WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:02.319 Welcome to the Awakening Church Podcast. 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:06.959 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and the light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:07.759 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:30.640 --> 00:00:32.640 You can find your seat. 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:41.280 Kids in the room, this is when you can pull out that bingo card. 00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:44.240 Because this is when the words will really start coming. 00:00:44.399 --> 00:00:49.520 If you don't already have that out, your prize is gonna be by the bounce houses. 00:00:49.600 --> 00:00:51.600 And you'll get one even if you don't finish it. 00:00:51.679 --> 00:00:55.920 I'm gonna say all the words, but even if you don't finish it, you'll get your prize. 00:00:56.960 --> 00:00:58.960 Well, I didn't introduce myself earlier. 00:00:59.119 --> 00:01:04.079 My name's Ashley, and I get to serve as one of the pastors here at Awakening. 00:01:04.239 --> 00:01:08.000 Um this morning is Mother's Day, as you know. 00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:20.719 And on Mother's Day, a sort of tradition that we have here at Awakening is we usually have some sort of photo booth for families to take pictures with their kids and with their family and friends to take a picture together. 00:01:20.879 --> 00:01:32.000 And this year is so fun because we have the Yao's photo booth where it like prints out little um little photo strip that then you can tease your kids later when they're older about the funny faces that they made. 00:01:32.319 --> 00:01:43.200 But two years ago, when my kids were eight and four, the photo booth was set up so that families could get a really nice family photo together. 00:01:43.439 --> 00:02:00.159 I gathered my kids up between all the tasks that I have on Sunday mornings and brought them over there, and I made sure to like take their name tag off, and we posed for this cute photo, trying to get everybody to smile all at the same time, right? 00:02:00.560 --> 00:02:03.760 And all in the name of having this perfect photo. 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:06.560 And my goodness, the chaos, right? 00:02:06.959 --> 00:02:12.719 And the pressure that this is, the pressure to have everything be just perfect. 00:02:12.960 --> 00:02:16.080 Now, this photo turned out lovely. 00:02:16.319 --> 00:02:24.319 But what you can't see in this picture is that just as the photographer snapped the photo, see this sticky hand here? 00:02:24.960 --> 00:02:25.759 See that? 00:02:26.560 --> 00:02:28.319 Preschool parents, you know. 00:02:28.800 --> 00:02:30.479 See these eyes? 00:02:33.199 --> 00:02:47.360 Just as this photo was taken, this little four-year-old with the that impulse in his eyes flung his sticky hand up over his head to hit his mama right in the face. 00:02:50.240 --> 00:02:51.520 Can you believe it? 00:02:51.759 --> 00:02:53.840 The audacity for him to do this. 00:02:54.000 --> 00:02:57.039 And on Mother's Day of all days. 00:02:58.240 --> 00:03:01.919 Now, I have a few choices of how I could react in this moment. 00:03:02.319 --> 00:03:12.639 I could get very mad at this little boy who just ruined my photo and didn't even care enough about me and about Mother's Day to not do that. 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:18.080 But he's only four and he didn't know any better. 00:03:18.319 --> 00:03:20.800 So instead, you can take it down now. 00:03:21.599 --> 00:03:36.000 So instead, I could get very mad at myself to blame myself for not foreseeing every single thing that could have happened and making sure that he put that sticky hand down, and then resulting in an upset kid. 00:03:36.800 --> 00:03:51.680 For not being able to get this single wonderful family photo, for not creating this perfectly beautiful moment to remember for not being a good enough mom. 00:03:53.280 --> 00:04:03.520 See how quickly that went from this funny thing that happened to me berating myself for not being good enough. 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:07.120 Moms were so good at this, aren't we? 00:04:07.439 --> 00:04:15.919 We can take any little thing that happens around us and we can work ourselves into this shame tizzy that we aren't enough. 00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:22.319 And before you think that moms are so impressive for this skill, this isn't just moms. 00:04:22.720 --> 00:04:29.439 This isn't a skill we magically gained when we became a mom, though there certainly is a new layer on top. 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:33.120 This is part of the human experience. 00:04:34.160 --> 00:04:38.240 Notice if any of these have ever popped up in your life or something similar. 00:04:38.560 --> 00:04:40.480 I'm failing a class. 00:04:41.120 --> 00:04:42.959 I must not be good enough. 00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:46.240 I didn't get hired for the job I've been interviewing for. 00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:48.319 I must not be good enough. 