March 7, 2023

Self-love.

Not an uncommon phrase we hear these days.

“Give yourself some self-love.”

“You deserve this…”

“Your body. Your money. Do what you want! You earned this!”

“Fill your bucket so you have what you need to pour out to others.”

I’ve been known to say the latter, many times. While not entirely wrong, modern society defines self-love differently than Biblical self-love. As a follower of Christ, I have been convicted of – which am I going to live by?

According to some licensed therapists and life coaches, “self-love teaches you the importance of putting yourself first…” But is that what we’re called to as followers of Christ? Does Christ say, “take care of yourself first, before all things, and then you’ll find peace. Contentment. Purpose and joy.”?

No.

Life and Death is in the Power of the Tongue

This lesson I am learning, personally, is two-fold. Unfortunately due to self-imposed hurt and bad choices as well as imposed hurts by others I had little to no control over, my “self-love” is very, very bad. It’s gotten especially bad the past two years.

I can’t look at myself in the mirror or at a picture and not pick myself apart. I’m too dimply here, too saggy there, too bulging here, too thick, not toned, chubby…the ugliness of my words continue. I repeat back to myself things people have said to me or about me- and get this ridiculousness, things I have heard people say about other people’s bodies, imposing them upon myself because that thing someone else criticized in a person I now see in myself so if it was “gross” then, it’s “gross” now on me.

Our words have power. Power to do good or power to do evil. Unfortunately, I remember way too many powerful words of evil spoken than encouraging words. My inner chatter is appalling. I can be the best cheerleader for someone else, but for myself, absolutely not. I’m not worthy. I’m not capable. (Those are words I tell myself anyway based on past relationships and experiences.)

Reflections of Love

Since closing the Bakery storefront in obedience to what God was impressing upon my heart, He has really been working on my heart. In numerous ways. And while I have much to write about the things He is teaching me, for now, I’m focusing on what I’m learning about “self-love.”

As I reflect on the past two years and try to connect why my self-love has gotten so terrible, the Lord has revealed to me that my pursuit of self-love has been misplaced. Finding purpose, contentment, joy and self-love has been an exhausting effort of energy put in many wrong places.

Professionals say a woman sees herself through the lens of her earthly father. How she was treated, how she was spoken to, and how she felt about the relationship between her and her father. In my experience, I had an earthly father that was once fun-loving and present to one that became so distant, I hardly recognized him as I said goodbye at his funeral two years ago.

Looking back, I believe the landslide downhill began when my mom and dad got divorced. Based on my feelings and choices in life from then on, not seeing my value or having a positive self-love really began then.

I felt unseen, unheard, unwanted, unlovable, and overwhelmed by what it would take to feel anything. All of these feelings escalated as I sought unfulfilling relationships with boys, trying to find appreciation, giving more and more of myself that wasn’t theirs to have from the beginning. My mom later met a man that seemed to really see me, my mom and brother, and wanted to have us in his life. Except that was all a game of manipulation and grooming for him to abuse me and my mom later.

Time and again, activity after activity, boy after boy, man after man- there was nothing that was helping me lead to a place of positive self-love and appreciation. Was it all their fault? Absolutely not. I imposed some of those feelings and thoughts upon myself by misplacing my purpose, value, contentment and joy in other things except for the ONE place I could find it.

New Lens of Love

Even though I didn’t have a great lens to view myself through from my earthly father’s or other men who were supposed to protect me, I discovered about five or six years ago that I have a heavenly father I whom I could view myself through.

I have believed in God the Father, Jesus Christ his son, and the Holy Spirit since a young age, but I believed him to be so far above me that, much like my earthly relationships, I had to perform to prove myself worthy. I didn’t see God as being MY heavenly father; one that loves me for me or sees me for who I am, all the good, ugly and bad. But like a mighty flood, the Holy Spirit revealed to me the reality that even though I may not have a good relationship with my earthly father, I can have that with my Heavenly Father.

