Identity Theft

Today we live in a world where you hear the term "Identity Theft" frequently.  There are businesses designed to keep your "identity" safe.  Many people have at one time or another had someone use their credit card illegally as a result of this infraction.  Those people were victims of "Identity Theft".

The thief in these cases is usually unknown and for all intensive purposes, invisible.  Yet, he can do much damage in a short amount of time.  

There is another thief among us that is out to steal all of our identities.  

I have mentioned before that I don't give much attention to him because I think he likes attention, but we cannot just ignore him.  If someone stole your credit card information, it would be foolish to ignore it. This  thief  is after infinitely more than your credit card information.  Jesus described this enemy.....

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.  John 10:10   -Jesus


What a contrast!  "Steal, kill and destroy" are strong words, a very definite purpose.  Contrast that with Jesus who came to give us an "abundant life",  full of the goodness of God. 

However, many Christians do not feel as if they are living an "abundant life".  Why is this?  The answer is.......

Identity Theft

The enemy has lied to them and they do not realize who they are in Christ.  Their "identity" in Christ has been stolen so to speak.  It is still available to them, but damaged due to the thief who has convinced them to believe things about themselves that are simply NOT TRUE.

I was definitely a victim of "Identity Theft."  For many years, I believed falsehoods that fashioned my reality.  That is until the light of truth penetrated the false images that embedded my thoughts and exposed the lies.  Through keeping the Word of God in front of my eyes,  I was able to reclaim my identity in Christ.  Actually my identity was always secure in Him, I just didn't realize it and was living my life as a victim instead of an overcomer.

Here is what God says about our identities in Christ.......

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  2 Cor 5:21 (We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus!)

I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.  Phil 4:13

And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, you shall be above only and not beneath. Deut 28:13

For he who serves Christ in these things is accepted by God and approved of by men.  Rom 14:18

(You are accepted by God and have favor with people!)

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  Romans 8:37


These verses state the truth about who you are and about who I am.  It took awhile to replace the old images in my mind about who I was and for these truths to be engraved into my spirit, soul and mind.  At times, I still need reminders.  


Our true identity is found only in Christ and what He says about you.  Any thoughts about yourself that do not line up with God's Word are lies.  If you have been living below where God intends for you to live believing a lie that you are not good enough, that your sin is too great, that you are nothing, please don't let the enemy have your identity any longer. 

God gave His son, Jesus, so we can have life and have it more abundantly.  The thief stole what God intended for us when he deceived Eve into eating the apple, and Adam and Eve sinned.  Jesus was the second Adam, and He knew no sin.  He gave His life to buy back our identities and give us eternal life.  You are bought with the precious blood of Jesus, you are His. 

Slow Fade

There was a song Casting Crowns made a couple years back called "Slow Fade".  It is a great song, it is thought provoking and challenges one to take an inventory of his or her life.
 
It is on my play list at the top.  "Playlist" is no longer automatically feeding into blogs, : ( so you must click on play to hear it.  

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white turn to gray
Thoughts invade, choices made
A price will be paid when you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day, families never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade.  -Casting Crowns

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  1Peter 5:8

I drove by a home today that was once a home to a wonderful family.  A precious couple once lived there with their 4 children.  Today it is a vague reminder of the past for them, it represents a shadow of broken dreams and promises, a family torn apart.  I miss them dearly.  You see, they got divorced about a year ago.  There are some couples you are not surprised to hear are getting a divorce, but that was not the case with this family.  The news completely shocked us!  Every year we went to their home for an annual New Years Eve Party.   They seemed to be happy, they seemed to have it all together.  It was very painful to hear that our friends were separating. We still pray for them. 

(If you are divorced,  please know I am not condemning you. I know things happen and I am no one's judge.)

So, as I drove by their home today I thought, "How?  How did that happen?"

I'll tell you it didn't happen overnight.  People never crumble in a day.  It was a slow fade.

