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Greetings!
At times we are drawn to a false belief about who we are and where our value comes from. I know....I've been there....I've done that.
Value isn't found in what we accomplish, what we look like, or where we work, no value comes from God...just by our mere existance. Each life is crafted and created by God...for God.
This month, join our Best Life Staff and friends as we look to Scripture to find God's truths about our true worth and value.
It takes the pressure off of feeling like we have to be be perfect! Read on! |
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 WHO AM I ? Where Are We Finding Our Value? By: Executive Dir.,
Kathy A. Weckwerth
Ephesians 2:7-10 (MSG)
"Now God has us where He wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all His idea, and all His work. All we do is trust Him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join Him in the work He does, the good work He has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing."
There have been times in my life when I've felt fairly confident in what I'm doing, how God is using me and what I'm accomplishing. And then it hits.....some experience that makes me feel like I'm a stupid idiot. Can you relate?
I notice that as I moved through the journey of ministry, every time I began to feel "comfortable" in my skin, something happened. I often wondered...was it me? Was it the enemy? Or was it God?
Over the past two years, as I left my full time position as a Director of Worship and Creative Arts to become the Executive Director of Best Life, I have often felt insecure, unsure, and lost. I would look at Farmer Dean and say, "Just give me a couple of vocalists who are arguing over who gets the solo, and a drummer who has to work late and can't make rehearsal." Because now.....I'm out of my "comfort zone."
And once I realized that I was out of my comfort zone, it made me realize something very simple. If we are too entrenched in what we do, we become complacent in who we are. I was thinking all along that everything I was, all that encompassed my entire being had to do with encouraging musicians, and leading worship. My core existence seemed to be focused on writing dramas and thinking up new ways to celebrate Christmas. Forty-nine steps back...I realized I had taken my place of residency in the old.. "this is who I am and what I do," line of thinking....and forgot that who I really am.. simply a Child of God. Is it so bad...so boring...to just be God's child? Can I just accept that and not have to spin around, dance, and prove to the world that I am valuable?
When we start thinking that our value comes from our job, or our family, our finances, our friends, or what people think of us, I believe that's when God comes in to remind us that's just not truth. Sometimes, that can take the form of changing jobs, losing your finances in the economy decline, failing health, or whatever it takes for God to remind us that our value comes from the center, the core of who HE is, not who WE are.
And so, after years of struggling and wondering what can I do to get that person to like me, or how can I prove that I'm good at this or that, I finally am settling into the front seat of my own car on this journey of life. And as I settle in, I realize, all that's really important is that I'm putting Christ first in whatever I do, and that He alone and His opinion of me, is all that's important.
Wow...isn't it just amazing that His opinion, the only one that matters is this.....He sent His Son to die for us...that's how much He believes in you....and me.
Join the Best Life Ministries Staff, and our friends, as we take a closer look at the where we get our value from!
For more from Executive Director, Kathy Weckwerth, read her blog at http://bestlifeministries.com/best-life-lifelines/
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What Jersey Are You Striving For?
By: Kim Rudd
I was fifteen years old when I received my first varsity soccer jersey. Somehow that jersey allowed me to walk a bit taller in the presence of my peers. My victory celebration was short lived, because after a few games, I was informed that for the remaining of the soccer season I would be moving back to the J.V. team. Humiliated, I turned in my varsity uniform and exchanged it for my former J. V. jersey. I was completely devastated. Somehow I had allowed a silly jersey to define who I was as a person.
I wish I could tell you that I grew from this incident, but sadly it drove me to spend the next ten years striving to earn even more "performance" and "approval" jersey's. Even after becoming a Christian, I somehow started striving to wear the religious jersey in my effort to please God.
How about you? What kind of Jersey's have you been collecting in your personal wardrobe?
Some of you may be working on collecting a variety of Performance Jerseys. You put this jersey on in all areas of your life, thinking that your performance at work, school, or sports will help you gain fulfillment and peace in life. When wearing the Performance Jersey you allow how much you produce to define who you are.
Others may be striving to collect a variety of Approval Jerseys. The Approval Jersey is worn in your relationship roles as the best parent, grandparent, daughter, son, sibling or friend. Somehow you feel more accepted when you can gain approval through your performance in these various roles.
