Dear Me,
Lines to the person I want to be:
These truly are the days.
Each day swelling with hard and maxing capacity. But also with holy and smiles and joy if we’ll just train our eyes to see.
These are the days. Don’t miss a single one, tying up whole days as hard or overwhelming or exhausting. In the midst of those very days—and we all feel them—is so much good and holy, growth and expanding, joy and smiles and laughter—moments we will remember forever, if we’ll only pause and take notice.
There is always a different season of life to wish for, someone else’s life to look and see only good and better. Choose to enjoy the one you’re in. Choose to find all the goodness in the very good life the Good Father has gifted you.
There are always, always things to be thankful for. Always, always things to enjoy, smile at, revel in. Find them. Write them. Bask in the moments of their beauty.
Whatever God has called you to in this season—do it with all the gusto and intentionality you’ve got. Don’t live half-hearted, or half-present, go all in.
When things get hard, turn your gaze to the Father. Whatever you repeatedly gaze on gets magnified—magnify Him.
Cast your cares in the Father’s caring hands. Carrying extra weight never did anyone good. God’s hands are more than capable and He is more than willing. Your burden-giving makes way for lightness, and lightness makes way for smiles and joy to increase. Lord knows we all need more of that!
Live fully awake—awake to each moment. Do whatever you need to live undistracted. You were made to live and embrace each moment. Don’t let pain or disappointment, distraction or overwhelm steal the life Jesus paid for you to have. For you will never regret the time you chose presence over distraction.
Take note of your priorities often. Your priorities determine how you spend your life. Schedule time in or your true priorities will go down the drain. Notice what you’re currently doing, and remember what you want your priorities to be. Make adjustments as needed or miss out on what you actually want. At the end of your life, or the year or the month, you will be wildly thankful you turned toward what actually mattered.
Get in the Word. No questions asked. In a challenging and ever-shifting culture the Word of God is our anchor and living guide. It sustains, challenges, realigns, restores you. When you feel unsteady, His Word is your anchor. When everything feels dark and unknown, His Word is your Light. His Word must be the lens through which you see everything else. Culture will lie to you, deceive you, confuse you. But the Word of the Lord stands firm and true forever.
Never forget the power of God, the power of prayer and the power of saying “yes” to God. The Living God lives inside of you. He in you can wildly change the whole world around you. Take the muzzle off. Live in no fear. God is with you and He can transform the world through laid down lovers, wild Believers, like you.
If ever you need a dose of encouragement—tune in to Heaven. The Lord is your Ultimate Cheerleader. And can you imagine how the angels must roar at your risk-taking, your faith-stepping, your Jesus-following?! You always have a Friend, an Encourager, a Proud Dad, a Cheerleader in the Father. He is beaming with pride over you.
You are doing a great job. Let me say it again, you are doing a great job! His Grace toward you is far greater than the grace you give yourself.
Bask in the sunlight. Turn your face toward the Son. It calms the worries, settles your heart, makes space for you to breathe deep and enjoy.
Make tea parties with toddlers and brunches with friends—don’t forget the pretty flowers. These are good gifts of joy from a really Good Father who really loves joy and connection.
Worship all in, like nobody is watching. Hold nothing back. This is how you were made to live. Unhindered, unfazed, just you and your Good God.
Go on long dates, don’t worry about the budget. You with him and him with you, remember your love and connection. Look in his eyes and don’t talk business. Eat treats and enjoy because these are gifts of delight and connection from the One who is our deepest Delight.
Chase sunsets, find beauty, make drives to the mountain, sit by the lake and journal for hours, send snail mail to friends and bake treats from scratch—these are how we wake up to fully-alive living.
Be you, fully you, the you God made you to be. Who He created is good and lovely. Be refined and transformed, live surrendered yet unashamed. Let the gifts and talents He’s put in you bust like confetti-gifts to the world. You were not a gift to be hidden. You are each stunning, lovely treasures to be shared.
These truly are the days.
Do what makes you thrive. Spend time on what makes you come alive. Ask often if I’m living the life I hope to live. Settle in, sit down, pull the babies on your lap. Laugh lots, be free with kind words, notice beauty all around. Take risks, be bold in faith, make sure the Main Thing is always the Main Thing.
These are the days and there is *so much good* to be found.
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