Thoughts on redemption, resets and dreaming for May
Thoughts on redemption, resets and dreaming for May
April newsletter
A day late and a dollar short. Should have been the name of my memoir.
I truly think I blinked, and April is gone. Some reflections from this month:
💕 A thought I’m loving [on replacement vs. redemption]
🤔 A thought I’m processing [on a weekly reset]
🗳️ A poll [on what you want out of May]
🔗 Some link love
📆 A full recap & links to this past month’s posts
🤔 A thought I’m processing [on replacement vs. redemption]
I’ve been processing redemption lately.
If you’ve talked to me in the last year you know I’m obsessed with Internal Family Systems. As I’ve reflected on this therapy model, I’ve realized that one of the things I love about it is that instead of cutting off the parts of you who you don’t like, you are reclaiming them: watching them be loved back into returning. Like the Prodigal Son a year after coming home, your parts learn to become themselves as they are brought out of their twisted prisons.
It has made me realize how Christians sometimes swap out redemption for replacement. We often preach a Gospel that erases self; our gospel has no use for it. As we come to God, we lose ourselves (sounds biblical) and become like Christ (sounds biblical).
Sometimes, we talk like God can look at us because He doesn’t see us; he has covered us in Christ. We have a Jesus mask on. We’ve been replaced.
I get it. I get the bible verses that I think have been (mis)applied this way.
Except replacement is not redemption. And it isn’t restoration. Both those words involve the original thing. The original thing is what is redeemed (not just replaced with something else). The original thing is restored—brought back to the original design (maybe even with an upgrade).
Whatever God is doing within and through you, it involves you.
He’s not done with us yet.
💕 A thought I’m loving [on a weekly reset]
Loved this image and shared her caption below. These questions aren’t my jam, but this prompted me to work on one of my own (and I’ll try to share it the next newsletter or sooner!
If you’re already feeling overwhelmed, tired, or stuck thinking about all you “should” do this week - spend one minute answering each of these questions…
Your week, your life, your calling, and your rest are all worth 4 minutes to reflect and reset.
🗳️ A poll [on what you want out of May]
Last month’s poll was an even split! Half of you think April Fool’s pranks are fun, and half of you hate it. This month’s poll is a little more reflective:
Some link love
31 ways to be mindful this month!
A poem I’m loving on joy
Something I want to make this month
I figured out how to get the podcast-ish thing on Spotify (I didn’t really figure it out; Substack did it).
The most played song this month: here. (embarrassing; I’ve been reminiscing on some things).
📆 What you missed in March
Below are some links to thoughts I’ve shared this past month! (Please note that some of my messier thoughts and musings are behind a paywall. You can read more about why I do that here, and feel free to upgrade your subscription to access them.)
Thoughts on coercive control in the church, the nature of love, and April Fool’s Day
Please Criticize Church (that isn’t the church)
Is it love or longing? Pleasure or relief? Craving or desire? (A little Limerence Talk)
Abelism Kills (TW: suicide)