Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. ~Psalm 107:28-29

The forecast called for severe thunderstorms today. As the skies darkened, the wind intensified, temperatures cooled and droplets of rain escalated into a rapid deluge on our parched earth, our beloved dog, Harleigh, was nowhere to be found. My daughter and I searched in all the usual spots and came up empty. We finally discovered her under a bed in a room that she doesn’t often frequent. As we lured her out from under the bed, she shook profusely. Malayna and I surrounded her on both sides hugging her as we reassured her she would be ok. The shaking stopped fleetingly as her breathing became heavier and ultimately she began to pant. She then followed us wherever we went and became calmer as the sun emerged and the rain slowed. Unfortunately, this was short lived. A few rumbles of thunder rolled in and the rain crescendoed into a downpour. This caused Harleigh to begin to pace looking for relief anywhere, unable to get comfortable no matter her position or with whom she was near. She shifted between wanting to be near us and seeking solace in isolation.

Malayna and I remarked how sad it was watching her suffer. There were moments where we attended to her and her breathing became measured and her shaking slowed, displaying that she had indeed received comfort in our companionship and encouragement. At other times, it seemed no matter what we said or did, we were unable to comfort her in a meaningful way. Yet, we chose to continue checking on her as we sought to allay her fears and remind her of our presence with her in the storm.

As the storm came to an interim lull, Harleigh gazed out the window, panting nearby my daughter, with hopeful expectation.

I was struck by the similarities of our precious dog enduring a literal storm to our experience as humans of enduring many of life’s storms. My heart is overcome with the comfort I have received by so many in the midst of my storms. I have had steadfast family and friends walk alongside me with persistence, understanding and unfaltering love during life’s crushing storms. These individuals have listened, validated, challenged, wept, prayed, encouraged and expressed the reality of the helplessness that they feel. These are all feelings that resonate with anyone who has ever chosen to walk in tandem with someone through an enduring storm. It is painful to see others suffer. It is not the faint of heart, but those with courage, tenacity and perseverance who are able to come alongside others in the fiercest of storms. As one exhibits empathy alongside those who suffer, that person absorbs some of the shrapnel of pain endured by the sufferer. This process is grueling for the onlooker as the comfort provided proves to be successfully received and effective, at times, while falling flat or even possibly appearing to wreak more havoc, at other times. Whatever the result, as someone who has been the recipient of several companions in stormy times, experiencing the presence of another human being in the trenches with you, testifies of the very character of God.

Emmanuel ~ God with us. He is the faithful God who never leaves us. By contrast, He constantly pursues us with immeasurable love, truth and grace. He is a relentless God who treasures His children. He seeks to transform us into His image and fill us with His Spirit so we might be able to operate out of His vast supply of power. He is a humble-hearted God who leads with kindness. He continually pulls us up out of the dregs, infusing us with His light, solace and hope. God is the only One who remains by our side, every moment, with an inexhaustible patience and tender love that woos us to His heart. His presence is where we can truly find rest for our weary souls. He is the God who refreshes us and satisfies us with every good thing. His friendship is one that is never waning; His companionship is unfaltering. May we each find contentment in the safety of our Father’s arms as we wade through life’s storms.

God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” ~Hebrews 13:5

Jesus said, “I will not leave you comfortless (as orphans), I will come to you.” ~John 14:18

… the Lord has chosen you to be His treasured possession. ~Deuteronomy 14:2

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you… ~Acts 1:8

He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. ~Psalm 40:2

I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. ~Jeremiah 31:25

A wise man attacks the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust. ~Proverbs 21:22

The word stronghold appears roughly 50 times in the Bible. Stronghold: refuge, protection, defense, security, safeguard.

In Christian communities, “stronghold” is used in two different contexts. A stronghold is referred to as a safe place, a place fortified and able to defend against all attacks. In this way, God is our ultimate stronghold; our place of refuge. Alternatively, we are encouraged to demolish spiritual strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:5), ie. combat pride, greed, lust, fear and anything that sets itself up against God.

