Pre Script (Is that a thing?!) Oooh, A Prelude, Perhaps?!
I don’t know when I became this person. You know the one—the Jesus girl, the Jesus freak. Buuuut, as I heard a pastor at my church say, a message that persists with me as much as blood stains persist—”If you can tell er’body about the liquor you drink, the club you go to, the clothes you wear, then you best be able to tell them about the Jesus you love and who loves you, too!” Okay, that’s definitely the Jovalized version, but the message remains. I don’t know when I became this version of myself, but I know it happened slowly and swiftly because… what’s that verse? Something about God works deeply and gently within us. I’m here now! And you know what? I can’t unsee what I’ve seen, and I wouldn’t want to, either.
Friday Thoughts: Becoming the Jesus Girl I Didn’t See Coming
Here I am, in my bed. I’d just finished eating dinner—penne in tomato sauce with spicy arrabbiata sausage and Romano Pecorino Parmesan cheese, the only thing homemade in this dish because this wasn’t a Joval special, but a Rao’s frozen meal special (if you’re ever near a Rao’s, do yourself the favor and go!). This is a judgment-free zone, right?? Y’all, I left the empty container with my fork in my bed, and as I raised the head of my bed (because ya girl eats in her bed!), I saw a tragedy waiting to happen—uneaten tomato chunks and sauce flying everywhere, including on my sheets and comforter. Nooooooooo!
I just bought a new mattress because of red. Specifically, blood. Fibroids be fibroiding, and let’s just say I ruined my mattress and hurried to get another one. (It was time, anyway. More on that in another post because the whole thing of it was simply divine!)
Anywho, the blood on my mattress and the impending doom of tomato sauce on my sheets got me thinking,
What is it about the color red? Surely there must be a sacred secret lurking about, something to do with the blood of Jesus!
And then, I explored it. These, my dear readers, but really faceless friends as I sometimes call you in my head, are my random Friday night thoughts. After all, we really are spiritual beings having a human experience, so it’s only natural for my thoughts to go there. You too, right? Amirite? Surely, it can’t be just me! LOL, but I di-Jo, lemme get us back on track!
The Nature of Red: Stains That Stay
Red is a color that refuses to be forgotten. It carries weight—bold, fierce, and unapologetically present. It stains, leaving its mark as if to say, “I was here, and I demand to be remembered! I am not easily washed away.” Whether it’s the splatter of tomatoes on a white shirt or the deep crimson of blood on a mattress, red doesn’t just appear—it imprints and transforms.
Have you ever noticed that some colors wash away with ease, but red tends to linger, as if it has a deeper connection with the fabric, with the very threads themselves? Well I bet you’re thinking about it now! The reason lies in chemistry. The pigments in red—like those in tomatoes, berries, and blood—are often rich in compounds called anthocyanins or heme (yes, as in hemoglobin!), which bond more stubbornly to fibers. 🤓 They create a vivid imprint, a reminder that something extraordinary happened. And once red has taken root, scrubbing it away often feels like an endless struggle. The stain is as bold as the color itself. It has a story to tell, a presence to keep.
Blood That Covers, Blood That Saves
There’s something divine about the persistence of red—especially when we think about the blood of Jesus. It, too, was poured out to leave an imprint that could never be forgotten.
In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Hebrews 9:22 (click to read more translations)
The blood was shed not just to stain the earth but to cover our hearts, to soak into the very fabric of our souls, leaving us forever changed. The blood of Jesus was never meant to be easily washed away, and we wouldn’t want it to be. It was meant to stay—to cover us, protect us, and remind us of a love so deep that it could not be removed, no matter how far we may drift. His blood is our redemption, our cleansing, and our constant reminder of grace:
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.
Ephesians 1:7 (click to read more translations)
The Riches of His Grace
Grace—oh, what a beautiful concept! Far more than simply a word. It’s more than just favor; it’s a gift that is freely given, unearned and undeserved. Grace is the very expression of God’s love for us. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, God says,
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
This divine grace is what sustains us, covers us, and lifts us from our broken places, and is the glue that mends us back to wholeness, and holiness. It’s His strength in our weakness, His love in our emptiness.
There’s a reason why I called my blog, and my b’ness!, Extend Yourself Grace. Not overextend, as we’re often taught to do—overextend our capacities, energy, ourselves, our platitudes. No, extend as much grace to ourselves as we do to those we love. We are worthy of the grace we give. One of my clients said it best,
Be me to myself!
Isn’t that powerful?! To give ourselves the same compassion, the same tenderness, the same sometimes forgiveness (I’m working on that last one one mo’ again!) that we are so willing to extend to others. Grace reminds us that we don’t have to be perfect; we just have to be. And that is enough. Actually, it’s more than enough!
From Stains to Redemption
Red stains can frustrate us, reminding us of our imperfections, our slips, our spills, the way our body “fails” us. But they can also remind us of something far more beautiful—redemption! Just like a garment stained by blood or berries, our lives may bear the marks of our past, evidence of what we’ve been through, the broken and the beautiful.
And the blood of Jesus is the ultimate covering. It doesn’t deny the stain; it transforms it. Where there was once guilt, He brings grace. Where there was once pain, He brings purpose. And where we were once lost, He brings us home.
The blood that stains is also the blood that saves. It covers our hearts, making them new, while leaving behind a mark of mercy and love that no amount of washing could ever erase.
The Gift of a Lasting Mark
The color red refuses to be forgotten, just like His sacrifice. It is vibrant, rich, and full of life—a reminder that love was poured out for us, staining history itself with a moment of redemption that would echo forever.
So, the next time you see a red stain—whether from spilled tomatoes or a drop of blood—remember the beauty and intentionality of its staying power. Remember the gift that transformed the world. Red refuses to fade, and so does God’s endless love for us. Stubborn, unyielding, steadfast, infinite, and more than enough.
May His Love Cover You: A Closing Blessing
May the Lord bless you and keep you, and may His face continue to shine upon you. And may the blood of Jesus—rich and vibrant and everlasting—transform you, protect you, and love you precisely how you need to be loved, and exactly as you want to be loved, too. It is already so. It is done. Selah and Amen!
