You are Accepted

You are Accepted

Jennifer Rothschild

August 25, 2015

"… to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved." Ephesians 1:6 (NKJV)

Several years ago, my friend Lisa was going through a crafty phase and wanted to make a piece of word art for me. So, she texted this question: "If one word could become a reality in your life, what would it be?"

Girl, this took me awhile! The one word that kept coming to mind was "accepted," but I was too embarrassed to admit that feeling accepted was what I really longed for.

I was a Christian, so I knew God accepted and loved me unconditionally. Wasn’t that already a reality in my life?

The reality was, I was afraid God accepted everyone but me.

In pondering my one word, God began to show me that I associated my performance

 with my acceptability.

Here’s what I (wrongly) believed: If I am good, I am acceptable. If I help people … if I am 

a blessing instead of a burden … well, then I am accepted. But, if I fail, blow it or mess up, 

then I feel like a reject — not acceptable to me, not to others and certainly not to God.

My skewed belief was I was acceptable only when I was at the top of my game or in the center 

of God’s will. Clearly, I had not truly embraced my identity in Christ because acceptance is what 

I already have.

So, I texted Lisa back with my one word that I needed to embrace and believe: accepted.

Lisa’s gift showed up in the mail a week later. It was a wooden ledge with the Scrabble

 letters A-C-C-E-P-T-E-D glued on it. This is a treasure to me because it is a constant reminder 

to see what I already have in God rather than seek it in the wrong ways and places.

Lots of us struggle with trusting the truth that we’re acceptable to and accepted by God. We are

 accepted not because of what we do or don’t do; we are accepted not because of how we succeed

 or if we’re good. We are accepted not because of who we are, but because of who God is.

God loves us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3) and to as many as receive Him, He gives the

 power to be sons and daughters of God (John 1:12). Talk about accepted!!

We are not only accepted "in" the beloved, we are accepted "by" the Beloved Himself!

My Scrabble word "accepted" reminds me I already have what I want. When I am feeling less than acceptable, I hold it in my hand, wrap my fingers around it and the truth it represents, and tell

 myself, "This is what God gave me. This is who I am."

Can you take that truth in?

If you feel invisible, it may be because, deep down, you never really embraced the truth about 

yourself — that you are accepted by God, admired by Him and have His full and unconditional love.

Just like Lisa glued the word "accepted" to a Scrabble ledge for me, ask God to glue the word 

"accepted" to your heart so that, with every heartbeat, this truth is reinforced and becomes woven

 into the very fiber of your being.

Oh my friend, you are accepted by God. That is your reality.

When you accepted Christ, He accepted you. You may sometimes feel rejected, but how you feel

 is not who you are! You are acceptable, accepted — no exceptions!

Lord, please write this truth on my heart. Help me trust what You say about me more than I trust

 how I may feel about myself. Protect me from the lies that tell me I am what I do or how I feel. 

Thank You for accepting and loving me without conditions. I love You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Hosea 2:19-20, "I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness 

and in justice, in lovingkindness and in compassion, And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. 

Then you will know the LORD." (NASB)

RELATED RESOURCES:
Invisible: How You Feel Is Not Who You Are by Jennifer Rothschild affirms that no matter who 

or where you are, God sees you and loves you faithfully.

For more encouragement and freebies from Jennifer, visit her website.

Enter to WIN a copy of Invisible: How You Feel is Not Who You Are by Jennifer Rothschild. In celebration of this new book, Jennifer’s publisher is giving away 10 copies. Enter to win 

byleaving a comment here, letting us know why you’d like a copy for yourself OR whom you 

would give the book to, if you won. {We’ll randomly select 10 winners and email notifications 

to each one, by Monday, August 31.}

REFLECT AND RESPOND:
You are indeed accepted in the beloved and by "The Beloved!" Stop right now and ask God to help

 you receive and believe you are accepted and acceptable.

Your acceptability is not based on your failure or past. Your acceptability is not based on your

 success or virtues. Your acceptability is not based on what you do, what you did, haven’t done, 

should have done, or wished you’d done. Your acceptability is based on who God is!

LINK TO DAILY DEVOTIONALS

- See more at: http://proverbs31.org/devotions/devo/#sthash.2ii0Mq4z.dpuf



CHECKLIST FOR ENCOURAGERS

The command to “encourage” others is found throughout the Bible. In I Thessalonians chapter 5 Paul gives many specific examples of how we can encourage others.

I Thessalonians 5:11

Build each other up.

“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”

Christians are to encourage one another. A word of encouragement offered at the right moment can be the difference between, finishing well and collapsing along the way. Look around you. Be sensitive to others’ need for encouragement, and offer supportive words or actions.

I Thessalonians 5:12

Respect leaders.

“And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you.”

Look for ways to encourage and cooperate with your pastor.

I Thessalonians 5:13a

Hold leaders in highest regard.

“And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake, and be at peace among yourselves.”