00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:51.199 I didn't get into my dream school. 00:04:51.600 --> 00:04:53.600 I must not be good enough. 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:55.439 I was laid off. 00:04:55.759 --> 00:04:57.600 I must not be enough. 00:04:57.920 --> 00:05:01.439 I wasn't chosen for the promotion or for the project. 00:05:01.680 --> 00:05:03.360 I must not be enough. 00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:05.920 My relationship ended. 00:05:06.480 --> 00:05:08.160 I must not be enough. 00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:11.199 I haven't found the right person to marry. 00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:14.079 So I must not be enough. 00:05:14.959 --> 00:05:17.120 I'm struggling, conceiving. 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:19.759 I must not be enough. 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:22.160 I had a miscarriage. 00:05:22.480 --> 00:05:24.399 I must not be enough. 00:05:24.959 --> 00:05:29.600 My child is struggling, so I must not be enough. 00:05:30.399 --> 00:05:35.759 My marriage is struggling, so I must not be enough. 00:05:36.399 --> 00:05:46.560 My faith is lacking, and God feels really far away, which must mean that I am not enough. 00:05:48.079 --> 00:06:00.240 Most of us have this lie somewhere in our minds that pops up over and over again through our lives that we aren't enough. 00:06:01.279 --> 00:06:10.720 And then to compound on top of that, we have all the messages from culture and capitalism reminding us the ways that we aren't enough. 00:06:10.959 --> 00:06:15.199 Here's a few of the messages that women are currently being told right now. 00:06:16.079 --> 00:06:20.639 You should look perfect all the time, but make it effortless. 00:06:21.439 --> 00:06:26.480 Summer is coming, and you can't really enjoy summer without a summer body. 00:06:27.600 --> 00:06:31.199 Also, you could use some less wrinkles around your eyes. 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:34.720 Make sure that you don't have any signs of aging. 00:06:35.600 --> 00:06:41.600 And even though we've already established that you have some work to do on your appearance, be confident. 00:06:42.560 --> 00:06:46.399 But not so confident that it feels threatening to the people around you. 00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:48.240 Make sure that you're still likable. 00:06:49.120 --> 00:06:59.199 Your career needs to come first, before any man and any possibility of having kids, because quite honestly, why would you want either of those anyway? 00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:05.199 But also your greatest calling in life is to be a wife and mom. 00:07:05.439 --> 00:07:12.959 And it's even better if you'll be a trad wife and move to a farm, and staying home with your kids is absolutely necessary. 00:07:13.920 --> 00:07:17.759 But if you have kids and you work, oh, that's so sad for you. 00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:20.160 But you can do it all. 00:07:20.399 --> 00:07:21.519 Good job. 00:07:21.839 --> 00:07:24.879 But don't let your work affect your presence at home. 00:07:25.040 --> 00:07:28.480 And don't let your family affect your work. 00:07:29.040 --> 00:07:36.399 Be unique and be yourself, but only within these very strict, culturally defined limits. 00:07:36.959 --> 00:07:46.959 You are responsible for constantly improving yourself, your resume, your body, your attitude, your habits, your relationships get better and better every single day. 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:53.199 One percent better every day, because today you aren't enough. 00:07:55.120 --> 00:08:05.120 And here comes the shame that piles higher and higher and leaves us in despair. 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:20.800 Googling and now asking a chatbot in the middle of the night, searching for these quick fixes to crack the code, to find the steps, to finally reach this ever impossibly moving target of being enough. 00:08:21.839 --> 00:08:25.360 And we're left feeling defeated. 00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:28.720 But what if there was a different way? 00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:40.320 A different way to step out of this shame spiral that creeps up on us so quickly and hijacks the goodness in our lives. 00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:48.240 It's Mother's Day, so I'm gonna be directing this message at women and girls in this space, even if you're not a mom. 00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:57.440 But men, that doesn't mean that this message isn't for you, because you are swimming in these same waters of not enoughness. 00:08:57.759 --> 00:09:02.159 And the truth that we're going to hear this morning is for you too. 00:09:02.879 --> 00:09:08.320 So with that, let's turn to the Lord and pray, and then we're gonna get into the scripture. 00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:11.200 Oh God, would you speak to us this morning? 