The Excellence of the Guard

(picture from pinterest .jp)

When someone speaks the word “guard” my mind automatically goes to a picture of one of the guards at Buckingham Palace. I’ve been there to see them in person.

The next image that comes to mind is that of a prison guard. Next would be the picture of a man or woman assigned to executive protection for someone important. (That used to be one of my husband’s jobs.)

If someone was guarding me, providing my protection, I’d expect them to have been trained and know how to ensure my safety. I would likely leave everything up to them, since I most likely don’t have their level of training. I believe the best guards have the best training available.

There are times we’re called upon to provide protection for someone and fail. I’m the guardian of my young child, if they run out into the street right in front of me and get hit by a car, I’m responsible. There are circumstances where it wouldn’t be the parent’s fault if their child got hurt. Evil people work hard to get around the safeguards put in place. I may do everything right and still see my child hurt in some way.

(picture from feri .org)

Different targets require different levels of protection. The Crown Jewels on display in a museum probably has more guards around it and a higher security level than children in our local schools. Okay, maybe that’s not a good comparison, no matter how accurate it is. But no one is guarding my lunch box in the frig at work, yet many people are required to guard a dignitary.

Value usually plays a role in the level of protection something or someone is provided. So how do we determine value? We all make different calls when it comes to placing value on something. I might treasure a book, but a non-reader would never consider a book something of value. Most of us value money and place a decent level of protection around the little we have. Beyond even our children, whom some of the parents we see on the news seem not to value at all, what could be considered of most value? What should get the highest level of protection?

Scripture tells us to, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” – Proverbs 4:23 NLT

I believe that our hearts are that hidden place where our spirit and our soul come together; the place where God abides, if we let Him.

“No, my dear, your heart is not a closed receptacle.
It’s not a box to hold your memories.
It’s not a sack in which to carry your worries.
It’s not a trophy to be dusted off occasionally.
It’s not a hole to bury things in, good or bad.
It’s never filled to overflowing nor is it ever empty,
no matter how you feel.
It’s not a thing that can be handed over to someone else,
even though poetry tells us so.
It’s the center of your being,
where everything is filtered
as it comes in or flows out of you.
You have the controls,
even when everything feels out of control.
You may not be able to determine everything that comes into your heart,
but you’re in charge of what flows out.
Hurts will find their way in.
Pain will pierce your heart.
Fear will grip your heart.
Loneliness will try to trap your heart.
Panic will arise to scare your heart.
But the Maker of your heart has His hand on your pulse.
He knows your heart, even when you’re trying to hide it.
He sees your heart, even when you feel invisible.
He hears your heart, even when you can’t cry out.
He lives – in your heart.
Trust Him with everything that comes in and flows out.
That’s where your control is greatest, that’s where your power emerges,
that’s where your hope springs from, that’s where your peace mounts,
in deciding Whom to entrust it to.
When God is your source and your filter,
He eases the pain of the bad and stirs up the excitement of the good.
He gives you the option to pour out good, godly love all over those around you,
or to spew evil just because – you can.
The filter in the middle of your heart is made of God’s fingers,
upon which are written in His blood:
FORGIVENESS.
Have you clogged that filter with bitterness?
He will wash all of that away in an instant if you ask Him to.”
- Helen Williams!  12/2022

I’m open and ready to hear your suggestions. How do we guard our heart?

Look for part two, my poem took up too many of my words. (wink-wink.)

Mistaking Them For Us

(en.wikipedia.org)

What then?

After we’ve discovered we’ve mistaken them for us, revelation can be a beautiful thing.

We put so much importance into the flesh we’re wrapped in. Yes, we need to take care of it; this flesh houses us while we’re living here on planet Earth, the vessel that holds us in, that often holds us back. But, our flesh only defines who we are when we believe that’s the way it’s supposed to be.

There are plenty of things society dictates about our worth or about what we can and cannot do, simply based upon what we look like. The catch I don’t understand is that WE ARE SOCIETY!

