Choosing to Remember His Faithfulness

For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations. ~Psalm 100:5

     As Joseph and I rang in the new year, I reflected on all that the Lord had provided for us in 2013.  There were so many things that it'd be easy to forget about in our busyness.  He provided us with 2 different vehicles, money to have a french drain installed, a new roof and repairs after the March '13 hail storm (homeownership joys) and even funds to take several trips, including our trip to Florida to see family I hadn't seen in 4 1/2 years.  Not to mention that He saw me through finishing Seminary and leaving a very difficult work situation at my alma mater last summer.

     When the Lord explains that we will have trouble in this world, He also promises that He will give us peace (John16:33).  Because He has already overcome the world, our menial hardships should not come as an offense.  He told us this would happen.  Why, then, are we so astounded when all of this stuff happens?  

     With a couple of difficult circumstances occurring presently in the lives of some of our family members and unexpected expenses last week with our hot water heater and vehicle repair, it would be so easy (and so worldly) to hear difficult news and immediately react in angered manner.   Before I even had a chance to enter my budget freak out mode or get overly defensive on my family's behalf the Lord so sweetly reminded me that He knows what I need.

     Our sweet Savior does not work on our behalf or watch us from a distance, as Bette Midler suggests.  He is near to us and sees all that is going on.  After all, He knew about the things we would walk through before we did.  In choosing to remember His faithfulness I found myself so humbled as I wept in my car before Him.  He is bigger than anything we face! 

     Rather than become upset by circumstances, wrongdoings of others, and unexpected expenses,  He asks me to continue to trust Him as I walk in obedience.  His faithfulness is unwavering because He never changes (Hebrews 13:8).

     He is the one Who has provided for my family for every single thing.  He has always taken care of us.  I had to choose to remember this over the past few weeks as I have received phone calls from family members who have been let down by Christians choosing not to act Christ-like.  He is the same God Who parted the Red Sea.  He is more than able to provide for our needs.

    He is the one Who gave me a "transition job" last summer in order for me to leave my job at my alma mater.  I then became content with having a job that my degrees didn't help qualify me for, because I saw His faithfulness at work.  However, so unexpectedly the Lord gave me a position in church ministry.  The Lord has taught me much regarding being faithful in the small things in order to be trusted with more (Luke 16:10).  He has given you influence where you are for a reason.  Your purpose is to live in a manner that promotes His Kingdom coming to where He has placed you.

    Rather than become distraught by our worldly circumstances, what do you think it would look like if Christ followers actually took on the attitude presented in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18?  If we were truly joyful in all circumstances, prayed about everything and thankful in all things don't you think that the world around us would notice a difference?

   Be encouraged knowing that the Lord is using whatever difficulty you may be walking through to make you more like Himself, to encourage more faithfulness to Him, and to remind you that He is for you (Rom. 8:28)!  

   Choose to remember how faithful He has been to you.  Be faithful to Him where you are.  Despite the difficulty of your situation, having  to figure out how to pay for unexpected expenses, or being surrounded by people who claim Christ and don't seek to live according to His Word, He has called you to be faithful and to recall His goodness upon your life.

   He takes care of details such as french drains, new vehicles, and paying all of the bills, but remember that He does so because He cares for His kids more than we could ever imagine. 1 Peter 5:7 -- "Cast all of your cares upon Him because He cares for you."

Choose to remember His faithfulness to you from the past and believe in His promise to remain faithful to you now.

    

Pausing to Notice His Goodness

You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for you because of what you have done.
~ Psalm 92:4, NLT

 

Yesterday marked ten awesome months of marriage for Joseph and me. Time is going by so quickly! Being just two months away from celebrating our first anniversary, Joseph and I have talked a lot recently about the Lord’s BIG provision for us!

When we began looking into buying a house last year we had no idea what God had in store. We prayed specifically for the Lord to direct us to the area in which He wanted us. The home He gave us far surpassed anything we had in mind.  We often sit and just gasp in awe of His blessings.  We aren’t “stuff” oriented people and we never thought about purchasing a new home when we began talking about where we would live, but seeing God’s hand every detail really just makes us pay attention to the fact that God’s ways are indeed higher than ours. God loves to bless His kids!

In our ten months of marriage, God has shown Himself faithful at every turn, as always. When any issue of an unexpected expense has come up He’s made a way, providing more than enough.

