Elohim - the name for God as our creator

Today I thought I would share part of a writing by Kay Arthur from To Know Him By Name. I found it very uplifting and thought provoking, and I hope it does the same for you.

"David wrote: "For Thou didst form my inward parts;Thou didst weave me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Thy works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from Thee, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought..." Ps. 139:13-15

Have you ever thought of yourself as being fearfully and wonderfully made? Carefully, lovingly designed and constructed by an infinitely and wise God? Or-if you were very honest-do you look at yourself and despise what Elohim has created? The truth is, your face may never grace a magazine cover. You may never be asked to model for a television commercial. You may never feel confident standing before a group giving your testimony. You may not be beautiful or exquisite in the eyes of the world. But I can tell you this, Beloved.....
Your conception, no matter what the circumstances, was no "accident".
You are exactly as Elohim designed you to be.
And that design has a purpose.
And that purpose is to bring God glory.

I have a friend who is probably no more than three feet tall. Her head is of normal size, and to me she is lovely. Yet Julie spends all her days in a sling, much like a baby's walker. In order for her to move anywhere, her legs must push the rolling frame. Julie is radiant, a delight to all who meet her. She knows her Elohim! And she clings to the truth that He created her this way for a purpose. Now, please don't tell me God had nothing to do with her physical condition. If so, I must deny His sovereignty, His Word, and His name.

Why would God create people who are different from His normal pattern of creation? Why would He ever permit a human conception when it would produce what seems to be a genetic disaster? The disciples had the same question in mind when they encountered the man who had been blind from birth. They asked the Lord, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?"(John 9:2) "It was neither that this man sinned nor his parents, but it was in order that the works of God might be displayed in Him"(John9:3). Oh, Beloved, if you are not happy with yourself...with your past...with your limitations...with the heartbreaking limitations of your child or loved one, run into the strong tower of the name of your Elohim(Proverbs 18:10). You may not understand how your situation could ever bring Him glory, but He doesn't ask or require you to understand. He simply asks you to trust in the name of your Lord.

Can you see how awesome it is to know that you have been created for God's glory? That you are to live in such a way as to give all of creation a correct opinion or estimate of who God is? What does that mean to you, O child of God, who is called by His name? Think about it. How would you live if you were to live for His glory?

You were created for His glory and for His purpose and for His pleasure. Your life is to be lived in such a way as to reflect Him, to show the world the character of God, His love, His peace, His mercy, His gentleness. You are to live for Him, to accomplish His will. To miss this is to miss fulfillment. It is to have existed rather than to have lived.

Go before your God and evaluate the course of your life. Are you fulfilling the purpose of your creation? What is keeping you from being or doing what you were created for? What do you need to change? What do you need to do? Will you? Answer these questions honestly in His presence."

What's Your Value?

When you think of things that are valuable, what comes to mind? I am sure that each of us can think of many things, yet they are going to vary depending upon our differing walks of life. For most, I am sure that the first thing that came to your mind was not your own self. Yet we are each of great value!

Value=the quality of anything which renders it desirable or useful. It could also be stated as excellence of character or quality/importance. I think it is the nature of humans to respond with what they are not when questioned about their own personal value. From an outsiders perspective they could say that you are valuable because you feed, clothe, and maintain your family and all of your belongings. They might also think of your value in terms of how you treat others, and the things that you do. I think that we should dig a little deeper, and see just what makes us valuable as the created being that we are.

1John 3:1 tells us that we are children of God. Since God is the Kings of Kings, that would make us princes and princesses....we are God's royalty. If you have ever wondered what it would be like to be royalty, just focus on who you are in Christ and then you can find out for yourself what true royalty feels like! 1Cor. 6:19 tells us that once we have a relationship with Christ that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. God lives in us! Think on that a moment....The Almighty God that he is, dwells in us. I pray that as we grow in understanding of what that is, we are able to esteem ourselves the way we should as a temple of the Holy Spirit. I am not suggesting we become prideful in ourselves, but rather that we walk tall and confident knowing that God created us with great value to be an outreach of himself to the world around us. In the beginning of Romans chapter 12 more of our value is revealed. We as children of God were created each with a different set of gifts that are of great worth. When we use our gifts as God desires us to, we join with other believers and are able to work together efficiently. Without all of our unique gifts, the work just would not be complete. We are royalty, we are a dwelling place for the King of Kings, and we have unique gifts that are of great importance in the kingdom of God. But that is not all.....I have saved the best for last!

How many of us would think that we are so valuable that someone should lose their life just for the sake of ours? That has already taken place! Let us not forget John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." God allowed the death of his only son so that we would have the opportunity to have a life that is not only as abundant as can be, but life everlasting. Enjoy this day remembering that you are of great value in the eyes of the One who created you!

