BARBIE

We tend to listen to the world over listening to God. If somebody continually calls you a loser, you may soon begin to wonder if it might be true, even though you don't really think it's true, and even though you know God doesn't call you that.

Conversely, if your mom and dad always called you 'Gorgeous,' you probably grew up seeing yourself as attractive, even though maybe you could stop a train with that face. And if a parent nicknamed you 'Dummy' (do parents do that?), well --- I probably don't need to tell anybody what that would do to a child growing up. That kind of influence extends to other important adults in your life -- teachers, relatives, coaches, pastors.

Culture had something to do with that, too. Barbie dolls were slender, blond, blue-eyed ultra-proportioned 'ideals.' If you were chubby with frizzy brown hair, you were automatically 'less than ideal from the get-go.'

Maybe church contributed to that as well. If the emphasis was more on sin than on grace, you may have matured viewing yourself as a 'worthless sinner' more than a 'sinner saved by God's grace.'

So now, you carry a mental photo of yourself everywhere you go - except it may be a false and distorted photo. Probably is. So when your hubby says, 'You're beautiful,' you compare that unfavorably with the photo you're carrying in your mind's eye which is, 'No, I'm chubby with frizzy brown hair.' If she says, 'Honey, you're such a wise man,' you internally dismiss it because you know you're a moron, according to the picture you're carrying of yourself.

And when God speaks to you about something exciting, promise-filled, passionate -- you're pretty doggone sure He's talking to the guy next to you.

May I remind you on July 13th that:

God created you in His image ...

God loves you as His child ...

You are eternally lovable ...

God gave up His Son to reconcile you to Himself ...

If that is true, and if you were worth such an expensive ransom, you are infinitely valuable ...

You may not be the most talented person in the room, but God has gifted you to be His light in the world ...

If He is ready to entrust that kind of responsibility to you, you must be thoroughly competent.

Go get 'em.

And be blessed.