Today’s Devotional

Kerrington's Posts

{Testimony} Kerrington

UYM

Written By: Kerrington Sweeney
Salvation Chalk-Board + Fisher-price dream kitchen set = Salvation story? 

You may be very puzzled when you read that first line, but don’t you worry, it ALL makes perfect sense in the end! To start off, if you were a faithful Sunday-school attender or not we all may have heard the saying either in children’s ministry or when someone lead you in the salvation prayer…

“When you give your heart to Jesus, He wipes all your sins clean, just like a chalk-board.”

 

I have probably heard 2 dozen, or more Sunday School teachers use that line and I still had trouble picturing Jesus cleaning my entire life of sin? How could anyone love me SO much? Pretty confusing stuff, at least for a six year old at the time.
With that being said, let’s take a little walk down memory lane…shall we?

Think back to when you personally gave your whole heart to the Lord. Do you remember that divine moment? That milestone of hope. I sure do remember my big day. It went something like this:

I vividly recall standing in my little, playroom on a blustery, winter January afternoon, wearing my tiny, purple slippers at the age of 6, playing “washing the dishes”, with my favourite entire complete kitchen appliances and cupboards set.
We are talkin’ the stove, fridge, microwave, sink, table and chairs, and all the plastic play food you could ever imagine?! …I may have been a little spoiled, but man I loved that thing! I was racking my 6 year old mind, while trying to wash the lunch dishes, cook dinner, spoon feed my baby doll daughter Kate and talk on the phone with my imaginary husband Chris, who was late coming home from work, again!!! I couldn’t believe him, How dare he miss supper……twice! (Wifey + Mommy at heart since birth, can you tell?)

I was pondering about everything that my Sunday School teacher had said earlier that week, about how much sweeter life would be to walk with Jesus every step.

Then my Mom walked into the room, and I experienced a feeling that I had never felt before. ( I dropped the plastic dishes into the sink, burnt dinner and hung up the phone on my hubby.) My heart sunk into my stomach…
“Do I tell her, I want Jesus to be my friend too??” I thought.
Thoughts began swirling restlessly, through my mind.

What do I say? Has everyone done this? Will I look different? Will I hear God’s voice? Will I feel clean? What will this do?

Long story short, (I say that because the rest is history!)

January 2003, I became God’s adopted daughter that day in my little playroom and have been loving Him and pursing His presence ever since. I have had my many bumps and valleys along the way, but I had to remember just one simple thing…

 

“When you give your heart to Jesus, He wipes all your sins clean, just like a chalk-board.”

 

Now every time I walk by our home church nursery and see that little girls fisher-price dream kitchen set sitting there. Which is now faded, old, wrecked, and a couple cupboard doors are now completely missing…I think to myself, Thank you Lord for my Life and for amazing Sunday-school teachers who taught me, that Jesus can clean ANY sin and He just wants to be my best friend. Thank you God, for divine appointments and opportunities. Thank you, for my Mom and for her sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s leading. Thank you God, for my salvation.

Look at me…tearing up at 1:43am! (That’s right Jesus makes me work mid-nights on the blog sometimes…haha)

Friends, If you haven’t asked Jesus to walk with you yet, please, please, please do!

I can’t make you do anything, but I will say one thing. My life has never been the same since. I am a radically changed young woman, pursuing God with every ounce of my being. I have a family of believers who love and encourage me to go farther in my callings. I would love to personally, welcome you into that family. Send me an email when you do give your heart to the Lord, like I said, I would love to celebrate with the Angels when you become my Sister in God’s Family.

~ Kerrington

Krista's Posts, Moments With Krista

{Moments with Krista} Broken & Beautiful

UYM

Written By: Krista Dunbar

 I have always been ashamed of telling my story.  Let me restate that.  I USED to be ashamed of telling my story.  Recently, I’ve felt God moulding me and coaxing me out of that unreasonable fear.

