// are you that one sheep? //

Just last week I shared my feelings about this calling - this calling for me to create beautiful journals that inspire people to get closer to God and themselves.  Is this my calling?  Am I doing what God wants?  Just as I pressed "publish" on that post, I started seeing signs... everywhere.  But, the biggest came to me this past Sunday in church.

I LOVE the story from the Book of Luke:

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain saying, 

"This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." 

So to them, he addressed this parable, 

"What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?  And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, "Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep!" I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over the one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need for repentance." 

While this verse speaks more to mercy and compassion and God's unwavering grace, it also proves that God's logic defies ours, and that he never tires in his pursuit of each of us.  His mercy is like the shepherd with one hundred sheep.  God wants to make use of all of us.  Maybe he chose me to create these journals because he felt that my flaws would inspire similar people to not give up.  Maybe I am that one sheep.  Seeing a perfect person serve a perfect God seems unrealistic for the average person. But seeing someone open up about their shortcomings and still believe, makes seeking him seem possible.  The point is, God does not care either way, he accepts us a imperfect.   

It really got me thinking about this brand that I am creating.  In the past, I have pushed away from many spiritual brands because of the persona of perfection.  I cannot relate to a person who only listens to gospel, always says the right thing, and can recite every verse in the Bible verbatim.  My faith is most important to me, but that does not mean that I do it perfectly.  Similarly, being a good mother is a top priority in my life, but that does not mean that I don't sometimes make mistakes.  It is not fair to say, "Well, if it is important to you, then you will do it right."  The entire way in which this world is designed is to completely throw us off our game - to get us to make the wrong decision.  It has been said before, "strait is the gate, and narrow is the path" - always doing the right thing is hard, heck, it was designed that way!

And, THAT is why these journals are valuable!  I am not sitting over here like, "Journal like me and be perfect!" That would be crazy.  What I am saying is, "Hey!  I have come a long way and I found that when I do this certain thing (journal), I find that I get a lot further a lot faster!"  In other words, don't  be afraid to try it out.  I created a layout that can be as intense or as relaxed as you make it.  I created a platform for intentional, guided journaling.  A place for you to record your thoughts, prayers, regrets, and gratitude.  Spending some time putting your thoughts on paper everyday and reflecting on your growth every once in while is all that I am suggesting.  I simply created a tool that does not intimidate people, it inspires them.

So, in a way, I guess I am like that lost sheep.  I stray at times, but God still sees my value.  He believes that I am still useful and most of all, that I am worthy.  God has set this fire inside of me to show that same idea to you.

If you keep following me and this story, you will see more and more how much journaling has changed me and can change you.  Coming from the girl whose parents famously refer to as "the free spirit", I have a LOT of experience in the "imperfect".  The older I get and the more I purge my thoughts on paper, the more growth I achieve.  With that added growth, I find more responsibility in sharing my stories with others.  The secret is too good to keep!

One last thing... it goes both ways.  If God accepts us, we must accept others.  Don't keep people different from you at a distance, bring them closer :)

In Peace,

Katie