We need to be very aware in our lives of tactics the enemy may try to use to get us off track.  We need to be aware of the people we are allowing into our lives and use caution in our relationships.  Ask questions like "Is this person a good influence or bad influence on me?"  We need to use wisdom.  It isn't wise for opposite sexes to spend too much time together or be alone together.  Chris and I have a rule to not ride alone in a car with a member of the opposite sex.  It is only using wisdom.  We also need to be aware of what we are allowing ourselves to watch on television, listen to on the radio, or look at on the internet.  Remember, it may seem like a small thing, but it is a slow fade.

Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines.  Song of Solomon 2:15


We must be on the look out for foxes, the little foxes that get in there and end up ruining the fruit.  The little "foxes" may seem small, but overtime they end up corrupting that which was good.  If one isn't mindful to keep a barometer on his spiritual walk and what is going into his life, he may wake up one day wondering what happened.  "How did this happen?"  It was a slow fade.

I was very thankful as Chris and I discussed an important matter the other night.  I was very thankful for our relationship and to be married to such a godly man.  That being said, I know I must be "sober" and "vigilant", I must be calm, temperate and watch.  I must be on guard, on the lookout for ways the enemy might be trying to get a foothold in my life or family and immediately resist the enemy by submitting myself to God and rebuking the enemy.  The enemy then has no choice but to flee (James 4:7).

Let's be diligent to watch our thoughts, watch our words, watch our actions, and watch our choices.  Every choice we make will either bring us one step closer to the Lord or one step away.  We need to watch our steps and not compromise.  We need to be progressively growing in the Lord and in our marriage, not fading away and giving into sin.   Don't "give yourself away" to things unworthy of you.  Jesus paid a valuable price for you, you are precious and priceless. 

People never crumble in a day.  Its a slow fade.

Disney and Dancing: What Could Go Wrong?

We recently took at trip to Orlando, FL.  We vacation there often because we REALLY like Disney World. When we went last year, we had such a fun time at Downtown Disney.  In the middle of Downtown Disney, there is a stage, music playing, and a DJ that encourages all listening boogiers to dance, dance, dance!  Last year, I danced with my kids there.  My son, Joe, actually won a dancing contest there!  It was really fun and a great memory.  Well, I had it in my head that this year, we would do the same thing and have a repeat blast of last year, that is until.........

Do you ever get an idea into your head, but then it doesn't turn out the way you thought it would AT ALL!  I am actually quite an idealist, it can be a good quality.....or a bad one. 

Idealism is good in that idealistic people are usually optimistic and believe the best. 

Idealism is bad when things do not work out as planned and the idealist does not cope well with the results. 

God showed me something related to my idealism that I want to share with you.  First, though, I will share the rest of my story.

......everything went wrong!  I had been talking about dancing at Downtown Disney for days.  I was so excited about it.  I even planned our activities around it!  (I even got a little out of submission to Chris....another lesson learned for another time.)  That is how desperately I wanted to dance with my family there.  Finally, it was time, the moment for which I built up in my mind to be super fun family time.  I heard the music and grabbed Joe and raced down to the dance floor and started to boogie leaving Chris, Luke and Sarah behind in the masses of people. 


Next thing I know, Chris is there with Sarah, but Luke is not with him.  OH NO!  Where is Luke?  Thankfully, we immediately saw a lady walking down the steps to the dance floor helping a teary eyed Luke find his family.  Immediately, I was convicted.  I couldn't believe in desperation for my ideal, I actually lost my son!  I went over to him, but there was no consoling him.  He was a six year old scared to tears thinking he lost his family.  I am embarrassed to say I thought, "Well, maybe he'll want to dance in just a minute when he calms down." It pains me to admit, I still had my ideal in my head.  At this point though, no one wanted to dance.  I still wanted to, but I was the only one.  My ideal was crushed and I did not handle it well. 

It took me longer than it should have to regain my composure.  I decided I needed to be alone.  I sat alone with my tears and the Lord. I sat there knowing my attitude was wrong, knowing I wanted to get it right, knowing I should just be thankful, after all, we are at Disney and Luke was safe.  I knew all of this, yet it was hard for me to get my heart straight that night.  That night did NOT go as planned, my ideal and flesh left broken.

I did eventually get my heart right that night.  It took a little time and prayer.  I asked my family and the Lord for forgiveness for my wrong attitude.

