He knits us together

I watched the Tim Burton version of Alice in Wonderland, starring Johnny Depp, tonight.  I have to say, the Tim Burton and Johnny Depp duo is a veryyy strange combination.  Talking animals, strange plants, fantastic creatures, and impossible places are very much the norm for them, and Alice in Wonderland was no exception.

But Tim Burton's creativity can't hold a candle to the Lord's.  I looked up some pictures of a few of the weirdest animals to be found - what a sight!  To think that the One who thought up these creatures also thought up me is a rather humbling thought.  Because the thing is, every strange or unfathomable feature on these animals serves a distinct purpose.  And the Lord says that we are worth so much more to Him than the animals - if He took such care to fashion them, therefore, how much more painstakingly must we have been created!

There is not a single detail on your body that God didn't know about before you were born.  There is not a single blemish that He doesn't love and think is beautiful.  Not a single random useless talent, nor a single weakness that doesn't serve a purpose.  We are fearfully and wonderfully made.  No matter what society thinks, no matter what your family, friends, or even you think; God thinks you a wonderful.  And He created you,  wonderful, beautiful, fantastic, complex you, to be you - just the way you are.

Psalm 139:13-16

¹³ For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place,
   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me 

were written in your book before one of them came to be. 

Back to the basics

I had an interesting day today.  I met my friend, Sarah, outside in the morning before breakfast for a little devotional / Bible study.  We're going to try to continue it every day for the rest of orientation.  It was wonderful to have a quiet time, an accountability partner, a time of prayer before I started my day.  And, although the rest of my day is pretty hazy from a lack of sleep, it was also punctuated by a wonderful peace - the Lord's peace, the peace that passes all understanding.

One thing that I am learning, that God has constantly been underscoring the past few days, is that He really does know me better than even I know myself.  He knows exactly what we need, and if we let Him, He will never fail to give it to us exactly when we need it.  He longs to wrap us up in His big, wonderful, loving arms.  He yearns to comfort us when we are hurt, to wipe every tear from our eyes.

We get so worked up about all of the little things, all of the details of life, that we forget about the purpose of life, the Creator of life.  But He never forgets about us.  Open up to Him.  He already knows your inmost being, anyway.  But if you willingly let Him in, He will show you a life that you've never even dreamed of before.  It's simple, really.  God made us.  The creator always knows His creations better than anyone else, and he always loves them more than anyone else does, as well.  So let your Creator love you.  Let Him care for you.  Get back to the basics. 

Psalm 139:1-6

 ¹ You have searched me, LORD, and you know me.
² You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
³ You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
⁴ Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely.
⁵ You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,  too lofty for me to attain. 

Who are you?

Apparently I'm on an "identity" kick.  I was thinking this morning about who I was - my strengths, weaknesses, and talents - and how that relates to my life - my past, present, and my future.  This is not meant to brag - in fact just the opposite - but very often people makes comments basically saying how wonderful I am.  I hate those comments.  If they only knew the insecurities I felt every day.  It's very overwhelming to think about the expectations that people have for me...they think I'm some kind of superwoman, but I know the truth.  I am flawed, imperfect, and nowhere near amazing.  But I find rest in the fact that God knows me, every part of me - even better than I know myself - and He loves me anyway.  Check out Psalm 139 - God is so good!

¹ You have searched me, LORD, 

   and you know me. 

² You know when I sit and when I rise; 

   you perceive my thoughts from afar. 

³ You discern my going out and my lying down; 

   you are familiar with all my ways. 

⁴ Before a word is on my tongue 

   you, LORD, know it completely. 

⁵ You hem me in behind and before, 

   and you lay your hand upon me. 

⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, 

   too lofty for me to attain.

 ⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit? 

   Where can I flee from your presence? 

⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there; 

   if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 

⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn, 

   if I settle on the far side of the sea, 

¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me, 

   your right hand will hold me fast. 

¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me 

   and the light become night around me,” 

¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you; 

   the night will shine like the day, 

   for darkness is as light to you.

 ¹³ For you created my inmost being; 

   you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 

¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 

   your works are wonderful, 

   I know that full well. 

¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you 

   when I was made in the secret place, 

   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 

¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body; 

   all the days ordained for me were written in your book 

   before one of them came to be. 

¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts,^[a] God! 

   How vast is the sum of them! 

¹⁸ Were I to count them, 

   they would outnumber the grains of sand— 

   when I awake, I am still with you.

 ¹⁹ If only you, God, would slay the wicked! 

   Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! 

²⁰ They speak of you with evil intent; 

   your adversaries misuse your name. 

²¹ Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD, 

   and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? 

²² I have nothing but hatred for them; 

   I count them my enemies. 

²³ Search me, God, and know my heart; 

   test me and know my anxious thoughts. 

²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me, 

   and lead me in the way everlasting.