What are you worth?

Far more than you can fathom.

But where do we find our worth?

From knowing and being known by the Creator and Savior of the world Jesus.

And yet the world tells us different.

In a recent conversation, a mom mentioned her twelve-year-old son had issues at school. Not academic or with bullies. His problem was aggressive, desperate-for-attention girls. The first day of school, he was surrounded by girls. They grabbed for his hands and arms and each begged him to be her boyfriend. This same boy told his mom about Instagram photos where young women post pictures of themselves and ask boys to rate their date-ability and desirability. Others send him pictures of pregnant women and ask if he thinks it is sexy and if he wants that for himself. In case you missed it, these girls are around 12.

What is happening to our girls? 

• They base their worth on the external and on what people tell them.
• They are afraid to be alone.
• The media they watch, hear, and read tells them purity is worthless and love must be grabbed.
• They believe sexy is beauty and sex is love.
• They think worth is in popularity.
• They grasp at external measures to fill up the part of their soul longing for love.

And what is influencing their worth?

At a recent MomLife Today event, Dannah Gresh spoke about the need for women of all ages to become lost in Jesus. Our deepest need is to know and be known by Jesus. The sexual union within marriage is a picture of this deep, intimate relationship we should have with God, NOT a replacement. The problem is that we try to fill our soul with the counterfeits of this world: boys, sex, materialism, power, external sources of self-worth, popularity, and more. And we are left broken.

Media packages these counterfeit messages into shiny boxes and bombards girls with negative images:

• Beer commercials often portray “ideal” girls as sexy and easy.
• Underwear retailers advertise skimpy, sexy padded bras and thongs for young girls. The message is sexuality is powerful and should be wielded like a weapon. Being and acting sexy is what makes you something to be desired.
• The Twilight book and movie series features romantic vampire interest Edward in the position of a demigod. Bella, the lowly human, is more than willing to give up her soul in order to be with him forever. He is her everything. He is her god.
• The popular tween/teen retail stores feature clothing and jewelry lines dedicated to the 50 Shades of Grey erotica book series. Shades apparently uses a similar set up to the Twilight books with a very handsome powerful rich man vs. an ordinary girl who thinks she is not worthy of him because he is so wonderful, however, 50 Shades adds explicit, erotic content that includes a warped sexual relationship.(I have not read the books, but it sounds like the girl is willing to give up her soul for this man, too.)

This is what is being marketed to our teens. Don’t you think that is enough? Oh, but there is more…

• The popular TV shows young girls are watching with their mothers perpetuate the identity crisis faced by girls today.  Vampire Diaries feature demigod vampires and other supernatural creatures. Teens drink alcohol profusely, even at parties their parents host, characters hop in and out of bed, and people return from the dead through witchcraft rituals (although there is no mention of Heaven or Hell). Characters murder and drink blood–sometimes out of crystal glasses. Worth is found in eternal youth, passionate sexual relationships, “hot vamp sex,” looking/being sexy, and power.
• Mainstream music often tells the same stories with rock stars portraying women as sexual and recreational objects. Female music “idols” shoot videos in cages wearing almost no clothing and sing about the sexual predator living inside them. And almost everyone wants to party themselves into oblivion.
• Did you also know there are a number of popular Young Adult book series that feature characters who conjure demons in order to control them (as if that were possible), teens engaging in erotic homo and heterosexual activities with multiple partners, and lots of blood. The results are rarely guilt, remorse, or the deep need for grace from a savior, unless that savior comes in the form of a demigod vampire or other dark creature.

The world tells us we are worthless unless we are all these things and more: popular, sexy, powerful, wealthy, in a sexual relationship (no matter how short-term), and grabbing all the fun we can before we die.

Please hear me. There is nothing on earth that can give you worth. No human, no relationship, no purchase, and no amount of power. Nothing. It is a deception.

Only God can fill our souls.

And in God’s heart, you are worth more than you can imagine. You are worth Jesus’ torturous death on the cross. You are worth God’s patience through thousands of years of terrible sins, just so you could be born and come to know your Savior. And only in the Savior’s arms will you find that worth.