I have found for myself and for many, we grapple with the “stronghold” of our own righteousness. I have been challenged to examine whether I am more interested in being right or in being reconciled in relationships. Additionally, do I find greater solace in being right or in being forgiven? Three of the hardest words for humankind to utter are: “I was wrong.” Similarly, to take full responsibility and sincerely apologize, inviting that person to further explain the pain he/she has experienced as a result of our sin, requires a humility that is inspired by the very nature of God. Yet, I am sure for all of us, in those times where we have truly and fully owned our wrongdoing and humbly apologized, we have experienced the reconciliation for which God created us. The stubbornness of maintaining our “rightness” is exhausting and isolating when God explicitly says: “There is no one righteous, not even one…” (Romans 3:10) Instead, God, in His great mercy, imputes His righteousness to us, as we are reconciled to God.

We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. ~2 Corinthians 5:20b-21

Reconciliation to God is why we were created. To live in an authentic, life giving, dynamic relationship with God where we are fully known and deeply loved is paramount. Likewise, God calls us to be reconciled with others. To be reconciled is to compromise, to live in harmony and with one accord.

“The marvel of grace is that we are all inflicted with the same cancer as those we are called to love.” ~Dan Allender

Our human nature is one of self-preservation which compels us to justify our actions and defend ourselves, seeking to appear good and right. These natural responses convey a lack of surrender to a loving God in whom we can put our entire trust. Matt Chandler states in his study entitled: Recovering Redemption:

“Ignoring the root of sin manifests itself in two major ways: religion and blame. Religion waves the banner of God’s name with one hand and tries to do the very thing He saved us from with the other hand. No amount of moral tinkering, religious activity, or behavior modification will clean you up inside. Nobody else can be blamed. Not for your part. You have to own it. And you can’t fix it.”

In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to save me. ~Psalm 31:2

It is so liberating when we recognize and confront the depth of our sin. Our sin is not merely matched, but surpassed and covered by the grace, mercy and forgiveness afforded us in Jesus Christ. It is a posture of utter dependence and surrender that we assume in receiving what God has for us as we rest in the fact that Jesus has done it all. This is why the following was declared in the last moments of His life:

Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. ~John 19:30

Within the contexts of our earthly relationships, we are called to choose love above all else. Our hearts are unwaveringly committed to our own “rightness” while God’s call on our lives is to one of unmitigated humility.

We are called to be ophthalmologists: eye doctors who see a disease in the eye of another and are so committed to removing that speck of cancer that we knowingly undergo the same surgery to remove the mass in our own eye in order to remove the disease in the other. ~Dan Allender

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. ~1 Corinthians 13:1, 13

If you are a person of faith, at some point you’ll need to decide whether you want to be right or if you want to be Jesus? ~Bob Goff

The antidote to our need to be right and the answer to our call to humility is partly found in a verse I was reminded of yesterday.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. ~James 5:16a

With each new year, I pray and ask God what word and verse would be best for me to focus on throughout the coming year. For the past several months, the word new has been percolating in my mind. Most of us are ready for things to be new and different in a world that has sadly been wrought with contention and division. We are ready for renewal within ourselves, our homes, and our communities. Thankfully, we serve a God who has a lot to say about His transformative power to make all things new and to bring healing, victory and freedom.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! ~2 Corinthians 5:17

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. ~Ezekiel 36:26

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” ~Revelation 21:5a

We are bombarded with mixed messages from every direction. Yet, I continue to be encouraged by the reassuring presence of God who settles my soul, reminding me that He has my destiny, and that of my family, in His hands. The Sovereign Lord is the One who defines each of us and by His Spirit, He brings forth transformation, growth and healing. God embodies hope, refreshing, redemption and freedom. Despite what anyone may say or perceive, God sees, hears and understands the depth of each of our souls. God created each of us in His image and He delights in everyone of us.

