More320

06/10/2026

“By This We Know…”

Jesus tells us that love is how the world will recognize His disciples.

Not by our certainty alone.
Not by our convictions alone.
Not by the strength of our opinions.
But by love.

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” — John 13:35

Encounter is one of the places where love becomes real.

It is risky because it asks us to see another person not as a category, a threat, a project, or a problem to solve, but as someone made in the image of God. It asks us to let our principles become flesh.

Again and again, Jesus meets people across lines others had drawn: the Samaritan woman, Zacchaeus, the l***r, the tax collector, the Roman centurion, the grieving, the sick, the overlooked, and the ashamed.

He does not encounter people as abstractions. He sees them. He restores dignity. He calls forth life.

“So the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” — John 1:14

This is the pattern: love does not remain disembodied. Love comes near.

At Sozo, we are paying attention to encounter because formation does not happen only through information. We are formed by what we are willing to see, who we are willing to love, and whether we allow another person’s presence to interrupt the stories we have already decided are true.

Encounter does not mean abandoning wisdom. It does not mean ignoring harm or pretending difference does not matter. Jesus was full of both grace and truth.

But encounter does mean refusing to let fear have the final word.

So we ask:

Where have I reduced a person to a label?

Where am I defending a principle without practicing love?

Where might God be inviting me to see someone more fully?

The risk of encounter is that we may be changed.

But that is also its grace.

Because love is not merely something we believe. Love is the way we become whole.

If you’d like to read more, we invite you to read this longer reflection on Substack about encounter, worldview, principles, and what actually happens when we meet one another. It is not a simple argument for agreement. It is a reflection on what happens when our ideas, assumptions, fears, and convictions are tested in the presence of another human being.

https://romanitahairston.substack.com/p/what-we-lose-when-we-stop-discovering

The Risk of Encounter

06/10/2026

When did we stop being willing to be surprised by each other?

We’ve been sitting with that question for a while now. And we think what we’ve lost isn’t just civility or common ground — it’s something more specific: the willingness to discover one another before we’ve already decided who someone is.

You can read about it here. It’s called The Risk of Encounter — and it’s really about what becomes possible when we create the right conditions for genuine human meeting. Not agreement. Not safety from discomfort. But the kind of space where someone might walk in with one way of seeing and walk out with a question they didn’t have before.

That, we believe, is formation work. And it’s some of the most important work of our time.

https://romanitahairston.substack.com/p/what-we-lose-when-we-stop-discovering

05/03/2026

Rhema Word | Today’s Good News
Wisdom & Understanding (Proverbs 3:13)

Some decisions feel heavy because we don’t yet see clearly.
We want certainty, direction, and peace—but instead, we’re met with questions.

The Good News is this: wisdom is not hidden from us.
Scripture tells us it can be found and gained. God invites us to seek Him, and in Him, we discover clarity, discernment, and truth for the path ahead.

Wisdom doesn’t always come as instant answers.
Often, it comes as steady guidance—shaping how we think, how we choose, and how we walk forward.

If you’re facing something unclear today, begin here:
“Lord, give me wisdom. Help me understand.”

“Blessed are those who find wisdom,
those who gain understanding.” — Proverbs 3:13

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05/02/2026

We got over 6,000 reactions on my posts last week! Thanks everyone for your support! 🎉

11/11/2025

Rhema Word | Today’s Good News
Forgiveness as Freedom (Ephesians 4:32)

Some wounds come from words or actions that never should’ve happened. Others from silence—things we needed but didn’t receive. Forgiveness can feel impossible when the pain still echoes.

The Good News is this: forgiveness isn’t pretending it didn’t hurt. It’s choosing freedom over bitterness. In Christ, we can forgive as we’ve been forgiven—releasing what weighs us down and making space for healing to take root.

If forgiveness feels out of reach today, start with honesty: “Lord, help me want to forgive.” Healing begins there.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” — Ephesians 4:32

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10/30/2025

🐑 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” — John 10:27

In a world filled with noise, there’s still a Voice that brings peace—
a whisper that calls you by name and leads you toward life, love, and renewal.
Pause for a moment today and listen. You’ll recognize the Shepherd’s voice. 💛

✨ Rhema Word | Today’s Good News
A daily reflection from MORE320 | Sozo to help you listen, live wisely, and love well.

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👍 Like • 💬 Comment & Share • ⭐ Subscribe for more at facebook.com/MORE320/subscribenow

10/30/2025

🐑 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” — John 10:27
In a world filled with noise, there’s still a Voice that brings peace.
A whisper that calls you by name, guiding you toward life, love, and renewal.
Pause for a moment today—listen. You’ll recognize the Shepherd’s voice. 💛

✨ Rhema Word | Today’s Good News
A daily reflection from MORE320 | Sozo to help you listen, live wisely, and love well.

10/29/2025

Love in Action: A Gentle Hand—today we glimpse kindness, simple as breath, yet strong enough to heal the heart.

Have you ever been afraid to say the wrong thing to someone who’s breaking?

The café was crowded—steam rising from espresso cups, laughter spilling from nearby tables—but at one corner, silence sat like a shadow. Maya and her friend had been there for an hour. He hadn’t said much. His breakup had left him hollow, and words, she knew, would fall flat.

So she didn’t fill the space. Instead, she reached across the small table and laid her hand over his. “You don’t have to talk,” she said softly. “I just don’t want you to sit alone.”

No sermon. No rescue. Just presence.

Outside, the afternoon light shifted. The hum of the café carried on, but at that table, the air changed—heavy became holy.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Love in action doesn’t rush to fix; it simply refuses to leave.

✨ MORE320 | Sozo creates spiritual formation resources for healing, wholeness, and renewal. Help us keep sharing stories like this—follow, share, and subscribe at facebook.com/MORE320/subscribenow.

10/28/2025

Rhema Word | Today’s Good News
Mercy and Clarity (Matthew 5:8)
Do you ever feel foggy inside—pulled by mixed motives, distractions, or resentment that blurs what’s right? It’s hard to hear God clearly when our hearts feel cluttered or guarded.

The Good News is this: Jesus purifies our hearts so we can see clearly. As we release bitterness, confess what’s true, and return to simple devotion, clarity grows. A pure heart doesn’t mean a perfect record—it means an undivided yes to God, and with it, the grace to see Him at work.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” — Matthew 5:8
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10/28/2025

🕯 Rhema Word | Today’s Good News
The Gift of Tears (Psalm 126:5)

Tears often feel like weakness, like something to hide until the moment passes. But what if tears are sacred—evidence that our hearts are still alive and tender? Pain that’s expressed is pain that’s beginning to heal.

The Good News is this: God gathers our tears and turns them into joy. Every sorrow sown in faith becomes seed for something new—growth, gratitude, grace. Don’t rush past your tears this week; let them become your prayer.

“Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.” — Psalm 126:5

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