The color of our skin shouldn’t be an advantage or a disadvantage.

The number on our weight scale shouldn’t decide if we’re capable 

of accomplishing our dreams.

The wrinkles on our face shouldn’t determine our value to society.

The way our backside fits into our jeans shouldn’t dictate a number 

on some ‘scale of beauty’.

Missing limbs shouldn’t hold back our drive.

Scars shouldn’t force us to hide.

Male or female traits shouldn’t cripple determination.

Being a minority shouldn’t limit our creativity or abilities.

Our ethnicity shouldn’t have anything to do with whether or not 

we’re suited for a particular job.

Our complexion shouldn’t decide how much fun we can have.

(homes-kid.com)

The flesh we wear shouldn’t determine our limits.

Nor should we allow someone else to define who we are and what we can do.

Yes, I think most of us, at least at one point or another in our lives, mistaken them for us.

We allow someone other than our Creator to create the path for our lives; we follow blind men down brightly illuminated streets seeing nothing for ourselves. We look at a blue sky filled with brilliant sunshine and believe it’s a dreary day simply because someone else said so.

When we look into our own hearts, for ourselves, and see the design that was created there on purpose, the world’s plans for our lives fall away and we begin to discover the power of our own existence.

(guysglassandmirror.com)

Could an abandoned child in Ethiopia born without legs, starving and scared; hold the secrets to the cure for cancer?

Could the millionaire on Wall Street, hiding in his ivory tower hold the secrets to happiness?

What secrets are wrapped up in who you are?

Though we love to quote it, do we dare believe it?  -  “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Or, instead, do we believe what others dictate about us?

(bellecandy.com)

Considered Lovable? Part II

(photo from kochousephchittilappily.com)

For the believer, it’s now very easy to Google lists of scriptures that tell us who we are in Christ; scriptures that reveal God’s great love for us and the grace and mercy He pours over us. There are many, here are just a few: 

One option 

Option two  

Option three

But, even before we come to believe, when our understanding is lost in the lies the world perpetuates, there are plenty of scriptures that reveal God’s love for this people He has created in His image.

One of my favorites, very familiar to those of us with a pro-life stance is found in the book of Psalms. It’s a portion of scripture we fall back to in support of the idea that God knew us before we even came into this world and points to the great love He has for us, even before He formed us in our mother’s womb.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thought, God! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand – when I awake, I am still with you.” – Psalm 139:13-18 (NIV)

In the preceding verses, the psalmist explores the notion that there is no where we can run to get away from God, because He’s everywhere and knows everything, even our thoughts before we think them.

(theosophical.wordpress.com)

In these verses, the psalmist declares the awe surrounding our creation, that God was there with us, knowing us and forming us before we took on human flesh; He created us with purpose and on purpose. Our days were ordained and written in some heavenly book before we took our first breath of air.

Whisper this to yourself or say it out loud: I was created on purpose, with a specific plan that only I can fulfill. I am the only key that unlocks certain doors in this universe. Without me, they’re left unopened.

How many doors in our world (of opportunity or beauty or revelation) are left unopened simply because life was snuffed out; perhaps even before birth or because sin distorted our lives for a season. If you’re still drawing breath, there’s still time to fulfill your destiny.

None of us was accidentally dropped onto planet Earth without a reason. Though we may often feel useless and unnecessary, which will make us feel unlovable – those feelings are driven by lies.

Just because someone doesn’t believe in our common enemy, Satan, doesn’t mean he doesn’t lie to them.

If I were never taught about the affects of gravity, it would still pull me to the ground if I stepped off a rooftop.

Satan must laugh loudest when he manipulates those who declare he isn’t real.

“The word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.’” - Jeremiah 1:4-5 (NIV)

(from montegra.com)

Before He clothes us in flesh, He knows us!

Before He placed us in our mother’s belly, He loves us!

Before our parents came together intimately, God already has a plan for us!

Before anything good or bad in this universe happens to us, God values us!

