I'm Accepted

In my last post I mentioned that, when I speak, I always search out the woman God wants me to look at when I say His words, "I love you." Honestly, that is one of my favorite parts of my talk because of the tenderness of God's love and care as it flows through me. Well, yesterday I got to be on the receiving end of that care, and it was wonderful!
My pastor was teaching from John 4 - the woman at the well. At one point he said he needed a woman "from over here" to come up on stage - not to say anything - just to hold a bucket. Since Brian and I were sitting in the front row, my pastor was looking right at me when he was making this request so I stood up and climbed onto the stage. As I held the bucket he talked about the ways Jesus served this woman, including that He accepted her - in spite of the fact she was a Samaritan, a woman, and an adulteress.
We stood on the stage and, though I know Phil was speaking as Jesus to the woman at the well, when he looked into my eyes and spoke those words of acceptance it was as if God Himself was speaking those words directly to my heart. It was a tender moment for me and I am so thankful for it!

And I know those words are true for you, too, my friend. Whoever you are, wherever you are, and whatever you have done, God loves you passionately and wants you for His own. I pray you will delight in the knowledge of His love, and accept Him, just as He accepts you.