When I came to realization I can let go of what was and what was or was not spoken/done to me, I could embrace who God says I am-

• I am a child of God [John 1:12] and heir [Rom 8:17]
• I am a branch of the Living True Vine [John 15:15]
• I am a friend of Jesus [John 15:15]
• I am a friend of Jesus [John 15:15]
• I have been justified through faith and redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ [Rom 3:24]
• My old self was crucified with Christ, and I am no longer a slave to sin [Rom 6:6]
• I have been accepted by Christ [Rom 15:7]
• I am a new creature in Christ [2 Cor 5:17]
• I have been set free in Christ [Gal 5:1]
• I am chosen, holy and blameless [Eph 1:4]
• I am redeemed and forgiven [Eph 1:7]
• I am alive in Christ [Eph 2:4-5]
• I am God’s handiwork, created to do good works [Eph 2:10]
• I am created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness [Eph 4:24]
• I was once in darkness but now I am in light of the Lord [Eph 5:8]
• My heart and mind is guarded by Christ Jesus [Phil 4:7]
• God has chosen me as holy and dearly loved [Col 3:12 & 1 Thes 1:4]
• I have been saved by grace, through faith- it is a gift of God- not by works [Eph 2:8-9]
• I am called by my name; I am His [Isa 43:1]

Love- in Three Parts

At this point I was able to release the unmet expectations of dad and forgive him for not being there for me. I also had to release the hurt from others that fueled my anger, bitterness and resentment. I began to allow the Holy Spirit to chisel away the walls of hurt around my heart so that I could accept who He said I was. I found that when all of this was happening, too, I was more involved than ever in church, leading women in Bible Study, and finding ways to serve my community and neighbors better. Which brings me to a passage of scripture that the Lord has brought to my mind, on numerous occasions, and is teaching me about now:

“’And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength”. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor has yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

This was Jesus speaking to the disciples and teachers of the law in Mark 12:30-31, as they questioned Jesus about the laws of their ancestors.

I’ve heard this passage many times before, in fact I taught a whole Bible Study about “love” using this passage as a focal point. But in this particular season, it brings more depth and need for understanding.

I can love God as he commanded- but what about the other two commands? I can’t obey one and neglect the other two. They’re all connected.

When I am fully committed and surrendered to loving God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, my life becomes less a reflection of me and more a beacon of His life and His will through me. But there is a process, a requirement to showing Godly love.

Jesus does say to love yourself. But is it the same as how the world defines self-love?

Jesus tells us our first command, above all else, is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.” So if that’s first, nothing comes before it. Not even ourselves, our spouse, our children, our jobs. Different than today’s societal definition of self-love…

What’s the second command? Who gets our love next?

Verse 31 says, “and the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Love your neighbor? Loving one’s neighbor is more than loving those who are like you and who can love you in return. So who are our neighbors?

A scribe asked this very question to Jesus while he was walking on this earth. Like Jesus does, he answered with a parable- the Parable of the Good Samaritan. You can read it in Luke 10.

Our neighbor is anyone within our proximity with whom we can share God’s love with. Coworkers, parents standing next to you at school pick up, your house neighbor, the person who makes your coffee every other morning, the crosswalk helper, your children’s friends… ANY ONE whom God places in our path day in and day out.

But loving our neighbors has a pre-requisite. Verse 31 tells us to “love your neighbor as yourself.”  We must love ourselves [secondly] and THEN love our neighbor [thirdly].

So God’s order of love is:

1. Love God, first
2. Love Yourself, second
3. Love Your Neighbors, third

Perhaps you’re asking, “how can loving God first allow me to love myself?”

Or maybe, you’re like me and ask, “how can I have those so twisted? I can love others but I can’t love myself.”

This revelation hurt for me. Hurt because I likely have hurt others that I didn’t mean to. My intentions were to love purely, but that isn’t possible without following God’s order of love.

1 John 4:7-21 reads,

“Dear friend, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.

This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister [neighbors].”

Ouch. Like a dagger in the heart in the most loving and convicting way.

Romans 12:9-13 continues by teaching us what love looks like by loving our neighbors,

“Love must be sincere. Hate was is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Love is the foundation of everything. God is love. Therefore those who belong to Him can’t help but function from the same place of love as He does and He is.

It’s no coincidence God lists himself as the first to be loved, nor names “love” as the first fruit of His Holy Spirit- because from it, everything else will flow.

He is the Vine, I am the Branch

To emphasize the connection, look at John 15:1-17, Jesus is peaking to the disciples in the special way he always did, in parables.

This section of scripture is talking about The Vine and the Branches. It reads,

“’I am the True Vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful…Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No brand can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me…I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.’”