More on this Topic…

• Downloads You are Worthy, Relationships, Redefining Beauty.
• Use Plugged In for TV, game, music, and movie reviews.
• Grab a copy of Get Lost by Dannah Gresh

Time to Check the Influences on a Girl’s Worth is a post from: More to Be

The post Time to Check the Influences on a Girl’s Worth appeared first on More to Be. Thank you for subscribing to More to Be. Through the end of May, we'd love for you to download 100 Questions for Mentors for free.

Has summer already started for you? Or are you about to head into another academic season? I know we’ve got gals from around the world connecting with us, so I’m trying to imagine life in your neck of the woods.

For me, the back door is finally kicked open and the summer sounds of birds and smells of lilac are bursting through the door. Technically, summer is here, if only my kiddos we’re out of school and we could all head to the beach.  Since we’ve got another few weeks left, I’m squeezing in leading one more M2B Mentoring Training Course!

Maybe this is the perfect timing in your life to get trained up as a mentor, before you put ideas into place for leading a mentoring group during the summer or starting up one next school year.

Or maybe it is just time to super-charged your confidence in Christ as you seek to impact those who God has put in your life?

It’s a 3 Week Training Blitz

Yes, we’re going to fly through Impact My Life in three weeks and cruise through the study guide as well.  If you’re a power-house reader and homework doer, you’ll be able to bang this thing right out.  If you like to take it a bit slower, the course will give you the encouragement found in group participation, while you choose to table some of the work to do at your own pace.

Course Details…

$15 per person – starts June 4th

• closed Facebook Group facilitated by life coach Elisa Pulliam
• week at a glance posted on Sunday evenings
• weekly discussion posted on Tuesday & Thursdays
• questions drawn from Impact My Life: Biblical Mentoring Simplified (available through Amazon for Kindle or in paperback)
• homework found within Impact My Life Study Guide (available through Amazon for Kindle)
• exclusive life coaching principles shared and applied in the community setting
• 10% off life coaching services offered by Elisa Pulliam
• $15 payment via PayPal

Click Here to Register

Want to know more about what others have to say about this training? Read more here.

Next Step? Questions?

email more @ moretobe dot com

It’s a 3 Week Blitz: Join the Next Mentoring Training Group is a post from: More to Be

The post It’s a 3 Week Blitz: Join the Next Mentoring Training Group appeared first on More to Be. Thank you for subscribing to More to Be. Through the end of May, we'd love for you to download 100 Questions for Mentors for free.

I am in a season of a lot of change. It seems like every time I turn around something has changed, or is about to change.

At the start of this season, my heart didn’t like this change very much. I started to get pretty anxious about it. I remember previous seasons of change; going from high school to college, from college to living on my own in a state far from my home, from singleness to marriage, etc.

Although all of these seasons were welcomed ones, I remember times of great anxiety over the change that was surrounding me.

The other morning I was praying through what this budding season will bring. I was handing things over to God, asking Him to help me release my controlling grip of the unknowns, pleading with Him to show me to trust in His goodness for this changing season. Shortly after this prayer session, I was reminded of Esther and her faithful journey through an intense season of change.

The Life of a Queen

Esther was a young Jewish orphan who was chosen to be a part of a budding group of women who could potentially become wife to the King. And although us modern day ladies probably wouldn’t turn down a chance to become a Queen, we must realize the type of King she would be marrying should she have been chosen. He wasn’t charming, and He wasn’t grace-giving. He was harsh and demanding. In fact he dismissed his previous Queen because she stood up to him. This royalty role doesn’t exactly paint a picture of happily ever after.

Esther was taken from the care of her Uncle and was required to undergo a year of beauty treatments and training in order to even be presented before the King as a potential bride. After this long year, Esther found favor and was selected to become Queen. But with that role as a Queen, Esther stepped into some responsibility. The lives of her Jewish people were being threatened, and the only one able to save her people was the King. Her life would be at stake should she even approach him with her request to save her people.

Despite all of the change that Esther had undergone in the last year, now she was at the risk of losing her life very shortly into this new role as Queen because of the imminent threat against her people. It was risky, but she knew she needed to stand strong and risk her own life in order to save the lives of others. I am inspired by Esther’s determination and her faithfulness to her people. She doesn’t give up the fight out of fear, and she stepped into her new role with confidence and passion knowing that God will provide for her and her people.

