the way jesus sees you kristen strong

8/13/2019 The Way Jesus Sees You Kristen Strong

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The Way Jesus Sees You:

Reflections on Your True Identity

A Collection of Posts by Kristen Strong

chasingblueskies.net

2013 All Rights Reserved

Cover design by Ted Barnett ofwww.contemplatedesign.comEditing by Mary Carverwww.marycarver.com


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Table of Contents

Introduction3

1. Your Very Own Totally Amazing Creative Combination6

2. Why I Want to See Broccoli in Your Teeth9

3. What Happens Every Time Youre Brave....11

4. The Boldness Inside You..13

5. When You Need to Bring Your Expectations Back to Earth..15

6. Why Its Okay to Exaggerate Your Importance18

7. When You Want to Brush Off Your Own Story..21

8. When You Need a Steady Stream of Confidence Today23

9. What Should Really Be on Your Bucket List..26

10. Five Words You Dont Need to Hear or Say .28

11. The Sweet Truth about Your Tears.30

12. For the Days Your Grown-up Report Card Reads Straight Fs.32

13. His Letter to Your Heart...35

About the Author......................38

Notes.......................................................................................................................39


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Introduction

We play in Breckenridge on a long weekend, and our second day there bringsweather cool enough to need a jacket but not so cold we need a winter coat. The

aspen leaves quiver gloriously bright in the mountain sunshine and the crisp airis hot apple cider friendly.

That night a snowstorm moves in, and we wake to a confusing picture of goldentrees next to a solid fleece of snow. Before heading outside, I wrap my burgundywool coat around me and add a thick scarf and hat. As I make my way towardStarbucks, I cross my arms and gloved hands over my chest and dip my headagainst the chill and swirling snow.

On our way home later that afternoon, we slowly crawl over the Hoosier Passtoward Alma. The skies clear and the sun shows off. We shed the winter coats for

jackets once again, and by the time we make it to our town of Colorado Springs,we lose our layers altogether. Our in-the-car-too-long moods lighten and brightenas the warm sun wraps itself around us.

The weather isnt the only thing in my life that changes withoutwarning. Depending on whom Ive been with and what theyve said (or notsaid), my self-perception remains as indecisive as the Colorado temperatures.When my husband or best friend says I look great in my new jeans? Im beautiful!


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When my kids bicker in the backseat for the third time in an hour? Im afloundering mom. And when a critic approaches me from my inbox, the churchfoyer, or from inside my own head? Suddenly my whole mood turns cold anddrizzly, colored gray by someones opinion of what I said or did. I wrap a heavycoat around my wounded heart, protecting it from the chill. The tight

corners woo me, and Im tempted to sit in a deep one with my arms crossed, headbent.

All too often, I allow both compliments and criticism to determine mymood and declare my identity as I walk around buying into the pressthey give.Its like riding a perpetual roller coaster that alternatively flings me inthe air and slams me back toward earth.My heart flies around outside of mybody, always in the care of others who never signed up for the job of beingresponsible for it in the first place.

Maybe its not just me? Maybe Im not the only one who needs to stoplooking left or right but rather up for my validation and identity?

Theres only one place our hearts are safe: in the hands of a Saviorwho cares so much for it, He stopped the beat of His own so yourscould be whole and alive.If theres one Person we can trust to show us anaccurate picture of ourselves, its Jesus. In Him we see ourselves not overlyor underly, but in reality.

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regardto a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are ashadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.~Colossians 2:16-17

I want to live like my reality is in Christ.

When my reality is seen in Him, it means other peoples kind words cant settle inmy head and their ugly words cant settle in my heart.

I want to see myself the way Jesus sees me, and I want the security found in thatidentity to be visible to my family.

And I want you beautiful, glorious you to see yourself like Hedoes: uniquely created, divinely accepted, and unconditionally

loved.When that happens, you can shed the coats around your heart as youembrace His warmth.

Its my prayer this little ebook helps you do just that.

I pray that no matter what highs and lows come what other mirrors people tryto offer you you look to Him alone and see the gorgeous, one-of-a-kindreflection of a God-created masterpiece staring back at you.


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I pray you know you are heaven-sent.

You are hoped-for.

And you are His.


