More Than Ashes (Tim Reimherr/Merchant Band)

It is preparation for a bride... and once I understood that I could have climbed any mountain.... joy was mine.. I was His...

The details swirled in my head.... the numerous different projects... the abundance of items that needed to be thought about.... and the question... the question.. How do I balance all these things and place Jesus in the middle of them?

As one who loves time to just sit and sit with the Lord I was struggling with how do I walk through all of these details and do so with Him... How do I do the work while keeping Him in focus so that no labor is done in vain?

My heart was so very heavy as I looked at all that was before me... I had come to sit with Father placing all of it before His feet but I needed to also keep walking... how could I find the Brother Lawrence lifestyle that I so truly value amidst all of this?

My thoughts went to those that I know that I know do these things well.... the things that they have taught me.... knowing what truth do I hold onto in these moments... so not in a name it and claim it way but in a way that acknowledges this is who I am and this is who my God is and this is what He says about all of this and that is more than good enough for me....

Peace that passes all understanding.. that is mine... it is mine to choose... it is mine to seek after if I can't enter into it easily then it is mine to seek and find out why not.... get healing and then genuinely with a full heart walk into it... peace that passes all understanding isn't something that can be performed... it has to come forth from a heart that lives and breaths and knows that that which Father says is true .. is yes and amen.... perfect peace is a gift...

But it wasn't coming... details were swirling... but all of this was for Him... and it really was... I didn't feel like there was effort in the flesh to make things happen... I just felt like these things before me were truly tasks to be done and not pushed aside...

But how? How could I walk through and navigate through them all with the right perspective... with my heart and spirit aligned to His.... with what truth could I pin myself to....

Then as always... and yes!!!! Always... Always!!!! Not because I am special although I am .. we all are.... not because I am annointed... or different BUT because I am His and He is bound to us.. .He has bound Himself to us... His love.. His affections.. His ways.....

So upon my bewilderment He spoke.... He spoke with a song and within the song the lyrics that drew me up and out and towards the most perfect perspective were "and there's going to be a wedding ... it's the reason that I'm living ... to marry the Lamb.." those lyrics played over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again ... and I wept and wept with Him... I GOT IT!!

I exist and that which He has put before me exists for the sole reason that one day... one day I will be His bride... and that which He asks for me to walk in and participate in with Him isn't work... it is preparation for a bride... and once I understood that He was branding me with a perspective that would carry me forth into and through these next seasons I felt like I could climb any mountain... scale any task... and do so with life and liberty because the reason for it all... the only reason for it all is because one day... one day... one beautiful .. marvelous.. incredible.. phenomenal... outstanding... tremendous day... there is going to be a wedding... the wedding of all ages... the reason that I am living.... unto Him... unto Him... all of it ... everything unto Him

BLESSED BE THE NAME..... Blessed be His Name.. He only causes me to fall deeper and deeper in love with Him.... this is the most magnificent engagement ... this is life... being engaged... being single hearted and single minded towards Him... PERIOD!!! I'M IN LOVE!!!! I truly can do all things... because He IS my strength and that strength is made up of joy... abundant... not attached to scenarios and situations that change but joy attached to the permanence of Him... the fact that He never changes... ever... EVER!!!!!!!

Wept Here and Wept there but upon Him did I set my eyes

There was quiet... there was silence... the air filled with Him and I let out a large sigh.... I just looked at Him and the gaze that I know so very well caught my eyes... caught my heart...

I'm tired... to which His reply was that He fully knew all things and He beckoned me to come and sit.... leaning again... leaning... this season is one which I have learned more than ever to trust into the lean... and lean I did.... No words passed... and the silence went on and on...

Before I am anything else I am His.... and this place... with Him... when words even for me fail and disorientation would try to grab a hold of my heart... Straight to Him... straight to Him.... I'm tired ... maybe exhausted would be a better word... but whether it is this state or it is joy or it is celebration towards Him ... into Him is the place I always want to stand....

I have felt gray today... like a cloud sits upon my mind and a weight of bricks upon my heart.... and all the while I have waited for this time... for this time where seemingly in retreat I turn towards Him ...

Reclining upon Him and catching my breath the gray fades and rest enters my soul.... Surprisingly I begin to feel His delight.... I guess the word stunned came to mind because the moment was anything but delightful to me... ah being with Him was bringing it forth but I needed the rest He gives more than anything...

