Re-Invent Yourself
For the past ten years, I have tried to fit my square peg into a round hole. I was a teacher before I chose to stay home almost 15 years ago. I became a teacher because I liked kids and knew it was something I …
Tag: worth
A Life Surrendered
A surrendered yes to where ever you are leading.” Ellie Holcomb Calling. Purpose. Life. These are words we contemplate to give ourselves meaning. We need to matter; have an impact on this planet greater than ourselves. We long to have purpose. But man, that can …
A Disappointing Me
A friend told me I am a tough one to crack. I am guarded. This surprised me a bit. I consider myself a people person. If I’m a people person, how can I be guarded. Her words had value. They were not met with a brick wall or emptiness from me. I didn’t brush them aside and pretend she was crazy and they weren’t true. While I am a people person, I am also guarded. And I didn’t even realize it.
I know part of it reflects being hurt by past friendships. I am healed but there are scars. There is, however, another part that goes beyond being hurt by someone else. I started doing some digging in my soul and found some things.
I am guarded because I am afraid of disappointing you. Yep. You. It’s funny because I preach all day long to women about their value and worth. I tell you to do things scared and unqualified because I know and believe that God will fill your empty spaces and inadequacies. I know this for me. I believe this for you.
I stay guarded because I believe in the deep dark depths of my soul (The parts no one sees. Not even me.) that you will be disappointed when you really get to know me. That I have created such a persona that when you get to know the real me, the messy crazy neurotic me, you will walk away.
Maybe this is because I have had friends walk away. I have had people close to me leave when the real, honest, and vulnerable me came out. Maybe I’ve led myself to believe I lie. I know it’s both.
Because my brave friend was courageous enough to speak a hard truth in my life, I can reflect, respond, and heal. Don’t ever underestimate those tough talks. Don’t run away from them. Don’t try and hide. Take their courageous love for you as the gift that it is: a gift of truth that may lead you to a freedom you never thought you knew.
Love & Blessings,
Meg
Busy or Purposeful
As we enter the holiday season, we all know our schedules will overflow. People are going to ask us how we are doing and we are going to respond with, “I’m so busy.” I don’t want to be busy. I want to be purposeful.
“… whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31b
I ran a bunch of errands, finished laundry, moved things to the attic to store, sorted hand-me-downs, took down holiday decor, cleaned the fish tank and the chicken coop, headed to the boy’s football game, and on and on. When I was done, I was exhausted. Ever have one of those days? You sit down and finally realize your exhaustion. You feel beyond busy but not very purposeful. You know the things you are doing are necessary but, the are just things; things to cross off the to-do list.
I don’t want to live a to-do list life. I want to live a purposeful life.
Paul tells the people of Corinth in 1 Corinthians to do everything they do for the glory of God. Everything. That includes your to-do list and mine. There will be days where all I can do is the laundry. Then, there will be days when I feel like I have reached new heights in my ministry. Both matter. Especially when I am living out either day for His glory.
It’s easy to get discouraged and feel like I am just going through the motions. It’s easy to feel like I lack value in what I do. But, when I shift my focus from busy to purpose, no matter what I do day-in and day-out, I’m valuable. And so are you.
I can easily go down the rabbit hole of self-worth, or lack there of; especially when I look at others. I see many much further along in ministry and wonder if what I am doing even matters; is worth it. But then, I shut the chatter down and remind myself that I am not doing this for me. I am not doing this for the world. I am doing this for Him. So, whether I am cleaning chicken poop out of the coop or writing, what I do matters.
You matter. You matter to God. You matter to God so much more than you even realize. You cannot fathom how much you mean to Him. Neither can I. You matter when you are folding laundry. You matter when you attend church. You matter when you don’t. You matter when you are changing that diaper or writing that book. You matter. And so do I.
Everything we do has potential to bring God glory. How tremendous is that? Get out there today and do you thing. Cross those things off the to-do list. Start that ministry. Whatever you do, do it for God because YOU MATTER.
Love & Blessings,
Meg
Top 10 for Mama’s
Being a mom is the greatest gift. It can also be the most difficult task you’ve ever faced. From joy to frustration, excitement to panic, pride to worry, motherhood brings so many emotions. I watched some mama’s send their kids off to a weekend away. …
Flashback Friday: Worth
FLASHBACK FRIDAY The boys recently asked my about my teaching past. They wanted to know what grades I taught and what I thought of the kids. They asked if it was hard and if I liked to teach. Jack asked me if I wanted to …
Perception vs. Deception
When we live in others’ perception of ourselves, we are deceived.
When we live for our own perception of ourselves, we are deceived.
Only God’s perception matters.
I have a saying written on a chalkboard in my office. It reads, Confidence in Christ. I wrote the phrase a few years ago and have yet to change it. You see, I need a constant reminder about where my confidence lies. It is easy to get wrapped up in thinking my value comes from what others say or think of me. I can quickly turn on myself when I see an unliked post on Instagram. My self-worth can deteriorate rapidly when I concoct those crazy stories in my head about what others might be saying about me behind my back. The Enemy knows how to get me and it’s in the stories I tell myself.
I can do all things through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
…being confident in this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it to completion until the day of Christ. Philippians 1:6
But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. Jeremiah 17:7
In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Ephesians 3:12
The Word is painted with our value. We find our self-worth throughout Scripture. We read it. We know it. The words are in black and white on the page. Yet, it is so very hard to get these truths to firmly plant roots in our heart.
Our self-worth, our value, does not lie in the opinions of others or in our perception of ourselves. Our self-confidence resides in the One who created us: God. He made you and me on purpose and for a purpose. It is time we start believing this. Our perception remains pure when we see it through the lens of Jesus,
You are valuable…
Because God
You are worthy…
Because God
You are beautiful…
Because God
You have purpose…
Because God
Your life has meaning…
Because God
Many of us need freedom today. We need the chains of other people’s thoughts about us to be cut free. I have the bolt cutters (the Word of God) and I am here to set you free through the One who frees us: Jesus Christ.
You are so very worthy, my beautiful friend. This world needs you for such a time as this (Esther 4:14). Don’t let other’s have a hold on you. Don’t let the thoughts you have of yourself run wild and spew lies. That’s not truth. The truth rests in the Savior and He proclaims your holy value in Him.
Rest easy in this. Be free today.
You are worthy.
You are valuable.
Because your Creator says so.
Love & Blessings,
Meg
Flashback Friday: Nothing to Prove
“How sweet is your name, Lord, how good You are Love to sing in the name of the Lord, love to sing for you all? Death could not hold You, the veil tore before You You silenced the boast, of sin and grave The heavens …