So, why did my ideal not working out send me in an emotional tailspin? 

Because my ideal had become an idol.

Eidolon is the Greek word for idol.  Eidolon (Idol) : an image; whatever represents the form of an object, either real or imaginary. 

Effigies is Latin and it can be translated "idol" or ideal.

Remember, the definition above stated that an idol can be either real or imaginary.  We can hold up idols in our minds in the form of our "ideals".  We may worship our ideals and chase them day after day.

Little children, keep yourselves from idols.  1 John 5:21 

We often just think of idols as carved golden images, but it is anything that we put above the Lord and His will.  The footnote in my bible says, " Any god, object, or pursuit other than that directed by God's revealed will and way declared in His Son is an idol."    

An example of this may be a person chasing a dream that is not God's will for them and they put that dream before the Lord and His will for their lives.  There are God given dreams and I am not referring to those.  However, those also can become an idol if placed in front of the Lord. 

My ideal became my idol that day as I chased it without considering that God may have a different plan.  I put my plan before God's plan.  (Not a good idea!) I followed my flesh instead of the Spirit.  Who knows what I missed out on because of being in blind pursuit of my plan.

It is good to have dreams, but we need to be sure that our dreams line up with God's dreams for us.  The only way to know is to spend time with Him and in His Word.

I hope you don't think too badly of me now that I was brutally honest with my humanity and laid my sin at your feet.  I don't ever want to put my flesh above the Spirit's direction.  However, I am human and I am sure this will not be the last time I give into my flesh instead of being led by the Spirit.  All we can do is just go to the Throne of Grace daily, die to ourselves and our flesh daily, and be sensitive to hear from the Lord so we can be led by His Spirit.   

Father,  Forgive us for any idols we have had in our lives. Show us, Father, if there is anything before You in our lives.  We pray for Your plan in our lives.  We want Your perfect will for us.  We know it is a good plan.  Father, help us daily to die to ourselves and be led by Your Holy Spirit.  We desperately need you Lord.  Thank you for your mercy and grace.  In Jesus' precious and Holy name, Amen.

Summer of Honor and Significance

As I was writing out goals for my children this summer, the goals just didn't seem to be what my heart really wanted to teach my children this summer.   I tried to use the same formula I used for myself with setting spiritual, physical, and relational goals.  Somehow, it just was not fitting in with the main goal for my family. 

If your kids are anything like mine, summer can be a stressful time with them being together all the time.  Their constant time together can result in whining, arguing, complaining, and bickering.  Sometimes it is over something they are doing and other times it is about literally nothing.  You know, arguing about things like if Goofy is a dog or not, if Luke Skywalker can fly, if Peter Pan is real.  Things that are really life altering.  : ) 

I began reading a book recommended by a friend called, "Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes in You and Your Kids!" by Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller.  It is one of those life changing books you wish you would have read years ago.   It is all about honor.

While reading this book, I decided that I wanted this summer to be about honor.  I want to teach my kids what honor means.  Teaching my kids to honor is my main goal for them this summer. 

We want our family to be a place where we all value and honor each other.

You may be thinking that sounds like a fairy tale, but I believe it can happen. 

Exodus 20:12 says:  Honor your father and your mother that your days may be long upon the land which your Lord your God is giving you.   It is one of the 10 commandments and pretty important.  : )  God wouldn't give us this commandment if it was impossible!  All things are possible with Him. 

However, we as parents must also honor our children.  Children also must honor each other and other adults as well. 

So, what does honor look like in a family?  The book above gives great insight into how honor is displayed in a family.

Honor is rooted in love.  When you love others with the love of Jesus, you will honor them. 

Honor thinks of others before himself.

Honor gives more than what is expected.

Honor puts other's needs above your own.

Honor values others and treats them as special.

Honor has a good attitude. 

When we show honor to others, it is like giving them a gift.  When we dishonor others it is like giving them a bag of dirt.  (I actually plan to use this example with my kids as an example of honor vs. dishonor--it is an idea from the book.)

We dishonor others when we say hurtful words, yell, complain, argue, have a bad attitude and are selfish.  All dishonor is sin. 

