You're Still Special~

Greetings~

Yesterday one of you lovelies "lovingly" commented that I picked a great day to tell everyone they are special--meaning that so much attention was on the Royal Baby that it made you feel very UN-special by comparison.

Sure the entire world waited with baited breath to see if the baby was a boy or a girl. And yes there's all kind of speculation as to what the baby's name will be.

But what if I told you that while mere mortals celebrated the birth of the future monarch of England, something even better took place for you?

Luke 15:10 (The Message Version) The angels in heaven throw a party every time a lost soul turns to God.

The day you turned to God seeking His forgiveness and guidance for your life, the angels threw a party in your honor.

I can just hear them now..."That Yenise sure is a special young woman! Hip Hip Hurray! We can't wait to meet her! Good for her for entrusting her life to the Almighty!"

So you see: YOU ARE SPECIAL:(,)

PRAYER: Dear Lord, When we turned to You it was an awesome day for us on earth, and now we know the angels had a big party in heaven. Thank You that even if the world doesn't know it, You think we are worth celebrating over. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

You Are God's Masterpiece~

You are special, and so am I! In short: We are God's masterpieces.

Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago."

There are over seven billion people on the planet, yet I am the only mom to Hormone and Rayray. The only mother-in-law to Lis. The only wife to Jorge. And the only second-born my parents ever had.

No one else is like me, and no one else is exactly like you.

We are unique and God wants us to make the most of where He has placed us. Why? Because we are irreplaceable. You are exactly where God wants you to be, so be the best "you" you can be. There are good things for you to do, planned by Him a long time ago, right where you are.

What could be more meaningful or fulfilling to me than loving my kids and my husband? I realized a long time ago that I would never be famous. That I would never be an astronaut. That I would never be an open-heart surgeon. That I would never be President...

And that's OK--as if I could be happy doing or being any of those things anyway. Those things are not my calling. But where I live--where you live--that's where God has placed us, and this is where we should be shining our brightest.

One of my favorite people is Joni Tada. She has a world-wide ministry that reaches millons. Yes, you read that right--millions. Her story is remarkable, and you should google her and check it out. But what amazes me most is something she once said at a press conference:

"What's the most important thing you do, Joni?" My mind sorted through a list of possible answers. Speaking, painting, advocating, visiting people in nursing homes, delivering wheelchairs to Africa and so on. But I knew the answer. "Being a good wife to my husband." My commitment to marriage places me in a profoundly significant relationship with the most important human being on earth. My spouse. If I can't be faithful in loving my husband, how can I tout "faithfulness" in ministry to millions.

In other words, dear people, it all begins at home. You were uniquely created by God as a one-of-a-kind masterpiece to do the good things He planned for you--starting with those closest to you. Embrace your uniqueness and be grateful for the opportunity to love those you love because only you can love them the way you do.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, Forgive us for the times we have momentarily been tempted to swap our families out for more kind ones, or loving ones, or obedient ones. Today we re-embrace the place where You have put us and ask for renewed strength to serve and love our families. Thank You that we are unique. In Jesus' name, AMEN~