife in montana, little apartment in new york--living life in a coffee shop, a house full of orphans, farming in tennessee, with friends in so many towns, working in so many churches?

remember how god said, not yet- not now, not that, not there-- just.here?

remember how once again, we walked that road-- that sad lonely, loooong road with those new legs?

remember how we talk?

i mean how we really talk. how you know me, how I know you.

remember how our bodies are a bit more ache now that we're getting older?

remember how we have cocoa on christmas morning and the gifts are just not a big deal?

remember how many blessings that jesus gives?

remember how he tells us to give it all away?

remember how we talk about chickens, kids, old people, love, family, life?

remember how we LIVE?

remember how we do it all together?

remember how it's all totally crazy and unexplainable, this thing called us?

i kind of like that.


   (me)



take time today, friends?

i'm sure you have some 'remembers' =)

this was once my grandmothers house { how we must love fully }

This was once my grandmothers house. 

I remember when I was a young girl and we would travel there-- I would always run fast from the car to step on the grass. 

She had the fancy grass. You know, the kind that stands two inches from the ground and feels like you're walking on clouds.

I remember her yard was always so beautiful and full of life. Her backyard was full of flowers and there was always laundry hanging out to dry. I remember she went out and fed the birds each morning, even calling one Robin by name, Robbie. He would eat rasins from her hand. 

She had raised him from a baby and set him free in the back yard.

I remember the day of my Papa's funeral, the adults sat inside listening to the funeral service on a cassette tape. I was outside, kicking a ball against the shed and back. 

 

I remember the way her door would sloowwwly close with that hissing sound only screen doors can make.

I remember my mother and her, never getting a long. I remember my mom always saying, "Mom, you don't have to make your yard look perfect, you really are too old to be out there doing all that work." I remember going for walks while visiting -- my mom would always say, "Oh, my goodness. I don't know why your Mema chooses to live in this neighborhood. The houses are so close together."

I was 12 when my grandmother passed away. I remember my mother had a letter from my grandmother,  sitting on the kitchen counter. She had been to busy to write her back. Those were the days when you paid for long distance and nobody had a home computer.

When the call came in that she had passed away, I remember how badly it hurt my mother.

And now, when you hear my mother talk of my grandmother, she has only good things to say about her. That grandmother she use to talk about is no more and she dreams of just one more day with her mom, in that cramped neighborhood, with that perfect yard-- just one day to sit and love.

So when I tell her I'm making a trip to Oklahoma City she asks me to go.

"Go and take some pictures for me, Kati. I haven't seen it since we laid her to rest."

And today when I give her the pictures, I simply write:

"I hope these photos can bring good memories and not bad pain. It is such a good testament to how we must love fully today because we are not guaranteed tomorrow."

I love you,
Kati

And it did to me, like writing somehow always does--

it changed me. 

May we love fully today friends, 

Related Posts:
When it cuts you to the heart and the coffee sits cold

Because the enemies lies are sometimes louder than His whispers

In this world of openness, self imposed, I know -- I sometimes tuck my head inside my shell. Some times, I run away. Sometimes I get mad. Sometimes I get confused. Sometimes, I'm just young. A lot of times I just cry and hate this life. 

My heart longs for heaven. 

To the point that some times, the enemy's voice speaks louder than my Kings.

Some days I wonder, how do I turn to someone and tell them--

-this is the best life.

I remember when I felt that way. I remember thinking this was the best life. When I first found grace. Before my eyes were always so open.

Now, I feel my heart will explode and even worse, some times it lies. Some days I get mad at where God has me, some days I feel alone. Some days, I feel like a pawn in the game called God.

Some days, I'm mad because I can't just close my eyes and get lost in my own world. School, kids, husband, jobs, chickens, garden, games, trips, fun, privilege.

Some days, I manage it all-- I balance it well, GOD- school, kids, husband, jobs, chickens, garden, games, trips, fun, privilege. 

Some Sundays, my heart sings for joy with the body of Christ, others it hurts and has distrust for the body. Some days, I feel like it's all a lie-- this family.

Some days, when I cross the Christians in our town, hair pulled up high, skirts hanging long and mean furrowed brows looking at me-- I get mad-- because I am reminded of that "god" who I could never touch as a child because I wasn't holy enough. Why can't they ever smile back, just once?

Some times, I want the political views and opinions to stop and the praying to begin-- some days I want to hear someone say, "Jesus loves Barack Obama as much as he loves me."  Random, I know. 

