I referenced in my last blog that sometimes I feel like my kids teach me more than I teach them. But, the real truth is that usually when I'm teaching them a lesson it's something God is directly dealing with me about. Sometimes I love that . . . and sometimes I hate that. haha As a teacher you want to be confident in what you are teaching, almost as if you have already risen above the lesson. Yet, sometimes in the middle of a Sunday or Wednesday night lesson I almost freeze up because I can hear God telling me . . . "THIS IS FOR YOU TOO! SO LISTEN UP!" When that happens I always let my kids know. If there is something that I am struggling with I want them to know I'm a real person too. I go through the same types of trials and temptations as they do. We have started a new Dave Ramsey study on Wednesday nights. At first I wasn't sure if our youth were really old enough to do a bible study on money management. But, once I started reading into the study I realized that the heart of the study is about our value. The study focuses on helping youth to find their value as a person in God alone, not in "things" or other people's opinions of us. There was an activity that we did that touched my heart sort of unexpectedly. You take a $20 bill and ask the kids who would like it. Of course everyone wants that money. Then you take the bill and crumble it up and step on it. Then ask again if anyone wants it. Still, they want the money. Then you take the bill dunk it in some water and rub some mud into it until you can hardly tell that it is a $20 bill. Ask the kids if anyone still wants the money and suprisingly they would have all taken it right out of my hand. So, I asked them why they still wanted the money after it had been through all of that and you couldn't even tell what it was anymore. My response was "because it's still $20 even though it's dirty and messed up". Exactly, it hasn't lost it's value. And that is exactly how God sees us! No matter what happens in our lives, the messes we make of ourselves. We will never lose our value. He loves us and sees us as His beautiful children. Still full of value to Him!! I got really emotional during the lesson because it's so easy for me to look at my kids and see how valuable they are. Each one is so special and has their own gifts and personalities that I can already see God at work in, but I know that that is now how they see themselves. They all struggle with insecurity. Being a teenager is hard. I remember. And that's when God turned the tables on me. He pointed out to me that I am still living the life of an insecure person. As hard as it is to admit. I still find my value in "things" and what other people say that I am. You don't just grow out of that as a teenager. I think it's a constant struggle against this world. But, the good news is that God loves us so incredibly much that in His word He left us the sweetest gift. He tells us exactly who He made us to be and just how much value He thinks we have. From now on, when I'm having a bad hair day, or freak out because I can't fit into any of my clothes, or struggle with being single, I'm going to look to these verses to remind me of how much my God values me. I hope they will touch you in the same way. It's not cocky or prideful to know that you were made WONDERFULLY by the MOST HIGH GOD. Embrace it. Let it change your life!
"Then God said, "Let us make man in our own image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. So, God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female He created them." Gen. 1:26-27
Ok, i'm going to have to add how these verses speak to me. Not only did God create us in His own image, but He gave us dominion over the whole earth. Now, if He didn't see value in us and didn't trust us . . . would He have given us everything that was His? Think about that. That is incredible! From the beginning of time He loved His creation. He thought it was GOOD.
"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; your works are wonderful, and 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." Psalms 139: 13-16
Many women keep these verses close to them. There is just something so sweet about knowing that God formed us and shaped us in our mother's womb. I love it how it says, "my frame was not hidden from you". In other words we didn't come out and God say . . . ummmm, I made that? yikes! Let's try again. NO, He knew exactly what He was doing when He made us. He knew I was going to have the shape I have and do you know what He said about it? He said it was WONDERFUL. Talk about getting approval. That's all you need.
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered . So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Matthew 10: 29-30
This is how much God values us! The smallest and cheapest of birds aren't even removed from His will. Why would you be? He knows every detail about us . . . the good and the bad . . . down to the hairs on our head. You are so significant to Him. I know in today's society so many of us feel like we just blend in. We aren't special. We don't stand out to anyone. This is a lie from Satan. God sees you. He loves you and He thinks you are very special! He says, "Don't be afraid." How could we be afraid if we know that He is there with us at every turn!
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present or the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will ever be able to seperate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 38-39
Nothing will change the love that God has for us in Christ Jesus. Jesus died on the cross while we were still sinners! Because He loves us and values us. He sees potential in us! Don't let insecurity make you feel unimportant or that you aren't good enough. Jesus showed us on the cross the depth of His love for us. Don't go another day believing that you are anything less that what God says you are. Take one of these verses, write it down on notecard and keep it with you during the day. Sometimes it takes reminding ourselves over and over. But, eventually you will get it and it will change you forever!
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