Monthly Archives: July 2012

Knit Together

July 20, 2012 by Karess | No Comments | Filed in reflection

Sarah made me a charmA few months ago my roommate Sarah gave me a keychain (see photo). She, along with her friends, did a craft bonding activity of sorts, and Sarah thought of giving me this as a Christmas present.

Sarah, being the animated communicator that she was, proceeded to tell me the story of how this cute keychain came to be. She recounted every single detail on how she specifically chose each bead and accessory, how every flower bead seemed like the right one but didn’t seem to fit, and how it was a challenge to use pliers to put them all together.

By the time she was done, I cried.

I know how silly that sounds, but please bear with me. :D

Her anecdote reminded me of Psalm 139:

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
     your eyes saw my unformed body.

Sarah’s care for every detail, every bauble, every steel loop, reminded me of a God who took greater care in fashioning His children to who He created them to be. The way you look, the talents and skills He gave you, even your quirks, are all part of the fearfully and wonderfully made creation that is you.

God is as concerned in the little details as much as He cares for the big picture. :) What a beautiful, heart-warming truth.

But Wait, There’s More!!!

July 10, 2012 by Karess | No Comments | Filed in devotions

“And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”

 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”

Luke 12:29-32

 

It’s the last statement of these verses that floors me completely.

Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

When I read this part, sometimes I just stop at “all these things will be given to you.” It’s a compelling reason to seek God in everything, if you think about it. Okay, so to attain all things and more, we have to seek God first. Right?

But wait, there’s more!

  • “Do not be afraid” –  we don’t need to be afraid of being in lack, or feel inadequate of something because we’re not “enough.” Sometimes, if not most of the time, fear sets in because we don’t have enough, we don’t know enough, we’re not (fill in the blank) enough. But God is MORE than enough.
  • “little flock” – it’s not US who’s boss; it’s GOD. He’s the good shepherd who runs after the 99 and goes after the one, the one who lets his sheep lie down and brings them to unlimited grass and drinks. We sometimes think it’s God who runs away from us, but in truth, He never leaves nor forsakes! He’s present in ANY and EVERY situation of our lives.
  • “your Father” – God desires to have a relationship with us. Interesting how “little flock” comes right before “your Father.” We’re first called sheep then we’re called children. Not only does God, our Heavenly Father, lead and guide, but He also fathers. He comforts. He provides. He CARES. Suddenly there’s a shift—we’re more than just sheep, we’re CHILDREN. He calls us his OWN.
  • “has been pleased to give you the kingdom” – God gives us unlimited access to Him, to His heart, to His mind—and He gives it to us freely, generously, JOYFULLY. He gives us what we need with a smile on His face, with no obligation or thirty day guarantee. He gives us SO MUCH MORE than we need.

And the amazing thing is, we don’t even need need to WORK for His love. Because He did it all. He gave it all.

We simply have to trust and obey.

God is not a grumpy old grandfather with a long beard and a cane for punishing unruly kids like you and me. God is a loving, generous, merciful, and gracious Father. He is nothing and no one like we’ve ever known.

If you desire to know what it means to have God as your Father, don’t be afraid to let Him know. :) He’ll accept you and embrace you. You’re His child—He’ll never let you go.

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