Tag Archives: depression

You Have Nothing to Prove

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“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” This. Because so many of us are in bondage to people. We dress, we work, we act, we do for others. What will so and so think, how many likes can I get, can I get promoted for this? It’s easy to let perception, influence, recognition run us.

Naturally we want to please our family, friends, baes, boos, bosses, fans, people in general, but reality is we’ll never be good enough for everyone. We can’t please or find favor with everyone. But God. The one who matters will be well pleased with us if we trust in and follow Him over man. Sounds easy, but it’s not. Actually think about it, how often do you make decisions based on what someone will think of you vs what you really want to do or feel led to do? From the little day to day things to the “bigger” life things… be honest 🙂

Let’s talk about this “proving ourselves” thing a little bit more. It’s such a part of our culture that it seems to be a natural, normal thing. Truth is we should only be concerned with what God thinks of us, “well done my good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21) And please don’t take this out of context… I’m not saying to neglect responsibility or don’t do things that are expected of us. I’m talking about our tendency to put people before God. Something I believe comes from a desire within to prove ourselves. At some point in life, a seed was planted that we aren’t good enough or that we don’t and never will measure up. Maybe it was something someone directly or indirectly said to us, a teacher, family, friends, society, circumstance or our own selves… missed expectations? Maybe it was something we’ve just internalized over time making us feel lesser than. It could be anything that’s led us to this point of believing we have to do whatever it takes to make it, to prove ourselves.

Why is thinking this way faulty? Because f r e e d o m. When we’re living to please others over God, we lack freedom and we’re bound to man. Freedom starts with an inner contentment with who we are in Christ. It means to desire what God has for you first and foremost, the willingness and ability to allow God to be in control of your life versus being influenced or controlled by our desire to be accepted by man over God. We can’t be free AND be subject to man. Isaiah 2:22 says, “stop trusting in mere humans who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem?” 

Putting God first makes everything easy. Really. The challenge is that we often times are not putting God first. The demands of the world are too much and they aren’t for us to carry. The world enslaves us, causes us to live in bondage rather than freedom. We can easily get consumed with pleasing people, robbing ourselves of the joy that life should give us. When you’re feeling super pressured to deliver, as many of us do all the time, remember, the only one that really matters is God.

As a Christian, you aren’t meant to fit in with the world, doing the things the world does in the world’s way. Your life shouldn’t look like anyone else’s life. And as long as your life does or you fit in with the world doing worldly things, you’ll be unhappy, unfulfilled even because God has so much more for you. So, if you feel like a loner, or like no one gets you or that you don’t fit in, that’s awesome. It’s time to ask God where it is that He wants to take you. There’s a reason He’s unsettled you. Cheers to walking in a freedom that only God could give. I promise you, you’ll be happier than ever 🙂

As long as we’re living for him and trusting Him and letting Him be God in our lives, God will be well pleased with us. Keep things in order, God first for real, and everything else will be alright.

With love always,

Carin

God, Remember Me? 

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God doesn’t forget you. How many of y’all have been there, feeling distant, lost, hopeless? Where are/were you in my struggle, pain, hurt, heartbreak, God, remember me? I believe we often times pray this out of desperation because, the truth is, God has never forgotten you and never will. God is always present even when we don’t ask (or want Him to be lol). It’s never God forgetting us. It’s us not seeing where He is working in our lives or even allowing Him to be present and work in our lives. It’s a matter of us never letting go of Him.

This morning I asked myself what would it take for me to go to sleep every night knowing that I lived my day to the fullest, knowing that I walked every step as God wanted me to, went as He lead, spoke to those He wanted me to speak to, kept my attitude in check, went right and not left even when I didn’t want to. Honestly, I’m not really sure, but I know I can start by scripture and keeping my mind/thoughts on God. Every morning I’ll give my day to God, ask Him to take it over. This is the only way I see me walking in His will daily. If I do that, then I’m sure I’ll accomplish all that He desires of me. I won’t have to worry about a to do list, burdening myself with things I shouldn’t be focused on. There’s a reason there are only 24 hours in a day. (I’m not saying don’t have a to do list, I just mean be flexible as God leads.)

Psalm 139 and Jeremiah 1:5 both talk about how God knew us before we were even formed in the womb. If God took time to know us then, don’t you think he still knows us?  “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:7) This scripture is an example of how God cares about the littlest to the biggest things in life. If we do our part and walk in faith, I believe we’ll see how and where God is working in our lives and we’ll find ourselves saying, “God, remember me?” far less. The finished work is God’s job and God always does His part.

Instead of God, remember me? Let our prayer be God, help me not to forget you. He’ll use us in magnificent ways.

Love y’all!