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Heres the thing about country artists: They know who they are,where they came from, and they arent afraid to create from what theyknow. And if that means singing about winding gravel roads and trucks withopen tailgates, then thats what theyll do.

This bit of creative comprehension has been swirling in me since I was a younggirl. When I was twelve and filling journals with tales of treasure lost at sea or aromance ripped apart by the Civil War, my kind, always-encouraging daddywould declare my stories wonderful but caution me with the same bit of advice,

Honey, its usually best to write what ya know.

At the time Im sure writing about what I knew sounded as thrilling as writing amanual for a kitchen appliance. But the grown-up me has thought about his wisewords a million times over.

Its usually best to create from what you know.

Because when you create from what you know, you create from whoyou are. And you are a beautiful blend of abilities God breathed intoyour soul.

Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift. ~Ephesians 4:7, The Message

Listen, sister, you have been hand-picked to receive a gift, somethingyou can do in a way unlike any other man or woman on this planet.Whatever it is, dip your toe into it or dive right in. Either way, move in a directionthat encourages you to see what God has in mind for you.

Creating what you know doesnt mean you dont explore new interests or developmastery of something youve never done before. It also doesnt meancreating something that pleases everyone.I dont think Lady Antebellumloses much sleep wondering if Lady Gaga and her legions of fans dig their style.Just like every artist in every genre, country singers have their own audiencedrawn to what they know and bring to the radio: storytelling love songs with a

side of cowboy boots. For a born-and-bred Oklahoma girl like me, their songsdrip with heart and authenticity, and they sound like home.

But their music isnt for everyone.

What you create wont be for everyone, but it will be for some.It will be forthose who identify with who you are and what you know.


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Everyone is an expert at something and has divinely placed gifts.When you letyour gift dance with what you know, you will create something thatdelights the Creator and amazes us.Whether that dance looks like the two-step or the twist is up to God.

Whether we see it twirl on the dance floor or not is up to you.


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2.Why I Want to See Broccoli in Your Teeth

I have an embarrassing habit that pops up all too often: I misuse expressions andidioms.All. the. time, I tell you. For years I thought the expression,"It's a dog eatdog world,"was, "It's a doggy dog world."I thought "pushin' up daisies"was

"pushin' up tulips"until a friend of mine threw her head back laughing and said,

"Well, maybe in Holland."

Every time it happens, I feel like someone just told me I have broccoliin my teeth.While I'm always thankful to be aware of myfaux pas, there's nogetting around a little embarrassment.

Yesterday I returned from a conference for bloggers and writers, an event ripewith possibilities for me to say crazy things and show my unpolished self off,broccoli-in-the-teeth and all. This conference was no exception. For example, Iwalked up to Ruth, a blogger I love and admire, and called her Robin. And then Itried to save face by chattering on about her hair (she does have killer hair, y'all).But my mouth seemed to have a mind of its own and went on and on in such away you would have thought I was a hair product peddler. She responded withtotal kindness, but I left that convo laughing at myself saying, "Yep, Kristen,broccoli in your teeth."

Here's the straight-up truth: I can't shy away from people because I'mscared of looking a little fruity.In other words, I own the fact I forget


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people's names. I get nervous and chatter on and on. I laugh at inappropriatetimes. It's embarrassing but humbling and hardly the end of the world. Anddefinitely not worth staying hidden away in a tight little corner, no matter howdesperately that corner tries to woo me.

I think Jesus loves us because of our quirks, not in spite of them.

Most folks find self-deprecating behavior endearing. I sure do. They cut throughplastic perfect and show me youre human. They show me you dont take yourselftoo seriously. They show me you're not that different from me andconfirm the truth we allfall short and need Jesus and each other.

And maybe even a little more broccoli in our teeth.


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3. What Happens Every Time Youre Brave

We have to be braver than we think we can be, because God is constantly

calling us to be more than we are, to see through plastic sham to living,breathing reality, and to break down our defenses of self-protection in order tobe free to receive and give love. ~byMadeleine LEngle, Walking on Water1

My backyard fence hems in our yard with side-by-side wood slats. The wood slatsstand together close, but not so close you cant see between them. And oh, thethings you could see if you peeked through them. You might see me chase the dogor fuss at her. Play with the kids or yell at them. Pull my weeds or my wedgie. Thepossibilities stretch as endless as my endless dandelions.

