2/14/20
I plan on giving this letter to you after our counseling
session so maybe a lot of things have you down right now
but I hope you know that anything I said was in love. I
knew if I didn’t speak my truth in love that we will continue
our toxic cycle and there will never be true reconciliation. I
prayed for so long for our session to be truthful and
healing for both of us. If I gave you this letter it meant you
stayed in rehab and for that I am so grateful. I know its
hard here. I know that every fiber of my being would be
scared angry and confused. All I wanted to do today was
see your artwork, your place you practice yoga, or just day
dream with you about hiking the Rockies in Zion. I know
this feels like prison to you but if you stay I promise you
will find more joy to come- more mountains to climb- and
so much more to experience in life.
The girls and I went to CFC for the first time today without
you. The first song they sung was “In Christ Alone,” which
is the song that played at our wedding. It was the song I
walked down the aisle to to the man I gave my life to. The
same man that told me he doesn’t want me anymore. That
is okay- God has given me passage after passage telling
me that He will take care of us. He can lead the way for
me.
I know you have been through every type of abuse you
can imagine. I see you. I see the hurt. I see what it has
engrained on your heart. I see you feel unloved, unworthy,
undeserving of Christ love but I want you to know that
nothing in the universe can separate you from Christ love
for you.
I have been on my knees in prayer for your every single
day. Instead of you having to look up all these passages I
wanted to just give you them on paper because they bring
so much hope to me and your future.
Isaiah 35 The Joy of the Redeemed
The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the Lord,
the splendor of our God.
3 Strengthen the feeble hands,
steady the knees that give way;
4 say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
he will come to save you.”
5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
6 Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
and streams in the desert.
7 The burning sand will become a pool,
the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay,
grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.
8 And a highway will be there;
it will be called the Way of Holiness;
it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean will not journey on it;
wicked fools will not go about on it.
9 No lion will be there,
nor any ravenous beast;
they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there,
10 and those the Lord has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Romans 8
Life Through the Spirit
8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because
through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you [a] free from the law of
sinand death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the
flesh, [b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin
offering. [c] And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous
requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh
but according to the Spirit.
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh
desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what
the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by
the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not
submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot
please God.
9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if
indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of
Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body
is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life [d] because of righteousness. 11 And
if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ
from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of [e] his Spirit who lives in
you.
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live
according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you
put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you
received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you
received brought about your adoption to sonship. [f] And by him we
cry, “Abba, [g] Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s
children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with
Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Present Suffering and Future Glory
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be
revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be
revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by
the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that [h] the creation itself will be liberated
from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of
God.
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right
up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the
Spirit, groaninwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of
our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at
all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet
have, we wait for it patiently.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought
to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he
who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for
God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,
who [i] have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also
predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the
firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also
called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
More Than Conquerors
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be
against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he
not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any
charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the
one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised
to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us
from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness
or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” [j]
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I
am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, [k] neither the
present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in
all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
I have been so amazed that God named you Joel because
the whole book is just for you! If you would read it it would
be life giving.
Isaiah 56
“Maintain justice
and do what is right,
for my salvation is close at hand
and my righteousness will soon be revealed.
2 Blessed is the one who does this—
the person who holds it fast,
who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it,
and keeps their hands from doing any evil.”
3 Let no foreigner who is bound to the Lord say,
“The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.”
And let no eunuch complain,
“I am only a dry tree.”
4 For this is what the Lord says:
“To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,
who choose what pleases me
and hold fast to my covenant—
5 to them I will give within my temple and its walls
a memorial and a name
better than sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name
that will endure forever.
6 And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord
to minister to him,
to love the name of the Lord,
and to be his servants,
all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it
and who hold fast to my covenant—
7 these I will bring to my holy mountain
and give them joy in my house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices
will be accepted on my altar;
for my house will be called
a house of prayer for all nations.”
