CraZy LOve

Can I recommend you check out another blog?
Carolyn told me about this one awhile ago; "Stuff Christians Like" - it's thought provoking in a funny way. Most of his posts make me smile.

And then, a few days ago, I read this one and I blinked back tears.

"Who told you that you were naked?"

There is hurt in God's voice as He asks this question, but there is also a deep sadness, the sense of a father holding a daughter that has for the first time ever, wrapped herself in shame.
Who told you that you were not enough?
Who told you that I didn't love you?
Who told you that there was something outside of me you needed?
Who told you that you were ugly?
Who told you that your dream was foolish?
Who told you that you would never have a child?
Who told you that you would never be a father?
Who told you that you weren't a good mother?
Who told you that without a job you aren't worth anything?
Who told you that you'll never know love again?
Who told you that this was all there is?
Who told you that you were naked?

I don't know when you discovered shame. I don’t know when you discovered that there were people that might think you are silly or dumb or not a good writer or a husband or a friend. I don't know what lies you've been told by other people or maybe even by yourself. But in response to what you are hearing from everyone else, God is still asking the question, "Who told you that you were naked?"

And He's still asking us that question because we are not.In Christ we are not worthless. In Christ we are not hopeless. In Christ we are not dumb or ugly or forgotten. In Christ we are not naked.

Isaiah 61:10 it says:For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness.

The world may try to tell you a thousand different things today. You might close this post and hear a million declarations of what you are or who you'll always be, but know this. As unbelievable as it sounds and as much as I never expected to type this sentence on this blog:

You are not naked.

sigh

Maybe you have to read the whole post.

Anyway, at his recommendation, I picked up the following book:



and read it this afternoon. (The last 2 chapters I read on a lawn chair in the backyard with a 13 degree sun shining down on me. It was fabulous and I got a real tan. My mom even noticed. So there.)

Quote:

We say things like, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," and "Trust in the Lord with all your heart." Then we live and plan like we don't believe God even exists. We try to set up our lives so everything will be fine even if God doesn't come through. We want to put ourselves in situations where we are safe "even if there is no God."

Ouch.



Three things I'm thankful for:
1. The sun.
2. Saturdays
3. Sunny Saturdays

Shalom,