To really live means I must be okay with you glimpsing both smile-and wince-worthy snippets of my life.It makes me nervous, yes, but notenough to hide inside. Oh sure, I could only wander outside when my mood andattire speak lovely things. But real life mixes with unlovely, too, andtrying to hide it pretty much ensures itll come out twice as strong.

Writing about it all feels like living life twice, like giving you a second chance to


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4. The Boldness Inside You

My daughter is all sky blue and lime green, bold and full of life. She wants to

show me how many chin-ups she can do, how high she can climb a tree, and howlong she can crochet a winter scarf.

If I give her a limit to something, thats automatically her cue to challengeme. And while this can be frustrating (!!!) on the discipline end,I could use alittle of that boldness in my own life.

Fear is a big filter for me, and I usually juggle it in my hands too longbefore jumping or tip-toeing into something.If I had been one of the

servants in the Parable of the Talents, I might have been the one who buried hismasters gold in the backyard, too afraid to risk losing part of it. After all, isnt itmore responsible to undershoot something than overshoot and quite possiblysquander the whole shebang?

Still, for every time you thus overshoot your target, there are a hundred timesthat you undershoot it. In the famous Parable of the Talents, the servant whoburies his masters money in the ground is severely reprimanded for failing to


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5. When You Need to Bring Your Expectations Back to Earth

We are running the race marked out for us {Heb. 12.1}. That means were only

concerned about the obstacles in our lane. If someone feels she needs to dosomething, then let her do it its probably in her lane. But that doesnt meanits in yours.

This isnt about self-improvement. Its about aligning our lives with love in theway God created us to do. To do that, we need a lot of grace and an approachthat makes sense based on who God made us. Every runner has a rhythm thatworks best for her. ~ Holley Gerth, Youre Already Amazing3

I sit on the front porch behind evergreens and short n squatty orange pumpkinsand watch the last of the fiery maple leaves pull away from their branches. Thewind blows and blows and the leaves spin up and up before swooping down.

Im spinning myself up as well, which is quite a feat given the weight ofexpectation I carry most of which Ive picked up all by myself. My mind raceswith things I shouldbe doing instead of staring at trees:


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Clean house.

Get pictures in their albums.

Return phone calls.

Make homemade bread.

And then there are bigger things that dont look so much like to-dos but shouldntI be doing them, too?

Serve regularly at shelter.

Invite more neighbors over for dinner.

Teach Sunday school.

Volunteer for that vacant PTO position.

Sighing, I think how to-do lists are bully-expectations.When I stare at

the list in the morning, I expect to climb Pikes Peak and knock it all out. But bynightfall, my meager progress laughs at me. And then if I talk to my neighbor orsister or friend and discover herto-donelist could run circles around mine, Iwonder what in the Sam Hill is wrong with me.

But then I come across some Old Testament words in the Message translation:

what do you think God expects from you? Just this: Live in his presence inholy reverence, follow the road he sets out for you, love him, serve God, yourGod, with everything you have in you, obey the commandments and regulations

of God that Im commanding you todaylive a good life. ~ Deuteronomy 10:12

Nothing is wrong with me, only wrong thingsfor me to focus on today. The onlythings expected of me are to love and serve God. How I put that intoaction looks like whatever God puts in my lane.Today, that is picking upmy husbands birthday cake and making his birthday dinner. It is getting the kidsbreakfast served and lunches packed. It looks like Bible study and a quick


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vacuum of the floors and taking a friend to the airport.

Tomorrow, it might look similar or completely different.

So I start a new list of what I am doing rather than what I am not. I cheer forothers as they do good things in their own lanes, but I keep my eyes onmy own.

The wind dies down and a peace settles around me. It feels good to be on solidground. Then I hear her call from the living room,

Maaaamaaaa! Can you help me find my blue headband?

I stand up and open the screen door, smiling afresh with the knowledge Im notjust helping my girl look for a headband. I am meeting all expectations, checkingoff my to-dos as I love and serve the God of heaven in my little corner of theearth.

Im right where Im supposed to be.