Verses 6-8 continues with Jesus warning us what we are like and what will happen to us if we do not remain in Him.

“’As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love…I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. You did not choose me, but I chose you. And appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit- fruit that will last- and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.’”

Jesus says that phrase “remain in me” and/or “remain in my love” eight times within the 17 verses. Further more, he repeats “fruit” seven times. Usually when a word or phrase is repeated in scripture, it means we need to take heed. It’s important.

What is Love? How do we “Bear Fruit”?

I want to pause for just a moment to define a few different things.

First, what is love? You can find lots of different meanings of love in this world, which I am not going to get in to at this time. We are looking at love through the lens of Christ and what God’s Word defines love as.

According to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, love is…

“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 records 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.”

So when I say we need to love God, love ourselves and love our neighbors, I’m not referring to the over-sexualized definition society has of love. We are to demonstrate all these things listed above when we love.

Second thing I want to identify are the fruits Jesus references in the passage above in regards to The Vine and the Branches bearing fruit.

What are the fruits of the Holy Spirit? We find them in Galatians 5:22-23, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance (or patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

When we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and make the decision to walk by the Spirit, we begin to bear these kinds of fruits in our lives. It’s not immediate (hello, I accepted Christ over 10 years ago but am still growing and being pruned to bear more fruit). Its takes time. It takes lessons from the Holy Spirit. It takes obedience to see what the Lord is trying to do in our lives to shine His light so that we can bring more people to him through our lives and the working of His Spirit through our lives.

Remain in Me for Spiritual Pruning

So when Jesus says “remain in him,” obeying his first command to love God, we are a branch connected to a life-giving vine. THE only True Vine that can bear fruit acceptable to our Heavenly Father.

By being connected to the True Vine, it fuels us internally to truth but it also shows to the world [our neighbors] a heart that has been changed by God.

The Bible tells us that God calls all people to be as holy as He is. But we know that we fall short due to the curse of Adam and Eve and dominion of power of Satan in this world- no person in their own can be perfect, loving or bear any of the fruits acceptable to God. Yet that’s why Christ was born, lived, died and rose again so that through faith in Him we might have life with God and with the dispensation of His Holy Spirit, leading us in sanctification, we might bear fruit- love- to ourselves and our neighbors.  

Jesus warns us about trying to produce love [or any other fruit] apart from Him. He doesn’t say we can’t do anything good, rather, we cannot manufacture love that will be acceptable to God unless we are connected to the Vine.

The world’s “self-love” is entirely selfish and self-pursuing. That kind of self-love is not long lasting because it’s not connected to the ONE who IS love. We can’t love if we don’t know Love.

I know this is counter-cultural, but Jesus already warned us about that too. John 15:18, just after Jesus was speaking about being connected to the True Vine to bear True Fruit, He says, and I’m going to add a bit of my own paraphrasing-

“If the world hates you [and your definition of self-love], keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world [and its teachings and ways of life], it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you [and all your counter-cultural ways of living].”

When we are connected to the Vine of Truth, God cuts off that which is dead, or unfruitful or unloving. In my case, He has been impressing upon my heart that I must let Him cut off the bondages and shackles of shame, guilt, bitterness, anger, hurt, feelings of unworthiness, feelings of being unwanted, feelings of self-hatred, and unforgiveness so that all that doesn’t hinder the production of obeying his commands to love him, love myself and love others.

Furthermore, He wants to prune and trim the “branches” in my life that produce some love [or fruit] but not to the fullness in which He desires.

1. My identity in Christ. I believe that while I allow Him to cut off all that is dead and life-sucking, He is going to allow His Holy Spirit to remind me who I am in Christ so that I may be rooted deep in His love, bearing much fruit of love for who he has created me to be. “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14
2. My marriage. I believe He wants to re-establish a true, honest and pure love between Jaron and me. We both had a distorted view of what love was when we got married. We were infatuated with each other- the lustful kind of love- but never allowed the true, patient, kind, unconditional love to overtake our marriage. “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8 “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Matthew 19:6
3. My parenting. I believe I have parented out of both fear and control based on my experiences in childhood. I don’t want the same things to happen to them nor do I want them to experience the same things I have carried to this day. I over-compensate for the lack of love here or the lack of protection there- but in reality, I believe the Lord wants for me to relinquish my control and fear so that through His Holy Spirit and wisdom, I might be able to more fully parent and love my kids in freedom, knowing God has this. I don’t need to be the Holy Spirit. He’s got it, He’s got my boys, under control. I just need to be a vessel to let Him work in their lives. “Let each of you look out not only for his own interest, but also for the interest of others.” Phil 2:2-3
4. My relationships. I believe the Holy Spirit wants to strip me of the burdens of performance and perfection so that I might have more fulfilling and transparent relationships. Not fearing if I am enough, perform enough, or have enough, but providing me with relationships where I know I am enough, I am loved for who I am, and I am accepted for who I am (loud, fun, quirky and emotional). “Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.” Proverbs 21:21 and “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” Romans 14:19

