I AM...Whole

I say it every day with math students:

Frustration is not a bad thing.

Frustration is healthy.

Of course you’re having trouble understanding it, you just learned it.

Of course you’re going to make mistakes. 

Mistakes are not a bad thing.

Mistakes are healthy.

Of course the fact that you just spent 20 minutes on that problem and got the wrong answer is not a waste of time.

It is so obvious to me.

Of course.

And the one who surrenders to that process comes out stronger.  Fuller.  Whole.

And constantly, as I encourage this very thing to students –day in and day out;

Reminding them that the process of frustration and mistakes is healthy and necessary;

Constantly as I know this in math—

I forget it in every other part of life.

Frustration.  Mistakes. 

These are not designed to take us further from our vision.

They are designed to more fully, more wholly, more foundationally take us into our vision.

When they rise their head, see them for what they are: Tools.  Spring boards.  Insights into the whole.

We are a family that does not give up. 

No. Matter. What.

Let whatever may rise, rise. 

Keeping our eyes, our vision—fixed on Him. 

Full in Him.

Whole in Him.

I AM...worth it.

I can't hear this song without hearing Isaiah 55 and Hosea 2-3.


Justin Timberlake "Not a Bad Thing" 
All I want from you is to see you tomorrow,
and every tomorrow;
Maybe you'll let me borrow your heart?
And is it too much to ask for every Sunday?
And while we're at it,
throw in every other day to start?


I know people make promises all the time;
then they turn right around and break them.
And someone cuts your heart open with a knife;
while you're bleeding.
Don't you know I could be that guy,
to heal it over time;
And I won't stop until you believe it;
cause baby you're worth it-- So-o...


Don't act like it's a bad thing to fall in love-- with Me.
You might look around and find your dreams come true-- with Me.
Spend all your time and your money just to find out that My Love-- was free.
So don't act like it's a bad thing to fall in love-- with Me.
It's not a bad thing to fall in love-- with Me.


And EVERY MORN-ING,
I just wanna see you staring back at Me.
Cause I know that's a good place to start.


And if you fall,
you'll always land,
right in these arms.
These arms of Mine.


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Isaiah 55: 1-3
“Come,
all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money;
come,
buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen,
listen to me,
and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare.
Give ear and come to me;
listen,
that you may live."
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Hosea 2-3
“Then she'll say,
'I'm going back to my husband,
the one I started out with.
That was a better life by far than this one.'
She didn't know that it was I all along who wined and dined and adorned her.”
…
“ 'And now,
here's what I'm going to do:
I'm going to start all over again.
I'm taking her back out into the wilderness where we had our first date,
and I'll court her.
I'll give her bouquets of roses.
I'll turn Heartbreak Valley into Acres of Hope.
She'll respond like she did as a young girl,
those days when she was fresh out of Egypt.' ”
…
“ 'And then I'll marry you for good-- forever!
I'll marry you true and proper,
in love and tenderness.
Yes,
I'll marry you and neither leave you nor let you go.
You'll know me,
God,
for who I really am.' ”
…
“ They'll come back chastened to reverence before God and his good gifts,
ready for the End of the story of his love.”
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