Perhaps the most popular jersey to attain among many Christians is the Religious Jersey. Many of us have bought into the lie that we can gain approval from God through our outward performance.
Some believers have accepted Christ as their Savior, yet continue to choose daily to "put on" the Jersey of Condemnation instead of putting on God's righteousness through Christ's work on the cross. In our condemnation we continue to strive for acceptance and significance that can only be found in Christ's righteousness. Instead of the anxiety of wearing all those outward jerseys, we have been given a victorious Jersey of Christ's complete acceptance and approval.
Daily we have the decision to strive for the jerseys of this world, or to stride in our new jersey through Christ's righteousness. When we replace striving with striding, the benefits will be a life filled with peace. ....peace with God, peace with others, and peace with yourself.
It took me a while, but about 15 years ago I finally began to allow God to replace the filthy jersey's that I had been wearing for so many years. One by one, each of these worldly jerseys are coming off and I am beginning to see myself hidden in Christ.
Are you ready to start cleaning out the old jerseys that are hanging in the closet of your soul? You can start today by surrendering them over to Christ and allowing him to clothe you in the jersey of His righteousness and love. Stop striving in your own efforts and start striding in God's grace. Only then will you begin to experience true peace. Peace in your relationship with God, with others, and with yourself.
"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." Colossians 3: 2-3
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WHERE DO YOU FIND YOUR VALUE?
By: Pat Russell
While preparing to write about where our self-value comes from, I overheard a conversation between my two youngest sons. They were comparing their performances on some video game with each trying to outdo the other. What I found funny is that even though this is seen as common among children, we as adults do the same thing (I know I've seen a lot of guys do this). Many times people try to outdo each other in terms of their performance on the job, their academic skills, and even social situations. Oftentimes this occurs because it helps validate who we are as individuals. But then, what is it that brings value to us as a person?
Our perceived value is based on our collection of experiences, personality traits, abilities, physical attributes, values, goals, social standing, etc. How we see ourselves in different situations is dependent upon our belief about our perceived abilities related to that situation. If I'm in a social situation, let's say a party, my comfort level will likely depend on my beliefs that I'm witty, have a good sense of humor, am friendly, and am pleasant to be around. These may be true or not (I'm not even going to go there), but if it's what I believe to be true about myself, then my behavior will reflect it, and I'll likely have a good time.
Our own observations also shape the value we put on ourselves, and whether we deem ourselves successful or not. We all have expectations that we place on ourselves. What we want to do as a career, how successful we should be in life, what social status we should obtain, how we should look, who we should marry, etc. Research has shown that people compare themselves with others in order to determine how they are performing in life. If we make comparisons between others who we see are very successful and ourselves, then we likely will feel very inadequate. If we happen to make that comparison to others who are less successful, then we feel pretty good about ourselves and where we are in life.
Observations made of us by others have a large impact on how we value ourselves as well. As a child, our parents gave us feedback that was either positive or negative. Other people such as teachers, coaches, youth leaders, peers, counselors, and friends observed us and gave us feedback as well which shaped how we see ourselves. All of this information, our own observations as well as those of others, is filtered through our own perception of what is valuable and of worth. If that is distorted, then all that information will also be distorted. Our only hope of a clear perception is to cling to the truth.
What is the "truth"? The truth is that when we come to Christ all things become new. We become a new person in Him. All the old stuff is gone. It's like starting over again from scratch (II Corinthians 5:17), and our minds, our perceptions of ourselves and others, change (Ephesians 4:17-32).
In Christ we can see in truth, our real value, which is priceless. When we are in Christ we can take those experiences, personality traits, abilities, physical attributes, values, goals, social standing, comparisons, observations, and feedback and determine what, if any, are true. In Christ we have freedom to forgive. Freedom to forgive others. Freedom to forgive ourselves. With freedom in Christ comes healing. Healing from those things which have bound us up for such a long time. Those falsehoods and lies which have distorted not only how we see ourselves but others as well.
In Christ comes healing that will help us to see with new eyes our true value.
