Loved, Chosen and Celebrated By God Himself!

“At last, the baby began to crown, and with him came the fulfillment of his parents’ wishes. Five years of barrenness, five years of bitter arguments—this baby would put it all in the past. He would bring pride to the family, reap a dowry from his bride and help provide for the family. He would restore his family’s joy. As the baby took his first breaths, however, something wasn’t right and hopes built up over the last nine months quickly died away. Their little boy turned out to be a little girl and that was nothing to celebrate.”

We celebrate this week the birth of our first grandson. As I read these words from an article about life in another country, I remember my own time of carrying our first baby. I was determined it would be a boy. But I also remember as they handed her into my arms immediately after she was born the feeling of utter joy. “Aw”, “It’s a little girl!” I spoke with worn out breath. Whisking her off to the nursery I was glad that I had brought two outfits, for back then you didn’t know what you were having until they were born. Even when the second child was born a girl, the then new and untried ultrasounds and the technician had said boy. We did have a boy eventually, in God’s time, after we were through having babies.  But each and every child was and is loved, prayed for and a blessing to our life. No mistakes, no regrets, all from God special delivery to us.

For most of us the idea of having a healthy baby is all we care about. We count the fingers and toes and marvel at God’s handiwork. Others have grown up knowing they weren’t exactly what was wanted.  Or perhaps after the birth they may feel cast aside or unwanted for other reasons. They too feel the sting of “nothing to celebrate”.   Even though your childhood may have been great, as an adult you may have heard the rejection and the lack of fellowship. It could be your siblings, your spouse, your parents, your church, your friends. If we are not careful, any time rejection comes we take that on as the truth. What we perceive as truth is lived out in our hearts and minds. Pretty soon we live as a reject, believing that we are indeed “nothing to celebrate” at all.

Oh beloved, today is your day! It may not be your birthday but it’s a new day! It’s time to celebrate you! No matter what your past looks like, no matter who has spoken negativity over your life, you are indeed SOMETHING to celebrate! In Christ, you have been born again of blood that will never perish. You have the mind of Christ to combat the lies that hound you.  You have the Holy Spirit within you to keep you looking at yourself through God’s eyes. Today is your day – to be all that God says you are. You are indeed special delivery to the world from God Himself, your Abba Father. How you entered this life is irrelevant when you remember you are meant to live for His glory!

God indeed has a plan for your life and you are beginning today to say no to the past and yes to the future! You can’t change what others say, what you have said or what the enemy has spoken over you in the past. But you can change everything today by giving your day to Jesus! What He says about you is the truth – you were loved and cared for and created for such a time as this. Your destiny is beyond even the best of your thinking and especially beyond the worst of your thoughts about yourself.

Reach out to Jesus, put Him in front of you, wrap Him around you and walk in faith with Him as you learn to live loved, live celebrating and share with others how He has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light!

John 10:10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). (Amplified)

John 1:16 For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift. (Amplified)

 1 Thessalonians 1:4 knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;

 2 Corinthians 1:2 Grace (favor and spiritual blessing) to you and [heart] peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). (Amplified)

You are Indeed Beloved of God!

Forty one years ago today Danny and I had our first date. I know many of you don’t believe in love at first sight, but I will tell you this: once I met Danny face to face I never wanted to date anyone else and he felt the same way. Call it what you want, we clicked, we committed, we became a couple. I did everything I could to find out all about Him. His likes, his tastes, his hobbies, his feelin...gs about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The more we spent time together the more comfortable I was with him. The more I went out with him, the more I enjoyed his presence. He literally was perfect for me. I can tell you it’s been a wonderful life.

Thirty-one years ago I met Jesus. This too was love at first sight. Once I met Jesus face to face I never turned back. We clicked. I was committed. I began a lifelong plan to find out all I could about Him. I have studied to know His likes, His dislikes and more. I know His outlook on life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I can tell you it’s been a wonderful life, living in Christ.

My life with Danny has managed to have a storybook ending in many ways, but we’re imperfect people making concessions for one another, overlooking faults and mistakes. We’ve learned a lot about things from one another. Because of Danny’s love for me I’ve learned about loyalty, faithfulness and truth. He will not lie no matter what. He remains my one and only love and I have remained His.

My life with Christ will have a storybook ending as well – the Book tells me that He is My one and only Savior. No one else will do. He is faithful to me and faithful to His Word. I’ve learned everything that’s worth knowing from Him. Because He loves me unconditionally, I know He can be trusted. His Word is true. He is my Savior and I love Him more and more each day.

