come as you are

Mark + Destani Casto. I seriously could write essays about what these two mean to me- but for now I’ll just give you a glimpse. 

I met them at Hope Chapel in Batesburg, South Carolina. I watched their kids one night- not knowing that this would be the beginning of it all. 

As I began to come around more often, I would always notice this sign they had hanging in their living room. I felt like every time I looked up, this taunting sign was calling my name.

It read “Come As You Are.” 

Mhmmm…sounds easy, right?! But actually try it. What happens when in a lack of beloved identity you suddenly realize you don’t like who you are or, in my case, you don’t really KNOW who you are?

How do I come as I am when I honestly don’t even know what that looks like?

Yet in Abba’s goodness- he again- didn’t let me miss it.

They soon were sent to Covington, Georgia to establish the Kingdom of God and build family that hosted the presence of God. About a year after they moved- I felt the impulse of the spirit to follow. I did not hear the audible voice of the Lord to move, however I felt that this was my invitation to more. To find who your spiritual mother & father are is something I’ll never be able to explain- but for me- it was something I could feel in my bones. 

I look back now and couldn’t be more thankful for that simple sign that encouraged me to come as I am. To bring all of me to Abba’s table of goodness and allow him whisper to me how He sees me. I couldn’t be more thankful for an arms-wide-open mother and father in my life who even when I really jacked it up to say- “This doesn’t change my love for you.” They push me towards Abba’s heart and exemplify the Kingdom of God on a daily basis. 

So I say to you- son or daughter of the Most High…find home & come as you are. You won’t regret it.