Our words have the power to breathe life or death into our fellow sojourners in this precarious adventure of life we each live. Our interactions with others have the ability to demonstrate a belief that God can propel others to impossible heights because of the power which lies within God’s ability to make all things new. Diane Langberg is a champion for those who have endured immense suffering. She is a Christ follower who exhorts the body of Christ to accurately convey the heart of Christ to an aching world. May we give the gift of compassion seasoned with an undeniable desire to see and hear what God has truly placed within others, as we believe alongside of them that God is capable of the impossible. He truly does make all things new.

The… humiliating and labeling of other believers is horrifying and grieves God. A call to truth, which we must issue, is always to be done with gentleness, humility, and dignity, for we are calling one made in God’s image. Opinions are not to govern character, no matter how strongly we hold them. Issues are not to govern character no matter how biblical they are. Character is to be rooted and grounded in likeness to Christ so that when we express our thoughts, we manifest his character and none other.” 
― Diane Langberg

May we exhibit the heart and character of Christ, through His power, as we seek to be refreshed and refresh others in this new year. May the thrust of our interactions exude gentleness, humility and dignity to all humankind.

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. ~Isaiah 43:18-19

Mentor. Beloved Friend. Soul Sister. Truth-teller. Joyous. Gracious. Sassy Pants. Bold Challenger. Kind. Funny. Inspiring. Authentic. Perseverant. Forgiving. Faithful. Lover of God’s Word. Spontaneous. Available. Prayer Warrior. Pure-Hearted. Open. Accepting. Hopeful. Transparent. Refreshing. Unconditionally Loving. Free.

October 2021 – 92nd Birthday!

In the same way, when a good or a great person’s life comes to its final sunset, the skies of this world are illuminated until long after she is out of view. Such a person does not die from this world, for when she departs she leaves much of herself behind – and being dead, she still speaks. ~Henry Ward Beecher

I had the privilege and joy afforded by Loverna’s generous and gracious daughters to spend an hour with her just three nights ago. Loverna shared with me that a couple of her favorite hymns are: All Things in Jesus I Find and The Comforter Has Come. She also shared one of her favorite Bible verses is: Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart. ~Psalm 37:4

Loverna was in fact one who delighted in her Savior and Lord and while she will be profusely missed, I praise God the Comforter has come and ushered her into her true home where she is at peace.

January 9, 2022

Empathy is a leading indicator of human flourishing, while lack of empathy is a signal that a person is in a dehumanized state. Empathy is the natural condition for a human being who is mentally, emotionally, and spiritually healthy. This is what it means to be humane.

To be human is to need, and yet, we have been conditioned to believe that it is not alright to need certain things. ~Matthew Kelly

We all need love, acceptance and to be seen and heard. Yet many throughout this world feel alone, judged, overlooked and dismissed.

In Hosea, God speaks of His love for Israel, a people who were often unrepentant, wayward, and rebellious. Israel is a picture of humankind; a reflection of you and me. While God brought judgment on Israel, He also pursued them relentlessly with tender-kindness and love.

I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love, I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them. ~Hosea 11:4

My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused. ~Hosea 11:8b

This is the God we serve. He leads with cords of kindness and love. He lifts all that weighs so heavily on us and carries it for us. As we know, the yoke He places on us is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:30). In Him, we will assuredly find rest for our souls. It’s astounding to see God’s heart was changed and the result was Him being flooded with compassion for the Israelites. He indeed has unending compassion for His children. Emmanuel, God with us, comes alongside of us. He bends down to fill us with what will satisfy. God restores, redeems, encourages, assists us in our journey, lightens our load and cares for us from a place of compassion.

The subtlest evil of all is the opposite of love. It isn’t hatred; there is nothing subtle about hatred. The opposite of love is indifference. It is the Pied Piper that leads millions into despair. Our actions can tip the balance between hope and despair. ~Matthew Kelly

In 2022, we have the opportunity to display the character of God to our fellow sojourner by choosing to embody God’s relentless love for the Israelites. We can determine to bear with others in love, displaying His kindness and compassion, coming alongside them with encouragement which focuses on the good He has placed within each person. We have the privilege of bringing light to a world in despair. We can search for the beauty within each soul ensuring that each person with whom we interact, feels seen and heard. May we continually choose to act in ways that bring life and light to those around us.

