living loved

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.  – Romans 8: 1-2

Pick any morning, Monday through Friday, and I guarantee you will hear two songs every. single. morning: My Jesus by Anne Wilson and Eye of the Tiger by Survivor. Every morning, without hesitation, “Let me tell you ’bout my Jesus…” is followed by a killer power chord blasting out, “Rising up, back on the street…” Of course, Sukey’s selection is both uplifting the Spirit and pumping us up for a Rocky Balboa kinda day.

This morning, our routine singing and jamming and the blast of the guitar hit me a little differently. Maybe it was the coffee, maybe it was the slow-down view of my children smiling and laughing (a rare sight in the early morning), or maybe it was my “Holy Spirit activate” moment, but my cup was filled at this silly and simple every day musical request.

Sukey, in all of her innocence and love, prepares for her day with sweet surrender of who her Jesus is, and then gets pumped to live her day “changing her passion for glory” (great line, Survivor, great line). And I get to watch it. I get to hear it. I get to experience this moment every single day. And it is an experience. She sings without fear or trepidation the lyrics to “My Jesus”. She belts out without restraint that her Jesus “makes a way when there ain’t no way,” and she does not have the condemnation that adults face and fight because she lives a life that is free of embarrassment and shame and guilt. She sings and lives like Romans 8:2: a life that has been set free by the Spirit.

I have been reading and studying Roman 8 and the book of Isaiah. Through these books, I have been convicted and encouraged as a believer to live a life of freedom. I have been encouraged to live a life that is well-loved, and I have been reminded of Who I serve and His great love that overcomes, overwhelms, and satisfies this soul. Romans 8 is all about the Holy Spirit giving us the love and freedom to live as conquerors for His glory. We are set free by His love. Watching (and hearing – quite loudly) Sukey live so freely was a beautiful reminder to live in that love – to live loved.

I could tell you the sob story of my past or about the decisions I’ve made that have resulted in hurt or hurting others, but that story is full of condemnation, shame, and slavery to sin, and quite frankly, doesn’t make me a conqueror at all. Or I could shift the perspective, and I could tell you a redemption story – a story of freedom, mercy, and grace – a story of victory…

I did my time, and I took my chances. I went the distance, and now I am back on my feet. Just a man/woman and his will to survive? Nah…it is more than that. Let me tell you ’bout my Jesus.

XOXO, Loni