You Are a Masterpiece

April 30, 2019

Who Do You Think You Are? The first key to emotional health is developing a healthy self-image.  What do I mean by self-image?  I mean that deep-down opinion you have of yourself.  It’s the feeling that says, I like myself or I don’t like myself. Your self-image is like a self-portrait – it is who you picture yourself to be.   Now, here’s why this is so important: You will always speak, act, and react as the person you think you are.  You will never consistently rise above the image you have of yourself in your own mind.   Key Discovery: You will never rise above the image you have of yourself in your own mind. Psychologists have proven that you will most consistently perform in a manner that is in harmony with the image you have of yourself.  If you see yourself as unattractive, or inferior, or inadequate – if you see yourself as a failure – you will act in accordance with that opinion.  If deep down you believe you are a loser, you will act like a loser.  The question is: Does your image of who you are line up with God’s image of who you are?   Let me tell you something and I want you to hear me: God wants you to have a healthy, positive self-image.  God wants you to feel good about yourself.  God knows you’re not perfect.  But the good news is, God loves you anyway.  In fact, let me tell you this … Look at me, don’t look away … God thinks you’re awesome!  Let me say it again: God thinks you’re awesome!  He says it right here in His book as clear as can be: “You are amazing.  You are royalty.  You are My masterpiece.  You are the best idea I ever had, the pinnacle of My creation.  And I love you with an everlasting love.”  

That’s God’s image of you.  So, maybe it’s time you start agreeing with God.  Say: “God, You know what?  God, You’re right.  I agree.  Everything you say about me is true.” 
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Would you say a simple prayer with me?
Father, we are emotional creatures. You placed emotions in our DNA. So, we need to learn to deal with how we feel. I ask You to bless each individual reading this today.
There are some people who feel like they’re out of control emotionally – their emotions are on a constant roller coaster; their emotions rule their lives. Others deny their emotionality – they shut down; they shut themselves off.
Both extremes are unhealthy. So, Father, help us build our self-awareness, our God-awareness, and our emotional fitness.
In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.
 
 


Peace with God

April 11, 2017

Being at peace with God …. Some of you know what it feels like to live without peace in your life. Some of you know what it feels like to live without peace in your home.

If that’s you, let me tell you, I know what you’re going through. One of the hardest days of my life was the day I had to kick my own son out of my house. They told me it was tough love, but I tell you it broke my heart. He was 16 and out of control. Finally, I said, “You either live as part of this family, under the rules of this household, or you need to leave.” He got up in my face: “If I walk out that door, you’re dead to me! I don’t have a father! And you will never see me again!” I said, “Go now.” He threw some clothes in a bag. And, and as he turned his back on me and slammed the door, I held it together. But the minute he pulled out of the driveway, turned the corner, and was out of sight, I went upstairs and knelt by my bed … and I cried like a baby. All I could pray was, “Oh, God; oh, God; oh, God … My son.”

 
The Bible tells us there was a day when our Heavenly Father cried over us like that. It was the day we human beings chose to turn our back on Him. It was the day we said, “God, it’s my life; You can’t tell me what to do!”

It broke the heart of our Heavenly Father. Like a father practicing tough love, God said, “I can’t let you back in My home. I can’t let you into heaven – not until you want to be a part of this family.”

This is what the Bible says. But you’ve felt it, too. You don’t feel close to God. You feel like there’s a distance, a barrier. Instead of feeling a natural love for God, sometimes you doubt that he even exists. Instead of feeling good, you feel guilt. What am I saying? You’re not at peace with your Creator.

So here’s what happened. Jesus said, “Father, I want to go and talk to them. I will go to their world and live among them. I’ll tell them about Your love. I’ll tell them how You want to patch things up. I’ll even die on a cross to pay the price for anything they’ve done wrong.” And that’s what He did. Two-thousand years ago, Jesus came here to patch up the relationship.

That’s why the Bible says these monumental words: “At just the right time, Christ came and died for us …. God showed His great love for us in this way: Christ died for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:6, 8) The result: “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)

Have you made your peace with God? Or are you still on the outs, still saying, “I want to do my own thing”? Come home. You can have peace with God.

Just recently, after years, my son is speaking to me. I haven’t been close to him for a long time, but we’ve reconciled. And it means the world to me. Maybe you haven’t been close to God for a long time. Start to speak to Him again. It will mean the world to Him.

The Bible says, “At just the right time, Christ came for us.” This is just the right time for you to come to Christ. Right now, today, you can know for sure that everything’s okay between you and your Heavenly Father. You can know that He loves you and never stopped loving you.
Just say, “Father, it’s me. We haven’t talked for a while. I want to come home. One day, when it’s my time to leave, I want to come home to You.”