Stepping Out

Although my next season isn’t going to require that I step out with my very life for the lives of many, it will require that I step out. Step out of my comfort zone, step out of the security of what I’ve always known, and lay myself down in order to love and serve others in a whole new way.

This season is going to cause me to release my grip, let go of control.

We all go through different seasons of change. We all face seasons when we need to step out in order to live out our calling. I’m learning that as these seasons of change come, we need to take it one day, one decision, one moment at a time—seeking His will in the midst of the change. For we know that He doesn’t change, the seasons change.

What changes are you facing in your life today?

Can you let go of the reigns and give Him control?

I encourage you to bring your fears of the unknowns to the foot of His Cross. Let Him guide you, beloved…

{And we encourage you to step out in faith here. We invite you to step out as a mentor here. }

Letting Go of Control in Seasons of Change is a post from: More to Be

The post Letting Go of Control in Seasons of Change appeared first on More to Be. Thank you for subscribing to More to Be. Through the end of May, we'd love for you to download 100 Questions for Mentors for free.

A while back, I found myself roaming the streets of Beverly Hills, window shopping before an appointment. As I strolled down Melrose, my eyes were drawn to this gorgeous, intricately tailored, lace gown. It was way out of my price range, but I understood why. The dress wasn’t just fabric.

It was a delicately designed masterpiece.

As young women, we gaze upon these fashions with such wonder. These incredible styles seem so out of reach to us. But where did they all begin? They didn’t start out as a work of art. They were simply fabric: ordinary, typical, usual fabrics that needed a lot of work in order to become something truly valuable.

Do you ever feel like a cheap fabric…a work in progress?

Tearing at the seams, perhaps carrying a few stains or holes as you continue your journey?

I used to feel worthless. I grew up thinking that my flaws, my past, and my mistakes would eternally and inevitably hinder me from becoming a woman of any kind of worth.

The amazing thing is that we have a creator who is crying out for each of us, just dying for the opportunity to mend, fix, and add a few more details to our spiritual fabric.

God is the most incredible designer of all. The same God who placed the stars in the sky and the intricate details on a butterfly created you. He has a beautiful plan and unique purpose for your life.

How many unfinished projects do you currently have lying around your home?

I tend to always have another DIY craft that I don’t follow through with. The amazing truth is that we don’t have a God who throws in the towel half way through working on us.

You are not damaged goods.

You are not an unfinished project.

God is not done designing your beautiful life.

My challenge for you is to believe in who God says you are.

Believe that you are marvelously made (Psalm 139:14). As you use that creative eye when it comes to fashion, design, and all aspects of life, use it on yourself, too. Believe in your God-given potential even when you are unable to see the finished product. After all, a caterpillar has to wait before becoming a butterfly.

Beautifully Designed is a post from: More to Be

The post Beautifully Designed appeared first on More to Be. Thank you for subscribing to More to Be. Through the end of May, we'd love for you to download 100 Questions for Mentors for free.

There’s nothing like the celebration of Mother’s Day to remind me how important a momma is in a child’s life. And yet there is also nothing like Mother’s Day to remind me why mentors are so terribly needed, as I think about the motherless children in our culture and world.

We have motherless daughters {and sons} in this world, who still need the nurturing and care of adults who are willing to express the love of Christ in tangible ways.

Whether their moms have left this temporary dwelling {Jessica offers a poignant reminder of this impact} or left their calling chasing wildly after dreams {oh that could have been me…thank you, Jesus, it is not!}. Whether they are physically present but emotionally absent {a honest-to-goodness struggle}. Whether they are sold-out for their children but robbed by the burdened by stress and work and the demands of life. Whether they are happily married but suffer from debilitating depression or mentally stable but striving to fill two sets of shoes.  No matter the reason, we have motherless children in our midst.

This generation of young women {and men} need their mothers. No doubt. No argument there. But they need more than live bodies who carry a title.