But then I too knew that which was causing Him joy....

I did not go towards entertainment
I did not go towards food
I did not go towards anything that would have me escape the gray but Him....
My trust full... in Him my trust complete...He is never slow in keeping a promise and He is always present... I realized that in my small way I know Him... I know Him.. I know that He is the place I need to go.. I know that He is most magnificent in loving me and granting me rest and strength... I trust Him to be that which He is ... I trust Him to be the great I AM and the gentle shepherd... loving Father and all powerful Lord... I trust Him.... and in that I am confident that no matter where I find myself I can walk straight up to Him and as if all else ceases to exist it is He and I... in those moments when I need ... He is ever ready.. He is my ever ready help in all my times of need... He is so completely magnificent...


I have learned that it isn't to people to which in a place of need I need to look to first...... that one took time for me to learn... I so believe in community and relationship to me is a precious jewel upon the earth ... However I can not take the tent peg of my life and attach it to another human.....

while being all things to all men I can not be all things.... That job is already taken by one who does it so so very well... To Him I attach my life... I attach my emotions... I attach my flesh... my soul... I attach all that I am to Him...

This day did not win... gray didn't win.... wept here and wept there but upon Him did I set my eyes... If His eyes are upon the sparrow.. they are most certainly upon me... Towards Him I leaned and leaned harder as the day tried to pack its punches hard... those punches at times landed upon my heart and as if thrown into my stomach my breath was taken away but towards Him I looked and He was there... He is always there... never more than that needed breath away... in plenty He restores my soul... in grace and mercy does He pour out His presence ever so swiftly... ever so full...

My Father.. Mine... as in I belong to Him... Father... as in the most magnificent loving part of creation.... Your name is worthy ... oh so very worthy to be adored... You sit in Heaven but upon earth you pour out .. Your kingdom comes upon my very life .. your will sets itself up upon my person and nothing.. no gray.. no punch.. no sorrow.. no trial.. no tribulation.. no hardship.. nothing.. nothing gets to have its hold on me... when upon Him I lean... when into Him I go...

They only stick if they matter to you

I sat at the traffic light and the details of the moment swirled around in my head... I went towards my phone to call someone and then I thought to myself, "NO."

Yes, there was quite a bit occurring all at once.... yes, one of those things on their own would be enough to have my eyes catch a hold of the wind and the waves and begin to sink....

But things would be different this time...

Complaining doesn't solve anything.. sometimes talking with someone through moments like these is beneficial but to me the place I needed to step into was towards Him... and Him alone...

Sitting at that traffic light I put the phone down... and I leaned... I leaned and I leaned and I leaned.... If I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength and the joy of the Lord is my strength then there existed a way through those things that would try and arise to steal my joy, my confidence, my peace.... and I could allow those situations and circumstances that power or I could say, "NO!"

What I didn't know in that moment was what that moment would truly become..... Because while there have been waves and winds and lots of situations that could rob my peace I have stood in this place of perfect peace that passes all understanding....

Living forward with only a couple hours of sleep I can have perfect peace... Parenting 6 children at all different stages of life with different needs I can have perfect peace.... Within my marriage, within my friendships, within my work, within my day no matter what might come I truly can have perfect peace...

The biggest concern when talking about these things is that I would give off a "name it and claim it" persona but what I have come to is this... If I believe that which I believe about Christ and our Father than my life must be different... I must be different.. Not in a perform it and achieve it type way but in a what is Him living and breathing upon me and with me and in me... What does that look like?

What does perfect peace look like... It isn't that the trials and tribulations aren't there it is that we get to overcome them because we walk with the one who overcame and now holds all the keys.... Keys to how to have peace in the face of the storm.. keys to know acceptance in the face of rejections... Keys of confidence to know that this world doesn't get to dictate nor determine what I think, feel or believe... This world doesn't get to dictate the deepest reality... only the Lover of our souls gets to do that... and I like what He thinks and feels about a subject... any subject...

His thoughts are always going to be higher... His ways are always going to better... He is always going to lead me upon paths that I can walk upon... where nothing formed against me gets to prosper... because I am attached to Him... I belong to Him and that is that which He says....

