Sunday my friend and pastor Steve Wiens recommended three prayers for Holy Week this year, including: “God, reveal where I’m hidden and help me to see.”

Shame

The shame of a wounded conscience is a trap. It’s a lie that tries to convince us that hopelessly defective: “I am what I am. I cannot change. I am hopeless.”

Shame is the deep feeling of guilt, sadness, and hopelessness that we experience when we become convinced that our shadows, scars and scandals doom us. That past failures, bad habits or poor appearance has made a permanent scar on our self-worth.

If you feel like a mess today.
If you know someone who feels like a mess today. 
It’s not the end of the world.

She’s not alone.
He’s not alone.
You’re not alone.

We ask questions about life, death, and the meaning and purpose of life. Together we ask, “What’s going on?“

“We all have a hunger for certitude, and the problem is that the Gospel is not about certitude, it’s about fidelity.”

Our struggle with faith is somewhat universal.  God doesn’t make it super-easy to believe, but believe is what God wants.  True belief, not based on guarantees that are indisputable, but belief based on a relationship.

“Hands down, Jesus has drawn more attention and interest than anyone who has ever breathed the air of this planet.”

The author invites us into a deeper examination of what “Simply Jesus And You” might mean, “what does it really mean to enter into a relationship with God’s Son? What does it mean to invite Him into our lives?”

Answering his own question he expands, “A relationship with Jesus is not about us. It’s about Him. He didn’t die for us to advance His cause or hawk His wares. He died for you because He loves you, and seeks to welcome us into a growing and satisfying fellowship with Him. And it is in the confines of that fellowship that He graciously and generously bestows the blessings and benefits that only He can provide.”

I was invited to speak to a group of parents about parenting skills. I have learned a great deal about the joys and sorrows of helpful and unhelpful parenting as I have listened to thousands of people. Josh and Shannon are great kids to parent, but we too have had our good days and our bad days.

Armed with the wisdom and examples of many people and the stories of our family I feel confident teaching others what I am learning about parenting.

Not this time.

I’ve edited and re-edited four times. I’ve felt unusually nervous. I strive for excellence, but was getting a little silly.