Jesus came among us as an equal, a brother. God offered a new model: the circle, where He lives in full solidarity with the people and the people with one another. ~Henri Nouwen

Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done. ~1 Chronicles 16:8

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, I would imagine each of us reflect on a variety of things for which to give thanks. We may be mired in difficulties, bewildered by circumstances or relationships resulting in despair, or in a season of waiting with unknown outcomes. Nevertheless, God always provides something to evoke gratitude within us.

At this time last year, my youngest son and I had just returned on Thanksgiving morning from spending the night in the ER. Our family traveled to the Outer Banks to spend several days with my side of the family, as was our custom. As Ezra’s temperature continued to rise and due to complications that can occur with sickle cell disease, it became apparent we would need to go to the ER. The nearest ER was a solid hour drive from where we were staying. Upon arrival, issues developed with insurance and once we were finally seen, it became clear and unsettling that the staff did not have any experience treating someone with sickle cell. While I informed them of standard protocol, understandably, they attempted to contact his hematologist in the wee hours of Thanksgiving, to have a professional reiterate what had been conveyed. Thankfully, Ezra was treated and we were permitted to return home to celebrate Thanksgiving with our family. Traveling home a couple days later, his fever not only remained, it even rose as we made our way to a funeral to be with a friend who had lost his father. Needless to say, follow up appointments at home were necessary as we sought to address the root of a fever that was persistent.

I share this story because it is an example of what was a blip in the grand scheme of life for Ezra and for our family. While the entire scenario was distressing, God was indeed with us and He provided every step of the way. As we confronted the ramifications of a congenital disease in our child and also reflected on the grief we all will encounter, in attending our friend’s dad’s funeral, I was reminded of the brevity of life. The uncertainty of life gnaws at us on a continual basis. Thankfully, we have a Savior who is unwavering. He is matchless in His faithful provision for His children. He is the Sustainer of life and the Comforter of our souls. We are reminded in Hebrews 13:8, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. ~Isaiah 42:16

In essence, we are all blind to God’s ultimate plan, to His supernatural ways which are inexplicable. In 1 Chronicles 16:8 we see a wise and simple layout for how to live life. We begin by giving thanks to God as we simultaneously call on His name. To me, this implies the notion of giving thanks in all circumstances, even during times of duress, as we call on His name. In other words, we can be steeped in despondency while also genuinely expressing gratitude to the God who will always make a way. Lastly, we are urged to let it be known what God has done in our lives. We are essentially exhorted to “shout from the rooftops” what God has done for us.

For this God is our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end. ~Psalm 48:14

I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. ~Psalm 143:6

Many of us prefer to be in a position where we are helping others, doing the listening, providing insight and offering encouragement. Yet all of us will find, at some point in our lives, we simply do not have the bandwidth, the gumption, the wherewithal, (insert your preferred word), to give like we’ve grown accustomed to or as we’d wish.

In each of our lives, there comes a day, or even a long season, where we must receive. It is a position that is humbling, to say the least. When all of our resources are expended, whether it be financially, physically, emotionally or spiritually, we find ourselves in a feeble place where we unequivocally must cling to God. Additionally, by God’s merciful provision, He supplies His children to be fellow sojourners alongside of us, as we clumsily negotiate our path forward. When we adhere to God, we find ourselves on an unfolding path of healing. While it is God, and God alone, who does the transformative work within us, it is you and I who take the posture of the eager child longing to be nourished by the Only One who can sustain us. I have read two times recently: “healing is never a straight line”. We would do well to continually bask in the tender grace and mercy God offers as we withstand the jagged edges of the healing process we are certain to encounter. In this place where we are emptied, feeling raw and exposed, it is essential we receive the help offered to us by God’s people. We may even have to make ourselves uncomfortably vulnerable and request assistance in a variety of forms. By humbly receiving help from others, we are, in essence, worshiping the Lord who created us to be in community and live as a body.