They need moms invested in the calling of motherhood as they put on a mentoring mindset AND they need women to step into significant mentoring roles to fill the gaps.

Will you answer the call to impact the next generation with the love of Christ while instilling life application of biblical truth?

Will you get the training so that you can improve the ways you connect with those who need your influence?

We’re not asking you to go it alone. Oh no. We’re here to equip you!

Impact My Life: Biblical Mentoring Simplified  and Impact My Life Study Guide are BOTH FREE on Amazon from Tuesday, May 14 through Wednesday, May 16th!

Plus, we’re giving a free copy of 100 Questions for Mentors to our subscribers through the end of May! To subscribe, click here! {By the way, we only send out a weekly email of our posts, not daily!}

And, of course, you can get involved in one of our Mentoring Courses. The next one, a 3 Week Blitz, kicks off June 4th, so you can get your training in right before summer plans take over! To register, click here!

Tweetables

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{linking up here}

Why Mentors Are Needed {and FREE resources} is a post from: More to Be

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There a few interesting things that you should probably know about me.  I like frozen yogurt better than ice cream, I’m absolutely terrified of jellyfish, and I am, by nature, a HUGE people pleaser. I’ll leave the fro-yo and jellyfish for another time, but that third fun fact about people pleasing is the focus of today’s post.

I have been a people pleaser my entire life.  In school I was constantly trying to please my peers with the clothes I wore and the brand name on my shirt.  I strived to please my parents by getting good grades and being well-mannered (not that this is a bad thing).  In my friendships, I worked hard at always being the one who had the right thing to say; I wanted to be everyone’s “go-to girl.”  Even in my romantic relationships I aimed to please.  “Whatever you want to do is fine” became my mantra.

Photo: Eli Molina

Why was I so anxious to please? And why do I still struggle with people pleasing today?

Simple.  I enjoy it.  Actually, it is more like love it.

To make someone smile for something I did that pleased them… well you’ve got me right there.  If it’ll make you feel better, count me in.  Need someone to take on an extra burden for you?  Sign me up.

I revel in making others happy. 

Why would this be a bad thing, you ask?  Well, it finally hit me one morning that the time I’ve spent pleasing others should have been spent pleasing God.

I’ll let you soak that in for a moment because I certainly had to.

I should have been trying to please God.

I had let my prayer life become routine.  I had let my quiet time become not so quiet, filled with busyness and multi-tasking.  My need to please others had taken over my need to please God.

God makes it clear to us where our priorities should stand.

Malachi 1: 7 NLT
When you say ‘The altar of God is not important anymore; worship of God is no longer a priority,’ that’s defiling. 

These words were originally directed at the people of Israel, but they weighed heavily on my heart. Here I was, so concerned with what others thought and how I could please them that I had forgotten the most important One I should be aiming to please. I hope some of you out there are with me on this and I not hanging out on that tree limb by myself! Have you, too, spent so much time investing in others’ wants and needs that you’ve forgotten to be pleasing to the Lord?

This topic has been heavy on my heart lately because people-pleasing on its own account is not necessarily a bad thing. Which is exactly the point. Because we equate people-pleasing with being kind and helpful, we allow it to take over too much of our lives. It is the emphasis that we put on it, on caring more about what others think than what God thinks of us, that make it dangerous.

James 4:5 JER
Surely you don’t think the Scripture is wrong when it says: the spirit which He sent to live in us wants us for himself alone?

My priorities need to shift. I need to look to God before I put emphasis on anyone (or anything) else. His impression of me is the only one that matters. I want God to know that He is my ultimate priority.

My actions are a reflection of Him. 

The language I use- a reflection.

The way I raise my children- reflection.

My ability to forgive {and be forgiven}- pure reflection of Christ.

The list could go on and on.

Are you a confessed people-pleaser too?  Are you like me and need to make a change in priorities?  Are there things you can be doing that are more pleasing to God?

Dear Heavenly Father, forgive me for not making you a priority and for caring more about others think than what you think.  Your opinion of me is the only one that matters and I want to be pleasing to you.  Please help me to keep my focus on you.  Thank you for your unfailing love for us.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

Confessions of a People Pleaser is a post from: More to Be

The post Confessions of a People Pleaser appeared first on More to Be. Thank you for subscribing to More to Be. Through the end of May, we'd love for you to download 100 Questions for Mentors for free.