It brings me to one of my favorite passages of my favorite books of all time.. You are Special by Max Lucado... In it the answer one character gets about why "stars" and "dots" don't stick upon a fellow creature is because "she has determined that what I think of her is more important then what they think of her.. the stars and dots only stick if you let them... they only stick if they matter to you.........."

I know more than ever that which matters to me... It's His thoughts and opinions.. It's His ways.. It's Him

In Him I live extraordinarily

In Him I find my home... He is that which sets the course of my thoughts and my moments....

In Him I have the most truest rest that exists in all of creation... In Him I partake of a nature from another place.. a whole other realm...

In Him I live extraordinarily....

In Him I get to look at all that this world would attempt to tell me and wash it through a paradigm that knows so much more...

A paradigm that says the weak are strong and the poor are rich... a paradigm that says that this world and its ways and its thoughts are not the last word.... a paradigm that shifts all else into the most glorious of truths... that we are loved... fallen creatures loved by a most holy God....


His love is the most perfect thing I have ever gotten to touch... His love is radiant... It is kind... it is immense... It is glorious in its nature and leaves all changed in its wake.... It strengths, it heals, it redeems, it comforts,

I can but only abide... draw near... attach myself to....

In Him I live extraordinary... in Him there is hope for the hopeless... families for the orphan... acceptance for the rejected.... strength for the weakened....

In Him the most glorious reality exists and stands firm... and In Him I take my place... as daughter, image bearer.... loved one... cherished.... adored....

In Him we get to look at this world through completely different lenses... we get to see as He sees.. and love as He loves...

In Him we get to partake of a life and a freedom so full of grace and mercy and love and kindness that the aroma of our lives becomes intoxicating to all those around..

In Him ... In Him... living and breathing and having our being... In Him ... there is not one other place I would desire to be... but In Him that is where I will abide

Sitting there I am Kept so very well

Walking up the stairs it was to Him and Him alone I needed to go.... a backpack full of things that I just went straight towards Him and dropped at His feet... and looked into His eyes and quietly sat down upon Him.... Closing my eyes... putting myself into rhythm with Him and His presence ... allowing myself to sync as you might say with the beating of His heart....

My heart and mind quieting further upon every second spent... not budging.. not one muscle .. not one movement... glued to Him and tired He poured out refreshing upon my soul.... His care for me complete .. not lacking one iota... not missing one beat... in that place... that holy holy place... Father and daughter ... Creator and image bearer together....

There is not one thing .. not one place... not one person who restores my soul as He can... I was created to plug into Him and Him alone... I was created with one source for food... I was created to take part of Him... to be a part of Him... I was created to breathe in His air.. His breath... Him....

Sitting there... leaning there.. I closed my eyes to all else... closed myself off to all else but His love... His tender loving kindness... His mercies... His beauty... His grace..... His strength replaces my weakness... His wisdom replaces my folly...

Sitting there that is where I live forth from.... Oh in the natural I get up and live my life but leaning... always leaning... always sitting upon Him.... always lingering within Him.... His scope and His vastness consume me and at upon it all I am kept.... kept so very well....

When out of Heaven a hand comes forth.....

His hand came down and was holding mine... Ah this time there was no physical hand but there might as well have been....

I know I have shared times when as I sat on this one particular hill or walked these woods within one season of my life if a picture had been taken there would be no doubt in my mind that Jesus would be very present in that photo...

However this was not that ... Again it might as well have been...  The old what 70s or was it an 80s song... "come take my hand and walk with me to where the children are free ... Take my hand...."

As I saw and watched this scene play out the thought that crossed my mind was this is life.... This is life!!!! Where the Creator of all things acts upon one small portion of creation with such loving care and tenderness while at the same time keeping the universe moving through the dance of time....

In those moments of taking His hand I felt my mind be altered... I felt His truths sink deeper... I felt even more branded upon as His... I felt the aspects of me that don't always fall into alignment with Him separate from my person...

How can one both hold the very hand of God and rest delightfully within His palm?  I do not know! But this morning His abundant loving kindness upon me shatters all else and within a deepening quiet and solidness resides...

I am His girl.... I am His daughter... It is my Father's image I bear

Then this was the moment....

There are moments where the truths of the Kingdom ring so fully within my heart... where the reality of the thoughts and opinions of the Father so override anything I would think of that would even have the slightest tinge of less than that which He most perfectly thinks...