And while we’re walking along through this journey of life and all there is to discover along the way; all the things that mess us up, all the things we mess up – He’s continuously loving us. He’s wooing us, He’s teaching us, He’s holding us, He’s providing for us. (If you’ve never read the short book Acres of Diamonds, now might be a good time.)

(coachandgrowrich.com)

Knowing how messy our lives would become, He made provision for all of it through His grace.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8 (NIV)

And only He can love us like that. Our loving Creator atones for our mistakes.

Considered Lovable? Part I

 

(A photo of a card I recieved)

I think it takes courage to let someone love us; to let them see behind the walls we’ve erected to protect ourselves; to become intimate. Incidentally, by intimate, I don’t mean sexually engaged.

I think we’re sometimes too busy trying to prove our self-worth to believe we actually have any.

I think that without self-worth, we think of ourselves as unlovable.

I think this, because this is how I’ve thought of myself for many years.

I think – I’m not alone.

(elephantjournal.com)

God’s been teaching me about my own self-worth. A few years back He gave me the phrase intrinsic value. I looked it up, pondered it, wrote about, and shared it. But, did I believe it? Intrinsic value is the value someone is created with; worth we were already possessing when we showed up in this world. We don’t decide our value; our Creator gets to make that call.

The world around us dictates what we mean to society, or in comparison to what is perceived as valuable. But, we all value things differently. I place no value at all on a five pound bag of cocaine, yet those who deal it consider it of great value; many will give their lives in pursuit of obtaining it to sell or use.

Though beauty is in the eye of the beholder, our value is imposed by our Creator.

When we begin to dictate the value of human life, we, as a people, begin to embrace the idea that we can assume the role of God in our world. We make the rules. We find it acceptable to kill our unborn and easier to defend physician assisted suicide, calling it mercy killing. For that matter, if someone doesn’t value their life, why should suicide of any kind bother us? How does it impact our lives if they throw theirs away? Really, why care about anyone, especially if we perceive them to be valueless?

Was it Hitler who proposed seeking out those with abnormalities or handicaps and “putting them out of their own misery”?

When we take on the authority of assigning value, we begin to self-destruct.

I don’t believe we can make ourselves any more or less valuable to God. He created us with purpose, on purpose. That intrinsic value we showed up with only increases or decreases in the eyes of those who judge us, and if we accept their appraisals instead of the Word of God, our self-worth can completely disappear. Without worth, what is there to love? Without love, we die.

(sodahead.com)

I think we need to get beyond the idea that we’re not pretty enough, or helpful enough, or friendly enough, or thin enough, or productive enough or in-demand enough…..

As I observed the residents in my father-in-laws nursing home, I saw one person after another that many no longer value, some that never even received visitors. They contribute nothing to society; many of them drain the financial resources of agencies like Medicare and Medicaid. Many can’t take care of themselves, or even speak; they don’t appear to contribute anything to anyone. So why do they have value? Why are they here?

Why do I have value? Why am I here?

Is that not the question at the core of our being?

For those who have discovered their purpose, celebration is in order. For without purpose, it’s hard to accept that we have value or that we’re worth the effort to love. Without love, we waste away, whether we’re being productive members of society – or not.

(lightwords.com.au)

Love heals.

We all need healing.

No wonder the enemy of our souls is determined to convince us we’re unworthy of love. That leads to unworthiness of a God Who IS Love. And God SO loves us, that He sacrificed His Son for us…. (John 3:16)

I think I’m onto something. As it grows in me, I’ll share it with you. I’d love to hear your thoughts and input on this. Comment or message me, please!

Duh....

(Photo from joyousoasis.com)

Has anyone ever given you this look? “I know you’re smart, so how is it that you’re just now getting this?”

I get it from time to time; it’s okay.

Sometimes I even see myself smacking my own forehead and whispering, “Duh!”

But, revelation is such an awesome thing. It can take something you’ve known in your head forever and transform it into something your heart finally understands. It can make a brand new concept come alive deep inside of you, where it becomes a permanent part of your understanding. It brings you from knowing – to acting on what you know. It actually moves you from a place of darkness into the light.

