QOTD: Your Worth

"Your worth."  

Those two words have really been on my mind a lot lately. Because the world has a lot of ideas about my worth. And their opinion is generally a negative one.

Here's the thing: if we focus on the world's view--and not God's--we're going to set ourselves up for failure. Instead, let God define your worth. Need a good verse to reference? 

Try Luke 12:6-7:

"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." 

Sunday Morning Grace

Sunday is always an interesting morning at the Hansen's. I get up early to review my Sunday School lesson, print off the kids' coloring sheets, feed the dogs, iron dress clothes, and prepare my heart for the message I know our Pastor spent all week (and possibly the last couple of months) working on with God.

My husband will wait until the last second to roll out of bed and I'll roll my eyes when he says, "I'll be ready in one second. I just have to find..." Because I know all too well that whatever he's searching for, it will be a 10-minute ordeal. Then it will be a rush to see if we can actually get out the door by 9:30. Which never happens.

But at least we try.

I think that I spend too much time worrying on Sunday mornings. I worry that we'll be late. I worry about being a good teacher because I want my preschoolers to know Jesus. I worry that I'll falter in my personal life and it will affect my church life. I worry that I won't rise to the occasion when one of my church people needs words of encouragement. I just worry.

This Sunday, however, I accepted the fact that I will get to church at 9:45, even though I wake three hours before I'm supposed to be there.

I accepted the fact that I can't teach my preschoolers anything without God's unfailing grace and mercy.

I accepted the fact that I will make mistakes and that God will have to wash those stains clean from time-to-time.

I accepted the fact that I won't always have the right words to say, but a hug will soothe any trouble.

And so my eyes were opened to see God on Sunday morning. And He didn't disappoint.

When one of the boys asked me if he could pray for us before story time, I choked up a little. And when he prayed that "Miss Jessi has a good day," I almost lost it. Then, he turned and taught the others how to 'say a really good prayer.'

When one of the elderly gentlemen rose from his chair, weak and trembling, to pray over our congregation, tears filled my eyes. Because even though is body was frail, His mind was focused on all things Jesus.

And when I was told by one of the older ladies that she's ready to see Jesus, with his arms outstretched waiting for her, I smiled. "Don't be sad for me," she reassured me, "when I go, you can know that I'm with my Lord. And I'm happy."

I have missed these God moments for many months because I let this world and all of it's troubles carry me away.

But I am eternally grateful for God's Sunday morning grace. The next time you find yourself rushing out the door for church, don't forget to thank God for His endless grace.

Quote of the Day: Grace Abounds

Are you in need of God's grace today? I sure am. I'm grateful that regardless of the trouble I find myself in, God's grace is sufficient for me.

Hands and Feet Overload

I'm not sure if you've ever found yourself in a 'Hands and Feet Overload', but I find myself there quite often. It's the point I reach when I am emptied of every need Jesus has filled me full of for others.

When those needs run out, I find myself crying out to Jesus, asking for a break. Because if I'm being honest, sometimes I'd really rather run away than do one more thing for someone in desperate need of my help.

It's the weeks when every person I know will call, text, Facebook, etc., needing my expertise that I find my hands and feet sore and worn. I'm far from being an expert at anything. But God has given me--by His grace and mercy--an abundance of talents. I'm not really sure why I possess these talents, but I am truly grateful. And I do my very best to bless others with them.

I can clean a house. I can nurse a sick dog back to health. I can write website text, business letters, blogs, and books. I can carry on a conversation for hours. I can easily make contacts and acquaintances. I can pull up my bootstraps and lift heavy loads. I can gently listen. I can firmly correct. I can tell elaborate stories. I can tell funny stories. I have the gift of discernment. On rare occasion, the gift of prophecy. I can budget. I can balance. I can somehow manage to turn pennies into dollars. I am fierce and brave. But I am also kind and compassionate. I can teach any subject to any person and they will learn. I can fill out paperwork like it's going out of style. I can bake well. I can speak well. I can give a lot of love. I can give a lot of hope and encouragement, too.

My talents are endless. And when the world has taken all from me, I know that Jesus restores and replenishes. So, when I find myself on 'Hands and Feet Overload', instead of running away, I remind myself to thank Jesus. I thank Jesus that every need every person he sends to me is met. I thank Jesus that he uses me to share his message with the world. I thank Jesus that my willingness to be the Hands and Feet of this world accomplishes great strides for his kingdom. Because if I'm being honest, I long more than anything in the world to hear these words: "Well done, good and faithful servant!"