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6. Why Its Okay to Exaggerate Your Importance

I can still see my college-aged self wringing my hands after knocking on theorchestra directors door. The date quickly approached for a special performancegiven by a select few senior musicians, and I thought as principal chair I would beinvited to participate. But the calendar pages turned and the crickets chirped, so Igot up the gumption to knock on the directors door. And after a commanding,Come in!I asked nervously,

Excuse me for interrupting you, but I wondered if I might be one of the peopleparticipating in the upcoming concert?

His response was cold and brief,

Nope.

That was it.

No eye contact. No explanations. No dont-feel-bad-there-will-be-other-opportunities. And as I did a slow about-face from his office door, I uttered thesewords for the first time,


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Thats what you get for exaggerating your importance, Kristen.

It wouldnt be the last time I said it to myself. And maybe youve said it too whenyou:

Read that Facebook status aglow with details of a party you werent invited tojoin.

Discover that board position you hoped to fill was given to someone not even onyour radar.

Believe your presence wasnt missed at that conference or ceremony you couldntattend.

I berate my big self and say something about the size of my ego and my britches. Ilive in the uncomfortable in-between where my heart desires humility but begs tofeel important.I want to shine like a star but I let this fallen world get

between me and the Son, believing every missed opportunity anddifficult rejection dulls my already lackluster appearance.

So instead I sit in the corner of my messy office in my messy today mentallycounting all the reasons why my importance is minimal. And then it occurs tome:My problem isnt that I exaggerate my importance. My problem isthat I dont exaggerate my importance to Him.

I snap to attention and stand to look at myself in the mirror, wondering if Ive lostall traces of good sense and humility. And thats when the Lord asks me a couplequestions,

What if you took those missed opportunities and saw them as Myway of saying, Youre so important to me, I have something evenbetter in mind for you?

What if instead of seeing forgotten invites as proof of your minimalimportance, you saw them as opportunities for My important

purposes to be wildly, exaggeratedly on display?

When we live and breathe these truths in our lives, God doesnt roll His eyeswhen we exaggerate our importance. He throws His arms in the air and cheers aswe begin to understand how far Hell go to give us His best.

Its true: you and I can do nothing on our own. But with God we can do


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everything were meant to do.We can believe that because we are soabundantly important to Him, He goes to exaggerated cross-shapedlengths to prove His commitment to us.

With the right attitude, exaggerating our importance gives us the courage and

ability to see ourselves as the One beyond the stars see us: Radiant,significant, and brilliant.

And it gives us the ability to give the Father exaggerated praise for shiningthrough us in a thousand star-worthy ways.


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7.When You Want to Brush Off Your Own Story

Over my mahi mahi and her Greek style pizza, Emily asks me below-the-surfacequestions about family and callings. After the third or fourth one, I tell her Imnot used to answering these kinds of questions because Im usually the oneasking them. I slow down and listen to my heart before speaking, but my answersstill spill out all rambly. I havent practiced this.

It takes a different kind of hush to answer deep questions.For me to say theprivate things out loud, I must quiet the inner voice that says my story andexperiences dont matter. This doesnt come natural to me. Unless you ask, Iwont easily volunteer my own stuff. Inner Kristen still fights to brush off thetender parts with an easy fine.Partly because I think my story isnt newsworthy,partly because I think your story is, and partly because its less risky to do so. Yes,

I share heart things at Chasing Blue Skies, but there are always deeper places totravel. Our hearts are like the Old Testament tabernacle. Parts are formany at the entrance. Parts are a more holy place where safe peoplemay cross the threshold. And still parts are for just you and Godalone, a holy of holies.

When someone makes space in his or her conversation to ask how youre doingreally, you have the choice to remain hidden or come out in the open.When the


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person looks you in the eye and lets you know she is safe, it feels goodto choose wide open spaces beyond the entrance, even if this riskstearing up or the ugly cry.

Jesus wasnt into small talk, He was interested in the heart of everything. So we

dont only practice being good listeners, but we practice being good talkers, too.We get comfortable asking and answering the right questions andknowing when not to.

And if we arent sure who to trust with our inner ponderings, we keep it in ourhearts holiest of holies. We talk it over with God because He is always, alwayssafe. He isnt surprised by our weaknesses, turned off by our faults, ordisgusted with our shortcomings.

He is just happy to meet us where we are. And when He does, He looks towardHis Son and says,That daughter of mine is something else, isnt she?

