Faithbase

Hey Faith-Based Family, blessings to you today. Hope you're doing well. When my family and I moved back from Central America, my wife and I and four kids, my oldest daughter got a job at a local restaurant, and of course they required her to wear a specific uniform. So she went on one of these social media platforms where they have like sites where they give free things. We didn't really have much. All we had was what we could carry back in suitcases. So she needed a pair of khaki pants for work. So she found a free pair. Someone who's very generous and kind offered her these pants. She brought them to the house and they were way too big for her. So she offered them to me. I took one look at the size and I knew one, the waist was way too large. Two, the length of the legs was too short. But I decided to try them on just to show gratitude that she would offer them to me. Well you know what happened is I put these pants on and they fit perfectly. I know. Lack of self-awareness in terms of the size of my belly and the length of my legs. And I say that jokingly. I still wear those pants proudly. But I ask you to say this question is where are you in terms of just you being aware of what's going on in your heart and in your mind? Where does your mind gravitate? What fixates in your brain? I believe self awareness is the starting point for emotional health and self-awareness is also completely connected to our spiritual health. So I just ask today where are you in terms of your hope level? Where are you in terms of your joy level? Where are you in terms of seeking the Lord on your own? Outside of maybe a church attendance or even listening to a sermon online. Where are you? Where are you in terms of what you're processing in your heart as your dream? I want you to know this that a verse that really changed my life, my perspective on Lord, it's Psalm 16. And it says this, verse 11, it says in the presence of the Lord there's fullness of joy. And I say that to say wherever you are. If you have a giant map and you're trying to pinpoint your location metaphorically, he receives you with open arms and love. I live like he was angry with me. He was waiting to punish me. He was disappointed in me. And I live like in the presence of the Lord there's fullness of shame and guilt. But the scriptures don't say that. They say in the presence of the Lord there's fullness of joy. So I invite you to be attentive. Where are you? What's going on in your interior? What's your plan with that? I encourage you to seek the Lord and know that he has arms open wide just like the father and the prodigal son story of Luke 15. But in his presence there's fullness of joy. And I don't minimize suffering and grieving. I'm familiar with those seasons. But I just want you to know that his love for you is extravagant. Blessings to you today wherever you might be. Will the Lord give you insight into where you are? But will he also just extend that invitation into greater intimacy with him? Blessings today.