You see…my story is dark and different and not beautiful.  It’s not what a pastor’s wife’s story should look like.  It’s not what a good Christian woman’s story should look like…or so I thought.  But it’s okay…because it’s my story.  It’s the choices I have made, the people I’ve allowed in my life, and the roads I’ve travelled (as dark as they may be) that make it a story worth telling.  Honestly that’s not even true.  It’s the man I follow and will continue to follow that has made my story beautiful.  It’s the Creator God that formed and shaped me, who knows the hairs on my head, who knows when I’m standing or lying down…it’s this God that has redeemed my story.  It’s His Son who carried my baggage and cleaned me off.

It’s in my weaknesses that I can now boast…not because I have it together.  I can boast because Jesus has bridged the gap from my ugly, ugly past…my dirty shame…to rectify the relationship with my Creator.  I have nothing to offer but my worship and praise…and God gets all of it.

So back to my story…in the recent season, I’ve heard so many different stories from so many different people in all walks of life.  Each story is beautiful.  Each story is unique.  Each story, no matter what that person is walking through-is known and being threaded into God’s bigger purpose.

I went to the Influence Conference last September and heard a pastor’s wife speak of her past.  Her drug filled, depression ridden, dirty past.  While her past wasn’t pretty, it gave me hope.  She stood in front of hundreds of women and shared her raw shame and past in a way that was so beautiful because it was hers.  She shared how she still sins.  How sometimes God has to remind her that she’s building her own kingdom and not His.  I don’t know about you, but that’s gutsy to share with a bunch of women.  That’s gutsy to share in general.  But I admired her for sharing because it showed me that she didn’t have it together and God cleaned her up and chose her.  He chose to use her for His purpose…in telling of His story.  She shared how she still doesn’t have it together…how she chooses Jesus each day and walks with Him because she NEEDS Him in order to build anything lasting.  As a pastor’s wife that quietly shares bits and pieces of my own story with chosen audiences… this was a life changing message for me.

NO STORY IS TOO UGLY.  NO STORY IS TOO DIRTY.  NO STORY IS TOO STICKY.  

In sharing of our sufferings, our messes, our dirtiness…God is glorified.  We allow Him to shine through our holes…because He fills those gaps and holes in us.  He washes our sin away and continues to make us new EVERY DAY.  So whatever your story was yesterday…it’s a new day today.  Be BOLD.  Be FEARLESS.

Tell your story.

I’m speaking to myself in this.  My story is shame filled and broken.  But because of the redeeming work of Jesus…in that He lets me lay my baggage at His feet, in that He dusts me off, picks me up, and calls me His…I can share my story with boldness and humble grace. I can share my story because I know it’s not only my story but it’s His.  It’s the threads of His bigger purpose.  It’s a story of redemption and a continued process of moulding, shaping, and walking on this journey to the finish-line of grace and truth.  I’ve come to love my story.  I’ve come to accept it.  It’s mine.  God has used me to help others with what I’ve gone through.  He’s taken my mistakes and times of straying from Him and grafted me back in.  He’s pruned my dead and dying limbs and made them fruit-bearing once again.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV

He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 MSG

If God tells us the Truth, we need to tell ourselves that Truth and then we need to share it with others.  We need to share our truths authentically with others no matter how messy.  Because no one has the power to place judgement on you.  No one has the power to make you lesser…because it’s not truth.  You are more.  You can do more.  You are enough.  You are not alone.  You are not too far gone.  Those things from your past?  Those are the things that shape you into who you are…those are the things you can give to God right now…so that He can shape and mould you from those things…so that you can encourage someone else in that.  So that you can walk in community with someone else that needs to hear the simple words, “Me too”.

You’re story is beautiful.  I’d love to hear it.  I’d also love to share mine with you.  If you come along this journey with me, I’ll show you how God has been moulding the pieces of my past into this present journey of walking with Him.

If you’re willing…please send me a note and share your threads with me!