00:09:12.159 --> 00:09:15.759 God, you have truth for each of us in this room. 00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:18.960 God, would you meet us exactly where we are? 00:09:19.679 --> 00:09:27.840 And would we hear your voice through your scripture, through the message that you've given me, and also through your Holy Spirit. 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:31.759 God, may you be glorified. 00:09:32.559 --> 00:09:33.200 Amen. 00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:40.799 We're going to begin where all truth about humans begins in the beginning. 00:09:41.039 --> 00:09:42.720 Genesis 1:1. 00:09:43.039 --> 00:09:47.840 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 00:09:48.080 --> 00:09:57.919 And as we go on in this passage, which is a poetic telling of how God created the world, we see this rhythm over five days. 00:09:58.399 --> 00:10:06.639 God speaks and creates something: the light and the dark, the sun and the moon, the sky and the sea, the birds and the fish. 00:10:06.960 --> 00:10:11.200 And he sees what he created and he calls it good. 00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:13.039 So we're seeing this pattern. 00:10:13.279 --> 00:10:14.720 God speaks and creates. 00:10:14.879 --> 00:10:17.039 Then he sees and he calls it good. 00:10:17.200 --> 00:10:19.200 Now we'll jump ahead to the sixth day. 00:10:19.360 --> 00:10:26.399 God has created the wild animals, and then this poetic pattern is interrupted in verse 26. 00:10:26.799 --> 00:10:32.320 Then God said, Let us make humanity in our image, according to our likeness. 00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:40.000 They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth. 00:10:40.320 --> 00:10:44.240 God says what he's going to create, which is human beings. 00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:48.240 And he says that they will be created in our image. 00:10:48.480 --> 00:11:00.159 And then we get this tiny poem inserted into this larger poetic structure of Genesis 1, verse 27, says, So God created man in his own image. 00:11:06.080 --> 00:11:07.840 Let's break this down a bit. 00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:09.600 God created man. 00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:15.759 So this word man is referring to humanity, not specifically men or a man. 00:11:16.159 --> 00:11:19.679 God created humanity in his own image. 00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:27.200 Bible Project defines image as a physical embodiment that points to its creator. 00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:31.919 A physical embodiment that points to its originator. 00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:40.080 And together all of humanity reflects the image of God. 00:11:40.559 --> 00:11:44.960 And then this poem ends with He created them, male and female. 00:11:52.320 --> 00:12:00.240 And as they multiply and fill the earth, we understand that the male and the female have been created distinctly. 00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:06.320 They are not the same, and they don't have the same role in this multiply and fill. 00:12:06.559 --> 00:12:14.879 There's kids in the room, so I'm gonna trust that you're tracking with me of what we mean, that they were created differently in this multiply and fill. 00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:17.039 So here's what we have so far. 00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:23.919 God created humanity in his image, a physical representation of the divine. 00:12:34.480 --> 00:12:37.600 And the story closes like this in verse 31. 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:38.799 And it was so. 00:12:39.120 --> 00:12:44.879 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed. 00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:49.600 God declared that his creation was very good. 00:12:50.080 --> 00:12:54.720 The humans, male and female, are very good. 00:12:55.519 --> 00:13:04.399 So in this sea of feeling like we aren't enough, it can be hard for us to say these positive or truthful things about ourselves. 00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:06.559 And so that's where we're headed this morning. 00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:11.759 But to give us a little head start, I want you to say one of two things out loud. 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:15.120 One, say, I am very good. 00:13:15.600 --> 00:13:21.440 Or if that feels too scary, maybe too personal, try God called me very good. 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:23.840 Kids, you've said this at Camp Wonder last year. 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:25.919 Okay, so say one of those things out loud. 00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:27.840 I am very good. 00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:30.000 God called me good. 00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:33.840 Now this is such a nice thought, isn't it? 00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:38.480 That God created me in his image, and I meant to reflect him. 00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:41.200 And then he called what he had made very good. 00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:43.039 So that means I'm very good. 