I love revelation; even when the folks around me shake their heads like they can’t believe I’m just now seeing a reality they’ve understood since birth.

A few Sundays ago Ugandan Bishop Joshua Lwere spoke in our church. He does this several times a year. His accent is thick, but his understanding of God’s Word takes him to a spiritual level that most of us don’t even know exists. Often, my mind wanders because, honestly, I miss a lot of what he says, simply because of the partnership between my old, hard-of-hearing ears and his attention getting, but profound accent.

But, that Sunday morning, it was as if the heavens opened up a pathway from his words to my heart. His message wasn’t of such deep revelation that you had to be a scholar to understand it, and I’d known the premise for decades. However, that morning was one that will stand out in my heart for many years to come; my “Aha moment” – sometimes dubbed a “duh moment” – set me free. That boulder on my shoulder is gone. I should go stand on the weight scale, because surely I weigh less!

I won’t relate all of my scribbled notes here. I won’t try to unfold the revelation I received piece by piece, because, either you already understand the point, or you won’t get it. I thought I understood the point, but I didn’t get it – until now.

In one juicy nugget: Everything I do can either benefit (or hurt) everyone around me. But, nothing I do is for anyone around me. Yes, I may do a favor for you; I may sing a song for you or even take a hit for you… but, it’s not your thanks or appreciation I should be seeking. If I think I’m serving you, or “working for” you – I’m seeking a paycheck from the wrong employer.

I submit myself to God and operate through the power and authority He’s given me. He is the One I answer to; He’s the only One I seek to please. Man-pleasers get drawn off track. My rewards come from God, whether or not it occurs to man to even say thank you.

If I’m feeling overwhelmed or under-appreciated, I’m seeking man’s attention or applause; I’m self-centered, and ultimately, self-serving. When I can walk in Love and seek no reward or praise for my actions, I’m God-centered and God-serving. His rewards are unimaginable. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” – 1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV)

Sometimes submitting ourselves to another’s authority is a heavy burden. But, submitting myself to God, through Jesus Christ is setting me free. Link by link, the chains fall away. Hallelujah!

What are some of the situations you find yourself in that create feelings of anger or resentment or that stimulate the idea that you’re invisible and no one appreciates a thing you do? If you place the template over it that reveals who you’re serving, how does that change things?

What's a Parent to Do? Part 2

(Photo courtesy of santabanta.com)

When we take a look at our behavior, just how objective can we be? Is it possible to see our flaws without kicking into denial? I know it’s tough for me to face my shortcomings. I’ll only point the finger at myself today, but if you fit in the “rotten apple basket” with me, hop on in!

By all means, I do not want to get down on myself or beat myself up – I’ve done far too much of that through the years. But realistically taking stock of who I am, how I behave and how I influence others should be as common and acceptable to me as looking in the mirror to see if I somehow magically got my eyeliner on straight.

This is a gift we can pass on to our children, as well.

It’s not easy to take criticism, even when it’s constructive. And although it comes much too easy for us to be critical, it can be hard to do it constructively.

We never want to be caught playing the flattery game; flattery is insincere. But genuine compliments should be able to comfortably flow through our lips all the time.

Complaining and criticizing are snares we commonly fall into, sometimes not even aware we’re trapped there. They do nothing good for us or anyone else if they’re not constructive and they’re not said in love.

There are times when it’s appropriate to complain, but it’s not a hole we want to dig as a permanent dwelling place. When I order food in a restaurant and it arrives cold, I have a right to speak up, and I should. I’m most likely paying a steep price for that plate and it should come hot and fresh from the kitchen. But – things happen. When I complain, it should be respectfully and with grace.

If my friend swears in normal conversation and it disturbs me, I should be able to bring it up without pushing her away. If my demeanor is as offensive as her vocabulary, I have a problem, too.

All of this to pose the questions: How do we challenge and/or correct those we love? How do we build them up, even when what they’re doing is tearing us down or wearing us out?