Throughout scripture we are reminded that the word of God came to individuals. The phrase, “Then the word of the Lord came to me…” is repeated over and over in the Bible. It is often IN the most wilderness of experiences, the word of the Lord will come to us. This reality begs the question, “What posture are you and I assuming with respect to God?” It is in the posture of RECEIVING that we will be afforded undeniable access to the God who is our steadfast companion, longing to renew our minds and guide us into all truth.

Will you and I receive all God has to offer us today? Are we willing to be open, teachable and receptive to what He wants to do within us through the Bible, prayer and others? Can you and I humble ourselves and cease having to be in a position of control or power and simply surrender and receive?

When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, he entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. ~1 Peter 2:23

Jesus chose to bear our sins, to experience the most excruciating death on our behalf so that by His wounds we are afforded promised healing. (1 Peter 2:24) Jesus was accused of being a liar, one who was demon possessed, a blasphemer, a glutton, among many other false accusations. Yet, in the face of being mocked, mistreated and falsely judged, Jesus chose to remain quiet and refrain from retaliating. God in the flesh, who had the power to do anything,  made no threats. Instead, we are told Jesus lived in utter surrender, fully trusting God the Father, to be His defender. Jesus repeatedly took a position of humility throughout the course of His life. He understood the depth of His Father’s love, protection and deliverance. 

I am challenged greatly by the example of Jesus. My instinct is to defend myself and to take matters into my own hands, in the face of injustice. Yet, God has used immense suffering to reveal the power of this verse in my life. When I follow Jesus’ prescription of trust in my Heavenly Father as I endure suffering, God’s will, will always prevail.

Henri Nouwen’s book: The Inner Voice of Love; A Journey Through Anguish to Freedom, has brought thoughtful musings and insightful wisdom, in my own journey. When referring to the darkest period of suffering in his life, he states: “It was as if the house I had finally found had no floors.” Feeling disoriented in a sea of grief where a safe landing is elusive, creates despair mixed with numbness. Yet, we have a Risen Lord who endured all manner of injustice, sorrow and suffering and He illuminates a path that is contrary to that of this world. We have a very real enemy seeking to kill, steal and destroy. However, we have a victorious God who will always have the final say. He is the one and only Victor. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end and everything in between. God’s heart is one of deliverance, healing, transformation and hope. 

Mammoth Cave National Park

Wouldn’t they find it a source of consolation to see that light and darkness, hope and despair, love and fear are never very far from each other, and that spiritual freedom often requires a fierce spiritual battle? ~Henri Nouwen

For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. ~1 Peter 2:25

Return to your first love today; He is the Overseer of your soul. What a compelling statement… the God of creation cares so personally and tenderly for you that He shepherds your heart as He oversees the very essence of your being. No matter the injustice and false accusations we endure in this life, God sees each and everyone of us. We can rest in God’s ability to be our defender as we entrust the entirety of our lives to Him. He knows the truth and He will indeed set us free.

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” ~Revelation 21:5a

As I contemplate my life, the parents God gave me, the way in which I was raised, and all that I have experienced, I am filled with immense gratitude. While every single individual, regardless of his/her upbringing, has scars, wounds, and unhealthy ways of coping, we also possess unique insight and depth of understanding, due to our family of origin and life events that have transpired.

It is imperative to remember where we have come from, so as to honestly face how our background has impacted our current way of thinking, living and interacting with others. No matter what we have endured as a result of our upbringing, God calls us to do the following in 1 Thessalonians 5:18…

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

We must acknowledge how our past has affected us negatively while focusing on God’s faithfulness in remaining by our side and providing so much for which to give thanks, throughout the entirety of our lives. It is of the utmost importance that we likewise give credence to the fact that due to our family of origin and past, we each possess certain capacities and insight we wouldn’t otherwise have. Those individuals I know who have suffered the most, are often the ones who have ample bandwidth to sensitively care for others with expansive empathy. Those same people who have been exposed to greater realms of the deficiencies of human nature, either due to upbringing or poor choices made, often convey compassion to others that is filled with grace and freedom from judgment. In this way, I believe it is vital we thank God for all that has occurred in each of our lives. God is able to use every. single. thing. that has transpired in our lives, for His good. He wastes nothing.