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:48.799 But Ashley, you might be asking me, what about how broken this world is? 00:13:49.120 --> 00:13:51.840 And what about how terrible I can be? 00:13:52.559 --> 00:13:54.399 You don't even know, Ashley. 00:13:54.480 --> 00:14:04.559 You don't even know how I fought with my kids on the way to church because they weren't listening and they were whining, and I wanted to be here on time just this once for Mother's Day. 00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:16.240 Ashley, you don't even know how I yelled at the car who cut me off, and then the shame that I felt when I saw them turn on to Delmar Avenue. 00:14:17.919 --> 00:14:18.559 You know. 00:14:21.039 --> 00:14:29.600 Ashley, you don't even know that I'm just pretending that I'm not annoyed with my husband so that nobody asks me what's wrong and I don't ruin the day. 00:14:29.919 --> 00:14:32.639 That got a big amen in the first service. 00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:44.159 Ashley, you don't even know the grief that I'm carrying, that it makes me resent all the happy people around me. 00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:56.960 Ashley, you don't even know how upsetting it is to carry around all this shame of not being enough, and then the pastor on the stage makes me say that I'm very good. 00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:00.720 And you're right. 00:15:01.039 --> 00:15:10.080 I don't know exactly what you walked in with this morning, but I do know the shame of inadequacy. 00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:19.759 I do know how hard it is to feel like everyone else around you has it together while you are barely holding on. 00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:28.159 I do know the loneliness of grief in the midst of other people's celebrations. 00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:34.159 I do know what it feels like to believe that I'm not enough. 00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:47.840 I know what it feels like to push back on this idea that God spoke over people in the garden, that they were very good, and wonder how could that possibly apply to me when I am so broken and messy? 00:15:47.919 --> 00:15:49.840 How could I ever live up to that? 00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:53.360 Here's how. 00:16:03.679 --> 00:16:09.519 It's based on Jesus and who you are in him. 00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:13.759 I don't need to stand here and tell you how broken our world is. 00:16:13.919 --> 00:16:17.600 All you have to do is open your phone to know that something isn't right here. 00:16:18.480 --> 00:16:23.840 But God created this world and us and called it very good. 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:31.679 And when that was broken, he cared enough and loved enough to have a plan to restore it. 00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:34.080 To restore us. 00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:41.600 Jesus came to restore the goodness that God created, and that includes you. 00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:45.200 God created you. 00:16:56.799 --> 00:17:03.120 This is the good news that God is restoring all things through Jesus. 00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:08.160 Goodness is not something that you have to attain. 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:12.160 It's not more things that you have to do. 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:18.000 It's not this social media perfection of eat the right things and have the right morning routine. 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:23.359 And oh, those cookies that you bring to your small group this week, they better be homemade instead of store-bought. 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:28.400 Because, man, how embarrassing to admit that you love Oreos and you hate dishes. 00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:30.160 No. 00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:39.599 Goodness isn't something we have to work for, it's the working of the Holy Spirit in us. 00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:46.720 The work of goodness in you is the work of God in the world. 00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:54.720 The work of goodness in you is the work of God in the world. 00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:58.799 Your goodness depends on God. 00:17:59.839 --> 00:18:06.559 God who created you, Jesus who redeemed you, and the Holy Spirit who is working in you. 00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:20.000 So when you're worried about your body and your pant size, and if you should have a cupcake at the party, God has called you good. 00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:24.880 The size of your body doesn't determine your goodness. 00:18:25.680 --> 00:18:38.079 Your value, your worth is determined by the one who created you, who created you with care and intention in his very image, a physical representation of the divine. 