A Moment in an Eating Disorder's Mind

Eating disorders are so misunderstood. Mostly due to the fact, that they are so secretive, and those struggling with them are embarrassed/ashamed to share. Even after all this time, I myself, do not completely understand. I know many are wondering what it is like for those with an eating disorder, and why they don't just stop the silly behavior. I am going to do something that I have not done before, and that is to share a journal excerpt from a few weeks before my first hospitalization. Meaning, near one of the hardest times for me with the eating disorder. The struggle to get rid of the disorder is very evident here.

January 1st, 1996
I hate this! Is it ever, ever, ever going to end? Why do I do this to myself? I'm causing way too many problems, and hurting too many people! Everyone is so fed up with me - I don't know where to turn or go. I love my parents so much, and I absolutely can't stand what I am doing to them. Why? Why can't I change? I've just yet ruined another meal. I hate myself for making others get upset so much. Do they understand how hard it is to change? It is SO FRUSTRATING! I know what to do and I think I can do it, but when I try to do it something stops me. What is it that's in the way? How am I ever going to get better? It is so weird...sometimes I think all is okay but at times like this it seems like there is no way out. I want to know if anyone truly understands. Where is my life headed? Why do I have to go through this? This seems like a never ending roller coaster- will I ever get through it? I feel so weird lately, so cluttered. I don't know what I think, want or wish anymore. Everything I do I am not satisfied. It's like I have millions of thoughts running through my mind, and I can't focus on any of them. Problems seem to have magnified by 100 times, and are cluttering my head. I wish that I could go away, far, far away. I just want to take a break from everything. I have to weigh 100 lbs. on Wed. the 3rd, and I know that I'm no where near it. I'm ruining my life, and I have no idea why. I've lost touch with God, and I want to go back to Him, and I hear Him calling me, but the path is covered in a thick fog. My life has become such a mess. I lie a lot, I am very moody and my thinking process has changed. I'm searching for something, and I'm not sure what. Maybe God, but I thought I already knew Him. I don't think I'm as close to Him as I try to appear. I have become such a snot towards my parents. I don't want to do the things I do. Whenever I get ready to fall and give it all to God, I get really close to doing it, and then something grabs me, and pulls me back down. I want to know what has such a control over me...Satan? Constantly there is a battle raging inside of me- it wears me down. I feel like I'm being pulled in 100's of different directions. I'm also worried...I don't want my sister to watch and do the same thing-it's too scary! At times like this I want so bad to just give up-run away or sleep forever. But yet I know that realistically that won't solve a thing. But this just seems to great to overcome. What is it going to take for me to get better? I don't want to go to some hospital. I wish I never had to go through this. Only time will tell.

Struggling with an eating disorder, and truly wanting to be free, was such an overwhelming battle. I can not even put into words how controlling the entire situation was. I felt powerless to change. Maybe it was because I was looking at the whole picture and trying to figure it all out instead of how recovery happened....one small step at a time. Whatever the case may be, the journey to freedom was a good 6 years long, and much was lost, yet much was gained. Maybe the key to getting a better understanding of eating disorders, and those issues that plague us, is to open up and be real ......share with others our battles. We may be surprised what we learn,the many ways that we grow, and who we may meet along the way.

THE SCALE

(image from natural health pharmaceutical)

THE SCALE. Dread. Fear. Insecurity. Competition. Failure. Panic. Nothing but doom and gloom!

When I saw this scale image while I was searching for a picture, I just had to pick it because of the irony it represented. Seriously, a bow on something that generally brings to mind ominous feelings! Upon examining this photo I thought of a few things.... like I mentioned, wrapped with a bow made from a measuring tape. Hmmm. As if to say measuring yourself is going to bring you feelings of joy. Or maybe you could look at it in more of a realistic way for most....you are going to be tied down, imprisoned by this object, and it is literally going to weigh you down! Now I realize, that the scale in and of itself, is not an object to be feared, but the control it can take over our sense of worth is to be feared.

There are times when a scale is a beneficial and almost a necessary object. As a mother, I think back to when my boys were infants, and how the scale helped me to know that indeed my babies were eating enough and that their bodies were absorbing the nutrients properly. Since babies are obviously unable to tell you these things, it does become almost necessary to see it on a scale. In general though, the scale really is not necessary, and ends up doing more harm than good. Why do we get on the scale? To see how much we weigh, right? Why? Is that going to alter something?