I mention all of this because after the recent hail storm Joseph and I had a choice.  We could have easily chosen to be upset and have a “woe is me” attitude about needing a new roof on the house in addition to many other repairs.  We could have fussed about my car being too damaged to keep.  Instead, the Lord has taught us to pause and pay attention to His GREAT goodness!

The Lord sent a roofer to our neighborhood “at just the right time” to rescue us from having to climb on the roof to put tarps down before rain came again.  This was not one of the roofers we had called. Those fellas never called us back.  God knew exactly who He wanted to send our way!

The roofer did many temporary fixes until everything with insurance was squared away... and he did so at no charge! God is well aware of surprises like this and He provides!  The insurance company declared the damage to the house to be about $8,500.  Again, instead of being upset that the repairs may cause a little inconvenience in our schedules, I see the Lord’s hand in even allowing us to have insurance that covers all of the cost!

The damage my car received from the storm is actually a blessing in disguise.  I have driven my little Cavalier for ten years. It’s the only car I’ve ever had; so to say that I needed to start looking into getting something different would be a slight understatement.  I have just accepted the minor flaws due to wear and tear and have been grateful for transportation.

Our appointment with the insurance company regarding the car isn’t until the middle of the month, but after several reports we know what the verdict will be.  Two days after the storm the car’s check engine light came on and the car began driving differently and running hot.  God’s timing is in effect for sure here!  He knew all the details that would cause us to need a different mode of transportation, and now we will receive more money for it than if we had simply traded it in.

We were able to purchase the exact vehicle that we wanted earlier this week.  God cares so much about the smallest details of our lives, folks!  After being able to drive my mom’s vehicle for a few different trips, Joseph and I agreed that we would look for one like hers.  A new car was out of the question as it just didn’t make sense to us.  So we prayed for wisdom on a newer used vehicle.

After test driving a couple of cars and not having a peace about moving forward, Joseph and I went home in my beat up Cavalier.  Two days later, we found the car online… at a dealership within minutes of our house!

If we had made a hasty decision when we were test driving other vehicles we would have missed this HUGE blessing God had in store for us.  Any of those options would have been good, but certainly not God’s best for us.

Joseph took care of everything the Monday after Easter since he had an extra day off for the holiday.  Everything worked out far better than we had hoped.  The numbers that we had crunched to figure out finances were thrown out the window when things came out BETTER than we could have imagined!  God’s faithfulness has blown us away again!

This testimony of His goodness has caused me to wonder how many times I’ve neglected to pause and really pay attention to His hand at work in my life. In the midst of life’s surprises (like an unexpected hail storm) it’s far too easy for us to react negatively and become frantic.

The hail storm and other unexpected events come as no surprise to God… EVER!  When we stop to pay attention to all He has done we are able to change our attitude of “woe is me” to one of gratefulness.

I have been so encouraged in these weeks after the storm.  The Lord’s provision in sending the right people, the right vehicle and all the finances needed has been nothing short of a miracle!

Today there are many things that have the potential to upset us.  Often when we are surprised by difficult circumstances our initial actions stem from being angry that we simply don’t have control over everything.  Rather than reacting negatively, we can choose to be grateful for the Lord’s great provision for our lives, which is always in effect.

When we take time to pay attention to all that the Lord has done and is doing for us we cannot help but to be thrilled! Today my prayer is that I will continually notice the ways He shows that He is for me.  May we not overlook all the ways that God is reminding us that He is in control and has power over all things!

You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for you because of what you have done. ~ Psalm 92:4, NLT

The Courage to Begin

When I met Joseph he was training for his first half marathon.   While we were dating I traveled to Florida with him and a group of friends to cheer them on during another race.  So I knew when we were reading all of those marriage books leading up to the wedding that each time they mentioned that the wife should take up her husband's hobbies that I'd be taking up more exercise.  I can laugh about how dedicated Joseph is and how I just simply wasn't disciplined in this area, but the truth is I was scared to even darken the door of a gym, much less begin training for a half to run with Joseph.

After I got my master's degree under my belt I felt invincible!  Why not go ahead and start this thing?  I began training for a race and immediately understood what so many had told me prior about running being just as much mental as it is physical.  When I first began to feel the pain in my legs I just thought that it's an issue that everyone who chooses to train experiences.  After many tear-filled moments as I dealt with the pain Joseph convinced me to seek help and answers. 