00:18:38.319 --> 00:18:41.599 You are good because God has called you good. 00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:54.000 And when you are longing for a husband and wondering if you are lacking something, or just simply not enough, because you're still single. 00:18:54.400 --> 00:19:03.920 And so many toxic church teachings that you grew up with are reminding you that your life doesn't truly begin until you get married. 00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:15.599 Your goodness doesn't depend on a husband or a relationship status because God is cultivating goodness in you right now. 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:19.119 God has called you good. 00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:33.279 And when you are trying and trying to get pregnant, and every month your heart breaks all over again for this dream that isn't coming true. 00:19:33.599 --> 00:19:47.119 And then you come to a day like this, where the very thing you most want is on full display, reminding you of the pain that is so big and so near. 00:19:53.440 --> 00:20:01.200 You are not inadequate or anything less than good because you don't have this title of mom. 00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:05.119 Because God has called you good. 00:20:07.119 --> 00:20:24.960 And when you feel this message creep into your mind that you aren't enough, and it grows and it grows as you look around your house and you see the floors that you haven't vacuumed, and you see the pile of laundry that you haven't folded, and the screen time hours for every member of your family are ticking up and up and up. 00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:37.359 And then you see that you miss the memo about your child's school spirit day because work was too busy that week, it tips you right off this cliff into a pool of shame. 00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:41.200 It can be such small things, can't it? 00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:52.720 The crumbs on the floor, the Netflix question of still watching, missing one school spirit day, even though you've done the 20 others. 00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:59.200 Goodness isn't something that you have to work for or live up to. 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:04.559 We don't have to have a perfectly mopped floor to be good. 00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:08.799 Goodness is the working of the Holy Spirit in us. 00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:13.279 God has called you good right now. 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:16.480 Jesus has already redeemed you. 00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:21.279 The Spirit is working in you now, even with crumbs all over your floor. 00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:24.400 So, how do we learn to believe this? 00:21:24.640 --> 00:21:27.039 And not just believe it, but live it. 00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:38.480 How do we climb out from under this pile of shame that's bigger than the pile of laundry that we haven't folded and live in this goodness that God is working in us? 00:21:39.839 --> 00:21:44.480 Here's where we're going to set an anchor in Scripture this morning. 00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:53.279 An anchor holds you steady even as the waves ebb and flow and try to get you to drift away. 00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:56.400 Colossians 3 12. 00:21:57.279 --> 00:22:03.839 Therefore, as God's chosen Chosen people, holy and dearly loved. 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:11.599 You are God's chosen people. 00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:17.279 You are set apart and you are dearly loved. 00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:20.000 We're gonna sit in this for a second. 00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:27.759 You are chosen and set apart and dearly loved. 00:22:28.160 --> 00:22:30.960 Now I've told you that, but I want you to tell each other that. 00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:36.640 Look at the person next to you, look in their eyes and say, you are dearly loved. 00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:39.039 Make sure everybody hears it. 00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:39.599 Look around. 00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:42.240 If anybody's alone, make sure they hear it too. 00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:44.559 You are dearly loved. 00:22:49.359 --> 00:23:02.880 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:04.960 Clothe yourself. 00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:11.039 This means to align yourself with the ways of Jesus. 00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:12.799 Clothe yourself. 00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:22.720 Notice that these things, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, there are they are not things that you're being told to create in yourself. 