A Woman’s Worth

By Maria Simone

My heart ached for my 6-year old son, as tears streamed down his face because of cruel words from his friends. Oh how I long to protect my children from put-downs and ridicule, but I know all too well that this is something that they will experience at points throughout their life. I experienced much of this myself, especially in middle school, and I allowed it to determine my worth as a person. I walked around much of my life feeling alone and insecure, unimportant and worthless. I tried to gain my identity through performance and the approval of others, but it was always a temporary fix for a much deeper problem. My identity was based on lies, and I needed to replace those lies with God’s Truth.

The first and most important Truth God has revealed to me is that HE LOVES ME. Not with an earthly love that can be lost, but with an unconditional, life-giving, life-saving, forever love. This love sent Him to the cross to die for my sins, so that I could live with Him forever. Psalm 136 repeats the verse “His love endures forever” no less than 26 times, do you think He’s trying to tell us something? God knew it would be hard for us to believe a love so unconditional, so pure, and so selfless, so He made sure to tell us over and over throughout the Bible.

Isaiah 54:10 (NIV) says “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor My covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” Beth Moore, in the Bible study Breaking Free, states that the word “compassion” in this verse comes from the Hebrew word racham, which means, “to soothe;, to cherish, to love deeply like parents, to be compassionate, be tender…small babies evoke this feeling”. For those of us who are moms, what can compare to the love we felt when we held our little infants in our arms? My children brought out in me a capacity to love and a depth of feeling that I had never before experienced. Can you just imagine how God is looking at you right now, filled with joy and love that you are His daughter?

Zephaniah 3:17 says He sings a song of love over me, and by His grace I have determined to open my ears to hear His song of love, for I know His love is better than life. His love has given me worth that no one can take away, and is not dependent upon my performance or what others think of me. I have also determined, with the Lord’s help, to intentionally teach my children what God thinks of them, and how He loves them unconditionally. I pray for them constantly that their identities will be rooted and grounded in the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. This way, when the harsh words come their way, they will be able to say, “No, that’s a lie, I am who GOD says I am, and He says I’m awesome!”

So come, sit for a while, and enjoy the beautiful song of love Your Father sings over you…..

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New Beginning

by Tina Bruno

March!!  Let us March on, the March Hare, Beware the Ides of March! These are all the things I think of when I  think of this month.  But the best thing about March?  It’s a time for beginning.

According to the Jewish Calendar, the month of Nissan is the first month of the year, which coordinates with March-April. The Jewish calendar is based on three astronomical phenomena; the rotation of the Earth around its axis (one day); the revolution of the moon around the Earth (one month); and the revolution of the Earth around the sun (one year). Even though our Gregorian calendar has January as the first month of the year, to me this month, March, is the first of the year!

March is also the month in which Passover occurs. It also is the time of Easter, the resurrection of our Savior.  How appropriate that the first fruits of our salvation would be in spring!  When Jesus rose from the dead, He gave us new life…spring brings new life from the dead ground, our hope is renewed in spring. Let this March be a new beginning for you. Spring is in air!

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New Year’s Resolutions

by Tina Bruno

“Happy New Year!” Have we all heard that enough the last few months? I know I certainly have! It’s a wonderful sentiment, but did you cringe slightly each time you heard it? Why? Did it remind you of new beginnings and that dreaded word “resolutions”? Do you know where this came from? Let’s analyze the word:

Resolutions: Root word, resolve from the Latin resolvere. According to Merriam-Webster, it’s the act or process of resolving, as:a) the act of analyzing a complex notion into simpler ones.b) the act of answering.c) the act of determining. For our purposes, I believe the last definition fits the best, determining. If you look for synonyms to the word resolution, determination is one of them. So what is your determination for the new year? Determined not to have any? That is a response many have had!!

How about a resolution, a determination, to be happy? Better yet, how about content? Contentment is being at peace in your current situation, no matter what. Phillipians 4:10-4:13 says “I’m glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess – happy that you’re again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.” (The Message)Or how about what Hebrews 13:5-6 says; “Don’t be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, ‘I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,’ we can boldly quote, God is there, ready to help, I’m fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?” With promises like this, a new year’s resolution to be content should be first on our list. Remember, content where we are. We don’t need to be thinner, stronger, richer. Contentment in who we are in Christ will get us where we need to be. Happy New Year!!!

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