And the bigger question: Do we tear down the very ones we love, building into them false beliefs about their own lack of value?

Ephesians 4:14-16 instructs us to speak the truth, but to do it in love.

Love isn’t always perceived. Many people have loved us over the years, but they didn’t display it in a way we recognized as love, and we missed it.

Truth spoken in love will convict, but when we, the listener, miss that ‘in love’ part, we’re not convicted, but embarrassed, shamed and beaten down.

We can’t always predict how those we’re speaking to will react. But respect won’t be extended to us when we don’t extend it to others.

We can make sure that what we say comes from a pure heart and is spoken in love, the best we know how – and we can always ask God to help us to do it better.

“Do unto others as you would have them do to you.” – Luke 6:31 (KJV)

What's a Parent to Do?

(I apologize, I don't recall where I got this picture.)

Our worth. Where does it come from? How do we build our children’s self-worth and self-esteem? How do they know they’re worth loving? How do we teach them of their tremendous value?

Is it up to us to prevent them from being quitters? Is it up to us to see to it that they become all they can be, instead of settling for whatever comes along? Is it up to us to plant seeds of confidence in them so that they don’t hop from one girlfriend/boyfriend for another in an endless search for completion?

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, our value, our worth is intrinsic. That means we were born with it, we were created with unfathomable value already built into us. It isn’t what we accomplish or how great we look that determines our value.

But do we believe that? No, I think not. If we believed it, it would show in how we carry ourselves, how we treat ourselves and others and in how we raise our children.

There’s far too much depression and fear surrounding us. When did we let that creep in? If we let it in so long ago that we don’t even remember, then it’s time we stand our ground and kick it out the front door with purpose and intent! Then we can take measures to insure it doesn’t infiltrate our lives and our homes again.

It would take many more words than a simple blog post to answer all of the above questions. But, maybe by admitting the answer to the first question, the other answers will begin to come to us.

Our value comes from our Creator. The very God that took the time to breathe life into us also placed unspeakable value into our lives. None of us is a mistake; none of us is destined to “settle” in life. Jesus Himself came to give us life and life more abundantly! He even said so! “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” – John 10:10 (KJV)

When we believe there is a God, a God Who loves us – we also have to face the fact there we have an enemy, one which seeks to steal from us, to kill us and to utterly destroy us. And he does so, simply because God loves us. If he can convince us we have little or no worth, what point is there in existing? What point is there in striving to be all we can be?

To be continued…..

A Constant

(I took this photo at the Denver Botanical Gardens 2012.)

A few years ago the word ‘intrinsic’ kept floating through my mind, to the point that I finally looked it up. I felt like God was talking to me about my intrinsic value. I was incredibly blessed to discover its meaning.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about the value of human life, or rather, how little human life is valued these days. With abortion an accepted part of life-as-we know-it, we’ve all but erased the value of human life from our nation, and diminished it greatly in our everyday lives. The atrocities of yesteryear don’t even raise our eye brows now. We read of child abuse of epic proportions on a daily basis. Violent crimes become more and more violent, as man turns against man (or woman, or child).

Clearly, we as a people, not necessarily as individuals, do not place much value on human life. Though we are numbed by the news and oftentimes block out reality, God never changes. He’s the one constant. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” – Hebrews 13:8 (KJV) His values don’t change, His nature doesn’t change. Our intrinsic value is still the same, because we are made in our Maker’s image.

Over the years our own self-image changes. Whether we were raised to feel loved and believe in ourselves or we cowered in fear, wishing to be invisible and feeling unloved and unwanted, God’s love for us has never changed, the value He places on our life is constant because it’s intrinsic and His thoughts toward us are always good. “How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!” – Psalm 139:17-18 (NLT)

Reflect on how valued you are; the worth placed on your life.

What does intrinsic mean? Read that post here.

Flooding

(Video courtesy of Kurt Van Tassel, via Facebook.)