Express your appreciation, tell them how you have been helped by their leadership and teaching, and thank them for their ministry in your life. If you say nothing, how will they know where you stand? Remember, they need and deserve your support and love.

I Thessalonians 5:13b

Live in Peace

Search for ways to get along with others.

I Thessalonians 5:14

Encourage the timid

“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.”

Encourage those who are timid by reminding them of God’s promises.

Help the weak

Support those who are weak by supporting them and praying for them

.

Be patient

Think of a situation that tries your patience and plan ahead of time how you can stay calm.

I Thessalonians 5:15

Resist revenge

“See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to all men.”

Instead of planning to get even with those who mistreat you, do good to them.

Be joyful

I Thessalonians 5:16

“Rejoice evermore.”

When we do God’s will we will find it easier to be joyful and thankful. Remembering that even in the midst of turmoil, God is in control.

Pray continually

I Thessalonians 5:17

“Pray without ceasing.”

We cannot spend all our time on our knees, but it is possible to have a prayerful attitude at all times. This attitude is built upon acknowledging our dependence on God, realizing His presence within us, and determining to obey Him fully. Then we will find it natural to pray frequent, spontaneous, short prayers. A prayerful attitude is not a substitute for regular times of prayer but should be an outgrowth of those times.

Give thanks

I Thessalonians 5:18

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Paul was not teaching that we should thank God for everything that happens to us, but in everything. Evil does not come from God, so we should not thank Him for it. But when evil strikes, we can still be thankful for God’s presence and for the good that He will accomplish through the situation.

Make a list of all the gifts God has given you, giving thanks to God for each one.

Count on God’s constant help

I Thessalonians 5:23

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Realize that Christian life is to be lived not in our own strength but through God’s power.

I pray that I can be an encouragment to others!

This was sent to me by my sweet and dear friend Marie. (This could have been written about her!) Thanks Marie!

Ten Commandments for Wives

Ten Commandments for Wives

I. Honor thy own womanhood, that thy days may be long in the house which thy husband provideth for thee.



II. Expect not thy husband to give thee as many luxuries as thy father hath given thee after many years of hard labor and economies.



III. Forget not the virtue of good humor, for verily all that a man hath will he give for a woman's smile.



IV. Thou shalt not nag.



V. Thou shalt coddle thy husband, for verily every man loveth to be fussed over.



VI. Remember that the frank approval of thy husband is worth more to thee than the sidelong glances of many strangers.



VII. Forget not the grace of cleanliness and good dressing.



VIII. Permit no one to assure thee that thou art having a hard time of it: neither thy mother, nor thy sister, nor thy maiden aunt, nor any of thy kinfold. Thou shalt not let another disparage thy husband.



IX. Keep thy home with all diligence, for out of it cometh the joys of thine old age.



X. Commit thy ways unto the Lord thy God, and thy children shall rise up and call thee blessed.

~Lucibel VanAtta

Martha Peace Conference

Guess what I found out this weekend? That I'm an "aged woman"! LOL

Yep, this weekend my daughter and I went to a conference in Milford to hear Martha Peace speak on being a Titus 2 Woman. (she is also the author of The Excellent Wife)

We had the pleasure of being able to enjoy this conference with some friends too! :)

We even had the opportunity to get our books signed. :)

But, the highlight of the conference was the wonderful message that Martha brought to us concerning our role as Christian women (and mothers).

She reminded us that we have influence over young women (esp. our daughters) with our thinking and actions. Boy is that sobering! This means for bad, or for good. That made me really think that I need to hone up on my doctrine and be sound and grounded!

This also means that I must be extra careful with what I say, wear, and how I behave!

• Do I have a meek and quiet spirit? Ouch!

• 
  
   Am I guarding my words? 
  
  
  
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  Am I what I want my daughter to become?
  
  
  
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  Am I selfish with my time?
  
  
  
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  Am I ready to teach when the moment arises?
  
  
  
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  Do I make myself available?
  
  
  
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  Do I encourage with my words?
  
  
  
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  Do I reprove when necessary, in a biblical way?
  
  
  
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  Do I praise when I should?
  
  
  

It was a sobering reminder to me to not be lax...to live with purpose!

Martha concentrated mostly on applying this to younger women in the church, but don't you think this should first and foremost be applied to our daughters?

Our ministry is right in our home! We don't need to go searching for it outside the home while we have our children still in-house! :)
Actually, if you are blessed to have a daughter(s), your job will never be done! You will be her mentor through her different stages of life...childhood, girlhood, womanhood, marriage, and motherhood!

The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed

Titus 2:3-5

This has been a challenge to me, and I also found an article from Nancy Leigh DeMoss that goes hand in hand with it in case you want to check it out.

May God bless you friends as you minister to your daughters, friends, and young ladies in the church.

We carry generations of tenderness, legacies of hope, and faith, and courage.
We are powerful in that we know how to love." --Flavia"

"Unaffected modesty is

the sweetest charm of female excellence,

the richest gem in the diadem of her honor."

~Webster's Dictionary

1828

I found this quote over at Home Living