A Letter From Jesus....

Dear Grant,

    I've noticed that you've followed my voice and moved to Illinois.  About time.  You like how I set that whole thing up?  I know you more than you know yourself, and I knew you wouldn't want to take pictures of screaming babies all day.  You would have gone crazy.  I also know how much drive and motivation you have because I designed it that way for you.  Don't sell yourself so short, you are worth more than you think.

 I am SO glad that I can call you mine, and that you can hear me as if I'm physically standing next to you.  I am well pleased with your willingness to learn from and obey that whisper when I'm speaking.  Not only through historical scripture and stories I've told, but you hear me and notice my favor for your life through everything around you.  Whether it be shooting stars, or a certain song on the radio, or a sunset, or a father loving their child in a coffee shop.  Your belief in me has made you well, and that's where your life lies.  In me.  You have everything you need because I gladly give to you.  You lack nothing.

  The purpose of this letter is to validate that you're no longer a child, Grant.  You are a grown man.  Not just any man, but a man who has experienced, seen, and heard of a love that is far more stronger than anything else in existence.  Every time you tried to walk away in the past for whatever silly reason, I found you again.  I'm bigger than your behavior, I'm bigger than your opinions of yourself, and I'm bigger than the people who have hurt you.  I've softened your heart in discipline and put you over my shoulders, and carried you back home.  I'd do it over and over again.  Don't bother thanking me for giving you a second chance, because you never lost the first one to begin with.  I love you, relentlessly.  Now live like it's true.

You can live by being free.  Free from consolidating me into this little box of theology.  Free from the resentment of other congregations because of how they treated you.  I love them the same as you.  Stop being angry, it's over.  Now that a great truth of my love for you has been revealed does not give you license to act so childish and without discretion.  Be slow to speak, and quick to listen.  You have a filter, Grant.  I gave you one.

Set yourself apart from the religious meander and begin to love people!  Heal the sick, feed the hungry, help the poor!  What are you doing?  Making my Grace into another law?  Into another religion?  You're making yourself into something neither of us can stand.  Self righteous.  I'm not a philosophy, Grant.  I'm your King.  I'm your light that shines through you.  No more arguing, no more causing dissension.  Find me one believer that I love less than you because you can't find common ground on silly things like Bible verses and context.  If anyone believes in me, they will hear My voice just like you have.  They may hear a different roar but it's definitely the same Lion.  You don't have to scream about me because all I have to do is whisper.  My love will be shown through your love.  My heart will be shown through your heart.  My voice will be heard and the best part about it is you don't even have to try.  It's already done in your actions.  Be yourself, because that's who I am in you.  Now that you're a new creation, and the old really is gone, do what is natural for you.  Whether it be feeding that man with a cardboard sign on the corner of the street.  Or praying over that lady sitting in her car crying because her husband hit her.  You do these things because that's who you are in Me.

So play nice, especially with you brothers and sisters.  Stop arguing.  You are because I am.  Nothing more, nothing less.  Now go be awesome.


Jesus