Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

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i came across a song out of ihop the other day.  it’s by cory asbury and pretty much sums out where i am at with the lord these days:  


i've finally found where i belong,
i've finally found where i belong,
i've finally found where i belong in your presences
to be with you, to be with you
i am my beloved's and he is mine
so come into your garden and take delight in me
take delight in me

pretty early on into the race i realized that this trip is less about me serving the world and getting them all saved. it’s been more about me learning who i am in christ and who i am to christ.  the thing the lord has really taught me is that i am not very good at being loved by him, or by other people, for that matter.  often times i feel like i have to earn it.  like i have to measure up to some standard so that i will be accepted and loved.

what i am learning, however, is that this is nowhere near true.  the lord loves me simply because he created me.  i’m a child of god.  and that is enough.  it always has been and it always will be.  these last nine months have been a process of me letting go of my notions and assumptions about who god is and who i am to him and letting him pick up all of the broken pieces.

enter, tattoo.

so, i knew i wanted to get a tattoo this year.  and while joining the kingdom club was tempting i really, really felt like i needed to do something to mark what the lord has done in me through this trip.  and thus, the idea of beloved was born.  i wanted it to say ‘beloved’ but also look like ‘be loved’ as a reminder that i am to be loved by him. 

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.

i can only love him well if i am first being loved by him.  and i can only love others well if i am loving him well.  it’s this cyclical thing that i am learning.  the first step is to understand my value as a child of god and to understand that i am loved, just as i am, and i never have to earn anything or prove myself to him.it’s a beautiful realization that has brought me so much freedom.

on that note, here’s a little video i put together to capture the ‘tattoo-getting.’  it was a great way to celebrate my birthday and all that god has done in me and is continuing to do.