Krista

Melissa's Posts, {Worth}

{Worth} Everything I Ever Did

UYM

Written by Melissa Longval

In John chapter 4, we meet the Samaritan woman at the well.  As is well known, Jews and Samaritans hated each other and would go out of their way to avoid contact.  Through this purposeful encounter with this woman, Jesus reveals much about His heart and care for us.

As the sun was hot and high in the sky, the woman approached the well where Jesus sat, alone.  Water was gathered in the cool of the morning and evening,  and was a social gathering spot for women.  But not this woman.

She went for water when no one would be there.  She was an outsider…an outcast.  Rejected by her people for poor choices and seemingly bad character.  Nothing was hidden from Jesus…He knew her story before she opened her mouth.  He chose that spot at that time…He chose her.

Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” John 4: 17-18

Though He revealed her shame, there was no one to condemn her.  In His kindness, Jesus helped her face what had separated her from the rest of her people.  Then He used the very thing that separated her to bring her healing and redemption.

Jesus chose a broken and damaged woman to bring the good news to the Samaritan village!

 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”  So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days.  And because of his words many more became believers. John 4: 39-41

Is shame of past choices keeping you from telling others about the love of Christ?  Do you believe the lie that you are not good enough or smart enough or clean enough to be used by Jesus?  The very story that you try to hide can be the tool that Jesus will use to bring others to Him.

There is freedom in Christ…freedom from our past…freedom from our reputations…freedom from our failures.

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters.  But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature.  Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.  For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” Galatians 5: 13-14

As the Samaritan woman, let’s boldly exclaim, “He told me everything I ever did…and He still loves me!  Come, meet Him and learn of His love for you too!”

And as we serve others, may our Bibles be worn from reading, our hands be rough from tender care, our arms be tired from reaching others, our feet be tough from following hard after Jesus, and our hearts be full knowing we are eternally loved!

Until next time,

Melissa Longval

 

Joceline's Posts, {Love}

{Love} So You Want to Be in Love?

UYM

Written By: Joceline Sweeney

I was amongst the last of my friends to embark on a dating relationship, and I was only 17 ½ years old when I met my husband to be.  Mind you I was one of the youngest in our group, but it felt like everyone was dating and I was still waiting!!  Instead of sulking and being jealous, I began to notice their relationships.

I began to watch their interactions, my likes and dislikes of the way they spoke to each other.  I watched how they treated each other, such as if he opened the doors for her and if she was thankful for his thoughtfulness.  I paid attention to how they worshipped together in church, did they really listen during the service or were they too involved with each other.  This was in no way to be critical of their relationship, all I knew was someday soon I would be in one when the Lord sent someone special my way, and I wanted to be ready.  I wanted to learn as much as I could before my day came.  I really began to see what I wanted from a friendship that could turn into something more.  It was in these years that I formulated what I wanted my future relationship to look like.

I began to pray for my future boyfriend, whomever he would be.  I knew that I didn’t want to date many people so I asked the Lord to keep me and protect me.

I purposed that right from the start I would never hide anything from my parents as I wanted my relationship to be one that was cause for rejoicing, not secrets.

I had realized that I didn’t like long distance relationships, but even as much as I didn’t care for one, the Lord knew how precious a time that would be for me!  That’s how my friendship began with the man I would someday marry.  It was a beautiful time of really getting to know each other as we talked for hours upon hours on the phone (after seven o’clock because that’s when it was a cheaper calling time!)  Some of our sweetest moments were experienced on the handset of my then corded telephone.  Oh and the letters, I loved when I received an envelope in the mail with his return address on it!  It was a very happy day indeed.

So as you see not every idea I had formulated in my mind turned out exactly as I “wanted” but they did in fact turn out just as God had planned.  When it was my turn, I felt ready.

So you want to be in love?  Don’t “waste” your time waiting… watch, listen, learn and pray!