And the Son answers, I know.

I pray you know it, too.


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8. When You Need a Steady Stream of Confidence Today

I move quickly toward the bathroom, the only place offering solitude in the wholehouse. Ive managed genuine smiles all day while keeping the tears in, but I cantdo it anymore. Im only walking but I breathe heavy as I shut the bathroom door.I clamp my hand to my mouth but the sobs come fast and hard and theresnothing to do but let em go.

You are completely ridiculous, I say to myself, exasperated. Get a grip!

And thats when I hear the quiet knock accompanying a gentle,Kristen? Are youokay?

Oh heavens. Theres no hiding any longer.

The setting for my meltdown was Hilton Head, the place where I was spending amuch-anticipated weekend with writers whove become genuine friends.Generally, I am very comfortable around other women, even women I dontknow. I move eager to begin conversations and listen to their stories. Butsometimes, I do not trust that my own stories hold up to the same interest. So inthis glorious beach house with windows from ceiling to floor, I feellike every writing and blogging insecurity jumped straight through my


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Just like you, I have heart desires and soul dreams I want to birth. Some mayneed to be laid to rest on altars while others spring to glorious life.Either way, I

will rally behind His plans for me rather than raise a roadblock.If Godis for me, who can be against me?

May it not be me.


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9. What Should Really Be on Your Bucket List

Holley and I drive down narrow roads in a Southern town by the sea looking forWest Congress Street. We find it and after parking the car, we walk in searchof the Lady and Sons restaurant.

We find it up ahead on the left and clap like 5 year olds when the hostess seats usright away.

Eating at Paula Deens restaurant has sat on my bucket list a long time. I enjoyPaulas hug-on-a-plate recipes, and experiencing a few of them in her restaurantmakes me giddy. So after Matt brings us our food, I gobble my fill of fried greentomatoes, chicken potpie, collard greens, and the best half-sweet-half-unsweettea Ive ever had.

As lovely and filling and just plain fun all that was, what Ill alwaysremember about the Lady and Sons was how one beautiful lady wasntafraid to look into my eyes and listen beyond myIm-just-fineanswers.So I admit to her my struggle with feeling smaller than small, and shelistens with her heart before offering truth-reminders for my own.


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I knowmy identity is in Christ, but Im not gonna lie: My heart forgets.Itshard, out-loud work to ignore the press of this empty world andrememberI have been given fullness in Christ.Sometimes I hear Godwhisper it to me, but sometimes God uses people like Holley and others toremind me. Its a special person who can make others see themselves as Jesus

does.

I take one last bite of chicken pot pie and chug the last of my sweet-ish tea beforestanding up to leave. I follow Holley outside into bright sunshine with more thana full stomach and another check off my bucket list. I leave with more spaceon that list for people who dont mind wading through the mess tofind the magnificent, who fill my bucket with Truth that spills overeverything.

May I hunt down ways to be that person to others.

And maybe squeeze in another trip to Paulas place, too.


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My mood slides down with the rain.

She only said what weve all heard and maybe uttered ourselves (including me),but only recently I discovered why it stings so much.First of all, if we areworking on something, praying for a change, or exploring somethingnew, our hopes are already up. Otherwise, why would we bother? But theresmore. The phrase dont get your hopes upflies past all the clichs all theknocking wind out of sails as it gives the listener a second sucker punch.Whensomeone tells you not to get your hopes up, theyre alsosaying because mine sure arent.

And this strikes a chord in our heart that slides the notes of an already wobblytune into a puddled mess.

I know a lot of folks and sometimes us mamas say this to be protective, toprepare the other person for the possibility of things not going the way she wants.And of course we need to always be in tune with a healthy dose of realism.Buttelling her not to get her hopes up doesnt change her outcome.It onlychanges how she views the person saying it.

In its truest form, hope is not something that goes up or down but Someone wehold onto, and our hopes should always be sky high in Him.

Getting your hopes up doesnt mean everything will turn out the wayyou hope or believe, it means believing Hope will work everything outthe way He means.So if youre reaching for something new today or laboringalong as you work and wait, by all means get your hopes up. By all means holdonto Hope.God has amazing, life-changing things in store for you, andHe sent Jesus as proof you are worth every gift Hes planted in yoursoul.Theres always reason to hope He is designing a new best thing on yourhorizon.

