My name is William. I haven't written in this space in a long time. I'm actually kind of re-launching this space.
So, in honor of new beginnings, let me introduce myself.
As I stated above, my name is William. I'm 23. I am engaged to the girl of my dreams...Aimee. I am a worship leader, a lover of people, and probably way more sensitive than a man is supposed to be. But that's ok. Because Aimee gets me.
As I sit here in my bedroom thinking of what to write about, I'm also reviewing the day I've had in my head.
Dude, I'm a mess.
I've messed up a lot today.
I've sinned today.
I've gotten angry at someone today.
I've said a bad word today.
I'm a complete mess.
But in the middle of my messiness, I'm reminded that I'm loved, cherished, and forgiven. And that's what I want you to know.
You see, I'm not always the most holy of saints. I'm pretty jacked up.
Don't worry. You are too.
But the beauty of our jacked up-ness is that we don't have to have it all together.
Too many times we think we have to pull ourselves together, wash ourselves clean, make sure we obey every rule, and never sin in order to come to Jesus. But the funny thing is that Jesus looks at us in the middle of our sin and says, "You're my child. I love you with an everlasting love. So bring your mess. Bring your shame. Bring your disappointment. Bring your sin."
Here's the thing. Jesus can do more with your messy, jacked up, sinful life than you can with your shiny, plastic, put together life.
You don't have to have it all together. You just have to be willing to admit that you don't.
Then come.
Come to Jesus.
Just as you are.
Broken.
Sinful.
Ashamed.
Scarred.
Because what ever you're going through, Jesus is greater. Whatever your facing, Jesus is greater.
I get it though. You're thinking you've messed up too much. You got drunk yesterday. You slept with a girl that you're not married to last night. You walked out on your family. You're engaged in homosexuality. God can't love you, right?
Wrong.
You see, these things don't disqualify you from Jesus at all.
All these things are actually a prerequisite for God to show up in your life!
You are not what you've done!
You are who God says you are.
Your identity is in the person of Jesus.
Not what you did last night.
So, together, lets stand up from our pit of shame, punch the devil in the face, and boast in the love that Jesus has given us.
Jesus overcame the grave so we could overcome our sin. Don't allow your shame to put you in bondage that Jesus died to set you free from.
You are new. You are clean. You are loved.
Let's stand on the truth of that love today.
It's late. I'm a paw paw. I'm going to bed.
Peace.
William