I believe there are good and loving moments in my marriage, and I believe I have a few very good relationships, but I am learning that all this hurt, shame, guilt, anger and unforgiveness of the past is reducing the quality and capacity to grow in these areas. My past is robbing or quenching my “branches” of what they need to grow and bear Holy Fruit.

Spiritual pruning hurts. I know not everyone is going to understand and I understand if people have something to say too. But when we are connected to the Vine of Truth, we can handle when God needs to sever off those seemingly “good earthly things” so that we can enjoy the best spiritual, life-giving things.

These “things” could be relationships, jobs, ministry outreach, finances, dreams, and desires.

Picking up the Wrong Pieces

I have found that since losing my dad, all those feelings of the past came flooding back, even though I had given them to the Lord a few years prior to his passing. Instead of leaving them at the feet of Jesus like I already did, I picked them up in heartache and it’s come back in full force.

The thing was though, I was still hopeful for an earthly reconciliation with my dad. Even though I had released what was and attempted to embrace the future, I was still hopeful and expectant to hear the words, “I love you”, “I’m proud of you”, or “I’m sorry.” But when reality hit that dad was gone and I’d never hear those words, I subconsciously began to believe I wasn’t worthy of love. I wasn’t worthy of acceptance. I wasn’t worthy to be seen. I began to pick up the pieces of my past and in a very lackadaisical way, put together broken pieces of myself as to offer a put-together, well-grounded me.

Munchkinz Bakery was named after a nickname my dad gave me as a little girl. Maybe subconsciously I thought I had to push through all this hurt at the time of dad’s death because maybe then I’d think he would have been proud. Maybe after I proved to have managed a successful business, I’d be seen. Maybe after I accomplished this and used all my creativity, I’d feel secure in knowing who I was.

It was such a cluster. We had just moved to Ellsworth. The pandemic hit. We had neighbors I tried to “love” but their own hurt made it impossible. We began experiencing marital problems, more intense than every before. The kids were now facing hardships we never experienced before. We lost community with like-minded people.

It was all just too much. At some point, my “branches” became severely dry and what was dead was quenching the growth of new capacities of love [or fruits] so I, again, subconsciously, began finding my own ways of feeling loved, of having purpose and of being seen and wanted.

I’ll say it- I pursued self-love in a way that was of the world. I wanted to do something that I liked; that I was good at; that I found fulfilling. I wanted to prove to myself and my inner critique that I was someone, that I could do something with my life despite my past. Pride, selfishness and unforgiveness squandered the spiritual growth of my heart the past two years.

Having the Bakery was fun. I enjoyed being able to push through the belief that I wasn’t capable. I absolutely LOVED getting to know and serve guests who frequented the Bakery and entrusted me to bake them treats for their special occasions. I am grateful to have been given the employees I was blessed with [they don’t realize it, but they taught me way more than I did them]. But the past two years were a mistake and misplaced energy on my behalf. I can’t say I regret it because the Lord has used it all to bring me to this place of hearing from Him. But it has been a hard, long lesson.

I didn’t just hurt myself the past two years, I inflicted hurt on those I love most. I have allowed envy, pride and the pursuit of me to take root and choke the good fruits that were in my life.

Even though the business was good and “successful” according to the world, like Jesus warned me- it’s not that I couldn’t do good in this life, but apart from Him, I couldn’t muster up any long-lasting goodness if I didn’t remain in Him and Him in me.