If He has given you the desire and ability to do something, its because Hebelieves you can do it.

By evening, the clouds clear and sunshine washes over the mountains and trees. Ilook up and find an unmistakable sign that Hope is here.

And on the rise.


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11. The Sweet Truth about Your Tears

Im sightseeing at Paneras glass-covered bakery when I see her out of the cornerof my eye. She turns from her laptop to the window as she gracefully swipes tears

from her face.

I turn back to my panoramic view of desserts and order a cinnamon roll.

My thoughts roll back to the girl and her tears. I enjoy people watching(especially at places like airports and restaurants) and hypothesizing about thelives of those I see. Ive seen Spanish royalty, Hollywood actors, CIA operatives,and mini-van driving mamas like me.

Or at least, I mighthave.

I find myself doing the same with this darling woman as she stares out thewindow. I dont know whats bothering her, but whatever it is, her heavy heartleaks tears.


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Did she have a fight with her husband?

Did she get a rejection letter from a hopeful employer?

Did she take a pregnancy test and it read negative? Or positive?

Did she see a news story she just cant forget?

Whatever causes her tears, does she know theyre seen?

Do you know it? Because this is true:Your pain matters because yourheart matters.

Its the quantum physics of God: one broken heart always breaks Godsin two. We never cry alone. ~ Ann Voskamp4

We never cry alone because God is a part of us, so He cant help but care.

And like a dusty, forgotten gift card found in a drawer, I find a giftthat proves my pain matters because I matter, and its all seen by theOne who never leaves my side.

Your tears are meaningful because your worth is undeniable.

Your identity is unshakeable.

Because His love for you is unfathomable.

May you hold these sweet truths close to your heart today.


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saving grace is that both middle school boys assured me that most middle schoolparents dont come because mom, its really more of a little kid show, anyway.

The next fifteen minutes hold chatting and smiles and hugs. By the end, Faithseyes laugh and dance. But as I make the short drive home, my mind travels backto this morning when the bickering between two of the three younguns clawed atmy head like fingernails on a chalkboard, resulting in my very un-Sunday schoolvoice telling both perpetrators exactly what I thought of their behavior.

Losing patience with kids. Late for lunch. I see my parenting grade for the day.

Parenting: F

So I walk through the garage door the one that opens to the laundry room and see laundry lying on top of floors that need mopping next to school papersthat need organizing. And really, thats just the tip of the housework iceberg. Mymind tallies up another grade for the day.

Housekeeping: F

And I remember two nights ago, how the hubs wanted to watch a movie but Ishook my no and mentioned working on my ebook with a how bout tomorrownight?But then tomorrow night came and I forgot it was the one night of the

week where David and I are two ships passing until 10 pm. And sure enough, thenext grade shows up bright red.

Wife: F

And so I step over the mess and trudge upstairs to my blue and silver workspaceand open the laptop to re-read some of my own blog words. I lean back in thewhite chair annoyed for choosing such a poor title and ending. That post didntget too much traffic, so I assume others agree. And while Im at it, Ill just assumemy grade in this area, too.

Writer: F

So I slam down the laptop and decide to go make chocolate chip cookies, becauseif theres one thing I can ace, its cookies. As the cookies swell in the oven, I stareout the window at the whirling snow that is gaining momentum.


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Why do I let a mistake or two gain momentum til I believe Ive gone and flunkedthe entire day?

If I do not stop and pray immediately restating His love for me and myrighteousness in Him Satan will take my wave of sorrow as a vulnerability toaccusation, and he will proceed with a hurricane of condemnation. ~ BethMoore, Praying Gods Word5

Sometimes tsunamis come and crush hearts in seconds. But sometimes theenemy gains more ground by grabbing onto a mistake or two and using them tochip at our hearts a little at a time. If I give him an inch, hell take a dozen mileswhile mowing down our hearts like roadkill.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the lawof sin and death. ~ Romans 8:1

I know there are practical things I can do to show up on time and better manageall 1,982 things I do each week.But the purpose of living a Christ-filled life is towalk in the power of resurrection.I can pray Scripture and let His Wordkeep Satans lies from carving rivers in my heart that turn intocanyons of condemnation.

