^3-6Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God’s Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.

 ^7-8It’s not at all fanciful for me to think this way about you. My prayers and hopes have deep roots in reality. You have, after all, stuck with me all the way from the time I was thrown in jail, put on trial, and came out of it in one piece. All along you have experienced with me the most generous help from God. He knows how much I love and miss you these days. Sometimes I think I feel as strongly about you as Christ does! (Philippians 1:3-8 The Message).

Dear Friend,

Did you know that I thank God,  that He created you? And did you know that every time you cross my mind I not only thank Him that He created you, but that He put you in my life?

I think you are lovely, and quirky,  and beautiful, and I just want to remind you of that.

I know you are struggling. I notice. I hear it in your voice when we talk, and even louder in your silence.  Your guilt of the past and your fear of the future is stealing your joy and the exuberant passion for life that were created with. And I love you; unwavering, unconditionally and forever. No matter what you say, or don’t say; whatever you do or do not do– nothing will change that.

And yes, I am biased. How can I not be? Because, I see you as Christ sees you: perfect in your substance, full of potential, deserving of abundant blessings and created to love and BE loved.  All those flaws….the only things you see in the mirror or on your resume…… God created you with them. They are not coincidence or happenstance! All those mistakes– disasters of your own making that haunt you constantly…… THEY brought you to where you are and that is it. Christ has an amazing tunnel vision, that erases the past and only looks forward to where you walk in light, and peace, clothed with His mercy and grace. It may be hard right now, but Christ PROMISED to complete what He started and that is nothing short of perfect.

And I think you forget this.

My heart, breaks with love for you. Know I am here. More importantly, know your Savior is here just waiting to sweep you off your feet.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, ¹⁰ so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9 NIV)

Love,

Me.