Until Next Time,

~Joceline

 

 

 

Taylor's Posts, {Life}

{Life} Feeling Stuck

UYM

Written By: Taylor Fast

A couple weeks ago I was talking, well I should really say complaining to my husband about feeling stuck.  I was explaining that I could not shake this feeling of wanting to do more then just going to school and completing my placement.  I was having such an urge to be finally done with school, that it was affecting how I was feeling in the morning.  My husband stopped me and said something that was simple, but such a good reminder.  He said “Maybe, this is where God wants you right now so that you will be ready soon for a new transition. Maybe this is a training ground, maybe you should keep your eyes opened for what God has planned for you.”

Wow! I had to stop and just think about that for a second. How right was he! I know that where I am now is where God wants me to be because He helped open the doors for me to get onto this path, how could I take that for granted?  My husband’s words were just what I need to hear, it was a reminder for me to slow down because God had me where He wanted me to be for that time.  I was so thankful for those words of encouragement that slowed down my moment of anxiety.

“You make known to me the path of life; you fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”  Psalms 16:11

If you are feeling stuck with your life, reach out and pray to God.  Ask others for guidance as well that you trust, and keep your eyes open to where God might be leading you next.  God has an exciting and blessed plan for you.  Remember that where you are now, may be the training ground you need to have the skills, tools, and faith to get to where you are going next.

Stand strong in your faith and look out for opportunities in your life that God has specifically placed for YOU.

Until Next Time,

~Taylor

 

Amie, {Faith}

{Faith} Penny for a Prayer

UYM

Written by: Amie Comber

Have you ever found a penny on the ground?  What was your first thought when you picked up that shiny, or dingy little cent?  I always thought of good or bad luck based on which way that coin was facing, until someone taught me something that changed the way I forever saw a simple penny.

Many years ago I was involved in karate, you know, the really cool activity where you wear white baggy clothes and break boards with your feet?  Yes, that one.  The most amazing karate instructor in the world taught me.  His mission was to teach karate and God’s truths at the same time.  When I walked into class one day, he looked at me and asked if I had seen them.  Confused at what I had missed, he pointed to the doorway where he had scattered pennies on the floor.  I had completely walked over them.  At the start of this class he asked us what we thought of when we saw a penny on the ground.  Echoing the culture around me, I told him that it was a fun way to think of good and bad luck.  He smiled and crouched to the floor and told me that when we see a penny on the ground, it’s a reminder to pray for someone.  He explained further that he viewed a penny as a little gift from God.  When God gave him a penny, he was reminded to send up prayers for those that he would be around and pass by that day.

I now keep a penny in the pocket of every pair of jeans I own. I have faith that God has this day ahead of me already planned out.  I trust that the people I pass by and encounter are the ones that were meant to be there.  This simple penny has been a conversation starter around many a coffee table since the time that my karate instructor introduced this to me.  Right now is a good time to pray.  I guarantee you someone needs it.  At this moment, close your eyes and ask whom God would want you to pray for.  I think you’ll be surprised how easily someone will come to your heart and mind.  Pray for them.  God remembers every conversation you have with Him.  I like to imagine prayers as past coffee dates He’s had with me.

As simple of a reminder as a penny is, it has truly helped me to keep prayer at the forefront of my mind.  Culture has faith, whether big amounts or small, in their fate of luck for that day when they find a penny on the ground.  How much more faith can we have, in the God of the Universe, that He will listen to you when you pray?  Not only listen to you, but also respond to the unique circumstances that your life is in.  Let me remind you, sweet girl, that He always loves, is always there, and is always trustworthy.

Isn’t it amazing that our God is so personal in His communication with us?  He loves you uniquely and has a relationship with you unlike anyone else.  He knows your good days and your bad ones.  So the next time you see a penny, heads or tails, know that God loves you, and loves to hear from His children.

