JUST AS I AM

This morning, all disheveled inside and out, I have made a decision; one that has been a long time coming. Though my emotions scream against it, I choose to believe the voice of truth. As a little girl I believed many lies. As a teen, I believed many lies. As a young adult I believed even more lies and as a middle aged woman, the lies continue. The result- Deception rooted so deep within me. And today it is exposed. I raise my weapon against it by choice! 

The mirror wastes no time, "You are not good enough to be loved." My eyes see the aging one, the unlovely. My heart patterns would scream, "No! Fight it!" Yet today the threads that bind are to be broken. A determined choice I have made.

 I have decided to stop believing the one whom I thought was my protector. The accusing voice that would step in and share the flaws that needed perfecting. The voice of the marble roller that would stand in the distance pointing the way to what the world says is the path to love. Yet, the voice of truth says that though outwardly we are wasting away, day by day we are renewed inwardly. 

 The voice of the accuser does not stop calling but I will not listen. I hear his voice and see his talons as they point to each imperfection, but this day I will direct my eyes up and my ears to the gentle one that stirs like a warm spring breeze, melting this frozen paralyzed heart. 

 Today I choose to love myself, even though I stand flawed and imperfect. Today I choose to receive God's love, Fully. I AM loved, just as I am, a disheveled mess. I choose to believe the voice of truth that says I am loved-Eternally loved.  Loved in the good and the bad;  forever LOVED. No depths nor heights can separate me from Christ’s love. I am loved, and in that love comes the ability to truly love. With open hands I receive and let go. With open hands I am given that I may give. And though outwardly I waste away and daily grow older, I have purpose; God uses the noble and in-noble. Who can say who is noble or in-noble in God’s economy, if not God?

 I recognize the vulnerability of my declaration. Today is a new day dawning.  I recognize my worth for WHO I am- all that I am in HIM and Him alone. For IN HIM, I have peace, joy, safety, strength, wholeness, vision, wisdom, security, gentleness, faith, hope, power and Love. Some may stand in judgment of me. Yet we all make declarations, whether consciously or not. Freedom or slavery comes with each choice. Which choice will we make this day, whose voice will we believe?

The distance of my life has harbored a mask. A mask that the world gives us to wear and hide behind.

I strip away the mask and all it hides. I stand and look and yes, continue to hear the voice of the accuser, but the gentle breeze of Christ's Spirit rises, moves, stirs and lifts me beyond the voice. It moves me to freedom. Through faith I can believe that I am indeed loved! It is through the substance of faith that I can dream again.

In order to receive fully, one must open fully.

I declare, I stand- my arms opened wide-I AM LOVED, JUST AS I AM, mess and all. 

I pray you also will make the decision to accept the unconditional love of Christ and recognize in his love is perfection, perfection as he loves the imperfect. In his perfect love, he takes the imperfect and turns ruined messes into pieces of art, into purpose, into TRUE BEAUTY. He loves that we too may love. Love heals.

May the peace of God envelope you this day. May his joy make your steps lighter, may his love pour forth over you and in you and so much so that you cannot contain it. For when we know we are truly loved, it is then and only then that we can truly love. Love truly heals. Love conquers all, even the voice of the accuser. 

I AM LOVED, JUST AS I AM!

I thought I'd take a moment to share a post from my blog, Lessons From Shadow. If you're a dog lover I think you might be able to relate:













This morning as I called my dog in from the back yard, I


watched him trot along. He did his usual trot, not really


wanting to obey and coming at his own pace. I watched as


he stopped and looked to his right, listening to the dogs over


the fence barking. I called his name. He began his side step


once again, never walking in a straight line. His head bobbed


to the left and to the right, his nose twitching at the various


aromas in the air. Easily distracted. I kept calling, "Come." I


couldn't help but think of how much that represented many


of us. The Lord calls to us, often we come with a distracted


heart. We trot along in life, hearing him calling us, but far to


easily merge to the left or to the right. Thank God he is not


as impatient with us as I was with my dog, Bo!




Proverbs 4:27


New International Version (NIV)


27 Do not turn to the right or the left;

keep your foot from evil.