Oh beloved, there are things you need to know about the Lord that you won’t know if you don’t give your life to Him completely. Halfhearted allegiance to Christ is about like being half married. And that’s not possible. He knows everything – everything about your life, about your challenges, about your disappointments and more. He knows more than you do – He knows how many days He has given you, what lies ahead and He knows how to love you unconditionally and yet completely. He’s not a man that He should ever lie. He is honor bound to His Word and His Word is honor bound to Him. You can trust Him with your whole heart for your whole life. No one else is so trustworthy. No one else can meet all your needs. No one else will be there for you no matter what. Whatever you are facing, He is with you for the long haul. Whatever you are dreading He will come in and walk with you. He is the Great I AM and He loves you.

He’s calling you today and He’s asking you to step up to a closer walk. It may seem a little fearful to put your trust in Someone like Him, but it’s worth it. He will take your life and guide you through every wreck, every valley, every mountain, every flood, every change in seasons, positions, friendships and more and stay with you all the way.

He loves you and He calls you beloved. He’s for you and He’s going to remain with you, on your side, forever. Pick up the Word and find out everything you can about Him. His love is real and His care is perfect and that’s all that matters as you live in the light of His love.

I John 4:9-10 God showed how much he loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Psalm 117:2 For He loves us with unfailing love; the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the Lord!

Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, so He does not lie. He is not human, so He does not change His mind. Has He ever spoken and failed to act? Has He ever promised and not carried it through?

Psalm 33:18 But the Lord watches over those who fear Him, those who rely on His unfailing love.

Psalm 27:8 My heart has heard You say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming”

Psalm 139:17-18 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!

Let God's Word Be Your Mirror

 

Yesterday as our daughter walked across the street to her house, her long dark hair was waving behind her and for just a moment she looked just like she did as a young girl. It was just for a moment but it was there. We have three children. Our two daughters are married with children of their own. Our son is not married yet, but one of these days we’ll probably have a daughter in law and another crop of grandkids. 

 These three children are grownups. If they look in the mirror they see a grown up. But when I look at them I see my children. Each one of them is still and forever my child. Nothing will ever change that.

When we look at ourselves in the mirror we see just what we see. It is what it is comes to mind! We are liable to see our flaws, our wrinkles, a stray gray hair (or more). We’re looking at what we would call “the real us”. But when God looks at us, He sees his child. Each one is His own special creation. He doesn’t look for flaws. He cannot see them. While we think of ourselves as flawed and less than perfect, God sees us as redeemed, beautiful, complete and without spot or blemish.

We see the “real us” but so does the Lord. The only difference is that God is looking at us with eyes of love. He loves us perfectly, completely, without reservation. Since His very essence and nature is love, He sees us with eyes of pure love.

God knows it’s hard sometimes to see yourself as His child. The cares of the world are stressful and lines of grief and worry come. The past and present hurts and mourning what might have been cloud the view and make it hard to see the Truth.

It’s time to trade in the mirror on your wall for the mirror of God’s Word. The real us is described in detail throughout His Word. We must learn to believe that we are who God says we are so that we can live loved beyond measure. When we live loved, then we are able to live life as God’s child and let Him lead us, guide us and direct us always.

Oh beloved, run to the mirror of God’s Word and see your True self. As you were born again into God’s family you have His DNA running through your veins. You’ve been transformed and redeemed. You’ve been saved, sealed and delivered. God says to you this morning that if you will look closely at His word the reflection you see will be Jesus, as He is your covering and your new identity is hid in Him. He says I love you and when I look at you I see perfection. I see a child, growing in grace and knowledge, preparing for heaven, being guided by my Holy Spirit. I see a face that reflects my glory and nothing is more beautiful than that. I will guide you as you learn My Word and take on My nature, for I have redeemed you from the law of sin and death. I have redeemed you for your mistakes, I have redeemed you from your past, I have redeemed you from all that can keep you from seeing yourself as My child. I love you and I AM for you and that’s why I see the real you.

Trust Him as He teaches you the Truth about you. You are beloved, you are beautiful, you are cherished, you are protected, you are being perfected and you are His bride. Rejoice for your Redeemer is drawing closer and closer each day. Let His Word be your mirror and reflect the truth for you always. He loves you and He’s for you and that’s all that really matters.

Psalm 139:17-18 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 119:5 Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect Your decrees!

2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

Colossians 1:22 Yet now He has reconciled you to Himself through the death of Christ in His physical body. As a result, He has brought you into His own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault.