A word picture came to mind this morning while Pastor prayed; that of a book, the Word of God, pouring it’s Living Water into our lives. I could imagine the River of Life pouring through an open Bible into my life. That River can’t pour out to overflowing into my life unless I open the Book and apply it to my life. Images of an overflowing creek or river immediately correspond to video footage of the flooding that had washed through our community lately, causing severe damage with their sensational force.

 

Nature’s riverbeds wind where they may; their paths created by the curve of the land; destruction caused by flooding is without discretion or choosing, plowing through everything in it’s way. The abundance of the River of Life flows through our hearts, destroying only that which hinders our oneness with God; those things that draw us away from Him or distract us from His plans for our lives.

 

Once again I’m pulled into the knowledge of the worth of God’s Word in my life, a life not left to chance; a life with God-given purpose and value. Without God’s Word to teach us of our worth, we are easily fooled into believing the lie that we’re not wanted, needed or valued; only used and abused and quickly forgotten.

 

Since God’s Word is readily available to us (here in America) we have no excuse for not feeding from it daily. Yet, often, we starve ourselves spiritually, while going to extremes to over-consume empty calories in attempt to satisfy the longings of our soul (our mind, will and emotions).

 

If it appears that I beat this “dead-horse” to dust, I’m preaching more to myself than to any reader that stumbles across this blog. Considering God’s Word “optional” in my life is to admit to complete ignorance in regard to life itself. Only laziness, disregard for His Word and lack of faith IN His Word can explain my lack of gleaning from it daily. God forgive me!

 

(Photo courtesy of thetruthunderfire.com)

 

Revelation 22:1-5  Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. (NIV)

 

Isaiah 59:19  When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. (KJV)

To Get His Point Across

This morning as I woke up praying and thanking God for all the good things in my life I got a mental image of an old man, one that looks a bit like pictures of ancient philosophers, maybe Plato, writing in a book. He leaned his head on one hand while contemplating what to write with a fancy quill in the other.

Joy welled up inside of me as I thanked God for evident blessings. I wanted to just thank Him for being God. Is that something He can even be thanked for? He is God.

John 3:16 came to mind; For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son… He gave His Son. He GAVE His Son. To whom did He give His Son? [Selah]

I know He gave His Son for me, to bear the punishment for my sin, in my place. So I realize what He gave His Son for – but to?

He gave His Son to us, His lost and dying people. But moreso, as I watched this old man in my mind looking at what he wrote, it dawned on me; God gave His Son for His Word. To back up His own words, His own decrees, He chose to give up His only begotten Son. It was necessary to fulfill His own words.

God could have torn the pages from His book and started over again. He could have declared a new decree.

God decreed that the penalty for sin is death. He needed a spotless sacrifice to pay that penalty, knowing that there was none on earth without sin, none spotless. I don’t believe God wrestled with this choice. He made it not only out of love for us, but out of respect for His own Word. He valued the power and authority of His own Word so much that He kept it. He’s not a man that He should lie, or change His mind.

As I pondered on this image of an old man writing the most important of all documents, I realized: The covenant was with Himself – He could have changed the terms of agreement. But He wrote, or spoke that covenant – and kept His end of it….

The Apple of His Eye

One of the greatest deceptions of all time is the lie that convinces you that you are not loved –or worth loving. Since before you were born God’s love for you has never wavered, His love remains constant and strong; there is nothing you can do to make Him stop loving you. Your worth is determined only by that everlasting love. He delights in you; you are the apple of His eye!

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 NIV

For this is what the LORD Almighty says: “After he has honored me and has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye— Zechariah 2:8 NIV

Some may argue that God’s love is for others – but surely not for themselves. That is when you know the deception has taken root in your heart. The most quoted verse in the Bible, displayed at ballgames and easily memorized by children tells the truth of the matter:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 NIV

God loved the world – everyone in the world, yes, even the most miserable person you’ve ever met. He loves us so much that He gave – the best that heaven had to offer, the ultimate, supreme price – He gave his one and only Son as the sacrifice for our sins.

