Remade

So, I read a book on goals recently, and I’ve been reminded of the importance of writing down your goals.

 Goals not written down fall victim to the ‘out of sight …out of mind’ phenomenon.  

So….I’ve written down goals for our Children’s Ministry at First Hattiesburg.  But, I haven’t really written down any personal goals yet this year.  So…here goes..

Learn!  I know it sounds super nerdy, but I love learning!  I LOVE learning new stuff and putting it into practice.  I miss school.  Not math….I hated math.  But the thing is, you don’t need to be in school to learn.  Just decide to learn.  So….I’m trying to learn as much as I can every day!  Specifically, I’m trying to learn more about theology, geography, foreign missions, graphic design, communications and general bible knowledge.  I’m working on several books right now.  I’ve only finished two so far this year, but I’m knocking out #3 soon.

Make community a priority!  I am so thankful for our amazing Growth Group and my friends.  My prayer and my goal is to be a better friend and to show love to people selflessly and generously.  

Teach!  Okay…it’s one thing to learn stuff, but there comes a point when you have to share with others the stuff you learned.  I’m working on being a teacher, which very much goes along with #3.  Be a better friend.  :)  

Lead!  I’m just a work in progress.  I don’t feel deserving of the incredible ministry that has been entrusted to me and the super awesome Family Ministry team.  But my goal is to really go for it and LEAD!  Lead by example.  Lead by making mistakes sometimes (and picking up and learning from them). Lead by making tough choices.  Lead by learning and adapting.  Lead by being a creative thinker.  I’m really thankful for the leaders in my life that have taught me so much.  Especially thankful for the ultimate Leader!!  =)

Have fun.  Yes I just wrote that down.  As a goal.  Nick and I are actually taking a vacation in 4 weeks-ish.  I’m so excited!  A vacation is long overdue!

Trust God’s timing   A sweet, dear friend of mine once shared with me a great quote.

Patience is trusting in God’s timing.

You are treasured.  You are sacred.  You are His.

Days will come when you don’t have the strength

When all you hear is you’re not worth anything

Wondering if you ever could be loved

And if they truly saw your heart, they’d see too much

You’re beautiful

You’re beautiful

You’re made for so much more than all of this

You’re beautiful

You’re beautiful

You are treasured, you are sacred

You are HIS!

-Lyrics from MercyMe, “Beautiful”

Leah was beautiful, even if the world didn’t think so.

God thought she was beautiful.  And His was the only opinion that mattered.  She just didn’t know it yet.  

I’m sure she was pretty hurt that her husband, Jacob, only married her because her father tricked him into it.  Jacob wanted the more “beautiful” sister, Rachel.  I’d be pretty hurt, too.  Are you kidding?  I’m sure her whole life, people had told her, either directly or indirectly that she was ugly.  That she was a nobody.  That she wasn’t worth anything.  Maybe she even questioned whether or not she was ever truly loved by anybody.

God loved her.  He loved her more than anyone else ever could.  To Him, she was treasured.  She was sacred.  She was HIS!

It wasn’t until Leah realized God’s great love for her, that she began to let go and find her true worth in God alone!  

Someone had chosen her, someone did love her—with a Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love.

-From The Jesus Storybook Bible

Leah so so treasured to God, that He chose her to bear a son, named Judah (which means “This time I will praise the Lord!”)  who was one of the ancestors of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Heaven.

When you belong to Him…when you realize His great love for us….when you accept His grace….you realize..your worth is in Him.  Your faith is in Him.  Your trust is in Him.

You’re beautiful.