Until next time,

Amie Comber

 

Kerrington's Posts, {Beauty}

{Beauty} The Simplicity of His Presence

UYM

Written by: Kerrington Sweeney

This post was originally written for my other blog, a couple of years go! Enjoy as 15 year old me, shares some wisdom with you today:

Something I have recently been learning is that you don’t need a big church service with lights, instruments, guest speakers and a bunch of people, to feel the presence of God…

Although, these are all important in our Christian walk, they are only a part of God’s Orchestra on the earth… I have always had the mindset that you need a conference or a big church event or even just a Pastor praying for you to have an “Encounter” with the Holy Spirit.  I think the reason why I have always had this mindset is because that’s the only places I had ever had an “Encounter” with the Holy Spirit, in a way like that ever before. 
Actually speaking of encounters with the Holy Spirit, just recently my church was having a Baptismal service at the beginning of this past summer!  (I always get so excited for Water Baptisms!! It is one of my favorite times in church) 
As I was standing at the front of the church that particular Sunday morning watching all these people as they came up from under the water, set free and cleansed by the Holy Spirit.  It was just amazing and oh so breath-taking!  It filled my heart with an abundance of great joy! 
Something that my church does which is really neat and I absolutely love, is that every time someone comes up out of the water we Celebrate as a Congregation, as a Community, as a Church Family.  We shout for joy because a life now has a fresh start… To not look at the past but, to look forward to what God has in store for their new life!! Off with the old, on with the new 🙂 
As they came near to the end of the water baptisms that day and things were starting to get a little more quiet and peaceful in the Sanctuary…
One of the pastors said “If anyone wants to be baptized there is still time… Don’t worry we can find you a towel ;).” As she spoke those words I instantly had the urge, to want to be water baptized again for the second time, 
And I didn’t even know why!? 
I had already been water baptized before so why again?…I was like “okay am I going crazy?!” or is this actually the Holy Spirit telling me to do something?(on top of all this, I was wearing a pretty dress and high heels that Sunday…Goodness! Holy Spirit could have warned me that I needed to bring an outfit change…lol) 
So I ran over to my mom who was standing on the other side of the Sanctuary and I told her all my thoughts…Long story short, I got water Baptized (in my pretty dress) for the second time and had an amazing life-altering experience with God in that tank!
It wasn’t about the many Pastors being in the tank praying for me, or the bunch of people watching, or the up-beat music playing in the back ground, or even my friends and family standing outside of the tank supporting me.
It was just me and the Holy Spirit getting re-connected in such a simple, deeper, and intimate way 🙂 
After I came up from the water that day I felt so alive, free, and ready to take on whatever life would throw my way…because I knew the Holy Spirit lives inside of me & is always there!
Whenever life has gotten stressful and times get rough…(well as rough as a 15year olds life can get..lol) I think back to that “Encounter” with the Holy Spirit that radically changed my life forever that one Sunday morning. I will cherish those tender memories and I so look forward to many more Encounters with my sweet King 🙂 
If you remember anything from today’s post remember this…
You don’t need a Church service or a Water Baptism or even a Pastor praying for you to have an “Encounter” of His wonderful, sweet presence… Holy Spirit is so simple but, so meaningful that you could receive a “touch” of his wonderful presence while drinking your tea this morning!!
You never know when he’s going to pop by… Better keep the kettle on 😉 
Take a few minutes and just simply listen to The Lord. Open your heart to what the Holy Spirit wants to speak to YOU this morning…Have an incredibly blessed day!!!
  Until Next Time,
    -Kerrington
Lanissa's Posts

{Becoming} Check Your “Freedom”

UYM

Written By: Lanissa Reale

Freedom.  A word that holds such power and value yet at the same time confusion.  Freedom.  Something that is supposed to promote and allow liberty is actually causing pain.  Some may say, “I am so glad that I choose not to believe in or follow that because I feel so free and truly happy with my life!”  But, let’s take a moment and remove all of the cultural masks we have created: the masks we’ve taken on because of our past, our fears, our parents, our rage or our confusion.  Let’s take a moment and just be real, even if just for yourself, and ask yourself “what does FREEDOM really MEAN anyway?”.