Google gave me some answers that helped and some that scared me, but it wasn't until I began talking with a friend about it that it began making more sense.  She recently completed Physical Therapy School and willingly evaluated my legs and all the issues.  The PT that she recommended helped immensely, but she told me things to look out for.  She informed me that what I've been experiencing in my legs is mild compartment syndrome. (If you Google it, don't freak out like I did! My legs haven't split open.)  Due to a lack of space in certain compartments/sections of my legs there is not enough room for accurate blood flow to the muscles in those areas.  This causes tightness and swelling.  The PT that she taught Joseph and me allowed me to make it through the 8 mile run, which again made me feel like I could do anything.

It wasn't until last week that I had to promise both Joseph and my mom that if the pain continued that I wouldn't run the race at the end of February.  After I made it through this week's shorter runs with minimal pain I believed that yesterday's 10 miles would be fine, too.  The promise I made was that if I had trouble during the 10 mile run that I'd simply be a spectator.  

When Joseph and I got only 1.5 miles in yesterday I began to have more pain in my legs than I had experienced before.  I looked down to see that the swelling in my legs was extremely noticeable.  My right leg looked somewhat like a medium size apple was protruding through... trust me, this is not like the lady lumps Fergie rants about.  Not cute.  As I began to cry uncontrollably, Joseph comforted me by saying, "God is the only One you have to worry about pleasing.”  I looked up at him from my doubled over position and asked, "So, you're not mad at me?"  I wanted so badly to accomplish this race with him and to prove that I could do it. I couldn’t stand the though of letting anyone down, or worse having people believe that I’m one to give up easily.  Sweet Joseph reassured me that he wasn't disappointed and that I shouldn’t worry about the opinions of others. He would rather me not run the race than to continue and make the issues I've been experiencing worse. 

So, here I am.  Sore, swollen legs due to a condition I had never even heard of until a few weeks ago, and unable to accomplish something that I've committed to.

Yesterday I had lots of moments where I just had to cry it out like a toddler in a crib.  Emotions of defeat and disappointment flooded my mind.  While Joseph was out finishing the 10 miles for the training schedule, I was home cleaning the house.  God encouraged me so much when I was steaming the floors and scrubbing the toilets.

God reminded me of the courage it took for me to even begin this training.  He reminded me of the dedication I've learned through this process and the routine that I have created for me to exercise regularly.  Finishing would have been a huge success for me, but the Lord encouraged me yesterday that even beginning was a huge feat for me, too.

Running is not something that I am good at, and didn't enjoy at all prior to beginning training.  But, I've learned a great deal about trusting in Power beyond myself to start something new.  When I started Seminary I had no idea what all it would entail, but I finished.  Starting to run proved to myself that I can do what people do not expect of me.

Not being able to continue with my training for the half marathon is disappointing, but I am grateful that I know that my excuse here is not mental, it's not made up, nor is it something I can control.  It was so tempting to continue running through the pain, but as my legs became more swollen and as I experienced more tingling and numbness in my feet and lower legs it was as if God put His hand on my shoulder and said, "I'm proud of you for even trying.  You had courage to begin something that very few believed you could accomplish.  You haven't disappointed Me, because I know that You are still trusting me through this."

So, I leave you with this encouragement that I have received from the Lord in the last several hours:  It takes great courage to begin something new.  Don't get too discouraged when things out of your control hinder you from running across a finish line, meeting a deadline, or overcoming a fear.  God's with you.  He's proud of you for even taking on the courage to begin.

If you can't run, maybe you can bike or swim.  He gives us options, but all along the way is teaching us to be a people who trust in His strength and recognize that our giving up doesn't necessarily mean that we are unsuccessful.

It takes courage to begin.  Rest in that, knowing He's proud that you even tried.

Embracing Change and Maintaining Priorities

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea ~ Psalm 46:1-2, NLT

Change is inevitable.  I’ve heard this my entire life, yet I often still have difficulties embracing it.  To know the Lord is to know the only One Who is consistent at all times.

