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“A father is tender and kind to his children. In the same way, the Lord is tender and kind to those who have respect for him. He knows what we are made of. He remembers that we are dust. The life of human beings is like grass. People grow like the flowers in the field. When the wind blows on them, they are gone. No one can tell that they had ever been there. But the Lord’s love for those who have respect for him lasts for ever and ever. Their children’s children will know that he always does what is right.” Psalm 103:13-17

“Later, Jesus went to Jerusalem for a special Jewish festival. In Jerusalem there is a pool with five covered porches. In Aramaic it is called Bethzatha. This pool is near the Sheep Gate. Many sick people were lying on the porches beside the pool. Some of them were blind, some were crippled, and some were paralyzed. One of the men lying there had been sick for 38 years. Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been sick for a very long time. So he asked him, “Do you want to be well?” The sick man answered, “Sir, there is no one to help me get into the water when it starts moving. I try to be the first one into the water. But when I try, someone else always goes in before I can.” Then Jesus said, “Stand up! Pick up your mat and walk.” Immediately the man was well. He picked up his mat and started walking. The day all this happened was a Sabbath day. So some Jews said to the man who had been healed, “Today is the Sabbath. It is against our law for you to carry your mat on the Sabbath day.””

John 5:1-10 ERV #throwback2018 @CTCHuntington

You are uniquely and wonderfully made. You were created on purpose, for a purpose. You have meaning, value and worth!

Once upon a time, some animals wanted to start a school. They decided the courses would include running, climbing, swimming, and flying. Then they decided that all of the animals should take all of the courses.

That’s where the problem started.       

The duck was better than his teacher at swimming, but he only made passing grades in flying and was very poor in running. So they made him drop swimming and stay after school to practice running. This caused his webbed feet to be badly worn, and his grade dropped to average in swimming. But everybody felt less threatened and more comfortable with that—except the duck.

The rabbit started at the top of his class in running, but because of so much makeup work in swimming, he caught pneumonia and had to drop out of school.

The squirrel showed outstanding ability in climbing, but he was extremely frustrated in flying class because the teacher insisted that he start from the ground up rather than the treetop down. He developed charley horses from overextension, so he only got a “C” in climbing and a “D” in running.

The eagle was the problem student and was disciplined for being a nonconformist. For instance, in climbing class he beat all the others to the top of the tree, but he insisted on flying to get there. Finally, because he refused to participate in swimming class, he was expelled.

As you might imagine, the animals’ school didn’t work.

Different animals are designed to excel in specific areas, and they can’t be expected to do all the other things. A duck is made to be a duck—not anything else.

It’s the same for people. God has designed each person different from all the others. When you expect everyone to fit in the same mold, the result is frustration, discouragement, mediocrity, and failure.

It’s so easy to compare ourselves to someone else. This creates either pride or feelings of low self esteem.

It’s so easy to get frustrated. I get frustrated with you because you’re not like me and I get frustrated with myself because I’m not like you.

Or we experience the Imposter Syndrome-we are familiar with this and have in some form or the other felt or experienced this.

However, Ephesians says that we are the workmanship of God created beforehand for good works. 

Workmanship is where we get our word—poem. It signifies a work of art. It as if when you were born God picked up a pen and started writing your life story or started painting a picture of what your life was going to be.

You are a unique masterpiece. You are a unique creation.

No one else is exactly like you.

It’s your shape that makes you uniquely you.

S-strengths: what you have developed over time that you are good at.

H-heart: what you desire, what is important to you, what you hold near and dear and value.

A-abilities: what you are good at that comes naturally.

P-personality: your basic nature, how and why you do what you do.

E-experience: what you have encountered that has now become something that you have built upon.

Don’t dare compare—you are a unique masterpiece—you be you!

Small choices.

Small habits.

Small adjustments.

Small contributions.

Over time, they can create massive change.

A degree here, a step there, a little extra effort each day—and eventually you look back and realize those “little things” have shaped your entire life.

Never underestimate the power of consistent, quiet contributions. Tiny shifts today can create a completely different tomorrow.

#inspirational #metanoia #hope #perspective