I challenge you to meditate on this thought for five minutes a day for a week. Say it over and over – let it confront your conscience and seep into your unconsciousness: “God loves me as I am, not as I would like to be or as I appear to be, but just as I am.” This is the greatest challenge for change. Remember, nothing you can do will make God love you more, and nothing you can do will make Him love you less. He simply loves you. (We must understand that there is a difference between love and approval.) Rev. Tenney

Be yourself!!!

There is no one in this world, who is like you. God has created you uniquely; you are one of a kind. No one looks like you, does feel and think like you and no one has received the same abilities. Nobody has a voice like you, nor the same memories or dreams. No one loves the people that are near to you the way you love them. Not only has God created us as one of a kind, He also has a unique plan and purpose for our lives.

Only when we are born again by water and spirit (John 3:3 and 5) into the kingdom of God, we come to a place, where God in His divine plan wants us to be, and where He wants to lead us onward. If we allow God to work in our lives, He will make something beautiful out of it. In all this, we should not look upon ourselves and on the things that we assume to be able to handle (and even less look on others and their abilities and virtues), but unto God.

Even today Jesus calls out to us: “Come, follow Me." With following Him, there comes the call and mission. It depends upon our faith, our love towards God, our devotion and faithfulness, how far God can bring us, but even more upon God’s plan for us. When we are a branch at the wine, we will automatically bring forth fruit. John 15:4-5 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." These words also originate from Rev. Tenney, quote: “ Never allow activity to become a substitute for being." It is not the branch that accomplishes anything, but everything depends on the vine and the husbandman. The branch only has to remain in the sunny or not so sunny spot placed and receive the sun, the rain and nutrition (in a place with more shadow you don’t necessarily have to bring forth sour or withered fruit).

We have to remain in the vine and grow there and also allow God to prune us -- what of course hurts, but this is good for us. Rejoice in the love of God for you, let it be your comfort and in times when you are discouraged, just remember that God still loves you with the same love, as in times when you were happy and you felt loved by Him.

It is unfruitful to look for what your fellow man has and you don’t possess, in which place they are and you are not. When we remain thankful to God and we are suffice with what we have, we remain spiritually healthy (Philippians 4:11-13) and He will lead us to the place where He wants us to be.

After His resurrection, Jesus had with Peter the following conversation: "Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me." Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?" Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?" Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me." Johannes 21:18-22

We should accept ourselves the way God has designed and created us and what He has predestined for us, then God can do wonderful things in our lives, because His abilities for dealing with our lives are truly without limits. ra

Expect a miracle anywhere, because Jesus cares. He can give us a new miracle every day. There was no vine at the wedding; He cared. There were no fish for the apostles; He cared. There was a storm on the Sea of Galilee; He cared. A widow lost her son, and Jesus went to the funeral; He cared. Expect a miracle anywhere. T.W.Barnes

...and don't forget to meditate this week daily for five minutes on the abundant love God has towards you...

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