I Peter 2:9 … for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light.

God Wants to Make All Things New!

One of my new favorite home remodel shows is Rehab Addict, where host takes a house that was ready for the wrecking ball and restores it to its former glory.  She sees in an old delapidated shell what could be.  Hundreds of people drive by old abandoned homes and wonder about them. She buys them and doesn’t remodel them – she restores them!  Her desire is to see a home as it was, before time and the elements did such a number on them. 

Maybe you’re feeling the effects of neglect. You just don’t fit in anymore, if ever. You’re tired and worn out from the trials, the concerns, the worries, the fears and more. You made mistake after mistake and now you’re in a hovel and a heap.  You’d like to start all over again, but how is it possible? You’ve gone too far and you feel like the disrepair shows to everyone around you. You may have been knocked down physically, spiritually or emotionally. All you want to do is walk away and give up. But in your heart of hearts, you keep thinking that maybe, just maybe there’s hope – that somehow life could be new again. You’ve tried changing things – from jobs to cars to makeup, but still you feel done in and hopeless. Someone may have hung a demolition sign on you – declaring you insufficient and unredeemable.

Oh beloved, hold on! God says you are so prized and so loved that He will give you more than a fresh coat of paint.  He wants to do more for you than just make things better. He wants to make all things new! He loves you so much that He left heaven just to rescue you from satan’s demolition crew. He cares about you so much that He knew you before you were even formed in your mother’s womb. He’s always on your side, even when it feels like no one is for you. He’s always working things out for your good, even when you feel downhearted.  He’s always going to watch over you and protect you all the days of your life. Neither the beating of the sun nor the drenching of floods will destroy you for God Himself is your foundation! He is the architect and the builder of your entire life! You can be assured that any discussion of your worthlessness is simply the enemy speaking lies. You are worth it, you are loved and there is something yet for you to do, so rejoice and let God continue to remake your life all the way to heaven!

Psalm 89:14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne. Unfailing love and truth walk before You as attendants.

Proverbs 10:25 When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation.

Exodus 15:13 With Your unfailing love You lead the people You have redeemed. In Your might, You guide them to Your sacred home.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Psalm 40:5 O LORD my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.

Merry Christmas! Christ is Your All in All!

It’s Christmas morning at our house.  I’m sitting here in front of the computer screen and I’m thinking about you. How wonderful it is to know you, even if it’s only here. You are in my heart everyday as I ask God about you. Today is a very special day and it’s still quiet yet.  God is wanting to speak the gifts of His Holy Spirit into your heart. 

But more importantly, God is with you. He’s thinking about you day and night. He watches over you and has so much to give you that He won’t wait till Christmas morning. He wants to speak Merry Christmas to you every day!  The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are rejoicing in you this morning!

He wants to speak joy to you! This deep abiding joy that comes from knowing Him. It’s better than presents, because it comes from His presence.

He wants to speak love to you! It’s not found beneath the tree, it’s found beneath the cross. Oh how He loves you! You are one of His favorites.

He wants to speak peace to you! You can’t make His peace happen by being good, or being quiet or any human manufactured thing. His peace comes from His heart to your heart and it spread into every aspect of your life.

His gifts come in magnificent packages – there’s forgiveness for the unforgiveable. There’s hope for the hopeless, life for death, and more.

Everything you and I need, beloved, is found in Him. Rejoice as He speaks to your heart! Rejoice as He comforts your soul. Rejoice as He makes your ordinary day into an extraordinary day of all His gifts.

Oh beloved, it may not look like an extraordinary day to you this morning. Things may have gotten out of hand. Sickness may be nearby, hate may rage outside your doors, people may not believe, but God says, to you, you personally, beloved, this morning “I love you”. And everything that has to do with His magnificent love, from Genesis to Revelation, is yours!

Because Christmas is about kids and you beloved, are His most favored child.  Let Him wrap you up in all He is for everything you cannot be or do or say or believe – He’s here and He’s speaking Merry, Magnificent, Outstanding, Beyond Imagination, More Than Christmas to your heart! He says He loves you and He’s for you always, and that beloved, is all that really matters!

Isaiah 9:6 NLT “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

2 Peter 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. KJV

2 Corinthians 1:20 For as many as are the promises of God, they all find their Yes [answer] in Him [Christ]. For this reason we also utter the Amen to God through Him  to the glory of God. AMP

Romans 5:11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

Philippians 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice! AMP

Isaiah 43:1 But now(oh beloved), listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.