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 Confidence in Christ Jn. 3:16 & Ro.5:8 The NIV Worship Bible
"Father, great is Your love for the world...so great that You sent Your Son for us. So great is Your love, lavished upon us, that we may be called Your children. So great is Your love that nothing in all creation can take it away from us."
Dear Jesus, for the days when I feel less than my best, for the days when it seems others are accomplishing more, for the days when I feel hopeless, help me to remember that I am freely loved by You. I don't have to try hard....I just have to be me......
Help me remember I am complete in You. Amen.
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Sneak Peek at our upcoming YOUR BEST Magazine!
 Tony Guerrero-On facing one of society's ugly secrets-Helping the Fight Against Human Trafficking:
"I wanted to strap my cape on like a superhero and carry girls to freedom, far away from the horrific life they were forced into. I quickly learned it isn't that easy. A rescue like that is rare and extremely difficult (and dangerous) to pull off. 'Okay,' I thought, 'At least I can support that team financially.' But that seemed like the easy way out - just throw money at it and walk away. As a believer in Christ, I felt compelled to do more than just cut another charity check."
Pastor & Author, Mark Batterson-BLM's Exclusive Interview with Mark about his new book, The Circle Maker. In it he tells us, "You have to do something unprecedented and that means it'll go beyond your experience, beyond your comfort, beyond your ability, and beyond your resources!"
 | | Pastor Mark Batterson |
 Keith Tally-on Navigating Through Changes
"These life changes are kind of like the wind and the waves that the disciples encountered on their trip across the Sea of Galilee, with Jesus asleep at the back of the boat. The disciples questioned his lack of worry while he questioned their lack of faith."
Mary Anderstrom -on Dealing With Cancer
"I believe the peaks spiraling high to the Heavens reveal life's mountain top experiences so great we cannot forget them, the kind of peaks that bring me right to the heart of God with awesome appreciation of who He is. "
Join our Best Life Staff & Friends, such as Dr. Mary Schulze Michener, Aimee Libby, Alexis Iskierka, Josh Garland, Pat Russell, Chandra Arne, and others for more encouraging topics and articles. Watch for it coming on our site, as well as available at upcoming conferences!
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Having Value and Worth
Through Christ
& What Scripture Says
About Where Value Comes From
Jn 10:10 b says "I came to give them real and eternal life....more and better life than they ever dreamed of."
If we cling to the truths of Jesus' hope for us, that we have a full life, then we must start believing that He is the only true source of our worth. Here are some verses to hold on to the truth.
- "I am the salt of the earth." (Matthew 5:13)
- "I am the light of the world. " (Matthew 5:14)
- "I am a child of God." (John 1:12)
- "I am part of the vine, a channel of Christ's life." (John 15:1,5)
- "I am Christ's friend." (John 15:15)
- "I am Chosen and Appointed by Christ to bear His fruit." (John 15:16)
- "I am a new creation." (II Corinthians 5:18-19)
- "I am a saint." (Ephesians 1:1)
- "I am God's workmanship and His handiwork and born anew in Christ to do His work." (Ephesians 2:10)
- "I am chosen of God, holy and dearly loved." (Collosians 3:12)
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Upcoming Conferences!
We have two upcoming conferences in October in Dassel, MN and Bloomington, MN. Log onto our site for more information.
We are also beginning to book confernces for Spring 2013 with our topic:
Closed Doors, Open Windows: God Possibilities
For more information, log onto www.bestlifeministries.com
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(I Chronicles 16:11-12a) "Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always. Remember the wonders He has done...." |
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Print Design by Aimee Libby |
Church Journey Update
This week, we are meeting with the movers to go over the details and pick a date.
The Goodbye Service
At the church Sunday, July 29th at 2:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome!
Media to Follow
Three tv shows have connected with us about covering the move. We are praising God!
Garage Sale
Fund Raiser Info to come!
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Early 1900's Frank Lake Church-Confirmation Class |
Goodbye Service for Frank Lake Covenant Church
Sunday, July 29th 2:00 p.m., marks the 112th year that the Frank Lake Covenant Church will host a service in its present location. BLM will be leading the service |
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Remember, it's never too late to make changes. Start today. Start living your best life!
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