Today I met a woman I had glimpsed several times during my life. When the Father introduced us, her self- righteous, arrogant and judgemental attitude made me cringe. I wanted to ignore her, deny her existence, run from her presence. Instead I looked her full in the face, acknowledged her and admitted to the Father that, yes, I was indeed this woman.

Then I looked into His eyes and saw only compassion and He smiled and gathered me into His arms with these words:

“ ‘There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit’ Romans 8:1.   Because you are in Jesus you are my beloved daughter with whom I am well pleased.”  Matthew 3:17