Some days I just feel like it's all too pretty. This Christian life. So, people die. And I sit on the sofa with my apple computer typing on a blog? So, people in Kenya are shot to death for gathering to worship and I get to pick and choose the church that fits me best? And to be honest, I'm so picky-- none of them do. Again, the anger.

Oh friends-- if you think less of me now, you thought too much of me to begin with. 

I'm so broken.

Some days, the enemy speaks louder than love. Some days, he disguises himself as love, as help, as hope, as my heart. And every day, it breaks me even more. 

Sometimes, the enemy tells me I'm too privileged for His [God's] love-- too comfortable, too inconstant, too hurt, too wounded for love. Sometimes, he tells me I'm not good enough, I don't do enough, I sat too long or didn't read enough. Sometimes, he tells me I think too many bad thoughts, I hurt too many peoples feelings- I didn't send enough thank you's or I didn't donate enough. All the time he tells me, I don't do enough and I could be better. 

And then the whisper comes, 

1 Kings 19:9-16 (NIV)

"...And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave..." 

 

God was in the whisper.

That God of ours, in the mist of all my storms, He simply whispers so gently to me--"you are loved."

"i love you"

no matter what you do-- no matter what you don't do

no matter how you feel or what you hear-- I love you.

you are loved.

Sometimes I wonder--Is it the grace that's hard to understand,

--or the free gift of unconditional love.

Both the same, I know, in His eyes-- but uncompromisable and totally different in our minds.

In this world where you have to earn both He whispers,

"I love-- no earning required.

Not only you, I love them all."

I love the mean furrowed brow Christian in your town. I love the immature Christian who never seems to grow, I love the political person, I love the man who shot the Kenyan Christians, I love you in your pretty house, playing with your children just as much as I love the hopeless without a house to play in. 

 

And I'm again, conflicted. Confused and bewildered at that whisper. At that love. 

Francis Chan poses the question:  

"Can you worship a God who isn't obligated to explain His actions to you? Could it be your arrogance that makes you think God owes you an explanation? "

So, I continue to break. And choose to rejoice. 

"When I am consumed by my problems-stressed out about my life, my family, and my job-I actually convey the belief that I think the circumstances are more important than God's command to always rejoice.” Francis Chan

Perhaps when we choose to rejoice, the singing is so loud-- we can't hear the lies anymore and the wounds left by the enemy's lies begin to heal-- becoming just a memory. 

Maybe it's not meant to be the best life-- rather the best hope in this life.

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. Romans 5:1-11 NIV

Rejoicing with you today, [and so desperately in need of His love.]

Get out and get dirty-- because someone, one day, will.

It's no lie. 

I'm out to be the best. 

So I drag myself away from laundry, school papers, or dishes to play in the dirt. 

Because next to that God of ours, 

I want to be their favorite. 

Now don't get me wrong, I want to spank their little booties, correct their sassy mouths, and I'll repent again today, I'm sure for the one-millionth time of doing something wrong... again. But at the end of the day-- I want them to snuggle with me, laugh with us, and think mom and dad are simply the best. Which might be hard for Judah since he went to bed early tonight for telling a lie. 

I digress. 

So I in my dress, and that man of mine in his work boots, we run and run and run through the yard, trying to grab their clothes pins-- 

and of course, we win. 

Well, he wins. 

always. 

You see, when I pull myself away from the work-- when I lay down the needless things in my life, [such as sleep and painted toe nails, ha!]-- what I find is there's a world out there-- a world to be lived with my littles,


and this is one chance I have to get it right. 

So, I'm going to fight for their souls. Before someone else does.

“Another year is fast approaching. Go be that starving artist you’re afraid to be. Open up that journal and get poetic finally. Volunteer. Suck it up and travel. You were not born here to work and pay taxes. You were put here to be part of a vast organism to explore and create. Stop putting it off. The world has much more to offer than what’s on 15 televisions at TGI Fridays. Take pictures. Scare people. Shake up the scene. Be the change you want to see in the world.” Jason Mraz

Live FULL, Love completely, and never give up.



Do something today, you never thought you'd do.

Refuse to be normal.

Loves,

Today...

...may you be encouraged. 

by what was and what is.

by what hurts,

what brings joy,

 what's different and what's new.

By what causes pain but brings growth.

May you embrace the day,

no matter the outcome

no matter your failures

your successes

no matter what once was

or never will be.

Through the lenses of your day,

may you see You,

the way He sees You.

You're beautiful.

You're enough.

You're noticed.

You're heard.

You're loved.

You're lovely.

  

"I can see, and that is why I can be happy, in what you call the dark, but which to me is golden. I can see a God-made world, not a manmade world." Helen Keller

 May we see today, friends.