Some things I've learned....

I went away last weekend by myself and felt like Jesus told me to consolidate this last year. Bring together what He's taught me. What I've learned. This morning I'm realizing how much of it has been about a 'forming' of my heart and character. Growing into who He has made me to be. So many things in my heart in this last year were exposed. Nasty things. Weak places. Fearful places. Wrong beliefs. Because He makes you stronger by making you aware of your weakness. He brings you into greater love by showing you your places of fear. Your character becomes stronger when you see your sin. I use to be scared of these vulnerable places. Of seeing these things inside me. It's not scary anymore. When He shows them to me...I actually find myself incredibly grateful. Because it means greater freedom. Greater strength. It means that He loves me enough to show me and then make a way out of it for me.

And I think so many people live and move and breath inside their crap never finding a way out of it. Because they ARE too afraid to see it. And sadly, the people around us aren't very accepting and loving enough to allow you TO see it. Staying inside of it becomes safer. It makes Jesus incredibly sad I think.....

So my challenge is this: Be brave enough to allow Jesus to show you your ugliness and let it become a place of worship and excitement. And let's be people that accept and love one another in all of our ugliness, making a way for one another to actually come out of it rather than stay buried underneath it. Because I guarantee....your ugliness is just as ugly as theirs is.