If you don't find yourself on 'Hands and Feet Overload' very often, maybe it's time give until it hurts. You are the light and the salt, the hands and the feet. If you aren't doing much to further God's kingdom, maybe it's time to ask Jesus for a 'Hands and Feet Overload.'

Quote of the Day: Gratitude

I don't know about you, but today I am in desperate need of gratitude. Because I would really rather run away than face this day. This day, which will be ripe with responsibility and expectations. This day, which tests my limits and forces me to rely more on God than I ever thought I would. This day, which I long to be grateful for despite its struggles and anxieties.

So, my prayer is that today, and all other days, I wake with gratitude.

Quote of the Day: Charater Matters

Character matters. How we treat others matters. Our attitude as we go about our about day matters.

If you looked in the mirror and saw your character, what would it look like?

The Good Wife Chronicles: Why Marriage Still Matters

Divorce has become an epidemic in this nation. And I speak from experience when I say divorce is ruining our families.

Current statistics show that 50% of all marriages are likely to end in divorce. 

50%

 WHICH MEANS...

Every 1 in 2 marriages has a 100% chance of failing. 

Statistics aren't good. They're not good at all. If you have attended two weddings so far this year (and you probably have because June is the most popular month to wed), statistics say one of those marriages will end with a nasty split. One that will force the couple to divide those presents neatly wrapped on the wedding gift table and go on their separate ways.

It's sad to me. Is it sad to you? 

Recently, someone told me my marriage would fail because I got married at 22. At first I was shocked; but once I recovered from this person's brutal opinion, I began to see things more clearly: our society views marriage as something that it simply is not.

What Marriage Is Not:

1. It's not about getting your way. This may sound harsh, but marriage is not about finding a spouse who will spend the rest of their life letting you have your way. It's about compromise. If you want your way, get a dog. A spouse is a lifetime commitment that requires you to put someone else's needs above yours. ALWAYS. Don't complain; you said the words "for better or worse." Stick to your word and work through your selfishness. 

2. Indispensable. Things aren't working out the way you envisioned? Surprise, surprise. The fact that you thought it would be a fairy tale speaks mainly about your willingness to let Hollywood sell you false ideas about love. Marriage is not a fairy tale. It's a relationship. One that should be the most important thing in your life. The more you give to your marriage, the more likely it will resemble a friendship laced with romance and passion. Stop fooling yourself; the fairy tale NEVER ends well (ask a divorcee). If your aim is kindness, you'll create something far superior to the stories you see in movies. Don't throw your marriage away on something trivial. The grass is NOT greener on the other side (ask a divorcee).

3. Being happy. Your happiness in your marriage depends entirely on you. Your spouse is not responsible for 'keeping' you happy. It's an impossible feat. If you want a happy marriage, try getting involved in your spouse's passions. And practice kindness. I've never met a man or woman who complains about their 'nice' spouse. Seriously, kindness goes a long way. Practice it!

4. Control. I'm mainly speaking to my wife friends here, but I'm sure a few husbands could stand to learn a thing or two about control. STOP TRYING TO CONTROL. Seriously, just stop. I can't stand when a wife yells at her husband in front of me for ___________ (you fill in the blank). I'll give you some examples: spending money, coming home late, taking too long, spending money. I'm just being honest here: it makes YOU look bad. There is a time for expressing your feelings BUT it is not in front of other people. Also, most men understand that their jobs pay for bills (just like yours, if you work). Give them some credit. The men I know spending money are doing it to better their family's future. Control makes for two very miserable people. And let's face it: it's better to scrape by in a happy home than to live in a tense environment with mounds of gold. Sure, that BMW will keep you comfy on your way to work, but it doesn't sleep in the same bed as you every night.

The Takeway: MARRIAGE is not about YOU. 

So...why does marriage still matter?

IT MATTERS BECAUSE...

We can accomplish more in pairs.

My husband and I are far better together than we ever were apart. But our marriage takes work. We spend hours pouring over each other's passions. And kindness is a daily practice in our home. We fail, but when we set aside our false ideas about love and focus on this one Bible truth, God blesses us with more than we could ever imagine. 

"Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up."

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10