Happy Half-Birthday To MEEE!!!

I think that half-birthdays should be valued with much higher esteem than most people currently do. It's a big deal, come on! :) 

Today I have reached another 6mo mark of life. Whoo hoo. Let's see here... in the past 6 months what has happened? I've been to two weddings, my sister moved in with Michelle and me (and her life has changed ridiculously), I helped lead a mission trip to Mozambique and South Africa with Duncan and Kate, I went to Nashville for Thanksgiving and Indy for Christmas, we moved into a new apartment, we gained a new roommate, we brought the two cats down from Indy, and I'm now in the market for a new job come the end of March. Yay for transition, acceleration, and change. God never changes (Praise Him!) but He is always on the move. So glad I serve a God who is not stagnant, complacent, boring, or aloof. And in keeping with that nature, He doesn't allow His daughters to be any of the above either.

Today, Carlos (lead pastor at CTFR) preached on honoring ourselves. We are the ones we spend the most amount of time with but how much of that time are we speaking negative words and thoughts over ourselves? But who does God say we are? He calls us sons and daughters. He predestined us to be adopted into His family through the blood of His precious Son, Jesus. Who are we to discredit this sacrifice and devaluing the joy set before Him for which He endured the cross? Romans says it is by the Spirit that we are called sons, and that is precisely what we are!! I believe it is high-time to cut the crap of false humility and accept who God says we are - WE ARE AWESOME - and to start honoring ourselves as such.

So bless yourself today. And take a moment to listen...what is God speaking over you right now? Who does He say you are? And what part of your identity is He wanting to root deep in your heart? Again in Romans it says, "if you believe in your heart...and confess with your mouth... you will be saved." 

Choose to believe the TRUTH today. There may be facts about you that aren't so pretty  but then there is the Truth. And Truth has a name: Jesus. And He has something entirely different to say about who you are and what your value is. Choose to believe Him today. And every day. In all things. No matter what. And then repeat this Truth over yourself in honor until your heart believes what your mouth is confessing.

For me, He says:

I am beautiful. I am cherished.

I was made with intention. I have purpose.