v is for valuable
I was sitting in a graduation ceremony this evening at a substance abuse facility and heard a graduating client with tears in her eyes say that no other female had ever told her she was valuable until she was in her thirties. During her time at the Chrysalis House, a staff member simply said to her
"I'm not going to let you fall through the cracks...you are too valuable."
She stood up in front of a room full of people and humbly proclaimed that the words of this fellow female changed her life.
The book of Matthew says "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"I feel like Christ is saying here "don't you know how valuable you are?"All throughout the scriptures we are called heirs, children, and co-laborers'.If we believe these things are true, why are we so hesitant to tell others how valuable they truly are? Do we believe that we are of real value?
To be honest, this is one of my greatest struggles. I have spent unmentionable hours, days, months, and even years not believing I was valuable. I have believed the lie that I am only valuable if I weigh a certain amount.
This is my struggle, but each of us have our own roadblock when it comes to believing who we really are. No one is exempt.
In a sermon I commonly listen to titled mugged by the mirror, the pastor says
most people spend a lifetime trying to become what they already are.
Unfortunately, I believe that this quote is true for so many of us. Today I encourage you to know who are you. Know what God says about you. Rediscover the truth that you are a child of God. He created you. I encourage you to refuse to believe anything else.
No women should go half of her life without being told she was valuable. There is something wrong with this.
If you are a women and believer of God, I encourage you to choose to believe what God says about you. You must first know who you are before you can validate anyone else.
Tonight I was encouraged I stand strong in my knowledge of who I am. Standing strong is not a passive thing. You must be very active. The world is screaming that our worth as women is directly proportionate to how we look. I know this is true when I hear the statistic that this year $20 billion is spent on cosmetics alone. $74 billion will be spent on diet food. In addition, 7.4 million Americans will undergo plastic surgery this year (5 out of 6 of those will be women). I will continue just to scream the point (I am very passionate about this)... the average women is 5'2" and weighs 152 pounds, while the average model is 5'9" and weighs 110 pounds. There is something terribly wrong with this.
Ladies- know who you are! It is only when our hearts take hold of the marvelous truths of God, that we will have the strength to tell others. You must first believe it about yourself.
Maybe then it won't take 30 years before a woman is told she is valuable.
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Ephesians 6:18
May you have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ
This insect looks exactly like a leaf! I bet you thought it was a leaf - didn't you? All I could think is how amazingly creative God is!
Get creative: shop local home improvement or thrift store for a hollow-core door. Paint it to match your decor, then mount it on painted table legs. 
I also found a simple white quilt for the spare bedroom I am in the process of revamping. When we arrived back in Lexington, we got suited up for the Mid Summer Night's Run. This is E & I's second year running the race and we both beat our previous times! I started running last summer and have truly grown to love it. (notice the word "grown" ... there is hope for you) The Mid Summer Night's Run last year was my first race & I have ran in four other races since then. I hope to post some running tips soon. Today, E left to go on a golf trip with his dad. I hope to get lots of crafty projects done during his time away! While catching up on some R&R this afternoon I snapped a couple pictures from our kitchen. I hope you enjoy the details. The kitchen is a room I hope to renovate next year, once I save up some cash. Thanks to the blog Urban Grace Interiors, my creative juices are flowing. My inspiration can be found here.
v is for valuable
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