Life has been somewhat of a whirlwind lately.  Admittedly I’ve had a few melt-down moments when it felt like no one noticed all I’ve been trying to juggle.  But isn’t it that way for all of us? Between work, classes, church planting involvement and not to mention learning this new role of being a wife, it’s easy to allow the Enemy to coax me to thinking no one has it as rough as me.  What a lie! We become ineffective in ministry when we spend our time planning and throwing pity parties for ourselves.  Satan wants nothing more than to cause us to think of only ourselves.  The more opportunities and responsibilities the Lord gives us the more it requires us to run to Him.  We cannot achieve life on our own.  Period.  We all have tons of responsibilities fighting for our attention.  Our main concern should be keeping Him as our priority.  There will always be dirty dishes, emails that require response, and laundry to fold.  Our attitude reflects what we deem as priority.  Our day to day handling of responsibilities reveals how much time we have spent with the Father.   Emails and dishes can wait. The Lord is beckoning to spend time with Him. The Lord desires for you and me to run to Him in the midst of every single need.  He is our refuge; He is our source of strength.  At the end of my life I don’t want to be known as one who sacrificed family time in order for more work to be accomplished.  I don’t want to be known now as one who prioritizes my relationship with the Lord as my last on the list.  I want to be known as a woman who runs after Jesus in all things.  Our priorities need to change…

What if you and I began to care only about what the Lord thinks of us?  This would go against everything the world teaches.  We will wear ourselves out trying to make people like us.  We will drive ourselves batty if we become too concerned with others opinions of us.  What would it look like if we as the Body really began to only care about what the Lord says of us?  Not everyone is going to like us.  This is OK!  Not everyone is going to appreciate us and our work ethic.  This is OK!  Jesus says just to run to Him.  He approves of us when we seek Him above all else… even with dirty dishes in the sink and emails that have been neglected.  When He truly becomes our refuge everything else will fall into place.  In the end my work won’t matter unless through it all He has been my source of strength and my refuge in every circumstance.

The Lord has reiterated the importance of running to Him and simply dwelling with Him through two recent happenings.  Christopher (my brother) came home to visit from his ministry efforts in Kentucky.  I was anxious about his homecoming and couldn’t wait to spend time with him.  Joseph and I made plans to meet him the day he got back into town, and even changed our schedule throughout the week to have him and his friend over for dinner.  Our time with the Lord should be approached with this enthusiasm and excitement.  When we don’t expect the Lord to speak He probably won’t. When we spend time with Him because we feel that we “have to” we won’t benefit from it… quick devotions and short quiet times do not equal running to Him as our refuge and strength.  If we are going to accomplish life well, we must be in His presence! 

Our life is not going to slow down.  We all have responsibilities to pay attention to, but through it all we must run to Him.  Melt down will occur.  Change will happen.  But how we handle every circumstance will determine what we are known for and who we are known to stand for.  This Sunday while doing the praise band run through, Lily (who just turned 1 year old) heard her dad’s voice coming from the stage.  Beau is our percussionist.  Lily heard him talking to us as we rehearsed and he noticed her coming towards him.  Lily ran as much as she could, as she hasn’t been walking terribly long.  Beau held his arms out for her.  His arms were her prize.  When we hear the Lord speaking to us and see His work in our lives so often it’s our tendency to blow it off or ignore it completely.  I want to be one who notices the Lord and runs hard and fast just to be in His arms, just to be with Him.  He is my prize!  Just like Beau embraced Lily when she made her way to him, the Lord desires to hold us tight as we find strength and refuge in Him.

Change is happening all around us.  Some good.  Some not so wonderful.  Knowing and serving the only One Who is constant is where we find strength.  It’s ok if we don’t accomplish everything the world thinks we should.  I believe that those of us belonging to Christ should become serious about really looking different than the world.  Because change is constant it can overwhelm us if we let it.  When we realize that it’s relationships with others and our relationship with Him that matter most we are able to embrace change… because through it all we know He is embracing us.

Until next time,

Syd

Working with Purpose

Much has transpired since my last blog back in January.  I’ve completed half of my classes for seminary; Joseph and I bought a house in the Pearl/Brandon area in order to be closer to the Church plant we are a part of (The Exchange); and we got married a week and a half ago!! The Lord has been incredibly gracious and faithful to us.

The Lord has taught me so much about myself through just my week and a half of marriage.  Joseph has challenged me to broaden my perspective on many issues that I formerly looked at more narrowly than I thought.  When we got back home from the honeymoon we settled in to study scripture.  1 Kings was orchestrated to be in the reading for this week in the One Year Bible we are now going through. King Solomon was the focus…

So King Solomon became richer and wiser than any other king on earth. People from every nation came to consult him and to hear the wisdom God had given him. ~1 Kings 10: 23-24

As Joseph and I discussed what we had studied he encouraged me by saying (paraphrase):  “It doesn’t matter if anyone notices your work because God always does.”  As we talked about Solomon I really focused on the fact that people sought him out for his gifts.  They wanted to reap the benefit of his wisdom by their willingness to learn from him. What are people seeking me out for?  Joseph has encouraged me a great deal on days that I don’t feel appreciated in any area by reminding me that first of all, my work is ultimately for the Lord and secondly, He has a plan far bigger than I can imagine.

