Are You Your Best Self Ever?

"Dear Me, I love myself your the best self ever!!"  

(sic)

This sweet message was written by my 8 yr old to herself. Honestly, my heart soared when I saw it. What a wonderful and healthy self-image!

At 8 years old, I was often found crying and when asked why, I would respond, "Because no body loves me." Growing up with an alcoholic, mentally ill mother took away my feelings of being love-able by anyone, even myself.

But chances are, even if you've had the best of childhoods, the world may have stolen your self-image.  The world screams, "You're too fat, too old, too poor." The worlds says "You are not enough." When was the last time you said to yourself, "I love myself. I'm the best self ever!"?

God made you. And while sin gets in our way and causes pain and consequences, the truth is we are God's masterpiece, created by Him to do the good works he prepared just for us. God loves us so much that he allowed his perfect son to die to take away our sins, so that we can spend eternity with him.

Maybe you don't feel like a masterpiece. By the end of this summer, I'd gained weight and was feeling badly about my appearance. After being dejected for a few weeks, and feeding my sorrows of course, I realized that I was the person equipped to change myself. It wasn't easy, but I created a plan, stuck to it, and as of yesterday I have lost 10 lbs. 

Every issue isn't as simple as losing weight. But with hard work, determination, and most importantly, the help of God, we can face and work through every issue. Sometimes we may need the help of others as well, but we can work to improve our situation.

Next time life is hard, remember God is great, and he made you! So look in the mirror, and repeat after me,

"I love myself! I am the best self ever!"

For we are God's masterpiece, created in the Messiah Jesus to do good works that God prepared long ago to be our way of life. Ephesians 2:10 (ISV)

Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com

Do You Glow in the Dark?

My daughter was so excited with her purchase. Glow-in-the-Dark Putty! She couldn't wait to get it home and see it glow. Imagine her disappointment when it did not glow at all. Luckily her older sister was there to save the day.

"You have to charge it," she said. "Hold it under a bright light for a while, and then it will  be able to glow in the dark." It had to have a source of light to glow.

As Christians, we need to learn a similar lesson. Without God, we cannot shine. We have to be "charged" by God, and then we can let His light shine through us. We are then equipped to go and spread His Word, letting our light shine so that people will see our good works, and glorify God in heaven.

But like the Glow-in-the-Dark Putty, we will eventually lose our power to glow. How many Christians have you seen who either burn-out, or who become mired in sin? We wonder how it can happen to someone who was so committed to Christ? Simple. They failed to re-charge.

It is wonderful to serve God. But we must also take time to rest, to draw close to God, and to recharge and renew our spirit. Then we can glow-in-the-dark and be a light to the world. And as we draw closer to God when we recharge, He will be able to mold us, like putty, to walk in His will and His way.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.  2 Corinthians 4:6

Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com