Your Worth is Far Above Rubies!

I have been learning some wonderful things on how to find the value in yourself.  If you are like me, you have one area of your life that makes you feel lower than dirt.  It could be that you don't have as much money as you would like, your past could be a bit dodgy, your skin color may be darker than you would like, or you may be heavier than most people consider appropriate.  All these things can make you feel less valuable than you really are.  So what is the true measure of your value as a person?

According to the devotional I read through today with Joel Osteen, the true measure of my value can be found in God.  God found me so valuable that he sent his only begotten son to come and die so that he could have me. Hence Paul says "You were bought with a High Price" and that price is the blood and death of God's son Jesus.  That said, my value is defined by that act of self sacrifice and not by how much money I have, how beautiful I am, how brilliant and all the other things by which we define our worth.

I don't have to struggle to be accepted and found worthy by God.  I am already accepted in the beloved.  I am so valuable that before God ever said that first "Let there be" he had thought of me, planned my existence, how I would live my life, what I would look like, how much I would weigh etc... and he chose me!  Can you imagine that? (Ephesians 1:4, Psalm 139:16) Every single aspect of you was carefully thought out by God.  Why then do people feel the need to point out things about you and say "This is not good?"  I dare say that it is all good.  All of it.  Even your weaknesses and your mistakes may have been meant by the enemy for evil but God means them for good.  How comforting!!!

It takes the burden from us and puts it on God.  So I don't have to make all A's in school to be worth something.  I don't have to look like a model to be acceptable and lovable.  I don't have to have a certain net worth to actually have value.  I just have to be me.  The person God created me to be.  The person I naturally gravitate to when I am in the Lord.  That's all there is to it. 

Just as salvation is not by works, our acceptance in the beloved is also not by works.  We receive it in faith.  Our value is not by works.  It is received by faith.  I am valuable.  My worth is far above rubies not because of what I look like or what I can do, but because God says so!  He thought so highly of me that he sent his son Jesus to be nailed on the cross so that I can be his.  And if God could literally die to have me, then if man cannot see my worth I think its his loss!  

Don't let anyone or anything else define your worth.  Only your creator, who knows what he has put in you, can do that.  He says you are beautiful, talented, creative, to die for, your worth is far above rubies, you are too valuable!!  Priceless!!   You are a gem!!

You Missed It!

You missed it when you focused on the hips, the lips and the finger tips.
You missed it when you looked at my face and noticed the blemishes
You missed it when you thought I was not skinny enough
I am everything you need in a woman
But you missed it!

A capable, intelligent and virtuous woman who can find?
You should have looked at my capability as a wife and mother.
Knowing that one day my children will rise and call me blessed
You should have noticed that I was industrious and capable.
But you missed it!

You should have stuck around to find out that I can throw down in the kitchen
Like the merchant ships, I bring food from afar
You should have stayed long enough to see me organize and delegate
Rising early to ensure that my servant girls have all they need
But you missed it!

And when I graduated from school as one most likely to succeed
When I went into business selling purple and linen
When I considered a field and bought it from the proceeds I made
When I tasted and saw that my gain was good - you should have been there
But you missed it!

And in the evening when I gird myself with strength
Readying myself for my husband
That he may drink from his own cistern and enjoy the wife of his youth
You should be here by my side as I ready myself for you
But you missed it!

Strength and dignity are my clothing
My position is strong and secure
As I wait on my Lord for a husband
One that will see clearly – Oh that it were you
But you missed it!

It is this man whose name will be known at the gates
When he sits among the elders
It is this man who shall boast and praise me
Whose heart will have found a safe resting place
But you missed it!

Ah my brother, my friend
Charm is deceptive and beauty is vain
But a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
She is the prudent wife who comes from the Lord
But you missed it!

Fearfully and Wonderfully

My greatest challenge in life has been my weight. I have never had any self esteem issues really, but body image was another matter all together. I know that I am brilliant and can do anything I set my mind to, but I just can't seem to get the weight thing right. I hate that.

It's very interesting how the mind puts things into compartments. You would think that because I have poor body image I would have low self esteem. I sure don't. I have no problem being part of a beauty pageant or anything of that sort. I have no problem taking centre stage and being the life of the party or making a speech. None at all.

I have gained 12 pounds in the last few months. One of the things I realized when I was working out a lot is that I lost focus. Everything became about exercising. I lost balance completely and became very frustrated when the weight would not come out as fast as I wanted. Clearly I had missed the mark once again. Instead of reading my Bible I would be working out. Every extra minute was spent trying to squeeze in a work out. How terrible is that? and how sad!

So I stopped it all and decided to figure out why I am so out of balance with my body. With food and exercise. I have learned a lot about myself since I started that journey and Lord knows I am still working on it. I have decided to start working on my body once again. This time being gentle with myself and extending grace to myself. Above all I have learned to be thankful for my body. That my fingers can type this blog, and my eyes can see what I am doing. That my legs can carry my weight and have never once complained. God has given me a beautiful body that I MUST be grateful for. And I am!

It's amazing to think that God made me very carefully. Making sure that I was perfect. I have been plagued by the thought that he made me perfect and I messed it all up by overeating. Lately, he has been telling me to relax. He loves me just as I am. Just because I am overweight does not mean he is ashamed of me or embarrassed at my calling myself a Christian. He accepts me exactly as I am. Extra padding and all. Not only that, but he has caused others to see in me what he sees, so that my being big is not a hindrance to my having wonderful relationships. That is grace!

I will be gracious to myself. Kind and loving to my body and will appreciate every single thing about it.