Carin

God’s Promise To His Chosen Servant

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God is with you. Isaiah 49 is a chapter full of depth about God’s promises to His chosen servant. We are living in crazy times, so crazy that sometimes I wonder if these are the end times… just me? In the midst of all the craziness, all we can do is stand on God’s promises to us. It can be easy to lose hope or just feel like what you’re working towards is pointless, but when we realize what God has promised us, we’ll be able to stay focused and walk in an unspeakable joy that no one and no circumstance can take from us.

In a time of favor, I have answered you in a day of salvation I have helped you. Those who wait for me shall not be put to shame. For I will contend with him who contends with you, And I will save your children. I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh. These are just a few of the promises from Isaiah 41 and 49 that stood out to me. Here are some of the scriptures in full, keep them as reminders for yourselves!

I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:11

Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. Isaiah 41:12

For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I myself will help you,” declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 41:13-14

This is what the Lord says: “In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances, 9 to say to the captives, ‘Come out,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’” Isaiah 49:8-9

Kings shall be your foster fathers, And their queens your nursing mothers; They shall bow down to you with their faces to the earth, And lick up the dust of your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord, For they shall not be ashamed who wait for Me.” Isaiah 49:23

But thus says the Lord: “Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, And the prey of the terrible be delivered; For I will contend with him who contends with you, And I will save your children.” Isaiah 49:25

Do not fear, do not be afraid, I will keep you, I will help you. How awesome are these promises? Psalm 34:19 says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” For God to be known, he uses His people and works through them. The Bible never says that we won’t go through anything. It says that our afflictions will give us a reason to praise and glorify God because of the victory we receive.

Happy Monday. Keep going. Stand on God’s promises this week. His word will give you strength.

With love,

Carin

Who’s Building Your House?

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Is God building your house or are you building your own house? Psalm 127:1-2 says,

“Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.”

Think about building a house. It starts with laying a foundation, a strong foundation to hold up and hold together the structure above it. When this scripture says “unless the Lord builds the house”, it is talking about God leading and guiding us in our life’s journey in everything. Often times, we build our own foundation, make our own plans, choose our own way then want God to take over and finish the building process for us. The challenge here is that we don’t know how to properly build a house with a strong foundation that will be able to withstand everything that comes to tear it apart or break it down. Once we realize this, we end up giving God a fragile house with a lot of potential, one with cracks and problems that need to be fixed to make into the greatness it’s supposed to be. And that’s ok because desires to give us His grace,  but the same way some houses need to be torn down to be repaired from the ground up is the same way we are.

God will do it. “It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.” God wants us to put in the work, but He wants us to work smartly and to let him do the tough work. Can we have faith enough to let him be in control so we can rest and be at peace? If we build a strong foundation, and have a healthy spiritual life and relationship with God first and foremost, everything else will fall into place. We should be seeking God about our careers, promotion, investment decisions, health, girlfriend, boyfriend, wife, husband, finances… everything, so our work won’t be “in vain” as Psalm 127:2 says. God has all the (right) answers, so why waste our time!? Can we trust God enough to let Him build us up and establish us instead of being led by our own desires and emotions?

We can be confident that if God is leading us and building our houses, He is leading us in victory and while He is leading, He is using us. “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us, the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place (2 Corinthians 2:14 KJV). Walk in your victory!

I know it’s tough, y’all. In the midst of life, daily struggles, the ups and downs, to see God in everything. Just remember that He is always working on our behalf, moving things around for us. We have to believe that God is always faithful and working in our favor, not only when we see Him come through how we want Him to and when we want Him to, but always. I’ll finish with this awesome parable of the farmer sowing seed in Matthew 13:3-8, “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” Let’s plant our seeds on fertile ground with roots that can’t be torn up. When we let God build our house, He’ll give us a joy that gives us a reason to smile even in the toughest, worst times of life.

With love,

Carin

Stop Living for “Me”

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Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. (Philippians 2:3-5 NLT).

Your life is for others, not yourself. Think about where you are and all the people that have helped you get to that point. Your parents, siblings, a teacher, pastor, friend, but also maybe a “random” person that you’ve met at some point who just gave you a timely word. If these people weren’t in place throughout your life, would you be where you are? God knew exactly what you would need, when and how you would need it and who He could use to help you. God wants us to know that He’s created us for more than ourselves. He wants us to live for others even though it’s not always the easiest thing to do and sometimes may require sacrifice. I know, the world says differently… do what makes you happy, we teach self expression, individuality, independence, pursuing what you want, living your truth. But, what is your truth if it’s not the truth? 

In Matthew, the disciples asked Jesus what is the greatest commandment. Jesus responded, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind… And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matthew 22:36-40). If we focused beyond ourselves, wouldn’t the world look a bit different? God also commands us to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Not just family and friends, but everyone, even the most annoying, miserable person who gets on your last nerve :).

When you realize that your life is about more than you, you might find it easier to make it through the tough times and find joy in everything. God comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. And when others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us because we understand (2 Corinthians 1:4). There’s greater purpose to your trials, to your six figures, to your pain, to your happiness.