Freedom by Websters Dictionary’s defintion is “Liberation from slavery or the restraint of the power of another”.

Freedom by Scripture’s definition comes from the Greek word Eleuthera which literally means “a state of freedom from slavery.”

What’s the difference in the two you ask?  Well the first definition, and probably the one you refer to, means liberation from another.  While scriptures definition means liberation from slavery by another AND yourself

If you ask me, most of the time the real core issue is not needing freedom from what others say or do but it is needing freedom from myself.  Check your freedom.  Do you think you are really free?

Friends we so often walk around living our lives by doing whatever we want, “breaking the paradigm” of cultures say so’s and we think we are free.

OR we are doing the “right things” and following the rules, acting appropriate in front of others yet not experiencing fullness of life and then when we get alone we are having a war on the inside of us.  And we say we are living in freedom. 

NEITHER OF THESE ARE TRUE FREEDOM.  We have to ask ourselves the hard yet reality driven questions: are you truly full of joy?  When no one else is looking or reading or liking or poking, are you absolutely sure that THIS is what life is all about.  Or do you have the constant thought in the back of your head that there is more.  “Oh maybe one day I’ll find our what it is”, “Maybe I have to have more of this and more of that to experience that real free life”… Or maybe you think it’s a fantasy and true freedom doesn’t even exist. 

I’ve come to tell you, dear friend, that true freedom is more real than your very bones and it is FREELY available to you. 

The freedom that scripture talks about is not a rule following, get your ducks in order, pretend to be perfect, get sucked in, freedom.  True freedom is given not because of anything we have done but simply because of the love of God.  He loved us so much that He sent his only son to earth to die for our sins that separated us from true freedom, so that we would NEVER be hindered by them any longer. 

But Jesus didn’t just die for your sins, He died for you.  He died so that you could be free from the strongest enemy and stronghold you will ever face: yourself.  And this freedom that is offered when we accept what Christ did for us allows us to truly live a free life.  Not a religious life.  A free life. 

Free of any shackles, anything holding us back on the inside and out.  It’s a freedom that gives you life and life abundantly.  And this freedom, isn’t a gimmick.  It’s available for you every second of every day. 

So check your “freedom”.  Are you truly happy and free, or do you need to set aside that mask covered idea of freedom and get a real dose of life giving freedom?

In order to BECOME the person that we were created to be in the Lord- we have to get to the place where we actually know what true freedom is, and start pursuing it.  Let’s start the journey of becoming by getting free.

Until next time,

~ Lanissa Reale

(lanissareale.wordpress.com)

 

Krista's Posts, Moments With Krista

{Moments with Krista} Journeying With Jesus

UYM

Written By: Krista Dunbar

How you met Jesus is always the most beautiful story, no matter how it began.  You see, God is after us before we ever even make our entrance into this world.  Whether we know it or choose not to open our eyes to it, we are the most loved we will ever be before we could even hold our head up.  There is nothing we can do to earn God’s love or His favour.  We already have it.

Like a newborn baby journeys its way from the womb to life and then on to adulthood, we also are on a journey from the first moment we actually recognize and accept Jesus as the Lord of our lives.  No matter how long it took or is taking you to understand that, it’s still a beautiful journey.

Your story might be one that has been at a steady pace since childhood (if you were raised in a Christian home).  Or it may have looked like a series of ups and downs.  Maybe you found Christ and then let Him fade into the background as you found other “more important” people or things to take His place in your heart.  Or maybe you haven’t given Him much thought at all.

No matter what your story is, it’s beautiful.  Each of us are on a journey of maturing and growing in our faith.  Will we stumble?  Yes.  Will we fall?  Probably.  No matter what, we can trust in the One who will hold out His right hand and let us lean into Him as we choose to finish the race.  He’s right there and He has been all along.  But it’s a choice.  It’s your choice.  Take His hand if you haven’t.  You don’t have to journey through this life alone….especially because it’s a tough and lonely road.