A Note from Elisa…

I am so glad Brenda is tackling this topic of online dating. You will be intrigued by her story and blessed by her wisdom. However, I want to point out that Brenda is writing specifically to share her advice with our twenty-somethings. If you are a tween or teen, please do read this post for the sake of being informed, but please know that we do not encourage you to consider online dating as an option for you until you’re an adult. 

Try to explain online dating to your grandparents, and maybe even your parents for that matter, and you will probably see crinkled foreheads and shaking heads in return. What ever happened to just good, old-fashioned meeting through mutual friends, at church, or in college?

I asked the same thing. Then I turned 30 . . . then 31 . . . and I still wasn’t married nor did I have any prospects for marriage. My friends were trying online dating sites, which isn’t a good reason in itself but, I decided to go ahead and give it a try too. I went online, filled out the compatibility profile, checked the boxes and told the computer whether I preferred tall or short, within 30 miles or 300 miles, and someone who jumps out of planes or reads poetry.

After about a month of spitting out the wrong guys, the website spit out the right one.

And I married him.

Yes, I met my husband on an online dating site.

Now, I’m not trying to endorse online dating sites. This isn’t a campaign statement declaring “it can happen to you too.” It’s just a fact.

In Christian circles there are a lot of opinions about online dating. I understand all sides of the debate of whether or not Christians should use online dating sites to meet someone. When I was making the decision, I asked myself whether I was chasing boys instead of allowing God to bring my husband to me. I kept coming back to 1 Corinthians 10:23:

“”All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.”

Online dating is not for everyone. However, we do not need to put a false commandment on it either. Whether or not a person should use online dating is a matter of motive, which is really  a matter of the heart.

5 Questions to Check Your Heart…Especially About Dating

1. Do you typically “chase boys”?
2. Do you seek attention from guys?
3. Do you feel incomplete without a boyfriend?
4. Do you have a history of always being in a relationship?
5. Do you just like the thrill of dating or are you seeking its ultimate purpose – a godly marriage?

If you discern that it would be helpful for you to use online dating and that it could build up instead of tear down, then there are further steps you should take.

How to Use Online Dating in a Way that Can Be Helpful

1. Treat online dating just as you would dating in real life.

If you don’t ask guys out in real life, then don’t do it online. Wait for them to contact you. That means don’t use the “flirting features” on online dating sites. This is a way to keep the controls in God’s hands.

2. Be discerning about the label “Christian.”

The term “Christian” has a lot of different meanings. There are people who consider themselves Christians because they celebrate Christmas and they’re not Jewish or Muslim or another religion. Then there are people who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, but are not trusting Him with their lives at the moment. And there are people who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior and are trusting Him fully by living their life for Him. We all know that the Bible instructs us to not be unequally yoked (2 Corinthians 6:14), so it’s important to fully discern what this looks like in our relationships.

3. Pray continually.

Ask for wisdom from God above all else. You need wisdom for whether to move forward and meet the guy you connected with online in person, but you also need wisdom to keep your eyes on Jesus. If you find that your thoughts are becoming consumed, you’re rushing to the computer constantly to check who’s contacted you, or you are becoming overly discouraged, then it’s time to take a step back and reevaluate your motives.

Online dating is not for everyone. Through prayer check your heart to see if it’s right for you. Then, move slowly through the process just as you would or should in a situation where you met in real life first.

What are your thoughts about online dating?

For a thorough look at the topic of dating, courting,
and relationships in light of God’s design,
download our Dating Handout and Resource Guide!

How to Decide if Online Dating is for You is a post from: More to Be

The post How to Decide if Online Dating is for You appeared first on More to Be. Thank you for subscribing to More to Be. Through the end of May, we'd love for you to download 100 Questions for Mentors for free.

I have this mission for how I want to live my life, and it has boiled down to one word:  Overflow.

