In the The Woodlands we explore how to navigate life’s challenges and complexities with faith, hope, and love. You can subscribe for free and receive posts right in your inbox every week. Here's an excerpt: 

A Fitting Name

Christ’s love is an unwarranted gift. It infuses me with a dignity that doesn’t rely on anyone else’s opinion of me. Neither does it hinge on my economic circumstances, my looks, or my achievements. It cannot be diminished by my most glaring flaws or embarrassing failures. I am simply the Beloved. Period.

Along with his gift of love Jesus gives us a commandment. Love others like I love you. In other words, recognize the dignity that Christ’s love has already given others. Love them as Christ’s beloved, whether they recognize it or act like it or not. 

As it turns out, loving in a non-transactional way in our everyday life is essential to experiencing the full-hearted life we want. And we repeatedly fall short of the mark in small and big ways.

In those early years in Atlanta I was beginning to learn two basic practices for opening myself to the love of Christ in my everyday life: saying I’m sorry and saying Help. To put that in long form: I keep trying and failing. Help me do what I cannot do on my own. Help me to love as Christ has loved me. (click here to read more)

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