8 The Sovereign Lord declares—
he who gathers the exiles of Israel:
“I will gather still others to them
besides those already gathered.”
session so maybe a lot of things have you down right now
but I hope you know that anything I said was in love. I
knew if I didn’t speak my truth in love that we will continue
our toxic cycle and there will never be true reconciliation. I
prayed for so long for our session to be truthful and
healing for both of us. If I gave you this letter it meant you
stayed in rehab and for that I am so grateful. I know its
hard here. I know that every fiber of my being would be
scared angry and confused. All I wanted to do today was
see your artwork, your place you practice yoga, or just day
dream with you about hiking the Rockies in Zion. I know
this feels like prison to you but if you stay I promise you
will find more joy to come- more mountains to climb- and
so much more to experience in life.
The girls and I went to CFC for the first time today without
you. The first song they sung was “In Christ Alone,” which
is the song that played at our wedding. It was the song I
walked down the aisle to to the man I gave my life to. The
same man that told me he doesn’t want me anymore. That
is okay- God has given me passage after passage telling
me that He will take care of us. He can lead the way for
me.
I know you have been through every type of abuse you
can imagine. I see you. I see the hurt. I see what it has
engrained on your heart. I see you feel unloved, unworthy,
undeserving of Christ love but I want you to know that
nothing in the universe can separate you from Christ love
for you.
I have been on my knees in prayer for your every single
day. Instead of you having to look up all these passages I
wanted to just give you them on paper because they bring
so much hope to me and your future.
Isaiah 35 The Joy of the Redeemed
The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the Lord,
the splendor of our God.
3 Strengthen the feeble hands,
steady the knees that give way;
4 say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
he will come to save you.”
5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
6 Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
and streams in the desert.
7 The burning sand will become a pool,
the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay,
grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.
8 And a highway will be there;
it will be called the Way of Holiness;
it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean will not journey on it;
wicked fools will not go about on it.
9 No lion will be there,
nor any ravenous beast;
they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there,
10 and those the Lord has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Romans 8
Life Through the Spirit
8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because
through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you [a] free from the law of
sinand death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the
flesh, [b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin
offering. [c] And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous
requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh
but according to the Spirit.
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh
desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what
the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by
the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not
submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot
please God.
9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if
indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of
Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body
is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life [d] because of righteousness. 11 And
if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ
from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of [e] his Spirit who lives in
you.
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live
according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you
put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you
received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you
received brought about your adoption to sonship. [f] And by him we
cry, “Abba, [g] Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s
children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with
Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Present Suffering and Future Glory
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be
revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be
revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by
the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that [h] the creation itself will be liberated
from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of
God.
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right
up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the
Spirit, groaninwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of
our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at
all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet
have, we wait for it patiently.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought
to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he
who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for
God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,
who [i] have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also
predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the
firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also
called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
More Than Conquerors
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be
against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he
not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any
charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the
one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised
to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us
from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness
or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” [j]
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I
am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, [k] neither the
present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in
all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
I have been so amazed that God named you Joel because
the whole book is just for you! If you would read it it would
be life giving.
Isaiah 56
“Maintain justice
and do what is right,
for my salvation is close at hand
and my righteousness will soon be revealed.
2 Blessed is the one who does this—
the person who holds it fast,
who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it,
and keeps their hands from doing any evil.”
3 Let no foreigner who is bound to the Lord say,
“The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.”
And let no eunuch complain,
“I am only a dry tree.”
4 For this is what the Lord says:
“To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,
who choose what pleases me
and hold fast to my covenant—
5 to them I will give within my temple and its walls
a memorial and a name
better than sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name
that will endure forever.
6 And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord
to minister to him,
to love the name of the Lord,
and to be his servants,
all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it
and who hold fast to my covenant—
7 these I will bring to my holy mountain
and give them joy in my house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices
will be accepted on my altar;
for my house will be called
a house of prayer for all nations.”
8 The Sovereign Lord declares—
he who gathers the exiles of Israel:
“I will gather still others to them
besides those already gathered.”
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