Come As You Are

    When I went to Bible study today, it was a come as you are party for me. Our power went out just before I got into the shower. My shower today was a makeup remover wipe. Fortunately I had washed my hair the day before, so it did not require a curling iron. I am certainly not known for my high maintenance hair style. Some might assume I don't even own a curling iron. And there was just enough daylight to apply minimal makeup, so I didn't look like I just got out of the hospital.
     Although, how I looked at Bible study would have been a moot point if our new garage door opener did not have a backup battery. During previous power failures I learned that, though I can open the door manually, it will not stay open so I can back the car out. If I had been more alert, I would have backed out my car while Tracy was still home to hold up the door. But a makeup remover wipe simply doesn't clear the cobwebs from my mind as well as my morning shower does. However, God in his providence took care of this deficiency months ahead of time, when we replaced our garage door opener with one that has a backup battery. Isn't sovereignty sweet?
     Wouldn't it be wonderful if more Christian gatherings were come as you are parties? Places where we felt free to be our messy, imperfect selves. In our BSF group discussions, we do share our needs and struggles, but you would never guess our lives were anything less than perfect by how we look on the outside. Yet Jesus' invitations are always come as you are. We have no choice. Before His Spirit fills us, we have no power to be anything other than the messed up mortals we are. And there is no point fixing up our outsides because He isn't looking at them. He sees our heart. If our churches could be places where the poor in spirit, those who don't have it all together, could feel at home, what power we would have to change our world. The unfailing power Jesus gives those who come as they are to become like He is.