“You don’t become happy by pursuing happiness, you become happy by living a life that means something to someone else. The happiest people are not always the richest or most powerful ones, but rather the ones that are kind to others, have peace, love, etc. Happiness is a byproduct of purpose. The more you busy yourself in your God calling, serving others, loving others, praying and being a blessing to others, you find your happiness, your blessing.”

Life is about more than “me”. Live for yourself, but live for others!

With love,

Carin

When It’s Good to be Weak

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I think we can all agree that no one wants to be weak or even to be seen or thought of as weak. Whether we are talking physically, spiritually or mentally, no one wants to be weak. We try to eat right, work out, study, read the word so that we can be strong. Check out 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 though, whenever I read this scripture, I want to be weak. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 

Sometimes, we have to come to this place of utter weakness and dependency so we can learn what it means to really trust in God and let Him be God. No back up plans, no doubt, just pure faith. We are weak without God because only He can give us the strength we need. When we are broken, done trying to do stuff on our own, then we are most useful to God. He has all the space in the world to show Himself as strong and mighty, to show his power through our lives… and we will know it was Him who came through. We have no choice but to exercise faith in Him. This faith and lack of hope in ourselves and anyone or anything else is how we bring glory to His name. 

If we know we are working for and with God then why should we let anything come against us? When something is yours, nothing and no one can stop you. No failed meeting, bad grade, bad interview, lack of experience, broken relationships, no negative people should be able to make us stop believing that God is faithful. 

So take this seriously. The LORD has chosen you to build a Temple as his sanctuary. Be strong, and do the work. “Every part of this plan,” David told Solomon, “was given to me in writing from the hand of the LORD. ” Then David continued, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the LORD is finished correctly. (‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭28‬:‭10, 19-20‬ NLT)

I lovee this passage. Sometimes I think we forget how the characters in the bible are no different than us. I’m sure Solomon looked at that plan like whaaat!? That’s why David had to remind Him who he’s working for and with and where those plans came from. God has chosen us not expecting us to know it all, but wanting us to completely depend on Him and seek Him wholeheartedly to accomplish what He has called us to do. We are not meant to to do anything on our own. Isn’t that cool!? That makes me happy 🙂 

God gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:29-31) God will always be found and He will give us clear instruction as we seek Him. If we first let God give us His plans and instruction and we give God our plans, only then will we be successful. Proverbs 16:3 says to commit your actions to the Lord and your plans will succeed. 

He has already prepared us in advance for the job He has for us and He’s equipped us with everything good for doing His will (Ephesians 2:10 and Hebrews 13:21). Wherever He has called you, you are already equipped with what it takes. He’s just asking you to trust and depend on HIM to get you there, not yourself. 

Pray and ask God to bring you to a place of weakness. If there’s something you can’t let go, you know it’s just not in you to let it go, you may need to be weak so that God can show you His power. It may not be easy for you, but God can do it. I believe what He will do in your life will be so powerful that your testimony will glorify God in a big way and be a huge blessing to others.

With love, 

Rinny

The Truth About Secrets

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Little secrets, big secrets, we all have them, right? Wrong 🙂 There is one person who knows all of your secrets. He knows every little detail about your life, your past, present and future (Psalm 139:1-6). God.

And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows (Luke 12:7). God is so interested in you and your life that He has numbered every hair on your head. Why does this matter, why would God number your hairs? He wants you to understand how valuable you are to Him, how much He cares about you that He would pay attention to the smallest of details.

Let’s talk more about secrets. A secret is something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others. Secrets can be good (who else likes cool surprises like I do!?). But, secrets can also be bad. It may be anything from something “small” you did or something “big” that happened to you. Keeping “bad” secrets can be dangerous. Why? Because you’re are allowing something to take control of you, your thoughts. It may not seem serious and it may start off as something small, but the Bible says light and darkness do not mix (Matthew 6:23).

How this manifests in your life will vary. You may lose freedom in a certain area of your life, insecurities, unhappiness, depression, you become bitter, you open up a door to fear (fear of someone finding out… because a lot of times secrets do come out, Luke 12:2-3)… then it’s a big mess. It also may cause you to think about yourself differently, unworthy, not good enough. It allows the enemy to tell you all kinds of lies, and you believe them.

James 5:16 says, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” Do you have a confidant? Someone that knows God and will pray with and for you? If there is no one you want to share with or feel like you can talk to, mom, dad, brother, sister, family, boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, best friend, remember God. He is the one you should always go to. Actually, God already knows what happened, he knows your deepest, darkest secrets, so why not just tell Him? He wants you to talk to him so can heal you and tell you how to go and live freely!  Being transparent with God, others and yourself helps you to have a pure heart.

