Chosen

A few months ago, we were notified that Tatum was eligible for an academic program next year and were thrilled since Ryleigh was able to be in a similar program in middle school and we wanted Tatum to have that same opportunity.

We go to the interest meeting, submit our intent and then wait as only 50 students (out of roughly 300 who are eligible) are actually selected due to the program capacity. We knew this going in - they refer to it as luck of the draw.

Fast forward a few weeks later when we receive the letter in the mail!!! I opened it and my heart dropped for a minute...it was informing us that, unfortunately, Tatum was not one of the 50 selected.

Keeping it real.
I was upset.
And I dreaded telling Tatum...how was she going to take the news?

So I waited until the next day when we were driving home and basically said, "Remember they told us that we would be notified if you were selected for the program...well, we received the letter and your name wasn't pulled..." and as I began to prepare to remind her that it had nothing to do with "her," she simply said, "It's really ok - I knew there was a bigger chance I wasn't going to be selected, mom...I mean - there was a lot of names to pull from."

And that was that.

Talk about getting schooled from my 10 (now 11) year old.

She was chosen!
And even though she wasn't selected, she still knew her worth.

Oh, friends...we have been chosen, too!!
And the great news is you are in control of the selection process!

Scripture reminds us:

You did not choose me, but [I chose you] and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
- John 15:16

But you are a [chosen] people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
- 1 Peter 2:9

A few weeks passed and I was still upset (keeping it real) and was simply trusting God and praying that ultimately, this was in His hands, He knew where her little light might need to shine the most. And finally coming to terms that all would be well. I actually had peace about it.

Not even kidding, within days of "me" letting it go and giving it to God I recieved an email stating they had an opening for Tatum. :)

As I was driving by myself today, I was singing along to I Am Who You Say I Am and was reminded of what I just shared...we are not what program we are or are not selected to be a part of, or a circle of certain people, or a certain job, or "whatever."

Friends - we are already chosen!!!
By a God who loves us...just the way we are.

I am chosen!
[[You are chosen!]]
Not forsaken.
I am who You say I am!
[[You are who He says you are!]]
You are for me, not against me...
[[He is for you, not against you]]
I AM WHO YOU SAY I AM!
[[YOU ARE WHO HE SAYS YOU ARE!]]

Oh, to be like children.
The quiet confidence my daughter has reminded me of this truth.

YOU are chosen!

Love. Just Love.

I heard something on the radio this week that more or less stated not everyone is your friend, but everyone is your neighbor ... and that scripture reminds us to love our neighbor as we love our self.

Which got me to thinking ... how can we love our neighbor as we love our self when so many of us (myself included) don't always love our self?

And for those of us who struggle to be confident in who we are, no matter the truth we know deep inside, I've come to realize the greater scripture to call out is John 13:34 - - - “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."

"As I have loved YOU, so you must love one another. "

Ok...sheww!
That one is much easier, right?!

Because friends, God loves us the BEST!

And as soon as we recognize that love, a love that is greater than anything we have ever known, it's then that we will be able to love others so well; and even more so - love ourselves.

I don't like to give the devil any credit, but I do believe he tries real hard to get in where he for sure don't fit in...and for me, personally, it's my mind.

As I mentioned before, I KNOW the truth about who God says I am, and I have to constantly remind myself those lies that creep in and tell me anything different are NOT of God. And quickly tell that devil where he belongs - under my feet.

One of those truths is that God loves me the MOST! And He tells me to share that same love with others...my neighbors. The people I don't know...yet!!!

I want to encourage us today to be women who show love to our neighbors, and not just those who live on each side of us. Our neighbors are the people God has placed in our life; our coworkers, the checkout person, teachers, servers, the homeless, the stranger that makes us look the other way, the ones that often frustrate us. You know who they are when you stop to think about it.

Friends - God has entrusted people to US!
To show them LOVE!
To share HIS love!

Meditate on this scripture and then find one "neighbor" every day this coming week to intentionally love - - - I dare you!

I promise you, you won't regret it!

xox,

Jenny