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I remember vividly the day it happened.

I have always been a part of the family, but for some reason this took it to a new level. This added so much more to my life and yet that realization really scared the every living mess out of me. That something like this could add so much.

I am speaking of the day when I became a part of the iPhone family. My first iPhone was a 3G, and then I had a 4, then I moved to Verizon and got a 4s because Siri was going to revolutionize my cell phone life, I might that I rarely use that terrible thing anymore. See how we are with cell phones is how we are with everything else, including God. We have to have more and more and more, but ultimately down deep we have this insecurity that we are not enough and never will be.

I know this to be true because when I was a teenager and to my young adulthood I felt this distaste at times for who I was. We want these things because we think that will take away all of those feelings.

Every year we go crazy when a new one comes out. The latest was the iPhone 6 and 6+ and next will be the 7 and then 8 and then so on and so on.

Somewhere, sometime we have all come to a point in our lives where we started putting more value in what people say and not in what God says.

We sought to be popular and didn’t care so much for being like God. Being like God is not popular, it is revolutionary, radical, controversial. It doesn’t gain your cool points when it comes to the world necessary overall.

We have begun to believe in the self-rejection gospel and not believe in the Beloved Gospel. The Self-rejection gospel is just not true. Not even in the least bit. Let me read you a quote from a book that I am reading. It’s from a book called “The Life of the Beloved” by Henri Nouwen.

“Aren’t you, like me, hoping that some person, thing, or event will come along to give you that final feeling of inner well-being you desire? Don’t you often hope: “May this book, idea, course, trip, job, country, or relationship fulfill my deepest desire.”

We can drive ourselves crazy looking for purpose and our deepest desire. Henri goes on with what something more.

“Well, you and I don’t have to kill ourselves. We are the Beloved. We are intimately loved long before our parents, teachers, spouses, children, and friends loved or wounded us. That’s the truth of our lives. That’s the truth that I want you to claim for yourself. That’s the truth spoken by the voice that says, ‘You are my Beloved.’

I have molded you in the depths of the earth and knitted you together in your mother’s womb. I have carved you in the palms of my hands and hidden you in the shadow of my embrace. I look at you with infinite tenderness and care for you with a care more intimate than that of a mother for her child.I have counted every hair on your head and guided you at every step. Wherever you go I go with you, and wherever you rest, I keep watch. I will give you food that will satisfy all your hunger.”

At one point in time God had an idea. That idea was each of you. He intentionally created you in your mother’s womb and created you to be a masterpiece, an original work of art, a poem created in love and grace. You are God’s Idea. You are created the way you are on purpose for a purpose.

God we pray that you will encourage, equip, energize, and empower us to Be Your Beloved and help others come to this as well. Help us to love as you love, speak as you speak, and listen as you listen.

Amen.

So I have arrived a couple days early, but with the weather coming in that is projected to come in it was a necessary evil. To be honest, my mind is racing and I am so excited and overwhelmed by what God is doing in my life right now in this moment.

Our event hotel is literally across Highway 75 from SMU and when I arrived I had a moment of…”God do I belong here?” Then I felt the spirit nudge me and say:

Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great. Genesis 15:1. What is the reward for trusting? How can you overcome fear?

Man did that hit me right in the gut and yet at the same time it was like God took me aside and calmed every fear I ever had about this new journey. Are you afraid of something? Why are you afraid?

Do you know that God is with you?

I can tell you that in that moment I honestly never trusted God more, because I am going to learn, grow, and see God move through this journey and when you are on the sidelines to see God moving actively that is so cool. So yes I am nervous, but I trust and believe that God has brought me here and He will expand my knowledge of his grace and love.

I can’t wait to see what I see and know what I know in a weeks time.

“The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants too. Because God is the one who established it on the seas; God set it firmly on the waters.” (Psalm 24 CEB). In my view today this psalm sets the mood for overtime that we enter into anything in this world. I feel an overwhelming amount of humility as I read the first two verses of this Psalm.

Last night we had our youth ministry christmas party which here in cleburne is a combination of a Tacky Christmas Sweater Party and a progressive dinner. After we had our main course and were readying to leave for our final house of the night I had an emotional moment of realization. We had 60+ with us last night and none of this is possible without help, in fact 12 car loads worth of help. I thanked all the volunteers present and said none of this was possible without them and that I was extremely humbled to serve as their Youth Minister, to which an adult said thank you for giving our youth ministry stability again.

Everything belongs to God and yet He has trusted me with these youth and adults. There are no words that I can say to God to express the gratitude that fills my heart. My heart is full and for that I am thankful.

Lord, you put this burden on my heart
To show the world they need to be a part
Of the greatest plan ever made,
Of an idea that will never fade.
But how can I share? Where do I start?
How can I show what you’ve done with my heart?
They need to know of this love that’s so great,
But my words, Lord, I can never get straight.
I know I have no excuse
So, Lord, my life is yours to use.
Be with me as I spread your Word
And never let me be deterred.
I don’t know when or where, but I do know
You want me to share.

My Great Commission – copyright Megan Houtchen, 16