If you are reading this and there is something you know you need to go to God about, do it. If you need to ask for forgiveness, do it. He will give you freedom and cleanse you completely. Isaiah 43:25 says that God blots out your sins for His own sake and will never think of them again. If God won’t even remember your sin, why should you? Why let it hold you back?  

From the silliest to the most serious things, God wants to talk to you. He wants to laugh with you and cry with you! Don’t forget that God is a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week God. You always have someone to talk to 🙂

With love,

Rinny

Living on God’s Timing

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Trusting God’s timing is not always easy. It can get frustrating actually… God, do you even hear me? Even though I know everything happens for a reason and the season (good or challenging) I’m in is making me learn and grow in whatever way God wants me to, it’s kind of easy to stop giving thanks despite the outlook and to start getting discouraged.

Shouldn’t this be simple though? There’s ALWAYS a reason to give thanks. God is faithful, He gives us His best, He promises us good things. God doesn’t lie and He isn’t a God that changes His mind (Numbers 23:19). He’s planned out every second of our lives, including our tests and trials. If we keep our focus on Him, won’t we always find victory?

“God has set a time to deliver and send His favor upon us—and it usually comes in our worst hour of trial. That’s the time when we’re no longer struggling to do things on our own. Instead, we admit, ‘Lord, I can’t do it—it’s a mess. I give it all over to you.'” I heard this and it made me think how much God wants us to truly understand dependence, how dependent we should be on Him, to have faith in Him and what He is doing and wants to do through us. Once we reach that place of total surrender, then God can really move.

I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! (‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭12-14‬ NLT)

God is always faithful. We are the ones that neglect Him, lose focus and direction, especially in our tough times when we start looking to everyone and everything to give us an answer. We forget that through our struggles, trials or tests, we still have purpose. We start taking care of ourselves and focusing on ‘self’ instead of letting God take care of us. If we take care of God’s ‘house’ first in our lives, then our ‘house’ will be in order (Haggai 1:7-11). Don’t lose focus. God has us where we are for a reason, so why give up? Everyday, we are being molded, changed and pruned for something greater than we can see. Someone needs you to push through, someone needs to hear your story, to see your victory.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11:6 NIV). Trust God 🙂 Continue to seek Him and spend time with Him daily… read the word! Think of it as food lol. It will give you strength and sustenance for your journey. Remember that God loves you so soo much and will never forget about you.

So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised (Hebrews 10:35-36).

With love,

Rinny

You Have Nothing To Worry About :)

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God loves us soooooo much that he already made provisions for everything we go through, EVERY sin, mistake, problem. All He asks is that we believe and accept Him. He will do the rest (Hebrews 8:8-13), all we have to do is believe and accept it. He will give us the faith, the wisdom, the ability to overcome, to succeed, to change. What changes in us is that we do it unto Him, not for ourselves, to glorify “me”.

Matthew 6:25-34 tells us not to worry about our lives — Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

God already knows what you need before you even need it and he WILL take care of it. He has your best interest in mind, better than what you could ever dream of. But you can’t get there if you don’t believe He will give it to you. Pray for strength and understanding to lay everything down before God, “Ok God, I give it to you. It’s all yours, I need you to guide me, to do everything in, for and through me. Your will be done.” God says He will never leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:8). He says come to me in prayer and supplication and I will hear you (Philippians 4:6, Ephesians 6:8). I have an expected end in mind for you, plans to give you a future, hope (Jeremiah 29:11)…plans to do something GREAT with your life if you just trust in me. He loves us more than our parents, friends, fam, etc and he WANTS to give us happiness, peace and the righteous desires of our hearts.

You feel me? If not, go read the Bible! lol 😉

Love y’all.

-Rinny

You Are Wanted

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I don’t mean wanted by your bf or gf, significant other, mom, dad, sister, brother, friends, co-workers, the people we usually seeek validation from…I mean wanted by someone faaar greater than any of these people, God.

He is looking for you, calling you, waiting on you. Ever hear a word that just touches you? That wasn’t a coincidence, it was God talking to you.

In your loneliness, Jesus is your companion, in your trials, He is your comfort, in your depression, He is your hope, in your confusion, your clarity. Everything you need is in Him. Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
If you’re longing for someone, for love, for peace of mind, if you feel empty, don’t turn to people or to things of the world to cope. Go to the one who wants you the most, who loves you the most, who hurts because you hurt. He’ll pick you up and place you on solid ground if you just trust in Him. Psalm 40:2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
What’s kept me all these years has been my dependence on Christ. Even before I completely surrendered everything (i.e. career, relationships, etc) to him he was calling me, wanting me to acknowledge him in everything, loving me the whole way 🙂 Lucky me, right? It’s the same for you!
May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:19.
God loves us all the same, and way more than anyone else can ever love you. Through the sins and mistakes, he’s still pursuing you. Just run to him.
With love,
Rinny