Monthly Supporters

Father God-- Adopted.


"The moment we hear that voice- that voice of love that speaks tenderly to us without regard for our performance-our days in the orphanage are numbered."- Ed McGlasson (from the book The Father You've Always Wanted)

We look to Our Father for our identity. Our inheritance.  He replaces our shame and gives us our true name.  Imagine a child in an orphanage, waiting to be chosen.  Family after family comes through, and still they remain. No one has picked them.  That child might start to internally question "Am I good enough?  Am I worthy?  What is wrong with me?" Those are some very deep questions, especially during such a formative time in a child's life. A child's self-worth is shaped so much by their relationship with their father, and with their family.  Whether it is your reality or just metaphorically speaking-- we are all orphans.  Somewhere deep down, there is gnawing at our soul and a tugging at our hearts for more than this world has to offer.   A God-shaped hole, if you will.  We are seeking out that relationship with our Heavenly Father, and we may not even realize that's what or WHO we are longing for.  Because truth be told- His love is the only perfect love. No matter how amazing our father's or mother's have been- they are only human. Some go to heaven, what seems to be, much too soon.  Other's are with us for years and years.  Yet the only One who sees us through it all, and will never leave or fail us- is God.

I just had an amazing opportunity to record and share my testimony for my churches new sermon series in the fall.  In preparing my heart for this and praying over what God wanted me to share, He revealed so much to me in this area.  Here is a little blurb taken straight out of my journal:

I was the prodigal, orphan, fatherless daughter.  Now I am an adopted daughter of almighty God.   I lost my 'identity' after my dad died, and then I searched for it through everyone else but God. Yet He is so faithful even after all my wandering and running. He had my identity all along --hidden in Jesus Christ.  Our inheritance and name and standing is in our Father.   God gave that back to me. He gave back what was lost as a seven year old and redeemed it tenfold. My worth is priceless to Him. I am His treasure.

He kept highlighting the word "valuable" to me over the last few weeks. How valuable we are to Him. Precious.

Valuable (adjective)- Costly. Worth a good price.
a : having desirable or esteemed characteristics or qualities
b : of great use or service

Costly. Yes.  The cost of a perfect Savior's life.  Having esteemed characteristics. Yes.  God created us in His own image and is in an ongoing process of sanctifying us to be more like Jesus.  "He who began a good work in you, will be faithful to complete it."- Philippians 1:6  Of great use or service.  Wow.  God knows what we are capable of in and through Him.  We are of much use to Him, and great service for His Kingdom.  That is an honor.  If you start to ever question your worth-- look to Him and what He says about you.  You are of GREAT VALUE to the God of the universe.  Your Father has permanently adopted you into His family.  

If I have YOU, I have everything. God SHAKING the earth again



Haggai 2:3-8 "…to the remnant of the people. Ask them, 3 ‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? 4 But now be strong...all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.5 ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’

6 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more SHAKE the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will SHAKE all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will FILL this house with GLORY,’ says the Lord Almighty. 8 ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. 9 ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

Here we go again with God SHAKING the heavens and the earth. I literally opened up to this today in Haggai. I had underlined these verses above- a few months ago. It is clear that He is once again showing how He shakes everything down. "Does it not seem to you like nothing?" Once everything that was "desired by all nations" comes down-- there is nothing. Nothing but the foundation. Christ, the Solid Rock is our foundation. If He is not-- He will shake down the dreams, desires, things that are not in alignment with His will in your life. He will get to the bottom of it-- literally. Rock bottom. So that we are on ROCK bottom, on His foundation. "On Christ the solid ROCK I stand- ALL other ground is sinking sand."

Who saw this house in it's former glory? It is nothing- once all of those things are shaken down. The silver and gold-- everything we have, everything we are, belongs to God.  That may seem scary, or harsh. But there is HOPE. The GLORY of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house. We are that house. We are His house. We are carriers of His presence. Our bodies, our lives. He may be shaking things all around us and off of us, anything hindering His glorious work in our lives. But He is making us NEW.  Making all things new. As He makes things new,  us new, He is doing more than we could ever ask, think or imagine. And in this place (in us) He will grant peace. He declares it. He is filling us with Himself.  His presence.  Imparting Himself to us. "And I will FILL this house with GLORY."  Let us be FILLED with HIS glory, for HIS glory.  Shine bright in us JESUS. 

"If I have YOU,  I have everything. But without You, I have nothing"- Kari Jobe song off of new Majestic album.  

 We are His remnant (verse 3).  A people set apart to be saved by God.  To stay with God.  We are 'engraved on the palm of His hand.' (Isaiah 49:16)

Haggai 2
20 The word of the Lord came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: 21 “Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. 22 I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall...

23 “‘On that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have CHOSEN YOU,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”


What is means to be GOD'S 'SIGNET RING':

"Ancient kings used signet rings to designate authority, honor, or ownership. A signet contained an **engraved** emblem unique to the king. Official documents were sealed with a dollop of soft wax impressed with the king’s signet, usually kept on a ring on his finger. Such a seal certified the document as genuine, much like a notary public’s stamp today. In1 Kings 21:8, the evil Queen Jezebel took King Ahab’s signet ring and “wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal.” The ring’s stamp gave her letters the king’s authority. In Daniel 6:17, a signet ring was used to seal a stone covering a lions’ den: “A stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.” A royal signet ring is also featured inGenesis 41:41-43andEsther 8:8."

Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/Zerubbabel-signet-ring.html#ixzz39BUDv9wL