Christianity

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Do I Matter to God?

While reading a book about prayer I ran across the question: “What would you love to sit down and talk about with God?“

I thought about it for two days before I finally wrote down: “Why do I matter to you?”

It puzzles me. I don’t have a poor self image, but I am not extraordinary in any way, not strikingly beautiful and not a genius. Yet I matter to God. Why?

No answer was immediately forth coming. Did God hear me? Should I not have asked the Creator of the universe such a question?

A week later I remembered something that I had put away in a box in my closet years ago. It is a rag doll I made out of a sock when I was about 10 years old.

I found the instructions in my parents’ Worldbook encyclopedia. (Yes, I still have the encyclopedias.) As you can see it is not the most beautiful doll ever made, but it is one of the first things I made without any help. Over the years I have made much better ones. Why have I kept it all these years? I simply love it because I made it.

I started to think of other things I have made over the years. Quilts, paintings and other miscelaneous things. I love each one and made them with a purpose in mind.

Back to my question for God. “Why do I matter to you?” He answered me in very clear terms. He simply loves the things He makes. I matter because He made me. My value is wrapped up in who loves me. To be loved by God is extraordinary.

If I love a misshapen old doll how much more does He love me? How much more does He love you? Take heart. He is not silent. We just need ears to hear.

For Further study:

Genesis 1:31 “And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good….”

Genesis 5:1 “when God created man, He made him in the likeness of God.”

Psalm 139:14 – “I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are your works, and my soul knows it very well.”

Isaiah 43:4 “Since you are percious in My sight, Since you are honored and I love you,”

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

I Corinthians 1:26-28 “For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong. And the base things of the world and the despised, God has chosen the things that are not, that He might nullify the things that are,”

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Even in My Old Age

I was sitting on the floor on Sunday when a little boy sat down next to me and said.

Boy: “What’s wrong with your eyes?”

Me: “What do you mean?”

Boy:  “You have lines.”

Me: “Those are wrinkles.”

Boy:  “What are wrinkles?”

Me: “That is what happens to your skin when you get old, it crinkles up.”

Boy: “Does it hurt?”

Me: “No”

The conversation continued as the boy continued to stare at me with concern in his eyes. Funny how I forget I am old until reminded by one who insists that the lines on my face certainly must hurt. I must admit that some of the events that led to the wrinkles hurt, but the wrinkles themselves are badges of honor. I have lived through trouble and am still standing. Why am I still standing? It has nothing to do with my ability or gumption it is God alone who has kept me moment by moment, day after day, year after year.

I look forward to someday leaving the trouble behind and gazing on the face of my Redeemer who rescued me. To see my God face to face who was with me in good times and bad and made me just as I am, wrinkles and all.

For further study:

Isaiah 46:4

Psalm 71

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Windows of Thy Grace

I’ve been overwhelmed with how difficult life is for many  people around me.

They are not dealing with one crisis, but many.

There are the car accidents, house fires, lost jobs, bankruptcy, court cases, prison terms.

There are the handicapped children, physical sickness, surgeries, cancer, deaths.

There are the prodigal children, substance abuse, adultery, broken families, abuses of every kind.

The list is endless, but in the midst of the dysfunction and  trouble I catch glimpses of God. He provides what is needed day by day, sometimes minute by minute. Those crumbs that sustain us through a barren land.IMG_0671_edited-1

Life will continue to be hard. We live in a fallen world that is getting worse not better. The sweetness in life comes from knowing this One who cares for our souls.  He has been there all along, caring for his sinful, wounded children. We catch glimpses if we take time to look.IMG_0673_edited-1

I ran across an old hymn by Isaac Watts that gives such a sweet picture of God. Oh that I would look through the windows of His Grace to catch a glimpse of Him.IMG_0674_edited-1

“I love the windows of thy grace. Through which my Lord is seen.

And long to meet my Saviour’s face, without a glass between.

O that the happy hour come, to change my faith to sight.

I shall behold my lord at home, in a diviner light.

Haste my beloved and remove, these interposing days.

Then shall my passions all be love, and all my pow’rs be praise.”

Isaac Watts 1674-1748