Romans 15:13 NIV

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,
so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I want to be filled up with the hope of God, His joy, His peace, and overflow that by the power of the Holy Spirit onto my husband, my children, my community, and beyond. I don’t want to give more of myself to those I love. I won’t satisfy. I won’t ever be enough. And so I want to give them more of Him!

See, I want my life to be filled up by the Lord in such a massive and powerful way that what comes out of me — my mouth, my thoughts, my actions — is an overflow of Him in me.

I know I can’t do this on my own — it is too holy and sacred of a pursuit. God needs to do this in me, through the working of the Holy Spirit. This mission requires a willingness to surrender my life, pursue disciplined living, and be humbly repentant. Yes, repentant, because I fail often. {Like last week, when the schedule was so crazy getting time with the Lord was nearly impossible and by the end of the week I was nothing but a bundle of anxious nerves and short-tempered words!}

This filling up of God in me requires time — my time.  And time seems to be in great demand for us mommas, right!  The truth is, however, I’ve got to put aside my “to do” list to sit quietly with Him in the Word — even for five minutes — no matter how challenging the schedule becomes! {And even when school trips, community gatherings, deadlines, and special events all collide in the same week.}

Yes, I’ve also have to go to bed earlier in order to rise before the rest of the family to meet with Him in solitude, even when I’d rather sleep.  I’ve got to embrace the Overflow Method and prioritize my day so that the dishes and email and Facebook posts wait in order to read the Word. Ugh. It is so hard! And I know I am not alone in this struggle!

I fail at these seemingly simple goals to find my filling at the Cross, as I listen to the deceptive whispers of the enemy: “Ah, it is no big deal. You can have your quiet time later. Just get that thing out of the way so that you can concentrate.” Hog wash.

In God’s economy, when you put Him first,
He orders your life with a portion of Himself
that puts everything in perspective and
brings strength into your weakest places.
{click to tweet this thought}

We’re so quick to forget that God’s ways and instructions require more than our feelings to make them true. From the very beginning, the Enemy has played upon our emotion to steer God’s people off course. To steal our joy. To rob our hope. To destroy our purpose.

So living from the overflow requires a full on defensive stance to withstand Satan’s distractions and deceptive maneuvers, especially on us women (I don’t care how young or old you are) who are seeking to glorify in every day life.

We have to stand on guard and engage in the battle from every angle. I have this one friend with whom we’ve made this silent agreement to confess to each other when our priorities are askew. I tell my husband when I feel my focus is off-kilter. I have “overflow” printed on the back of my iPhone case, because my phone can be a constant source of distraction. And I willingly take on opportunities that put me at the risk of scrutiny of other Christians — even though it terrifies me — because being a woman who writes, speaks, and organizes a conference for moms, is something that requires both the daily discipline of being in the word and a greater accountability in answering to the Lord (thank you very much, James, for that reminder!). {By the way, if you want to be one my of my prayer sisters, come join my Jump Sisters group. I could use you!}

Sometimes I want to run from this responsibilities to slink away into my wayward living without anyone calling me into account. But just as that thought comes through my mind, I realize there he is again — the Enemy stealing it all. Including my hope. And that, my friends, I refuse to give into.  So even if I am a mess  — leading an imperfect Christian life — I won’t give up pursuing God to overflow Himself in me, because the promise of overflowing His hope, joy, and peace upon others is a call I am willing to embrace, even if it is hard.

Do you need His hope overflowing onto you and through you?  I want to overflow that hope upon you — not from myself — but from Him. I pray you will consider attending the Raising Generations Today Conference next spring — we promise Hope from Him! Now is your chance to grab one of 25 tickets available at $10 off — sale starts on Tuesday, May 7th at 12:01 am. Plus we are giving away one ticket through a little celebration opportunity!  Head on over to www.raisinggenerationationstoday.com this week to learn more or use the Raffelcopter entry form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Overflowing Hope is a post from: More to Be

The post Overflowing Hope appeared first on More to Be. Thank you for subscribing to More to Be. Through the end of May, we'd love for you to download 100 Questions for Mentors for free.

Recently someone asked me if I had been paid for something I did for another person. When I replied in the negative, they acted surprised. Their response indicated I was wasting my time because I wasn’t generating income.