Even if the person you find hardest to love is yourself – God loved you first and always will. His love for you is perfect and eternal, it cannot be earned – it’s already yours, no matter what. Embrace it….

So What About Me?

Can something be true even if we don’t believe it?

Can something be a lie even if we believe it to be true?

Yes. And yes. So how do we know what is truly true? How do we uncover the lies? Find out what God has to say about it.

There are times when we read God’s Word and don’t agree with or understand what we’ve just read. The Bible tells us that God is not the author of confusion – so when confusion overwhelms us as we’re reading His Word we need to ask Him for clarification or at the very least, peace about it. There are many, many things in the Bible that I don’t understand, but my lack of understanding doesn’t keep me from believing that the Bible is truth – the Truth I need to line up with.

So what does God’s Word have to say about me – and you?

One of my favorite scriptures is Psalm 139:14 - I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (NIV) Verses 15 – 18 go on to say; My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you.

If you have time, read Psalm 139 from the beginning. God knows us intimately – because He created us, He Himself breathed life into us. He wants us to know Him intimately, too. His desire is for intimate communication between us and Himself.

What else does His Word say about us?

More to come!

Daring to Discover Our Worth

INTRINSIC. Kind of a neat sounding word. One day it came to mind, although it’s not a word I recognized. If I’d heard it before, I certainly didn’t know what it meant. It hammered away at my mind throughout the day so much that I had to look it up.

Per dictionary.com: Intrinsic - Of or relating to the essential nature of a thing; belonging to a thing by its very nature.

The child born to a starving Ethiopian woman that’s delivered in the streets and left to die has the very same intrinsic value as the child of royalty.

The bitter old criminal that dies alone in a prison cell has the very same intrinsic value as the missionary that’s martyred on the mission field.

Though I may not have starving Ethiopians or dying criminals or even princes or missionaries reading my blog posts – I imagine you fall somewhere in between, and your intrinsic value is exactly the same as everyone else’s because we were all created by the only God that creates!

We are created equal, with the same intrinsic value – yes. But there’s nothing equal about what happens to us after we’re created. Some of us are killed in our mother’s wombs. Some of us die of childhood diseases. Some of us are victimized by family or strangers. Some of us live normal looking lives and perhaps never reveal our secrets. Some of us learn young to trust in God – but that doesn’t mean bad things won’t happen to us. Many of us grow up to be criminals, and some to be successful members of society – some even going on to accomplish noticeable, great things.

But whether we die young, accomplish great things or commit evil atrocities, our value to God remains the same.

All the things that happen between our conception and death compete to define us – to determine our worth.

More coming….

Who Would Notice?

‘If I fell off the face of the earth – no one would even notice…’

Have you ever thought that? I’ve seen similar statements as status updates on Facebook and it saddens me to see that our common enemy, Satan, has managed to diminish our value in our own eyes.

Is it because we’ve fallen short of some standard that was set for us?

Is it because we measure ourselves by the successes of others?

Is it because we simply don’t like what we see in the mirror?

I would love to convince you of your worth – but convincing anyone of anything means coming up against what they already believe, and against the experiences that brought them to the point of believing what they believe.

What gives something its value? What determines its worth?

To a millionaire a fifty dollar gift card might be an insult. To someone in a third world country, fifty dollars could mean the difference between life and death.

To a professional violinist, a half a million dollar violin is a thing of beauty and coveted. To a child with no ear for music, it’s merely a decoration.

Relative value is largely determined by who’s holding the object in question.

Absolute value is predetermined.

The fifty dollar gift card is worth just that, fifty dollars. The half a million dollar violin is worth a half a million dollars.

When we’re mistreated by the world at large or the people we are closest to, we often feel worthless, even if we’re pretty enough to be a decoration. But our absolute value was established before we were conceived, even before the earth was formed.

So our relative value can only be affected by allowing our lives to be controlled by people who don’t care about us. By yielding control to God – we retain our unfathomable, absolute value, which can never change.

More to come…………….