THE NEW EWE

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'"

Luke 15:4-6

March 10, 2021

LIFE IN THE FOLD:

I had something that happened a while back that I'd like to share with you. I'm going to be very transparent and honest with you all today regarding something that is very personal; but something that I feel many can relate to, on different levels.

That particular evening, I started battling some old insecurities about myself, that I thought I had dealt with. It was one of those sneak attacks that triggered old thinking habits about how I perceive myself. Once again, I felt embarrassment and those old thoughts of my value and worth as a person, being directly connected to my size, all came flooding back.

The thing is, the circumstance that triggered all of this really wasn't that big of a deal. Satan is a sneaky, sneaky little devil that likes to catch us off guard when we least expect it.

Here's what happened: My doctor put me on a waiting list for the COVID vaccine. I got a call that the clinic, where they were being given (that my doctor was connected to), had an availability and they asked if I could come in the following day. A family member innocently asked me how I was eligible to get the vaccine at that time. That started me questioning and researching online; which led me to find something that suggested that the only way I would have possibly been eligible was due to "comorbidity"; which included "obesity" in their list.

So then I started obsessing about my size, being thought of and labeled as obese, and all of those insecurities and embarrassment from former years all flooded back. Obese and obesity are such ugly words!

Let me just say this: this isn't a discussion about my size or looking for compliments of people saying that I'm pretty. Neither is it a discussion about whether or not you believe in getting the COVID vaccine. So please read more into this than those things, and understand my message!

The following day, after getting the vaccine, and all of that old negative, detrimental thinking coming back, was a Sunday morning. After I got ready for church, I went downstairs while Jon was showering. A song came to mind that simply says, "Be still and know that I am God." The song just repeats that phrase over and over; as well as a couple other simple verses that repeatedly says: "I am the Lord that healeth thee"..... and "In thee, O Lord, I put my trust."

I pulled the song up online and began listening to it. I felt the Holy Spirit ask me, "Whose voice are you listening to and believing? Put away all this stinky thinking about yourself and see yourself the way that God sees you!"

A few years ago, God had dealt with me about this very thing and taught me that my value and worth are not connected to my size or shape or appearance. He loves me, He sees me as beautiful, He gave me worth and value and wants me to recognize that and see those things in myself. I can walk with confidence, without embarrassment or feeling self-conscious; knowing that I am a beautiful daughter of the Most High King. My Heavenly Father is The King, and as His daughter, I am a princess. For real! In the heavenly kingdom, that's how it is. So I can walk in peace and confidence, knowing who I am and who my Father is!

Thankfully, God got my attention quickly and reigned my old detrimental, negative, stinky thinking habits about myself in, so that He could remind me who I am. But that came from being still, being silent, being quiet.... and knowing that He is God. What He says about me is truth -- so I can believe Him when He says that I'm precious and have worth and am His beautiful daughter. God doesn't lie!

In 1 Samuel chapter 16, Samuel is at the house of Jesse to anoint one of his sons to become the next king. Samuel says Jesse's son, Eliab and said, "Surely this is the Lord's anointed!" But that wasn't who God had ordained to become the next king. The Lord said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance of height, for I have rejected him." God's choice had nothing to do with how strong or handsome or appealing the man looked. That had absolutely nothing to do with His choice!

The scripture continues, "The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them. (Doesn't look at the things that people look at.) People judge by (or look at) the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

Aren't you glad that God doesn't judge as people do? Aren't you glad that what His top priority is, is our heart? Oh, to be like Him and make that our focus and priority; not the outward appearance, but what's in a person's heart.

Perhaps you've been struggling with stinky thinking habits. It may be how you see yourself or how you think about yourself; it may be about how you think others perceive you; it may be about temper or pride or bitterness or negativity or some things along those lines that have engrained themselves within you and control your thoughts and words. It may be an old wound or hurt that you've allowed to fester and grow and become infected within your heart.

Today, be still and know that He is God!! Take time to be quiet and allow God to teach you what He has to say about you and allow Him to change your stinky thinking. Let this be a day of healing and change. Let's become the men and women that God created us to be. Let's see ourselves as He sees us; we are His sons and daughters. He is King and we His princes and princesses; so we need to act like the spiritual royalty that we truly are!

JON'S PERSPECTIVE:

It's easy to get wrapped up in what we think of ourselves. But sometimes it seems easier to get wrapped up in what someone else thinks of us.

There is nothing admirable in being respected or admired by people who aren't respectable themselves, or who are making a mess of their own lives and those around them. If someone can't behave themselves with a little decorum, why should we put any value on how they think we should behave?

Besides, it's actually backward. The fools and disreputable people say they respect others for being just as foolish. But secretly, they usually respect the wise people. They just don't want to say so, or they risk being ridiculed as well.

Publicly, people who spread rumors are treated with the respect. After all, listening with excitement while someone is spouting something is a sign of respect. But no one who knows their reputation will tell them anything private because they don't really respect them enough to trust them.

People who run wild may be respected for a time, for all the fun they seem to have. But everyone knows it won't last, and knows how sad it will be when they have to grow up and earn a living. They won't know how.

ON THE MENEWE:

Sausage Dip

Brown sausage; drain. (Recipe suggests Jimmy Dean hot sausage; but it's according to you taste.)

Return to medium pan. Add cubed cream cheese and cans of Rotel. Heat thoroughly until creamy.

Serve with tortilla chips.

Note: If making for a party, you can put the dip in a small crockpot to keep warm.

THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER:

The very first newsletter that we published was March 12, 2007. Wow! We've been consistently writing this weekend devotional newsletter for 14 years!! We have never missed publishing even one week during all that time. There have been times when it has been difficult and inconvenient, but we somehow managed to get it done. During these 14 years we have both had our dad pass away, traveled together, traveled separately (Jon for work and me with my sister), had computer issues, and various other events. But we made a commitment that we would faithfully write and publish this weekly, and I'm happy to say have been able to keep that commitment. Our prayer is that others have benefited and been encouraged by us writing this weekly.

THOUGHT TO PONDER:

Faith doesn't always take you out of the problem; faith takes you through the problem.

Faith doesn't always take away the pain; faith gives you the ability to handle the pain.

Faith doesn't always you out of the storm; faith calms you in the midst of the storm. - unknown

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO YOU:

We love you!

Loretta & Jon

http://www.graysheep.org