You are at the right place. Welcome home friend!
Our son, who was seven at the time, put a note on the outside of our front door that read: Jaden lives here.
He was simply making a statement. He was making certain that our first time guests knew that they had arrived at the right house for Christmas dinner.
There is a note on the front door of Faith Caffeine and it says: Joelle lives here. That way you know you have arrived at the right place.
You are welcome here!
If you are a bit tired, lonely, feeling isolated, or broken down by life, come on in, there is a seat at the table for you. If you are thankful and full of hope, you are most welcome here too. If you are a bit of both, I get it. We all need one another!
In case you need to hear, brokenness is not wrong, or bad, or to be feared, or ashamed of – as we all are broken in ways. We all have or will experience more brokenness along our journeys – this is life.
Broken and blessed, pain and joy, often go hand in hand. Learning to tenderly hold both is a gift.
Being broken is often how the light gets in.
You will find light here.
So don’t worry about making good impressions, just be you.
“Homes are for free expression, not good impressions.” – Yours, Mine and Ours 2005 Family Comedy.
Welcome home friend.
So bring your quirkiness, the things you love and the things you don’t. Let’s get to know each other.
We all have shattered pieces of disappointment and hurt deep down. We all have experienced undeserved blessings that have blown us away too. Life is a mixture of it all and yet, so much of the time we hide the parts of us that have been roughed up along the journey. It’s the ugliness and the beauty combined that make us who we are.
We all have so many imperfections, and maybe that is the beauty and the curse of being human.
If you are broken, welcome.
If you are rocking it, welcome.
If you wandering, welcome.
If you are figuring things out, welcome.
If you are shattered, welcome.
If you are in a good place, welcome.
If you feel ashamed, welcome.
If you feel at peace, welcome.
If you feel lost, welcome.
If you feel alive and free, welcome.
If you are weary, welcome.
If you have accomplished that thing, congratulations and welcome.
If you feel overwhelmed, welcome.
If you are hopeful, welcome.
If you feel alone, welcome.
If you are thankful, welcome.
If you are searching for friendship, welcome.
If you are disillusioned with God or life or people, welcome.
If you are excited for what’s next, welcome.
If you feel hopeless or done, you are welcome here too.
If you are choosing joy in spite of your circumstances. Welcome, my friend.
No matter where you find yourself in this very moment – you are welcome here. The truth is all of us feel many of these things and sometimes all in the same day.
I pray that here, right where you and I are, that we will experience God’s love that never quits.
I pray that in His love God will continue to bring our imperfections to light, so we can no longer be condemned in the darkness, or in isolation – where the enemy is at work.
There is a beautiful gift once we can see past the pain of exposure, and gain glimpses of healing and the flickering lights of freedom.
God’s love is waiting. He will hide you under his wings of protection and give you rest.
“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare of the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I am trusting him.
For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from the fatal plague. He will shield you with his wings. He will shelter you with his feathers. His faithful promises are your armor and protection” (Psalm 91:1-4).
God desires more than anything to gather our tears, our pieces that are broken, sharp, shattered, and torn a part. He will weave them back together again, making us stronger and more beautiful.
Only He can make us whole.
His desire is to create more beauty in us than we can dream, envision, think up, or imagine.
It’s painful to let God dig it all out and help us start fresh. Often it takes more courage and bravery than we think we have to give.
You have it in you friend! You can either choose the pain of healing, or the pain of staying.
Jesus is with you even when you have turned, and tried it your way time. I know because I have.
Jesus is with you when others turn on you and you have no idea what to do. I know, I’ve been there too.
His love is waiting. His love never quits. His love is NOT condemning. His love is rooting for us every time!
His love is calling for us to lay down our preconceived ideas of who we think God is and what religion has told us about who we should believe God is.
“I knew I had to stop assessing God’s goodness by how my life felt at any given time. Feelings are broken boards. Only truth is solid, unchanging, and stable through and through.” – Lysa Terkeurst, Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).
356 new days, 365 new chances are the words painted on the sign that sits on our fireplace mantle. I love this reminder so much!
“God remembered us when we were down, thank the miracle-working God, His love never quits” (Psalms 136:4).
I’m leaving the note up on the door, “Joelle lives here.” Know that you are always welcome! Pull up a chair and join the conversation. I’d love to get to know you more.
You’ve arrived at the right place to receive grace and encouragement for your journey.
In it with you friend! Big hugs and blessings sent your way.
With much love and grace,
Joelle Povolni
If you feel a little undone, there are times we all do. Feeling Out Of Sorts may uplift you today.
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