Walking by the Spirit, not the Flesh

I don’t believe I lost my salvation in this past season of selfishness. The Bible tells us that “nothing can separate us from the love of Christ Jesus. No death or life, neither angels or demons, neither the present nor the future, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39

Did I walk in sin and satisfy the desires of my flesh in pursuit of self-love? Yes. But even though I battle the tug and pull of obedience to the Spirit as opposed to the flesh, I know that my faith in Jesus Christ has set me free from the law of sin and death.

I have an obligation, therefore, to repent and turn from what I now see as wrong and submit to the Spirit in my life.

“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6 “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.” Romans 8:14-15

My mind was so governed by my flesh and pursuit of self-love that it effected my pursuits- misplacing my attention to a business that I didn’t need to fuel my attention to and neglecting the very relationship that He created to best reflect His love for the church, my marriage.  There is a lot of healing that needs to take place in each of our lives, but my marriage to Jaron should be one of unity, not of him pursuing his wants and me chasing after mine. We must move through this life as one, in unity to what God wants for us and our family.

I must “live in accordance with the Spirit,” and allow Him to fully govern my mind. Only then will I be able to replace the negative self-talk with Spirit-giving truth about who God says that I am.

“The mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace,” Romans 8:6.

How will I know what God says about me? I spend time with him. I commune with him. I read His Word and allow His Holy Spirit to speak to me through His truths. He must become my first love, for love for myself, my husband, family and neighbors will then flow freely thereafter.

Moving of the Spirit

The Holy Spirit really let all this sink in the other day. I was preparing an order for a customer- frosting was everywhere on the counter and powdered sugar all over my pants and shirt. I had music blaring from the TV with the subwoofer turned all the way up.

I’m pretty sure “South of the Border” by Ed Sheeran was on prior to the song that melted my heart to a puddle. Real holy, I know. But the amazing thing is, the Holy Spirit is always present and working. He uses a situation here, a word from a friend there, a podcast, sermon, or devotional and His word to constantly speak to us. When He knows our hearts are ready to receive His Truth, He doesn’t care where we are, what we’re doing or what we just ghetto-danced to. He reaches our heart and speaks the purest truth to our inner most being; usually the parts of our heart we tried to shield and protect with walls.

When “Belovedness” by Sarah Kroger came on, and I really listened to the lyrics, I knew God was using this song to wrap up all that He was teaching me about loving Him, loving myself and loving my neighbors:

“You’ve owned your fear and all your self-loathing
You’ve owned the voices inside of your head
You’ve owned the shame and reproach of your failure
It’s time to own your belovedness

You’ve owned your past and how its defined you
You’ve owned everything everybody else says
It’s time to hear what your father has spoken
It’s time to own your belovedness

He says, “You’re mine, I smiled when I made you
I find you beautiful in every way
My love for you is fierce and unending
I’ll come to find you, whatever it takes
My beloved

You’ve owned the mess you see in the mirror
You’ve owned the lies that you’re just not enough
You’ve been so blinded by all your comparing
It’s time to own your belovedness

You are completely loved and fully known
Beloved, believe he died to make your heart his home

Even writing this brings intense emotions. Every word speaks to a thought, feeling, yearning and hurt in my heart. Only the Holy Spirit can orchestrate that.

Season of Change

I won’t say everything has suddenly changed because it hasn’t. But instead of lingering in the self-hatred space or in shame or quilt of my choices from the past two years, I know I have truth to speak to myself because it comes straight from the source of love, the one who is love, the one I am connected to. I still have choices of submission to my flesh or to the Spirit. But with the weight of shame, guilt and unforgiveness being released from my heart, it empowers me to believe- believe God, believe what he says about me, believe I have the power to overcome the negative chatter through the power of the Holy Spirit living me, and I can believe when others say something kind about me.

God is Love. And He loves You.

I am still healing. I don’t have it figured out, but I am in the middle of learning powerful lessons that I believe will change the trajectory of my life.

But even in my discovery, I believe I need to share the journey. Not when I’m done, not when I’ve reached the other side of all of this. I believe I am to share along my journey in an effort to encourage and support another woman walking in a similar struggle.

If you, reading this, find yourself in a familiar place, I hope you will be encouraged. Read and re-read all the passages of scripture I shared. “The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit; joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitude of the heart.” [Heb 4:12]

The Holy Spirit is always pursuing you, even if you don’t think you’re worthy or ready to receive all that He has for you, He is near. He loves you. He sees you. And He wants to be with you. I hope you will welcome Him in.

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