Made in His Image

Yesterday I received news of the passing of a friend from Oklahoma. He was a contract instructor in the US military training system and had been my instructor many times during our annual simulator training. As I thought about him, I wondered…did he know the Lord? As I grow older, the death of those I’ve known during my life is becoming more common. It makes me realize my days left in this world are shorter than those I’ve already lived.

Each day we have an opportunity to be Jesus in the life of those around us. Not the preachy Christians many see today, but a true example of Jesus, loving God and loving people. Jesus accepts us right where we are…no predisposition, no criteria to meet, simple and straight forward acceptance. This is how we must act towards those we see each day.

The Lord will bring you into contact with people from all walks of life and backgrounds. If they ask you a question about our Lord or your faith, tell them your experience or what the bible says…not your opinion.

Some of us will be ministers in the church. Most will be workplace believers, regardless, we all have the opportunity to touch the lives of those around us. Our Lord has designed our lives, our likes, and our path so that you can reach our full potential so that we may complete the work He has for us. Be Jesus to those around you, it will make all the difference in the world.

Blessings

Made in His Image
TGIF Today God Is First NextGen
by Charis Hillman Brown

“Then God said, ‘Let Us make mankind in Our image, in Our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'” -Gen 1:26

“Red, yellow, black and white, we’re all precious in His sight…”

Every time I go to the mall, I am struck with how different each of us is. Some short, some tall, some big, some small – we have different personalities, characteristics, likes, dislikes, hopes and dreams. Each of our differences makes up a wonderful world where each of us was born unique – and born to do something special. Imagine if we looked the same or each did the same thing or thought the same way – how boring life would be! And nothing in the world would get accomplished because nothing ingenious would be created.

Problems come in when we start comparing ourselves to others, or, we don’t see the value in our traits. We may not look like the supermodel off the cover of Vogue, or we may not look like our favorite sports star. No matter, God has fashioned us. Every bit of us. He made us for a unique purpose in Him.

I am drawn to the example of Nick Vujicic. Here is a man who was born without limbs. “How cruel must God be?!” you might say. But Nick doesn’t think so. He blesses God for the opportunity to share his witness as he ministers to the thousands with the message, “There is no obstacle too big that you can’t overcome.” Although doing daily tasks such as brushing his teeth and taking a shower require immense effort, Nick has found solutions to these deficiencies and obstacles brought on by his lack of limbs. Some days it was difficult, yes, but even through that he managed to thank God for his life and remember that He would use him for His glory.

Do you know you are wonderfully made? If you lack in self-confidence, remember that God has fashioned you for a unique purpose. There is no shame in how God has made us. He loves us each the same.