The Greatest Crown (Part 2)

Continued from yesterday.

She wasn't there. I tried to go back to Togo's every couple days. I tried to remember the time and day on which I saw her and come on those times and days. She wasn't there. I did this for a few weeks. Let me tell you, Togo's is expensive!!!
(Yeah, yeah, I know, no one forced me to buy it. But I felt like if I walked in I had to buy something. Plus I really started to like it. *teethy grin*)

So that's where it's at. Who knows what happened to her? I hope that maybe there's something for you in this story, maybe that's why God let that happen. This world is full of sin. This world is full of people ready to shred your self esteem. They will try to strike a nerve, try to hit you on your most sensitive spot. It's of Satan, really. Have you ever had someone do that to you? The one thing that you're most insecure about is the thing they totally ground you into pieces about. I remember feeling like that as a kid. I remember being teased and feeling like dirt. I just felt so worthless and unlovable. I couldn't believe the depth of evil demonstrated to me. And I just drowned it out with video games.

Don't fall for it! Don't let them deceive you! Don't fall into the trap they've set for you. They want to make you depressed and lose heart.

What is your source of self-esteem? Where does it come from? Does it come from your reputation? What others say and think about you?
Why should I feel good about myself?
Why should anyone feel good about themselves?

I remember when I moved back home to Fresno from Philadelphia. One of the first things I did was throw away all my awards and plaques and medals and stuff that I had. I dumped them all in the trash, (although I think my mother held me back from throwing them all away). I remember just thinking that I had used those things as a pathetic prop for my self-esteem. Those things are only temporary and could never build my self esteem. I didn't want to define myself by perceptions of others. Who was I trying to impress? No amount of medals in the world could make me feel as confident and loved as I had experienced with Jesus. I didn't need them as nostalgia, what would be the point of that? Nothing would be gained. I don't have to look to the past because I have a home in heaven that I'm looking to.

The only source I have for self-esteem, self-worth, and significance is God. Ultimately I have to see that what's really real and what really matters is how God sees me. It really doesn't make sense: Why should I be more concerned with impressing people rather than God? Whose opinion counts for more? People come and go, but God is always there. In the end, doesn't God's opinion trump all?

Cam said in his song, "A different type of normal":
When they look at me they laugh, but when God looks he smiles.

You need to recognize those hurtful things that people said or did to you for what they are: sinful deeds by sinful people. People who were trying to cover up their own pain and take it out on you.
When I think of all the hateful and ignorant comments that were directed my way in my life I think, "well of course they'd say something like that. Their mind is not fixed on Christ and they have a sinful nature. Their mind is fixed on earthly things. They're acting in ignorance of God's truth. I understand. I know why they did that. I forgive them."

Don't you know how precious you are to God??? This is serious! This isn't some platitude I'm spouting. Do you really believe that you are precious to God? Not, do you agree in your head that you're precious to God, or a mere theological assent, but in your heart do you know how precious you are to God??
Yes, God loves you and this means everything.
How I wish I could have told the girl at Togo's. But at least I can tell you!

Romans 8:37-39
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Eph 3:17b-19
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

1 Peter 2:24b
"by His wounds you were healed"

Da T.R.U.T.H. - N.F.L. (New Found Love)
So whether you're fat skinny or tall, nose big or small
He loves you just the way you are, with your flaws and all
He sees your needs, meets you wherever you are
He loves you when you're on the rise, and even when you fall
It remains the same, it doesn't change like the leaves in Fall
He proved His love on the cross, when He streched His palms
Jesus baby
His love erased our guilt
Jesus baby
His love covered my filth
Jesus
I read about it in the book off the shelf
Jesus
He loved me when I didn't love myself
Now check the love sequel: how he love a bunch of bugged people
Prepared a place and chose to tailor-make his tuxedo
And marry us
over the threshold carry us
fabulous
I'm very touched of how he love us very much
And I gotta brand new found love in my life
And I gotta brand new found love in my life, Sing!
Da Truth - N.F.L. (New Found Love).


Togo's girl update