Good morning, DearHeart.

My girl, Liv, has a unique style. I see it developing every time we are together. I giggled the other day as she started taking the paper off her crayons. I did the same thing in my 1st grade class. It is about the only thing I remember about 1st grade, other than my teacher didn’t smile. She had been in the military and her first job outside of her military duties was my class. I’m guessing first graders must’ve been a shock to her rigid norm. Taking the paper off crayons was not acceptable. It was not normal. Apparently, to her, it was the mark of a deviant or something horrendous and awful.

When I watch my girl and her friends play, if feel a rising in me … an eager expectation and hope that they will each be encouraged in their own unique style and be lifted into their God-given gifts. That their uniqueness lands them where they can love well. I pray that people ‘in charge’ never suck the life out of them by smashing them into their rote and ‘proper’ and ways. And, when it happens that those littles respect those in charge enough to simply abide and move to find fertile ground where they can continue to grow deeper into their Savior. Where they can grow into their next level.

‘My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all boldness, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death.’ Philippians 1:20

You know, when you pray to go to the next level, Satan always schedules an enemy … have you noticed? Oh, yes, you have. Obstacles come flying at us like we are a dartboard.

God doesn’t deal in problems; He deals in promises. When your gifts are dissed and belittled and misunderstood, when you and your uniqueness get looked down upon, start praying His promises … by doing so, we ask Him to step up our circle of influence,

inspire boldness,

inspire laser beam focus,

inspire creativity,

allow us to share the Gospel in new ways.

Sometimes faith will make you look silly … claim faith anyway. Because, no matter what obstacles come, here’s the deal:

when you go to Father with mustard seed faith, walls fall in His perfect timing.

The bigger blessing awaits.

Going deeper is worth it. Wildest dream blessings = worth it.

My second grade teacher, Mrs. Coombes, smiled constantly. 🥰

Wake up.

Step into your God-given self.

Go.