God never leaves and never forsakes.  He is full of love, wisdom, and truth.  Knowing Him is knowing peace and strength and purpose.  Knowing Him is knowing who you are.  Knowing Him is a life filled with forgiveness and grace.  It’s knowing and trusting in His promises-which are always fulfilled.  It’s knowing you have a home waiting for you at the end of this journey and it’s knowing that no matter what you’ve done or haven’t done, what your past looks like…it doesn’t matter.  It makes no difference because Jesus lived this life and knows exactly where we are at, how we feel, and more.  He can truly say, “me too, I know”.  What’s even better is that He vouches for us to our Creator who keeps no record because we start clean.  That’s something worth living this life for.  Choose Him each morning and keep choosing Him throughout each day.  It’s a journey.

So…what’s your story?  We’d love to hear it.  Take a second to share your story with us.

Krista

Amie, {Worth}

{Worth} Snapshot

UYM

Written by: Amie Comber

Have you ever seen a picture wall?  More than simply seeing one, have you ever made one?  Be proud of me, I put on my creative hat and forced myself to do something artsy one afternoon.  My picture wall was the product of that endeavour.

Each picture on that wall holds some special memory for me.  A local coffee shop, a place I’ve travelled to, even multicoloured balloons that I bought a darling friend for her birthday.  To anyone else, it would just be a collage of pictures on a wall, something to gaze at for a moment, but forgotten in the next.  But to me, they are irreplaceable, as they pair an image with a memory and a feeling.  I like to imagine that God has a picture wall, and that each one of His children has a wall dedicated to them.  From the moment you began your relationship with Him, He has snapshots from His favourite moments with you.  Maybe they’re moments that were just a part of an ordinary day to you, but to God, that memory made it up onto His wall and He glances at it everyday and thinks of you.

I like to think of worth much like I think of my picture wall.  The world looks at my wall from a different angle: how much does it cost, they ask, and how does it look?  That’s how the world would describe worth.  But right now, as the creator of this wall, I’m looking at it, and I feel beyond loved, remembering all the people that show up in those photos, and excited that my life looks colourful and dynamic.  I’m taken back to quesadillas in Texas, and picnics with cookie dough in Tennessee.  Sweet girl, the world looks at you from an angle much like it does with my simple picture wall.  It asks what you can do, how you look, and how much money you have, just to name a few of their categories.  But when God looks at you?  His heart swells with joy, because He knows that you are His and He is yours.  He remembers all the little moments, and all the prayers.  He knows the dark nights and the heartaches, and He knows the sunny days with ice cream and sprinkles.  You are irreplaceable to Him.

Everyone has an opinion, darling girl.  My question to you would be, who’s opinion are you going to believe?  Are you going to believe the world’s, which marvels at your beauty and achievements for a moment and disregards you in the next?  Or will you find your worth from the God who not only remembers you, but also proudly displays His love for you?  The God who has your picture on His wall and makes space for more memories down the road.  You are worth more than you could possibly imagine in His eyes.  Opinions change and are swayed in our world.  One minute you can have popularity and the next feel alone and rejected.  You know what?  I know you’ve heard it before but I’m going to say it again here, God does not change.  His opinion and worth He projects on you have been the same all these years.  You can trust Him, sweet girl.  He moved the world just so that you could know Him.  To Him, you are worth dying for.

Take a moment to ponder from where you are looking for your worth.  Are you looking for it through the eyes of another human?  Or are you seeking it through the eyes of your peers or the world?  What if you looked at it through His?  The minute you do, you’ll see yourself in a brand new light.  I dare to say… I believe when you do, that’s a moment that will end up on His picture wall for you, because that was a moment that He will treasure forever.

Until next time,
~Amie