When I think of the scale, I have mixed emotions. At this point in my life, I feel freedom from it. No longer does it weigh me down. But that has not always been the case. Before I was really struggling with anorexia, the scale was a gauge to see how my body was responding to the physical activity that I was participating in. Then as the number got lower, I felt a sense of power and accomplishment. As I got further and further into weight loss, the power I felt at the beginning was now replaced with a power over me. The scale could never say the right thing to make me feel good. Obviously if I gained weight, that was bad, yet it was also not enough no matter what I lost. If I did lose a little, it gave me momentary pleasure, that soon was replaced with a nagging voice telling me it was not enough. Then in the depths of my eating disorder, the scale filled me with fear. Would I weigh enough when I went to the doctor or nutritionist? If I didn't, then what was going to happen? During my hospitalizations, the scale became a very important factor for the doctors. It told them whether I was gaining my health back or not. So in that case it was beneficial and necessary. Never during that time, was I shown my weight though, and that was the start to my freedom from the scale. For many years after that I would not step on the scale, and learned to accept me without the # on the scale identifying me. Since that time I have made peace with the scale, and do step on it from time to time, but I don't want to fool you into thinking that I have mastered my body image and never do I struggle, because I am human and have plenty of moments of doubt.

The why of the scale...what is it that pushes you to step on the scale, daily, weekly, or maybe several times a day? What are we looking for? Are we fooled into thinking that if the number is where we have deemed ideal, that we will now be able to accept ourselves? Let me challenge you with the truth...No matter what it says, it will never be enough, if that is where we are seeking to find acceptance of ourselves. Even if and when you reach that # goal, you will almost always find something else that you think is not right with you. The ultimate goal is to get rid of the scale altogether, but for some, this is just too drastic, or maybe for true health reasons you do have to be on a scale. I just want to challenge your thinking on why you get on the scale, and if it is beneficial in accepting who God made you to be. If it has become an idol, or something you are imprisoned by, my prayer is that you will be able to make peace with the scale and yourself!

"We need to agree with God that when He created us, He created something good!"

Joyce Meyer

You Are Called Friend

We all are familiar with the sayings "A friend sticks closer than a brother", and "a friend loves at all times", but what is a friend, really? Friends are not always friends for life. Through the seasons of our lives, friends may change. Some may be closer than others, some may truly understand you, and some may just be there for you when the times are tough, or to celebrate the joys. For me, the meaning of friend has really changed throughout my life this far. The early elementary years, were filled with bittersweet memories. There were many kids in our neighborhood, but I seemed to be the odd one out, or the one that was picked on, and then later invited over when no one else was around. Then we move on to junior high, and again, with girls especially, two is company, but three is a crowd. I just never knew what to expect each and every day. Would I be the friend, or not? But I really did have at least one good friend at a time during these phases in my life. Someone that I shared the changing of season with. Time moved on, and throughout high school and beyond, things got rough with my eating disorder, but friends were still plentiful, and very supportive......those that really cared to help you along. Friendship does not always end well....people change, move, or just plain disappoint you, and then we once again seek that bond with another again. Life seems to get a little more complicated into adulthood, with families and jobs, making finding that deep friendship with another a little harder to come by.

Why does friendship seem to be such an important thing for most of us? When God created us, He meant for us to fellowship with one another, and bear one another's burdens. After Adam was created, God said that it was not good for him to be alone, so He created Eve. Remember David and Jonathan, or the sisters Mary and Martha, and Paul and all 12 of the disciples. Plenty of places in scripture friendship is demonstrated on almost a necessary level. That is why we were all created so uniquely...to become the body of Christ that we were meant to be. To minister to one another, and the rest of the world.

Getting back to "what is a friend?". Generally we think of friend in the terms of: one who is there no matter what; who listen without judgement; someone who tells us the truth, not just what we want to hear; encourages us when we are down; someone who shares a lot of laughter with us, and cries with us when the need arises; someone who just truly values the who in you. On the flip side, friends are able to disappoint, or judge, or even just walk away, and then what? While earthly friendship is of great value, we are so blessed to have a friendship that is everlasting. One that will not judge, even when our flawed characteristics shine through. "O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise;you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down;you are familiar with all my ways." Psalm 139:1-3 God know all about us, and guess what?!? He calls us friend! There is no greater friendship that I can think of than one with the perfect God, who knows all about me, and desires nothing less than the best for me. He is not jealous, easily angered, or changing. He is constant, ever present, my comfort, and my redeemer. The list is endless. This is by far the most valuable friendship that one could ask for.

Knowing that we have a never ending friendship with the one true God, let us not forget to cultivate that relationship, by spending time with our Friend and Maker, Jesus Christ.

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. .....I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you......"John 15:13-16

The Worry War

The worried cow would have lived 'til now

If she had saved her breath.

But she feared her hay wouldn't last all day

So she mooed herself to death.

