invalid

Did you ever notice that invalid--"one who is sickly or disabled" and invalid--"not valid" are the same word.

I've become aware of it since having this back problem. I am far from being bedfast, but I am very limited in my activities and abilities. And you know, I'm really struggling with feelings of worthlessness.

I've blogged before on worth and where we get it. Everything from how big our house is to how big of a burger we can eat can be the standard we use to measure our value.

Job, position, wealth, the kind of car we drive, abilities, accolades, how clean our house is, education, letters behind our name... the list goes on, doesn't it?

Now, because I can't load the dishwasher without hurting myself I find I'm feeling invalid. We'll be moving in a couple of months and I can do nothing to help. It's frustrating and I feel the guilt and shame piling up.

It's all lies from the devil of course. God doesn't measure my value by any of these things. And even though I feel guilty because my family is having to take up the slack, I know they don't measure my value by these things either.

Lessons I am learning now can be remembered when I encounter others in a similar situation. Feeling like a contributor is important, but even more important is coming to understand the real source of our value. I'm working on that.

What about you? Have you experienced a time when you felt worthless? Want to share your story?

accept me

I read a quote somewhere by someone that said all everybody is looking for is appreciation. I suppose we all appreciate some appreciation. But I think that all everybody wants is just acceptance.

Spend some time watching people. Sit in the lobby of a movie theater, or the mall, or church, and just look. Some people are almost screaming it: "Just accept me. Just tell me I'm ok!"

We want to belong. We want to be "good enough." We just want acceptance. And I think that is true for every human being except the very most bent ones. There are some out there who gave up on that quest a long time ago and truly don't care. They are the scary people. But I think every one of us wants to know that at least one person likes us, and accepts us just as we are.

Many of us try too hard. We end up losing ourselves in the process. Wanting it so much that we change who we are, what we think, and how we look, just so others will approve. It's sad when that happens but I think it a very easy place to get to.

But the great thing is there is always One who not only accepts us, He loves us. He thinks we are just amazing and awesome and wonderful. He approves. He likes us. We don't have to do a thing to make Him feel that way, either. We just have to let Him. Just let Him love us.

Thank God!

Thanks, God.

love is all we need

Perspective.  If we can ask God to help us see people the way He does, we will love them better.

I know that this is a huge factor for me.

Here is a post I wrote awhile back about people.  About how I naturally feel about them.

A few weeks ago the pastor shared an illustration that I would like to share with you.  I am changing the dollar amount because I won't be giving it away at the end like he did and I think a higher amount has more impact.

Ok, so, its me talking to you.

Me: What is this in my hand?

You: Why, that is a hundred dollar bill, Kay.

Me: How much is this worth?

You: It is worth one hundred dollars.

Me: Why?

You: Because it is equal to one hundred dollars.

Me: Yes, but who said so?

You: The government.

Me: So, a higher authority designated the value of this bill?

You: Yes.

Me: Can I change that value?  

You: No

I throw the money on the ground, (we're outside) and grind it into the dirt.  Then I pick it up and show you again.

Me: How much is it worth now?

You: One hundred dollars.

I take it inside, put it in the toilet, take it back out and spit on it.

Me: How much is it worth now?

You: One hundred dollars.

Get the point?  So the Bible says that God loved the whole world so much that He gave His one and only precious son so that they can have eternal life, if they choose.

Your value has been designated by a higher authority.  You are worth everything to God.  You are worth more than anything.  You can't change that.  No matter where you've been, what you've done or what has been done to you.  You are valuable.  

For me that illustration changed how I see other people. When I'm out and about I will consciously say to myself, "That man is worth everything to God."  No matter what he looks like, no matter how he acts, no matter what he's done.  Some of us aren't five dollar bills while others are ones and others are hundreds.  We are valued the same.  Hitler had this same inherent value.  That's hard for us to grasp.  God so loved the world.  No exclusions.  No conditions.  

If we can start seeing people the way God does, maybe we can begin to love them the way we should.

where do you find your value?

I watched this movie a few months ago and it really got me thinking.  First of all, let me say, I am not a "liberal."  But I don't think that only liberals should be concerned with these things.

I'm showing you a clip that had the most impact on me.  If you want to watch the entire video you can go to The Story of Stuff website.

I honestly can't watch this without crying.  And you know what?  It makes me feel duped.  It makes me feel like an absolute fool to have fallen for this stuff.  Especially those of us who are followers of Christ should recognize this stuff for the deception that it is.  We need to wake up.

Today some friends and I prayed for the economy, jobs, the debt situation.  This "golden arrow" that we serve kept coming to my mind.

*I believe that after 911, Bush did tell us to grieve, hope and pray, so ignore that part.  He did also tell us to shop.*

This clip runs a bit long, but please, take some time to watch it.  I think it's six minutes.