Worthy

I am worthy, not because of my performance, my talents or skills, my emotional intelligence, my beauty, my personality, my success or any other quality I can think of.  I am worthy because I am God’s child, chosen and sacred.  I don’t have to achieve something great to step into this worthiness.  In fact, I don’t have to “do” anything.  God accepts me right now, where I am at exactly in this moment.  His acceptance isn’t tied to something I did before, or for something great I need to do in the future.  It’s given simply because I am God’s and he loves me unconditionally and irrevocably. 

To God, I am not the tiny little gold ring with a speck of a diamond shoved to the back of the jewelry case.  I am the rare and precious necklace laden with large, rare gems kept in a plush velvet case stored in the safe.  I am priceless, timeless and worth everything.  You see God didn’t just spend millions of dollars for me.  He actually gave up the life of His son to pay for me.  That’s how precious, how worthy I am to Him. 

When I own that truth, when I step into the understanding of my immeasurable value, it changes me.  It changes the way I walk, the way I interact.  Purpose enters my stride; joy fills my heart and spills over to the people around me.  I am more patient, more loving because I realize other people are precious too, even if they don’t know it yet.

Fear and doubt begin to melt away.  I know even the hardships contain benefit because God will use everything to help me grow in my connection with Him, and to help me step more fully into being that work of art he created me to be.  I can set up healthy boundaries for myself because I know God would never want me to be treated as less.  And as I begin to accept my worth, I become freer and freer to do great things because I am convinced God only wants great things for me, whatever He reveals those things to be.

My challenge for you this week is to simply believe that, yes – you are worthy!  Set some time aside to really dwell on that thought, looking for the barriers that keep you from accepting it, and offering those barriers up to God so He can help you eradicate them.  I would love to hear how it goes so please share!

For further thought:  “God saved you by his grace when you believed.  And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  For we are God’s masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Eph. 2:8-10, NLT)

WHAT’S NEW/WHAT’S NEXT: My next class starts Saturday, January 31 at 10:30 am and goes for 9 weeks.  For more information or to register, email ennoiaministries@gmail.com.  Hope to see you there!

Upcoming Renewed Class

Next Class Offering

Renewed: How to Find a Window

When Life Has Closed the Door

Life has a way of kicking the faith right out of us.  We can feel frustrated, hopeless, helpless, and lifeless.  The good news?  God is that 4^th quarter Quarterback, the creator of incredible comebacks when all hope seems lost.  This class is all about you, unstuck and moving forward.  It isn’t designed to “fix” you, or tell you to do steps 1-5 and you’ll be “happy.”  Instead, the goal is to help you find your own answers, and to wade through what that process might look like for you, using key principles and practical steps to guide you along your way.  It may not be as easy, but it will be empowering!  Come join this 8 week series with Barb Boettcher to begin your journey of growth, transformation, and personal renewal.  Email ennoiaministries@gmail.com to register.

Cost: $10 for materials

This is a beginner to advanced class with discussion and light homework.

Located at:

Healing Center Cincinnati
11345 Century Circle W.
Springdale, OH 45246

CLASSES START  SATURDAY, JANUARY 31st FROM 10:30-12:00 at

Week 1: Introduction

Week 2: Vision

Week 3: Connection

Week 4: Connection Part II

Week 4: Bravery

Week 5: Intentionality

Week 6: Consistency

Week 7: Renewal

Week 8: Parenting through Crisis (optional open session)

Michaelangelo

I had the privilege of visiting the Accademia Gallery in Florence, Italy that houses the amazing sculpture of David, carved by the great Michelangelo himself.  As you enter the gallery, you’re ushered into this long, narrow hall.  Now at the end of the hallway stands the David in all its miraculous glory, but along the path leading up to him you see partially carved blocks of stone.  Fascinatingly enough, these were all of Michelangelo’s mistakes!  Some had very little carving; some were almost completely formed, like a body that had somehow been trapped in stone.  While several of these pieces were practice stones, some were works of art in progress destroyed by one wrong cut.

 Sometimes I can feel like that, like that last big cut in my life has ruined and destroyed me in ways from which I will never fully recover.  The pain is too great; the wound is too deep.  I feel trapped, unable to be released from the stony prison of my mind and heart.  I may run around and try to mask it with a lot of activity, or shove the emotions down so deep they rarely gurgle to the surface, but inside I know I’m cut, broken.  I feel alone.