The snow covers everything outside, and I cant get over how my corner of theearth here gleams white and clean.

Im thankful He does the same for my heart.


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13. His Letter to Your Heart

Dear Daughter of Mine,

No doubt about it: they will show up.

Those days will come when youll look left or right rather than up to measureyour worth, and youll be sure you fall impossibly short of a perfect 10.

The truth is everyone falls short, and this is why I gave everyone Jesus.

Your path will cross those who put more stock into popularity contests thanhuman hearts. Some of them will even sell the idea and bank on you believingyoull never be in until you hold onto whatever theyre offering.

The truth is that exclusionary isnt in My vocabulary, and thats why I gaveeveryone Jesus.

I created you on purpose for a purpose, so hear this loud and clear:


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Entering into this fullness is not something you figure out or achieve. Its not amatter of being circumcised or keeping a long list of laws. No, yourealready ininsidersnot through some secretive initiation rite but ratherthrough what Christ has already gone through for you, destroying the power ofsin. ~ Colossians 2: 11-12, The Message

Daughter, youre in as in can get.And you dont need to be a perfect 10because you have perfectfullness in Christ.But thats not all:

Youre a work of art.Oh, the world will do its best to convince you youre notbeautiful or worthy. It will try to sell you false hopes bottled up in the flavor of theday. Heres where I give you permission to roll your eyes at every lie it offers. Doyou want to knowyoure beautiful? Then read beautiful Scripture. Scripture willhelp you see your value not overly or underly, but in reality.

Youre capable.You are stronger than you think, and if you meet somethingbeyond what you can bear?My cross-shaped grace bears it for you. ,-. dontassume you arent cut out to do something. Dont write something off because atfirst glance it looks impossible. Some ideas and dreams have a warming upperiod. Youre already amazing. Dont listen to the enemys voice that says youarent enough. Thats a big fat lie. Truth is, the combination of your personalityand abilities scare him.

Youre loved. Every single day, youre loved. Theres nothing you could do that

would cancel this. Let the love of your family and friends seep into your deepestparts. Know you are a vital link in My family that wants and cherishes you morethan youll ever know.

Youre imperfect.You have faults just like the rest of us. Acknowledge thembut dont focus on them. Acknowledge them and acknowledge your Savior who iswhat you arent. I dont want or expect perfection, so neither should you.

Youre intelligent.Everyone has his or her special gifts, and youre noexception. Convention says there are nine multiple intelligences. But I am a God

of infinite creativity and intelligences, and I plant all kinds of strengths in Mychildren. Dont let your struggles tell you youre not smart. Let your strengthsconfirm otherwise.And, girl, you have yourself countless strengths. Remember, Iam not a God of waste. If I created you, then youre needed, necessary, and gifted.

Youre wanted.You fit in right at home, darling, and My home allows room formistakes and second changes. My home will always welcomes you with wide open


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arms.

Youre Mine.Listen for the times I ask your heart, Whose child are you?Thats your cue to answer,Yours.I hope you always believe this. I am crazyabout you. You are my treasured possession and I give you the best of the besteveryday.Believe Me.


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About the Author

Kristen is passionate about giving meaningful

encouragement to all in her circle of influence andhelping others see themselves as Jesus does. She blogsregularly at Chasing Blue Skies where she tells of findingfresh-air hope in looking up. When she's not tapping outwords, she's managing her family's schedules, helpingwith homework, and building everyday stories with herfavorite four. Kristen and her Air Force husband Davidhave three children: hilarious twin sons and a vivaciousdaughter. As a military family, they have zig-zaggedacross this country (and one ocean!) and enjoy their

current home under the wide-blue-skies of Colorado.


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Notes

*LEngle, Madeleine. Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art(Colorado,

"

Gordon, Arthur.A Touch of Wonder(New Jersey, Revell, 1974).

#Gerth, Holley. Youre Already Amazing: Embracing Who You Are, BecomingAll God Created You to Be(Michigan, Revell, 2012).

$Voskamp, Ann. http://www.aholyexperience.com/2013/05/how-god-feels-about-storms/.

%Moore, Beth.Praying Gods Word: Breaking Free from Spiritual Strongholds(Tennessee, B&H Books, 2009).

the way jesus sees you kristen strong

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