It made me wonder…

Are the things we do only valuable if we are paid to do them?

That seems to be the world’s message.

I would like to make a case for the opposite.

When you were a child did your parents ever hang your artwork on the refrigerator? Or, if you are a parent, do you ever hang your children’s art around the house? Why? In most cases, it’s not because the art is museum worthy, at least not to someone else. But in the eyes of a mom, almost every line scribbled from her child’s hand is beautiful. Even more touching are the pictures drawn specifically for Mommy.

You couldn’t pay me to give away one of my children’s pictures. I display them not only on my refrigerator, but on every household surface to which a magnet sticks. Why? Because the works of my children are precious and priceless.

How much more precious, then, are the things we do in service to God?

I’m not only talking about big, huge press-worthy activities. I’m thinking of the little things we do in life:

• The hugs or listening ear you give to a friend in need.
• The mission trip you take.
• The prayers you offer on someone’s behalf.
• The money/time/talent you quietly donate.
• The dishes you wash in the kitchen during a meeting.
• The trash you pick up on a neighbor’s lawn even though they will never know you helped them.
• The times you share the hope and love of Jesus with others without even saying a word.
• The times you offered grace and kindness to someone who didn’t deserve it.
• The diapers you change as a mom, and the hugs you give to your children as they grow, demonstrating by action the love of Jesus.
• The fact that you gave up doing ______ because you wanted to be with your children.
• The anything you do because you love the Lord.

Like the way an earthly mother views and displays her child’s artwork, I wonder if God has a giant Heavenly refrigerator where he hangs the little scribbles and service acts we offer Him.

Perhaps he hangs them around his throne, too — like I do with the artwork around my house –  so that His heart is touched and warmed by every glance. Or maybe, he has millions of scrapbooks full of our offerings, and asks every angel who stops by to see what His child did.

Like a parent awed by their child’s crayon creation, maybe He remarks: “Isn’t it beautiful? I’m going to keep it forever.”

So, the next time you wonder if what you are doing is worthwhile, think about it from the eternal perspective. <– Click to tweet.

For further study, see You are Worthy, one of the More to Be Truth & Topics downloads.

How do you know if it is worthwhile? is a post from: More to Be

The post How do you know if it is worthwhile? appeared first on More to Be. Thank you for subscribing to More to Be. Through the end of May, we'd love for you to download 100 Questions for Mentors for free.

Proverbs 4:23 NASB

Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.

I plopped onto the couch, Kindle in one hand and a mini peanut butter cup in the other (the mini’s are my favorite—more chocolate!). It was the kind of quiet Saturday afternoon that you’re always seeing in movies, but never seem to have too many of yourself.

I started to read and unwrap my candy at the same time. Then I laughed. My peanut butter cup had some extra wrapping. This one is double-wrapped. It’s special. The truth settled into my soul like the approach of a summer storm. This one is double-wrapped. Just like me.

Purity Is Not…

Purity is not a bracelet, to be clasped upon a wrist when one is feeling pretty.

Purity is not a cloak, to be taken on and off depending on the temperature and season.

Purity is not even an attitude, that ephemeral, illusive something that needs constant adjustment, that flutters in and out of our hearts like a butterfly hesitant to land.

Purity Is…

Purity is a pair of eyes, probing the heart to not only oust the unsavory…but to embrace the beautiful, the bright, the blessings.

Purity is a pair of ears, tuned in to not only turn away from the tarnished…but to listen to the lovely, the lyrical, the liberty.

Purity is a pair of hands, turned up to the Father to not only release the rugged…but to catch the celestial, the celebration, the comfort.

Purity can be a hard thing to accept at times, when we cry out to be satisfied now. But isn’t it amazing to think of our Lord lovingly wrapping us in His arms, unwilling to release us to just anyone or anything?

Purity is a choice to remain double-wrapped…and special…and loved.

God, thank You for wrapping me up in Your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Psalm 51:10 NASB

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

What does purity look like to you?

Double-Wrapped is a post from: More to Be

The post Double-Wrapped appeared first on More to Be. Thank you for subscribing to More to Be. Through the end of May, we'd love for you to download 100 Questions for Mentors for free.