Bible Study--At the Well!!

I'm getting a bit of a late start today joining the ladies over At the Well for today's Bible study. I had to go get some lab work done because of a change in bp meds and I also needed to get my stitches out from my little.....escaped, last Monday! :o)

Anyway....

I really do hope that you are joining in on this study. It is truly a God-send and I can't wait to hear about the truly blessed results from it.

Please click here to hop over At the Well and join in on this wonderful time learning more about God and growing closer to Him.

This week's questions are:

1. What does it mean to you to know that you are precious in God's sight?

2. Can you think of a time in your life when you've experienced, firsthand, the LORD's faithfulness? Share your thoughts.

I grew up in an environment where I knew that my parents loved me, but they, especially my dad, didn't know how to show it. The situation was verbally abusive quite often and sometimes that could lead to some physical abuse, but deep down, I really believed that Momma did the best she could and Daddy loved me in spite of his temper and the way he handled things.

From that, I often found myself wondering if anyone could love me just as I was. I had convinced myself that if I was prettier, smarter, harder working...then Daddy wouldn't ever get upset with me or yell at me anymore. It just seemed as if I could never achieve that status though.

I met and married my DH who has spent our entire 26 years trying to undo the thoughts and emotions that took root inside of me for the first 19 years of my life.

So.....when I think about being precious to God, I find that it can sometimes be a second by second chant to myself that yes, I am precious to Him. Yes, He loves me just as I am, but too much to leave me that way (thankfully!!) And it is a constant battle against satan to keep those thoughts from my growing up years at bay.

I could never understand what was so great about me that God would willingly give up His own Son so that I could live with Him eternally....and now as a parent, I sometimes find that even harder to understand. I can't think of anyone I love enough to sacrifice one of my children...! However, being a parent, I do now understand unconditional love....

And this is where my faith has taken over. Not that there still isn't a battle going on in my mind, but by my faith in my Heavenly Father, I know that He loves me. Nothing I do, the mistakes I make, no matter how many stupid decisions I make or when I just blow Him off because I "have something I just have to do", He loves me. That's it. I can't earn it, I can't pretty myself up or get smarter or work harder because....He just loves me.

"See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are!"
1 John 3:1a, NLT