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:32.400 When you put on your sweater in the morning, very likely, I don't know all of you, but very likely you didn't create that sweater. 00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:36.079 But you chose to put it on. 00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:46.720 Maybe you put it on because it was going to be cold outside, maybe because it looked good with your outfit, maybe you need layers because it's hot here, but you're going to the city and it's always cold there. 00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:52.720 You had some reason to put on this sweater, to clothe yourself in this sweater. 00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:56.640 You were aligning your clothing with some purpose. 00:23:58.240 --> 00:24:20.799 So when we recognize that we were created in God's image, that we are ones who are this physical representation of the divine, we are invited to align ourselves with the ways of Jesus compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 00:24:21.119 --> 00:24:31.759 But listen, this is the spirit doing this in you, not you doing a certain thing to please God. 00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:36.880 That is the work of God in you. 00:24:37.359 --> 00:24:43.920 So you put on that sweater in the morning and you ask God to cultivate his goodness in you. 00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:54.000 Now, I was gonna have two application points for us, but one of them was really just a soft step toward the one that I really think God has for us today. 00:24:54.160 --> 00:25:00.480 And women, moms, especially, we have way too much going on in our mind to beat around the bush here. 00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:09.839 I don't need to add more things, so I'm just gonna get to the one by the name of Jesus and the power of the Spirit. 00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:16.000 Here's how we put this into action and break this shame cycle. 00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:38.960 And it starts and ends with this how you talk about yourself, both to yourself and to other people, will keep you in this shame, or it will give you the space to break free from it and really believe the goodness that God says you are. 00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:44.880 Proverbs 18, 21 says, Life and death is in the power of the tongue. 00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:56.880 How we talk about people who are created in the image of God either continues adding to the same pile or it starts to dismantle it. 00:25:57.359 --> 00:26:03.279 And this morning, when I say how we talk about people, those by people, I mean you. 00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:05.039 I mean ourselves. 00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:08.480 What are the things you're saying to yourself? 00:26:08.880 --> 00:26:14.000 Does your voice sound more like I can't get anything right? 00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:16.559 Why can't I just get it together? 00:26:17.119 --> 00:26:18.400 I'm not enough. 00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:20.720 I'm a failure. 00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:24.319 Does it sound like the voice of shame? 00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:29.279 Or does your voice reflect the voice of Jesus? 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:36.799 Compassion says you have a lot on your plate, and it's okay to set something down. 00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:42.160 Kindness says you are doing the best you can. 00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:47.759 Gentleness says it's okay that you didn't do it perfectly. 00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:49.519 It's okay. 00:26:51.759 --> 00:27:02.880 Some of you, someone many of you are familiar with, Carolyn Takeda, as her and I were talking about growing in self-compassion, she gave me this heart-wrenching question to consider. 00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:06.079 She said, Would you say that to Ella? 00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:07.440 Ella's my daughter. 00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:08.720 Here she is. 00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:14.000 She said, Would you say that to her? 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:19.279 Would you say, would I say these terrible things that I say to myself? 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:26.000 Would I tell her that she's a failure? 00:27:27.119 --> 00:27:30.240 Would I tell her that she can't get anything right? 00:27:32.079 --> 00:27:34.000 Would I tell her that she's not enough? 00:27:37.119 --> 00:27:39.519 I want to pause to acknowledge a couple of things. 00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:50.240 First, that some of you have heard things like this from your mom or from another adult in your life, and I am so sorry. 