It’s in those moments I have to remind myself God is my sculpture, not Michelangelo.  God doesn’t make mistakes.  He doesn’t use me (or any of us!) for practice marble.  He is the Master sculpture, the great I Am!  When the thief comes in to deface and destroy me, God knows how to work around that bad cut and still release the masterpiece within me.  Even when I’ve been the one knocking that hammer to all the wrong places, wounding and scarring and destroying myself until all I see left is a pile of rubble, God is still God.  He still knows how to pick up each tiny piece and recreate it into something even better, something miraculous. 

The prophet Isaiah put it this way: “[God] has sent me to repair broken hearts, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners … to give them a beautiful crown instead of ashes, to anoint them with gladness instead of sorrow, to wrap them in victory, joy and praise instead of depression and sadness. People will call them magnificent …” Is. 61:1b-3 (Voice, NIV)

I love that!  And I love knowing that even when no one else gets what I’m going through, God does.  He absolutely, positively gets it in all of its ugly, messy, painful glory.  He understands it even more deeply and clearly than I do.  He knows without one bit of hesitation how to heal and empower me to move forward.  He not only sees me right now at this very moment more clearly than I do, but He also sees the amazing person He intends for me to become. 

So I’ve learned to lean on His vision for me during those times of deep refining until I begin to believe again in what He has in store for me.  I’ve watched Him mold me into something greater, wiser, stronger, and yes – more joy-filled.  He helps me step into my truth: I am sacred, special, loved.  He reminds me that not only can I make a difference, I already have.

How about you?

For further thought: “Now all of us reflect the glory of the Lord as if we are mirrors; and so we are being transformed, metamorphosed, into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another, just as the Spirit of the Lord accomplishes it.”  (2 Cor. 3:18, Voice, AMP) 

The Land of Enough

Daring to believe you deserve great things is a challenge.  Obstacles come your way that can tear at your determination.  Sometimes all it takes is that one extra person, that one poisonous look, that last denigrating comment to trap you back into your own negativity in the land of “I don’t deserve.”  Ever been there?  We tell ourselves we’re no good; we’re too fat to be loved, too weak to defend ourselves, unworthy of experiencing joy and peace and love.  Even when we do experience good things, we’re just waiting for the other shoe to drop and the roof to cave back in on us.

I’ve been to the land of “I don’t deserve.”  There are times I get free tickets that transport me there immediately even though I’ve tried to cancel it as a destination spot several times.  But I’ve also been to the land of “Enough.”  It’s my favorite spot to live in actually.  The beaches are warm and welcoming.  The sun feels like it’s always shining even on a cloudy day.  The king of that land knows me by name and likes to walk alongside me, reminding me how much he loves me and wants to bless me.  Just feeling him there beside me is a blessing!  The king never lies to me and tells me I won’t struggle.  Instead, he reminds me he’s already placed inside me all I need to get through whatever challenges and obstacles lie in my path.  I feel centered; I feel at peace.  I matter here. 

When the land of “I don’t deserve” beckons me, or worse I get transported there again against my will, I’ve learned the first most important thing I can do is actually deceivingly simple – acknowledge it.  However I got there, whatever the reason, in that moment I’m feeling unworthy.  Trying to pretend I’m not is wasted effort.  If I stop and acknowledge my feelings, taking the time, however brief, to figure out what I’m feeling and why, I can start booking my flight back to the land of “Enough.” 

How?  I begin to replace the lies with truth.  When I don’t feel like I deserve good things, I close my eyes and listen as the king whispers to me, “I know the plans I have for you.  Plans to prosper you and not to harm you.  Plans to give you a hope and a future,” (Jer. 29:11).  He follows up with, “You are precious and honored in my sight…I love you,” and “I take great delight in you.  I will quiet you with my love, I will rejoice over you with singing.” (Is. 43:4, Ze. 3:17).  I remember I am not unworthy; I am valued, cherished.  My king loves me and tells me I deserve good things.  Emboldened, I begin the return flight home. 