Solomon was able to exercise the gifts that the Lord had granted him. People knew what he was good at.  His wisdom made his name famous.  People may never have a chance to know what I’m good at, what my gifts are or what I enjoy in any given job that I have.  BUT I’m still called to the standard of Colossians 3:23—“Whatever you do work at it with all your heart, as you are working for the Lord, not men.”

Joseph and I also read this: Fire tests purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart. ~Proverbs 17:3.  It matters that my heart is in the right place with my Maker and that my motives in all things (especially my work) are pure and pleasing to Him. It doesn’t matter that I ever receive recognition for a job well-done or a pat on the back to show appreciation.  My concern should be to only focus on the Lord’s requirements of me.  As one who belongs to the King of Kings, I know where I belong and trust that His purposes are being orchestrated and played out in all areas of my life.  No opportunity is wasted if my perspective remains in focus.  My work and my attitude matter because I am called to work unto Him.  If I fail at striving to glorify Him in one area of my life I fail in all others as well.  He certainly deserves my devotion in every area of life!

I’m not working just for a pay check or to make my name great.  The Lord has given me a unique opportunity to serve Him in a cubicle for this season.  He is teaching me more every day about what surrender looks like.  My goals and my ambitions are great, but if they aren’t in God’s plan for me I must learn to “bloom where I’m planted” as one friend of mine always says. 

So I encourage you who are reading, check your motives and your attitude.  If Christ isn’t at the center of each your perspective needs adjusting like mine did.  Every opportunity given is a chance to glorify the Lord more than before in how I handle day to day tasks.  Be encouraged knowing that what you do really does matter when He is the center and you are rooted deep in His love.

I’m grateful for the way the Lord keeps teaching me “old lessons” that He knows I need to go over again… and I’m grateful for a husband who challenges me to think Heaven-minded rather than allowing me to become content being disgruntled.

Your work is valuable. Your attitude is determines your perspective.

Speech and Footsteps

     What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

      But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

   Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

   You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

   In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.  ~James 2:14-26

Most believers I know love talking about “walkin’ the walk, not just talkin’ the talk” where Christianity is concerned.  Sadly, though, not all of them (myself included) do so well at maintaining this lifestyle consistently.  Why is this so?

What if the Church as a whole took this seriously?  What if we put faith into action through all of our deeds, not just our simple Sunday School routines?  What if our speech was proven by our footsteps?

If we waiver in any of our convictions, even just one, we in effect are causing our speech of desiring to be obedient to the Lord to be disproved in our footsteps (our actions).  The Lord has reminded me in recent months that all of the convictions He gives have powerful purpose behind them. 

Many things that He called me to at a younger age seem impossible by the world’s standards, and even undesirable among believers.  Though many surrounding me questioned my actions, even stating that I believed myself to be superior in some manner for the beliefs the Lord gave me to uphold, I knew that if I waivered, I’d be disobedient.  I knew that if my speech and footsteps didn’t align I wouldn’t be walkin’ the walk I so often speak of.

I write this to lend encouragement in those areas that you are questioned most about.  Knowing my convictions in all things caused me to believe more that the purpose would be fulfilled “at just the right time”.  He has given each one of us different convictions not because we are to esteem ourselves as more righteous than others, but to equip us for greater ministry.  The Lord sees far beyond our circumstances.  What He has called you to obey in today is preparing you for all of your tomorrows.  I knew that if I waivered in my strong convictions I would lose some of the influence that He set apart for me to live in.  Our convictions aren’t merely for our own benefit, as if to make us only “do better”.  I believe that our convictions benefit the Body as a whole.  If we forgo what we know to be true in our own lives, the standard that Christ has called us to as His Bride and as individuals, we miss out on the beauty found in faith and deeds working together.