It is in those times where a strength and an assurance and understanding seems so clear... so beautiful.. so amazing... who we are as children of God!!! Who He is!!! The reality of our Kingdom!!! The joy and delight that just stem forth from that place...

Tonight as I drove home I saw a picture of an umbilical cord and Father's voice rung strongly into my ears .. He spoke of how nothing can ever cut this cord... how we are attached more firmly than I could ever even realize... He spoke of His love and His care and His compassion and I felt His gaze upon me ... In this place I get lost... I get swept up into love... swept up into Him...

Earlier on in the day I was out as well... but that time all the cares and concerns and details and needs of the day were floating around my head... but I paused and I slowed my thoughts down and in hunger I grabbed for truth... If I can truly do all things through Christ who gives me strength and the joy of the Lord is my strength and I am to cast all my anxiety upon Him for He cares for me.. than this was the moment to believe those truths... This was the moment to take the truth of all I believe and stand firm....

I quietly spoke forth towards the Lover of my soul my desire... my hunger... In these moments as the wind and waves were arising what would it look like to go to sleep... what would it look like to trust... what would it look like to turn towards Him and not allow the foul whispers of the world to steal my peace...

I spoke quietly towards Him and leaned into Him physically expressing my need... expressing my lack and acknowledging that His truth says I lack no good thing.... There was no religion in these moments.. There was a girl desperately in need of the love of Father and Savior .. There was a girl who mustered up not even the faith of a mustard seed to say I believe....

I believe that I don't have to be anxious... I believe that the cares of this world don't get to rob me of my joy... I believe that perfect love casts out all fear... I believe that there is a peace that passes all understanding.. I believe... I believe ... I BELIEVE!!!!

The car filled with a quiet joy and a solid assurance and while the details and the cares of the moment still existed in the world's eyes they vanished at the very thought of Him.... He who knows beginning from end... He who watches over birds of the air and the flowers of the field adores me... delights in me... I am His.. His daughter... His girl... and I no longer felt tentative... Assurances of His love brought boldness and carried me forth.....

The thoughts and opinions of man... the raging and roar of the world are all hushed at the reality of His ways... His ways are higher than.. They are stronger than.. They are more solid than anything this world or man could ever offer....

This then was the moment.... a moment of truth... a moment where I decided to believe that I really am that citizen of Heaven .. I really am that new creation... This really is true.. and the truth of this is so firm and so incredibly set that nothing can hinder its flow....

This then was the moment where the delight of the Father and the reality of His world overrides and forms and fashions culture.... when we stand in a moment and do not allow culture or opinion to carve us into its image but stand bearing forth the image of our Creator we welcome in and usher in a new day... where we know who we are.. and the things we believe aren't a standard of heavy yokes but a free flowing, life engaging amazing song of truth that resides deep within and changes not only that which we are but that which surrounds us....

My Father who resides in Heaven walks upon His creation through you .. through me.. may we walk as He would walk not hindered by lies.. not hindered by fear... but empowered and liberated by love....

I love Father and He loves me and there is a connection there that is so solid that I need not ever fear..... For His care for me is perfect.. perfect in every way...

But the World is Blue!

"But the world is blue!" That is what they were declaring.... The world and everything that they saw was blue and had blue tinges to it as I went to try and describe that which was really what was being seen I noticed something.... The glasses they had on were colored blue... so everything that they were seeing was blue... but that colored the reality of that which was really there....

Today as I thought upon that scene... a picture that the Lord spoke to me.. I realized what lens do I have on? What lens of comparison? What lens of performance? What lens of fear? What lens of trust? What lens of love?

In any given day throughout the day all the events we encounter... all the people.. all the words... what words.. what thoughts and opinions are going to matter... what "truths" try to exalt themselves up as the final word... what final words are we going to allow to reside within us....

But in some areas of my life I am oblivious to the fact that I am wearing blue tinted glasses... I want to see clearly but the coloration of the lenses upon my eyes (my heart) make it near to next impossible...

But that is where I have learned to come to the Spirit of Truth and allow my Father to set my heart aright.... there is nothing else that can take those lenses off... nothing but His love... Our hearts have known living in this world.. they have known the harm of human kind... the harm of lack.. the harm of pain.. but He has so overcome all the trials and tribulations that would ever surface and He is a master redeemer and amazing lover of our souls...