Most dishonor is rooted in selfishness.  The book pointed out that selfishness is not something children just outgrow.  It gets ingrained in them if not addressed.

When we dishonor someone with our words or actions, we are expressing that we do not value them.

Complaining:  Not valuing what you have, not being thankful.  It is actually dishonoring to the Lord! Honor values what you have been given and is thankful for it.

Children Arguing:  Children are not valuing each other and their relationship.  Honor values every person and sets out to give and bless others. 

Parents yelling at Children:  Parents are not valuing their children.  Honor challenges us as parents to evaluate how we treat our children and others. 

What a different world we would live in if everyone honored each other.   We can at least start with teaching honor in our families.   I encourage you to get the book I mentioned if you want to have a family who honors each other.  I just gave you a few pages of insight I learned from the book.  It is an excellent book for learning about honor. 

Hope you are having a Summer of Significance!

Summer of Service and Significance

Every summer our church has a "Summer of Service" or S.O.S.  It is where all of the different ministry teams go out into the community and do random acts of kindness as a team.

For example, the children's ministry team helped with refurbishing a children's center where underprivileged children are cared for after school and during the summer.  Another example is some of the ladies from the women's ministry team went to a local laundry mat with a ton of quarters.  They paid for the people's laundering that day. One person prayed the prayer of salvation that day at the laundry mat. 

This last Sunday, our Pastor encouraged all the members of the congregation to not only participate in the church wide outreaches, but to also go out into their neighborhoods and look for ways they could reach out to their neighbors. So, I began to pray about what the Lord wanted me to do for my neighbors.

Love your neighbor as yourself.  Matt 22:39

I am blessed to live in a neighborhood where I know many of my neighbors.  I know that in today's world that is not always the case.  If you don't know your neighbors very well, I encourage you to reach out to get to know them.  You could invite them to dinner, bake them something, or just go over an introduce yourself.    My last neighbor, Joy, was such a good example in this area.  When we moved to our new home, I carried over here what I learned from her.  Her kindness was contagious, and yours will be also.

God showed me some specific ways I can reach out to my neighbors this week to show them the love of Jesus.  God showed me a couple of things to do.

I was hesitant to share.  I felt a little funny about it.  So, I am going to share what God showed me plus some others ideas I have seen others do to give examples of what serving your neighbors might encompass.

  
You might offer to watch a neighbor's kids for them, give a neighbor something they need that you don't have use for anymore (ex. baby items or clothes), or give out popsicles to the kids playing outside.  Give a baby gift for a neighbor expecting a baby.  My friend, Pastor Doug, is getting with a couple of neighbors to pull weeds at the front entrance of our neighborhood.  He is our children's pastor.  My friend, Dave (Joy's husband), mowed our lawn one time while we were on vacation.  What a great surprise!  We were so blessed by it!  Yesterday, my son helped me pull weeds for a neighbor who cannot pull weeds right now due to health reasons.  We also baked cookies for new neighbors. 

These are all things we can do anytime to share the love of Jesus with our neighbors.  Even when we just give out popsicles or a drink of water, we are showing the love of Jesus.  Jesus said it is the same as if we did it unto Him.

For I was hungry and you gave Me food: I was thirsty and you gave Me drink:  I was a stranger and you took Me in:  I was naked and you clothed Me: I was sick and you visited Me:  I was in prison and you came to Me.   Matt 25:35-36

Then the righteous will answer Him saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You or thirsty and gave You drink?  When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothed You?  Or when did we see You sick or in prison and come to You? Matt 25: 37-39

And the King will answer and say to them, Assuredly,  I say to you, inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these My brethren, you have done it unto me.  Matt 24:40

UNTO ME. -Jesus   is the theme of our Summer of Service this year.

WOW!  Whenever we serve, it is like we are doing it unto Jesus!  Everything we do, we are doing it as unto Him.

I think it is important to note that the first place we should be serving is in our own home.  It would be hypocritical to serve others and neglect the needs of our own family.