As we give thanks, even for the pain we each have endured, Isaiah also reminds us to live in the present.

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. ~Isaiah 43:18-19

There are many who will sadly miss what God is doing, the new He has brought forth and is bringing forth, as they dwell on your past. Similarly, I reflect on our human propensity to remain mired in our past. May we all be challenged to trust in a God who is capable of doing infinitely more than all we ask or imagine, not only in others but also in ourselves. Be encouraged and take heart as you seek God, surrendering fully to Him and allowing His Spirit to guide you into all truth. He is the Sovereign Lord who makes all things new. He is the God who purifies, redeems and restores. He is the God who defines you. Your past does not define you. In fact, your past is a gift God utilizes to bring forth greater sensitivity, capacities, empathy and understanding, as you care for others who are traversing this tumultuous life and could use a tenderhearted companion. God is not stagnant; He is constantly moving as He transforms us into more of His likeness.

The Rabbi (Jesus) implores, “Don’t you understand that discipleship is not about being right or being perfect or being efficient? It’s all about the way you live with each other.” In every encounter we either give life or we drain it. There is no neutral exchange. We enhance human dignity, or we diminish it. The success or failure of a given day is measured by the quality of our interest and compassion toward those around us…” ~Brennan Manning

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed. ~1 Peter 2:24

As we grow in our faith, our understanding of our sin and the power of what Jesus did on the cross will presumably hold more weight in our hearts and minds. Many of us have heard the old adage by John Bradford that states: “But for the grace of God go I”. Every single one of us is capable of disdainful thoughts and haughty actions that we once thought, or even now imagine, as reprehensible. In light of a holy and perfect God, the gravity of our sin becomes increasingly more perceptible. It is therefore imperative our understanding of the cross of Christ grows in sync with our ever-growing knowledge of our sin.

If we gloss over our selfishness and rationalize the evil within us, we can only pretend we are sinners and therefore only pretend we have been forgiven. ~Brennan Manning

As we ponder the enormity of Christ’s sacrificial love for us on the cross, we are astounded that anyone would be willing to endure such a gruesome death in our place. Deliberating the vastness of God’s unconditional love and forgiveness for us, infuses us with a sense of gratitude throughout our whole being. It becomes counterintuitive and yet fundamentally true: as my knowledge of my sin increases, Christ’s all-encompassing love for me and His delight in who He has created me to be, simultaneously increases, as well.

To enlarge either our sin OR the cross, thereby neglecting to see the coexistent nature of these elements growing concurrently, is to find ourselves unbalanced. An inflated view of our sin apart from an acknowledgment of the immensity of the cross, actually reveals self absorption as we are filled with despair with a focus on ourselves. Likewise, an inflated view of the cross apart from understanding the depth of our sin, can lead to indulgence in all manner of things, with a focus on our pleasure and ultimately, ourselves. It is therefore crucial that as our insight regarding our sin increases, the cross of Jesus Christ and what His death and resurrection mean for you and me, must expand.

The Crucified says, “Confess your sin so that I may reveal Myself to you as lover, teacher, and friend, that fear may depart and your heart can stir once again with passion.” His word is addressed both to those filled with a sense of self-importance and to those crushed with a sense of self-worthlessness. Both are preoccupied with themselves. Both claim a godlike status, because their full attention is riveted either on their prominence or their insignificance. They are isolated and alienated in their self-absorption. ~Brennan Manning

The crux of our growing faith is dependent on clothing ourselves in the righteousness of Christ as we bow in humility at the foot of the cross. His righteousness replaces our filthy rags. God enables us to be co-heirs with His beloved Son because of Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross. The magnitude of the cross comes into fresh, sharp focus, as we adorn ourselves in Christ’s righteousness. Life, relationships, and our very existence, all come back to God and what He has done.

But where sin increased, grace increased all the more… ~Romans 5:20b