Hold fast to your convictions, brothers and sisters… every one of them!  A new day is on the horizon where He will reveal His purpose behind each one.  “At just the right time” the Lord blessed me with the fulfillment of many prayers and strong convictions… things that only He could have ordained.  I believe the same is true and/or will be true in each situation in the believer’s life.  When our faith exceeds our desire to be “normal” in the world, our deeds will prove this. 

Had I not obeyed the Lord several years ago, my story with the man He has for me to marry wouldn’t have been the same.  When we look beyond our circumstances of today even for a moment we find that He has written a story for us far beyond what we could have dreamed up on our own.

We know that the Lord says, “Obedience is better than sacrifice”.  I believe that coincides with our faith and deeds.  He knows the world we live in.  He knows it’s difficult… but He calls us to a higher standard.  Our obedience is for the benefit of those watching our every move… it’s for those who are living in doubt, but will be able to watch our footsteps and listen to our speech and see us as different.

Keep your convictions.  He desires to use them, and your story, to minister to more folks than you’ll ever know.  It’s your speech and footsteps people will know and remember you for.  What’s your walk and talk saying about how true you are to your convictions?

Where's Your Worth?

"What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ."
~ Philippians 3:8

 The Lord has been reminding me of this question for quite some time now.  "Sydney, where is your worth?" Over the course of the past few months my life has been full of transitions.  Moving, starting seminary, pluging into a new church plant, and even a new hair cut.  At every turn my Father has something to teach me.  I can choose to become frustrated when things don't go as I thought they should.  I can allow myself to become discouraged because someone didn't invest in me as I had hoped.  Then the question arises yet again.  "Sydney, where is your worth?"

In many ways my life seems to be a continuous cycle of abandonment and the desire for approval.  The Lord has restored so much in lieu of broken relationships over the past year.  To say that I am grateful would be a grave understatement.  Yet I have found myself in that place again over the past several weeks.  That place of longing for approval. 

All of this was spurred on by a Facebook de-friending about two months back.  Seems so petty now, but at the time it felt just like every other form of abandonment I have become all too familiar with throughout my life.  It's in these moments that I must choose to believe that my worth is only found in Christ.  The lies I've heard throughout my life come back to haunt me: "you'll never amount to anything... you're not good enough... you're not pretty enough... you're not smart enough." 

Through the encouragement of a couple fabulous friends, the Lord prompted me to remember.  It was like He was telling me, "Sydney, remember how through your feelings of abandonment you found Me? Remember how I restored all that was broken?  Don't let what others tell you or how they feel about you determine how you measure your worth.  Your worth is in Me.  I am sufficient in your weaknesses, remember?"

Even though I hate the feelings of inadequacies, rejection, etc. I am grateful that the Lord reminded me of this lesson.  The FB defriending taught me a great deal. 1) Don't put too much stock in how others feel about you.  They are human just like me... sinful and full of mistakes. 2) Remember Whose you are!  The moment I begin to value the opinions of others too much I lose sight of my worth as His daughter.  I am redeemed and set apart; that alone holds more weight than any group/clique I could ever be accepted into. 3) We will always have insecurities arise as long as we are on this side of Heaven. Until the FB incident happened I honestly thought I was good in the insecurity area.  Because the Lord has put together so many pieces of my brokenness I was surprised when this bout with insecurity came up.

As people we want to be valued.  We want to be accepted.  We want to matter.  When anything happens to stop this validation it seems like our world crumbles. The Facebook defriending is minimal in comparison to other events, but the feelings are the same.  Those lies that I've fought off for so long I believed in that moment.  Maybe I really wasn't worth the time, even on FB.

Friends, if our worth is found in anyone or anything besides Christ we will be disappointed.  Our relationships, careers/jobs, church involvement, etc. do not make us who we are.  These are all merely things that we are a part of.  As believers, we are the Body of Christ, His bride.  That's who we are.  If our worth is truly found in Him we will gain a better perspective concerning the priorities in life.  Not everyone is going to like us.  Not everyone is going to appreciate us or notice the good work we've accomplished.  But these things should not steal our joy that Christ grants us. 

We must strive to only have security in Christ.  Everything else and everyone else will fail us.  If we put our hope and our worth in anything else we will be prone to become an insecure mess. 

I am determined to strive to walk in security in Christ each day.  The moment I forget Who I belong to is the very moment the Enemy throws the past lies back at me.

We are a redeemed people called to live for His renown.  If we place our worth in anything/one other than Christ we lessen what was accomplished on the Cross on our behalf.  That, my friends, is something I simply don't want to be known for.