It is also extremely important that we evaluate the attitude of our hearts while serving.  What is our motivation?  Is it purely out of love for others and the Lord, or do we have ulterior motives?  God is not pleased when we serve with an unwilling heart or begrudgingly.  I would venture to say that God is more concerned with our heart attitudes than anything else.  He is more concerned with our "Who" than our "Do" as Joyce Meyer says.

So, I hope this may encourage you to pray about how you can show the love of Jesus to your neighbors this next week?  God will show you if there is anything you can do.  The seeds you plant may affect someone for eternity! I would love to hear other ways that you or someone you know has served their neighbors or if you do something for your neighbors this next week, please share!  I would love to hear about your ideas and how you are making this a Summer of Significance! 

Stay tuned...in the next post I will continue the Summer of Significance series with goals for children.

Summer of Purpose and Significance

I was feeling a little overwhelmed last night looking at my calendar.  This is summer and suppose to be a little more laid back, relaxed.  You know, the lazy, hazy days of summer.

As I was looking at my calendar I realized that my summer does not slow down until the end of July!  Wow, and then it is about over.  I realized that if I am not careful, this whole summer will pass by in a blink of an eye. 

In the midst of my schedule, I want to be intentional, purposeful.

I want to enjoy my children being home, I want to nurture them and help them grow closer to the Lord this summer.  I want to grow closer to Lord this summer.  There is nothing else more important. 

A dear friend of mine writes a blog called The Word of God and A Cup of Joe (www.joyfuljava.blogspot.com).  She came to speak at our Mothers of Preschoolers meeting last month.  She spoke on "Living Water: Staying Hydrated in the Summer's Heat".  It was about how we need to stay in God's Word to be full of living water and not dry up and be ineffective.  It was about having a "Summer of Significance."  It was VERY good.

I want to have a "Summer of Significance"!  I don't want it to just be another summer.  

God is a God of purpose. 

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to them that are called according to His purpose.  Romans 8:28

One of the definitions of PURPOSE  in the Greek is: Setting forth a thing, placing it in view. 

We need to set a purpose, and we need to place it in clear view.  If we don't do those things, our purpose will get away from us and we will forget it.  We will get to the end of the summer and think, "What did I do this summer, where did this summer go?"  And if we really are not careful, we may spend our whole lives without a purpose. Many people get to the end of their lives and are filled with regret for lack of purpose.  I don't want to live a life of regrets, I want to live a life of purpose.  

Habakkuk 2:2 says Write the vision upon tablets that he may run that reads it. 

Write the vision upon tablets......write down what your purpose it, write down what your goals are for this summer.  Pray about it, we want God's purpose and not our own.  Set the purpose and then keep it in clear view.

Before summer started, I sat down one morning and wrote out some goals for me for the summer.  I broke them down into three areas:  Spiritual goals, physical goals, and relational goals.   It is also good to find verses that support your goals.

Spiritual Goals:
1) Spend time each day in concentrated prayer
2) Confession cards to increase my faith in my annointing
3) Blog more (goal for 3 times a week...not there yet)  : )
4) Look for ways to be a blessing to others.

Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.  Matt 6:33

Physical Goals:
1)  Exercise 3-4 times a week.
2) Only 1 dessert per week.
3) Only 1 soft drink per day.

To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  Rom 8:6

Relational Goals:
1) Doing bible study with husband
2) Setting up playdates
3) Spend one on one quality time with each of my kids at least once a week. 

Be ye therefore imitators of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us and gave himself for us.  Ephesians 5:1-2

So, there are my goals.  Some I am doing better on than others, but I am getting there.  I will also be setting up goals for our children this week and sharing them with you. 

Let's have a Summer of Purpose, A Summer of Significance! 

Smell Like Jesus

The other day I was at a friend's house and she said to me, "You smell good, you smell like cotton candy."  I smiled, laughed and said, "My perfume smells like cotton candy."   It does. I didn't buy it to smell like cotton candy, I just liked it.  : ) What a sweet fragrance! 

When she said that it reminded me of a verse that inspires me.

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.  Ephesians 5:2 

This verse is an inspiration to me because I want to leave a sweet-smelling aroma.  I want others to know I love the Lord and I want it to show by the way I live my life.