00:27:51.680 --> 00:27:54.480 You never should have been spoken to that way. 00:27:55.119 --> 00:28:03.680 And in the name of Jesus, he can rewrite those lies and anger you in his love for you. 00:28:05.519 --> 00:28:15.519 I also want to acknowledge all the moms in the room who might be feeling the shame that maybe you said something similar to your child in the height of anger. 00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:18.799 Jesus has redeemed that. 00:28:20.880 --> 00:28:25.119 You are forgiven because of the work of Jesus. 00:28:25.359 --> 00:28:35.119 Let this shame be lifted because God is still working his goodness in you by the name of Jesus and the power of his spirit. 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:40.559 The power of life and death is in the tongue. 00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:43.279 Am I speaking shame over myself? 00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:52.400 Or am I clothing myself in the ways of Jesus and aligning myself with what God thinks about me and is working in me? 00:28:54.240 --> 00:29:04.880 Now, what's important to me this morning on Mother's Day as one of your pastors is that you leave this morning with life spoken over you. 00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:11.440 Words that come from Scripture, that are God's words, that are true. 00:29:11.839 --> 00:29:17.680 For you to hear life-giving words that are compassionate and kind and gentle. 00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:23.200 So I'm going to invite up a few friends to join me in speaking life over you. 00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:25.440 The worship team can come back up too. 00:29:25.599 --> 00:29:27.759 And women and girls, would you stand? 00:29:29.920 --> 00:29:31.599 Would you stand with us? 00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:41.519 Open your hands to receive the words that God has for you this morning. 00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:53.519 And men and boys, if the women around you, if they know you, like if you know them, and they're comfortable with your hand on their shoulder, would you ask them and then lay a hand on them to pray with us? 00:29:54.640 --> 00:29:55.680 Let's pray. 00:29:58.640 --> 00:30:04.079 I praise you because I know because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. 00:30:04.400 --> 00:30:07.279 Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well. 00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:09.680 Psalm 139, 14. 00:30:10.480 --> 00:30:14.799 You have been remarkably and wondrously made by the creator of the universe. 00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:16.799 He doesn't make mistakes. 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:20.240 You don't need to do anything to be remarkable or wonderful. 00:30:21.680 --> 00:30:24.000 You don't need to achieve goodness or earn favor. 00:30:24.720 --> 00:30:27.599 You are created by God, and he's called you very good. 00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:32.880 For we are God's masterpiece. 00:30:43.279 --> 00:30:45.119 You are God's masterpiece. 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:54.000 You are made new in Jesus, and by the Spirit of God, you are created for goodness. 00:30:54.720 --> 00:30:59.759 May God's goodness work in you and through you to the world around you. 00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:08.880 See what great love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God. 00:31:09.599 --> 00:31:10.880 And that is what we are. 00:31:33.119 --> 00:31:35.440 Made holy and dearly loved. 00:31:36.160 --> 00:31:37.920 Colossians 3 12. 00:31:40.799 --> 00:31:45.599 He is cultivating goodness in you right now by the work of his spirit. 00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:57.279 You are dearly loved, and you no longer walk in shame, but be clothed in the ways of Jesus in the belief that you are very good. 00:31:58.720 --> 00:31:59.920 Now let's all stand. 00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:13.440 If you're not standing yet, stand with us if you can and worship together, declaring freedom from the shame that holds us, and thanking God for the great love that He has for us. 00:32:13.839 --> 00:32:14.480 Amen. 00:37:11.760 --> 00:37:16.400 That we are set apart by you, that we are made holy, that we are dearly loved. 00:37:16.719 --> 00:37:22.079 God thank you that our goodness doesn't depend on us, but it depends on you. 00:37:22.400 --> 00:37:27.039 Because you are good, gracious, merciful, wonderful. 00:37:27.360 --> 00:37:27.679 God. 00:37:29.119 --> 00:37:32.159 May our eyes be lifted to you this morning. 00:37:32.400 --> 00:37:36.000 And may you be glorified by this community. 00:37:36.239 --> 00:37:37.679 Jesus thinks. 00:37:43.840 --> 00:37:50.000 God, would you take the shame of not enoughness and would you replace it with your truth? 00:37:52.000 --> 00:37:58.639 That your people are chosen, that they are holy, and that they are dearly loved by you. 00:38:00.000 --> 00:38:02.559 In Jesus' name, Amen. 00:38:03.440 --> 00:38:05.679 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:38:05.840 --> 00:38:10.239 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to 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