I pray this prayer... Father let me see as You see.. let me see my world, let me see others and let me see myself as You see ... Father take off any lenses that would have me believe lies ... take off lenses that would hinder me from knowing the depth of Your loving care over me.... and then I rest.. I rest in His presence... and I hold my thoughts captive and I pray the mind of Christ upon me and I pray that as I am crowned with the lovingkindness of God that my mind would be transformed and know Him as He is and myself as He says I am....

Truth empowers me to be different... learning to soar

Not too long ago I was with a group of people and as I prayed over different ones and looked up and saw faces and lives before me I was so moved towards compassion.

It has filled my days with wonderment and thought…. Thoughts of comparison, thoughts of performance, thoughts of weights or burdens of life and/or obligation….. these things of life that come and choke out truth and joy and sweet fellowship with the Father…. These things that come and roar their lies into the lives of people and bang up against the knowledge of trust and truth and hope and faith….

The cares and the concerns of this world choking out life amidst the sons and daughters of God….

Today was the first day in my life that all 6 of my children were in school. I got away…. I placed my phone off and down and had no computer near… I sat and waited upon the Lord… I sat there at the beginning of this new season of life and gave my life and my time and my days to the Father… I sat there and these thoughts again came….

Thoughts about comparison, thoughts about performance, thoughts about fear and doubt … weights.. heavy burdens… and as I thought about these things again what was birthed within me was such a desire …. A desire for the truths of the affections of Father to roll out upon His people… His children… A desire for the truths of His passion.. His delight .. His love to so infiltrate our souls… our lives… our spirits…

It isn’t all that hard to listen to the whispers or the shouts of the lies that this world, our flesh or the enemy would like to have us believe… There are areas in all our hearts where lies land so much easier than the truth….

I want to be so full of Father’s affections and thoughts that those lies are showed up for what they are…. I want to so know the authentic and powerful truth of God and who I am in Him that the counterfeit is easily shown up for that which it is…

I have stood in awe of how my children put themselves out there in life… they step into new things.. they step onto sport playing fields… they risk and venture and jump out… they open their lives up to criticism and critique … I realized at times I have played it safe… gone with the flow… flown under the radar… allowing fear of the thoughts and opinions of man to intimidate me back into a corner ….

But these things are just so pounding upon me… my heart and mind are full with the reality of being a daughter… oh the lies come and so does the fears but the time is shorter now that they get to stay… and sometimes they don’t even get to find a landing field….

It isn’t that I can’t be intimidated by fear still it is just that perfect love is taking more and more residence up in my life and in my heart and in all that I am…. And that perfect love is creating within me a strength and a joy and a delight that as it grows I get to walk more and more as a daughter… as a beloved… as one who was created in the image of Father God and I get to bear that image and not shrink back…

Fear has been a factor in my life… yet the love of God is so much stronger and so much more that as I set my heart upon Him and as I allow His thoughts and opinions to outweigh all else I am being renewed daily… hhhmmm renewing my mind as I set it upon Him….

I step out more and more now… I find that I allow my truest self to fly … at times I still want to shrink back but then I remember… I am not made of those who shrink back I am one born to have faith.. and born to have confidence… I am a daughter… a daughter of the Most High God… I get to live in His perfect love.. and all else… all else will fade away…..

May the perfect love of our Father so fill you as you live your moments that fear and the thoughts and opinions of this world will have no place in you…. Bless you

The reality of that one place undoes me... Undoes me everytime

There is only one sure place I know to go.... Oh don't get me wrong I go to many other places at times.. Sadly.  


But beyond all events and beyond all circumstances ... Beyond situations that I encounter or that enter my life whether in my control or out if it there is only one place where I know I will no matter what end up...


I feel like Zuzu from it's a wonderful life handing Father the flower and looking up at him and asking Him to fix it...  


Fix my heart Father
Fix my mind
Carry these anxious thoughts away from me for Your care for me is the most solid thing I know...


When upon this morning I encountered emotions that would arise to apprehend my peace a friend of mine encouraged me to embrace how Jesus and I commune through writing ...


 When within the hours of the afternoon I stood within the circumstances of my day I had to pause and pull upon my Father ... I have come and come again  to the depth of understanding that there is simply no other place to go...


No other place that amidst the wind and waves of the day can I find true rest... Real rest... Permanent peace...