Merriam-Webster defines aroma as "a distinctive quality or atmosphere." 

When I walk into a room, I want the aroma of Jesus to fill that place and for the people there to know there is something different, distinctive, about me.  When I leave a place, I want to leave a pleasant "aroma" behind.

I want to smell like Jesus. 

Paul describes how to have this aroma in the previous Chapter, and actually the whole bible is filled with how to have this aroma, but I'll just share some verses Paul wrote about it.  : )

Walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all  humility and gentleness.  Be patient with one another, making allowances for each others faults because of your love.  Eph 4:2

Be angry and do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your anger nor give place to the devil.  Eph 4:26

When someone says something or does something that could offend you, don't let it offend you.  It only opens the door for the enemy and your aroma is lost.

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that is may impart grace to the hearers.  Eph 4:29

It is important to watch what we say and to encourage others with our speech.  Are we speaking positively or negatively about others when they are not around? Are we speaking positive and encouraging words to others when we are with them? 

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice.  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God in Christ forgave you.  Eph 4:32

Therefore be imitators of God dear children.  Eph 5:1

It all comes down to being an imitator of God and walking in love.  That is what Jesus did.  He only did that which His Father did and He always loved.  He left a sweet aroma that drew people to Him. I pray that I would leave a sweet aroma wherever I am that would draw people to Jesus. 

God's Masterpiece

 

 

God's Masterpiece

Dedicated to my son, Joseph

Little toes in the sand,
a world of life at his feet
Beauty and calm on the surface of the seas
Mark the start of the canvas of this oceanic masterpiece.
God's strength is reflected as waves crash the shore,
His solemn recorded as they roll on evermore.
Its mystery and majesty one only can imagine,
The marvel of God's creation one cannot truly fathom.
Unknowing where the end is, he looks in awesome wonder,
At an infinite vision displaying God's grace and His splendor.
For now his little toes walk on the grainy surface underneath,
And he feels the water as the waves tickle his precious feet.
Meanwhile, the One Who created the seas and the heavens,
Looks at him, smiles, and sees the greater miracle He has given.
For in all the ocean's beauty, still nothing can compare
To the miracle of a child's life, so precious and so fair.
The little one stares in awe at the greatness of the seas,
However, God looks at him and sees His greatest masterpiece.

-Sue Molitor

I wrote this poem when my son was one year old.  I revised it a little today as I rewrote it. 

We went to Sea World on Friday last week and it was amazing to see up close the wonders of the seas, such a hidden world of  beauty.  I pointed out many times that day to my children how amazing our God is to create so many lovely creatures.  

It is enough for one to just stand in awe in the unfathomable vastness of our God.  We truly cannot comprehend His greatest. 

And God called the dry land earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas.  And God saw that it was good.  Gen 1:9 

Then God said, "Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures... and God saw that it was good. Gen 1:21

However, as incredible as the seas are with all of its creatures, nothing compares to the miracle God created when He created us.  We are His most precious creation formed in His image.  We are different than all of His other creations.  He breathed His life into us giving us a living soul and spirit.  

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breaths of life; and man became a living soul.  Gen 2:7 

God formed you, created you in His image.

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. 

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!

You workmanship is marvelous--how well I know it.

You watched as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.

You saw me before I was born.  Everyday of my life was recorded in Your book.  

Every moment laid out before a single day had passed.

How precious are Your thoughts about me, O God. 

They cannot be numbered!  

I can't even count them, they outnumber the grains of sand! 

And when I wake up, you are still with me.  

Psalms 139:12-17

Oh, how I LOVE this passage!  Just think about it!  His thoughts about you outnumber the grains of sand!  He is always with you, always thinking about you.  He knows your every need, your every hurt and He cares about all of it.  Go to Him, He is always faithful. 

So, as you go to the beach this summer and walk along the sand, remember that His thoughts of you outnumber the sands. Also, as you look out into the ocean and see the beauty of the seas and all that lies under the surface, remember the God who created all of it formed you in your mother's womb with love and care. He created you for a specific definite purpose.  He loves you infinitely. 

You are God's masterpiece!