Since writing yesterday, I have been thinking about this unmatched “Come as You Are” God - the God who sees us exactly as we are and accepts us as we are . . . The God who doesn’t leave us behind or leave us out and always saves a place for us. This is a God is who not distant, but is near. This is a God who is a friend . . . And not a fair weather friend - this God is an all weather friend. This God is a good friend

This medley is both an invitation and a reflection on the goodness of this good friend, of this good God. In my own words, I invite you to come as you are, because that is exactly how God wants you to come. I call upon the words of a song I sang in churches with stained glass windows as a child and the words of a new song that inflated my heart and spirit in a worship gathering today with flashing lights and no windows. Original words, old words, new words . . . And the same good God . . . The same good friend.

As You Are

There is one who never turns away

Come as You Are

Come as you are

A friend who sees the brokenness and pain

And says, Come as you are

Come as you are

There’s an open door

There’s a seat at the table

Healing, grace, freedom

This friend is able

Come as you are

Come as you are

What a Friend We Have in Jesus (Joseph Scriven)

What a friend we have in Jesus

All our sins and griefs to bear

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer

Oh, what peace we often forfeit

Oh, what needless pain we near

All because we do no carry

Everything to God in prayer

Been So Good (Steven Furtick, Chandler Moore, Brandon Lake)

You have been so good to me

God I can’t believe

How you love me

What a friend you have been

When I think of how you’ve blessed me

How your hand has never let me go

Never let me go

For every morning
For every open door
I call You faithful
And I just wanna thank You, Lord

For every mountain
For every time You've brought me through
I call You faithful
And I just wanna thank You, Lord

For Your forgiveness
For how You never turned away
I call You faithful
And I just wanna thank You, Lord

For Your salvation
You paid the price I couldn't pay
I call You faithful
And I just wanna thank You, Lord