(author unknown)

If I had to personally pick one of my worst flaws, it would be worry! It is something that I have struggled with forever. The problem is as a child of God, worry is not just a flaw, it is a sin. That is right, a sin! What exactly is worry? The dictionary describes it as, to torment with cares and/or anxieties. Torment seems like such a harsh word, but as a matter of fact when I am truly worried, I do feel tormented! The Bible commands us in Matthew chapter 6 that we are not to worry. Once we received Jesus as Lord of our life, we are made a new creation, to be modeled after the likeness of the character of Jesus. No where in scripture is Jesus stated as being a worrier, so neither are we to be. We are to trust on the life giving character of God.

Why is the war of worry so hard to overcome? We have the Spirit of God living within us, yet we still stumble and fall. We are a new creation with new thoughts and attitudes, yet the sinful nature of our flesh still exists. It does not control us per say, but we still have to choose not to walk in it's destructive path. I see worry as stemming from a desire to be in control. The things we tend to worry about are usually the unknowns, or out of our controls. For most, dwelling on the what ifs, or going through every possible scenario makes us feel prepared for whatever may come our way. How much time gets wasted on stewing over the possibilities instead of resting in the truth that God only wants the best for us! We are given the power of Christ within us to overcome the worry in us. We are responsible to choose to loose the power of God in our lives. It is a decision to choose God's voice, over the lies of Satan. Satan does not want us to rest in the peace that only God can bring. Isaiah 12:2 says, "Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation". Notice that first the writer states that the God IS my salvation, then the He has BECOME my salvation....first was knowledge, then came believing and acting upon that knowledge.

How are we to win the war with worry? Let's take worry at face value, and see it as a sin. Then we should proceed to deal with it accordingly. Bring it to the cross, where it was abolished once and for all, and lay it Jesus' feet. Seek forgiveness, and truly despise the sin and the effects it has on our lives. Turn and walk away. Next time worry comes knocking at our door, let's decide to choose to loose the power of God within us, and pick the way of truth and peace instead of worry. "Lord, when I start to worry, please give me the strength to choose your way, instead of the way of the flesh. Amen."

"Worry is not our 'bag', so we don't pick it up."

Janice Wise

Who Are You?

This simple question can provide a vast variety of answers. If someone asked you to describe who you are, how would you respond? Generally, when asked, I would probably answer with my name, I am married with 2 boys, I live in MN, I help my husband in his line of work, and I take care of our home. When describing other people we might also mention things like....haircolor, age, gender, career, kids/no kids, married/single, ethnic background, tall/short, activities they are involved in, where they go to church, who they know, and their overall personality. While these are great for describing the overall exterior shell of a person, they really only give you a glimpse of the Who in them.

What if we answered people with information on what we perceive of ourselves in that moment? By chance it was a very productive day we could say that we are driven, task oriented, and man I am proud of my ability to get things done! Maybe the day was less than optimum, we would probably be more inclined to feel...I am a failure, I am unable to accomplish anything, I am headed no where in life, and no one cares what happens to me! What kind of response would we get? I have always found it kind of absurd that we tend to ask people, "How are you?", when greeting them, and we know that the answer is almost always going to be something along the lines of, "I am doing fine.". That answer is pretty much guaranteed whether or not the person is fine, because in general we really are not wondering how they are, but just casually greeting them. I have been tempted on occasion to answer with a very detailed, heart felt answer, just to see the reaction of the other person. Even though we do not usually answer people's question of "who are you?", with a current inventory of our feelings, it would reveal a little bit more of who we think we are.

Describing yourself in either of those ways, is in fact, a temporary description. Those things that we identify ourselves with to others, are true, but they are things that could very easily change in a moments notice. You could lose your job, experience a death, dye your hair, or change your mood. What if instead, we learned to describe ourselves in a way that is never changing? A permanent identity as a child of God. How we experience and view life would drastically change, if we really believed in our heart Who We Are. So often we let others and past experiences define who we are, and then we live according to those things. Let's make a change and look past that so called "identity", and focus on the wonderful truths of who we are as a child of God!

John 1:12 I am God's child
John 15:15 I am Christ's friend
Romans 5:1 I have been justified
1Cor. 12:27 I am a member of Christ's body
Eph. 1:1 I am a saint
Col. 2:10 I am complete in Christ
2Tim. 1:7 I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind
Rom. 8:35 I cannot be separated from the love of God
1John 5:18 I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me
Col.1:14 I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins
Phil. 3:20 I am a citizen of heaven
1Cor. 3:16 I am God's temple
Eph. 2:10 I am God's workmanship
1Cor. 6:20 I have been bought with a price; I belong to God
Phil. 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

(Thanks to Neil T. Anderson's book Who I Am In Christ, for the list of scripture references)