As I look back over nearly 70 years I realize how the first 60 were greatly impacted by the abusive religion of distance and delay…

Of desperation,
foreboding fear and anxiety,
sin and then shame,
penance of one kind or another,
loneliness,
emptiness,
grey clouds of depression, feelings of abandonment,
always waiting for the next shoe to drop,
not measuring up,
never being enough.
Striving for an elusive and impossible dream… A hill with no top, a destination with no arrival.
God at a distance, promises delayed…
Disillusioned and finally despondent towards ever unsurmountable obstacles of personal failure and feelings of insignificance…

Completely unaware of my true value and significance!

I can now officially say, after about 10 years of ever unfolding revelation of His goodness, these experiences are few, fleeting and farther between… almost non-existent…

They have been replaced with an inner peace and joy that sneaks up and surprises me at junctures during my day…
At times taking my breath away, tears welling up and spontaneous laughter, for no apparent reason…

Overwhelmed with an awareness of my innocence, value and beauty!
Gratitude springing up for a life I had given up ever finding…

How?
A gradual paradigm shift from religion to relationship!
From living towards… to living from!
From trying harder… to discovering!
From doing… to being!
From fear… to love!
From works… to fruit!
From striving… to resting!

Religion is an evil task master! A distortion of truth! A lie!

But His love is truly joy unspeakable and full of glory, full of glory, full of glory!

And the half has never yet been told!

May you experience joy unspeakable today!

Love you, Lloyd.

Lloyd Clark is an entrepreneur, a former pastor, and a writer. He is passionate about being loved by our Heavenly Father and revealing that same love to everyone he meets. He and his wife Mary have 5 children and 7 grandchildren and live in North Carolina.

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