For further thought: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”  What are some ways your thinking needs to be transformed?  Feel free to post your thoughts.

Hurry Up and Wait

I’m not good at waiting, frankly.  I don’t like to wait.  I’m a child of our microwave society – I want it hot, fast and now!  I’m that person that gets impatient at the drive-through if I have to wait more than 30 seconds or so to get my food.  And if I’m asked to pull aside so they can bring me my items because they’re not quite ready yet, watch out!  I guarantee you I’m feeling pretty ugly about it.

Why do I do that?  When I stop and think about it, which I inevitably do, I realize that if I was home cutting up those potatoes, making that hamburger patty, or worse yet processing chicken parts into shapes to be breaded and deep fried, I’d be waiting on me for a very long time!  Those 2-3 minutes I had to wait would morph into 20-30 minutes easily.  Geez, I would even have to clean up the kitchen afterwards!  So I should be grateful, but instead I’m this angry, impatient creature who wants, wants, wants and all on my timing.

The thing is, when I just go it on my own I find my solutions are never as thorough, never as effective as God’s.  It’s not that I’m ineffective at making good decisions.  God gave me a brain to use and He expects me to use it!  And I do.  But there are times when I know God is asking me to lean into Him a bit deeper in a specific situation, where I don’t sense Him telling me to move forward, but I move forward anyway. 

So how do I stop and slow down to connect with God?  Maybe more importantly, why should I bother if I don’t see the benefits right away?  Fair questions!  Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.”   God will work through whatever I’m going through to help me grow, even the ugly things.  But I’ve also learned God shows up in ways I don’t always understand, recognize or appreciate initially.  It may not happen in my timing or in the way I think it should, but that doesn’t change the fact He’s actively working for my good.  Sometimes the best think I can do is to step back and remember God really is in control even when I can’t see it.

In 2 Timothy 2:13 it says, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.”  Even when I’m shut down, closed up, feeling exposed and feeling completely alone, God is by my side waiting for me to notice Him.  He is already reaching out to help whether I sense it or not.  Sometimes the best thing to do is simply stop the craziness, stop the frenetic pace, look up from the ashes and acknowledge the Lord is standing right there.  Beside me.  Beside you. 

So I remind myself - slow down.  Make time to connect.  It doesn’t have to be this big, formal thing.  It can be as I’m driving, while showering, over morning coffee, at the gym—literally anytime and anywhere!  Simply putting it before God everyday and asking for him to guide and help is a great start.  As He reminds me in Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God.” (NIV)

For further thought:  There is a quote I love that really helps me with this:  “[God] may be approaching our consciousness from behind, coming forward through the regions of our darkness into our light, long before we begin to be aware that he is answering our request – has answered it and is visiting His child.”   What do you think? 

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Reach

It takes courage to reach for greatness, whatever your definition of greatness may be.  It’s so easy to get close enough to be satisfied and just stay put.  Or to quit because the results don’t come quickly enough in the timing I’m looking for.  I find it’s easy for me to be complacent. 

The truth is my life isn’t bad per say.  I have strong friendships, children I love and I am proud of, a relationship with someone who loves me.  Yet I feel God’s hand on my back gently pushing me toward more.  Interestingly, I don’t think the push has anything to do with achievement, though it may be a by-product.  I think it has to do with believing God is who He says He is – this huge, omnipresent force that is through all and in all – and knowing He’s on my side wanting to bless me with more.

More what?  More love in my life, even stronger and deeper relationships, more of a heart to give to others and make a difference around me, more financial success, but most importantly a heart that doesn’t limit God with my own lack of understanding and vision.  I want a heart that trusts His nudges and moves in the direction He’s asking even if I don’t understand why.  I know the more I can listen and surrender to His will, the closer to understanding and true fullness I will become. 

Words are inadequate measures of God, of our internal lives, of the human experience.  We try, but even the greatest writers leave to the reader his or her own imagination and personal experiences to expand in the heart and mind true meaning.  It’s why two people can read the same thing and come away with something very different.  So for me, for 2015, my prayer is for God’s Spirit to guide me in deeper, greater ways – beyond words.

For further thought: John 14:26: “The Father is sending a great Helper, the Holy Spirit, in My name to teach you everything and to remind you of all I have said to you.” (VOICE).