Other places scream  up their offerings of peace or satisfaction but their yelps are shallow and fade quickly away at times leaving even more harm...


Where as in this place... Under the shadow of Him who loves me so utterly completely I can truly find rest... In the refuge of the Tower of His presence can I find my strength restored as I lean upon Him surrounded by Him..


I had recently spoken upon subjects that circumstances and situations in this world do not get the final say... That though trials and tribulation or sorrow and suffering befriend me I shall not be afraid...  

To remember that He is with me .. He, the author and perfecter of my faith... The Lover of my soul.. The Creator of all things.... To remember that He is truly with me and upon Him I can stand ... To remember that that which this world would try and throw upon me can not dictate or determine my life...  His truth... His ways ... His compassion ... His wisdom ... His comfort .... His perfect love... They get to dictate and determine truth... That and that alone


My soul may be moved by the wind and the waves but it is steadied under His hand and His voice sweetly speaking  peace.. be still ... I am with you...

Performance, comparison, burdens and weights all fall off under the gaze of His perfect love... Under the truth of His mercy and grace condemnation and fear melt away..


I sometimes go other places but I always return back to that which I know that I know that I know... I am His and His completely..  Period... I am nothing more and nothing less.. I am a daughter of the Most High God and He most certainly cares for me...

Time to be serious about being as a child

There are things I find myself saying and thinking a lot these days…. Aspects of walking out the Christian walk that I am really seeking after and hungering for…. I’m not sure all of this is even going to be able to be translated from my heart to the screen….

The comments I find myself saying are things like “the world doesn’t get to dictate what my life is…” or “the world and its systems or people don’t get to define me and say that which I am or that which I’m not..”

Oh you better believe me they/it/whatever tries….. my flesh roars against the ways of God… my culture and society roar against the ways of God… the enemy definitely roars against the ways of God… everything screaming for my attention… for me to care for this or that… for me to want this or that…. For me to desire or pursue this … that … or the other thing….. everything screaming my attention… telling me that it is important… telling me that this relationship or that object is vital to my happiness… this thing I can do or that thing I can become will be what makes me happy….

But it is lies…. And the lies we have ended up believing are what is killing us…..

When I was first saved I was in this situation where a group of people were talking about how hard it is to live the Christian life… and in my new state of having just found Him and having just realized how amazing that which Jesus offers to all is I was confused at their conversation….. So I spoke up and shared that I honestly didn’t think it was as hard as they were all making it out to be where upon I was told by many that I was just a “baby Christian” and didn’t realize what I didn’t realize…..

Well in some ways they were right and in some ways they were very wrong…. It has taken me almost twenty years to come back to that place but these days and times have me once again thinking that truly while I can now appreciate the complicated tones of what they spoke of I now more than ever truly believe that that which is really about Jesus isn’t complicated at all…. And I am hungering to come to Him as a child….

I am at a place where either I am going to believe this … and by “this” I mean all of this… or I’m not….. and here is what I mean even more….. I’m done making excuses for myself… I’m not going out there now going to try and perform the Christian walk and be godly and righteous in my own efforts…. I am just hungry…. I’m hungry to live like Him…. Hungry to be like Him… I know that I am going to fall short but I really have come to the place where this is what I believe….

I believe that the deaf will hear… the blind will see…. The lame get to walk… I really believe that I don’t have to be anxious or troubled over anything simply because He cares for me…. I really believe that I have a High Priest who can most certainly understand all my emotions and situations because He knows… He knows… I trust in the one who is called the Alpha and the Omega … the beginning and the end…. I believe that my life lived upon this earth is for one true reason and one alone is to know Him and be Known by Him and Make Him known…. Known for who He is not who humanity or religion would try and make Him out to be…..

I’m just done making excuses for myself … I’m done being anything other than a daughter… I know His ways… I know Him… I know what makes Him happy… I know what He desires…. Loving mercy… walking with true humility and being with Him…. Letting Him do the rest… in that … in Him doing the rest… I take rest in that…. I place my life in His and ask that He lives His through me ……….

There is no show to this… there is no hype…. I am going to live my life believing in God… I am going to believe that which He says…. I am hungry to walk in confidence in that which He is and that which as a result He says I am….. plain and simple…. No longer a “baby Christian” but fully His daughter… His child… His own…..