The Spelling Train
Today's Truth
"For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV)
Friend to Friend
My hands were clammy. Beads of sweat formed on my brow. That familiar knot in the pit of my stomach threatened to push me towards the restroom and my dry tongue began to cleave to the roof of my mouth. It was 10:25 AM, just five more minutes and the dreaded event would begin: the first grade spelling train.
Twenty first graders slipped their munchkin sized chairs from their desks to form a semi-circle around our chief engineer. I always put mine at the end. If we missed the spelling word the teacher held up a flash card, and we had to move to the back of the train. The class chugged along at a quick pace. "Dog. Sally. Bob. Spot. Red. Blue. Mother." Then it was my turn.
"Sharon, what is this word?"
Pause. Giggles.
Well, more often than not I had no idea. Even if I did know the word, I was so nervous that I would guess incorrectly, I'd sit in silence. I spent most of my time in the first grade in the caboose. As the year progressed, I did move up into the passenger cars a few times, but usually I didn't stay there long enough to keep the seat warm.
I order to help me, the teacher kept me after school for two weeks and made me wear a name tag that had the word "the" spelled out. I had particular trouble with that word. Kids came up to me and asked: "Are you stupid?" "Is your name 'the'?" "Why do you have that name tag on?"
Eventually I did learn how to spell the word THE, but that's not all I learned. I learned that I was stupid, not as smart as everybody else, and once again...not enough. But you know what? That wasn't true. It was a lie from the enemy. And it took many years for God to hold me by the hand and help me see myself as He sees me: a uniquely created, dearly loved, completely forgiven, totally accepted child of God.
That was over forty years ago, and now, my greatest joy is stringing written words together. I've noticed that life has many unusual twists and turns when God is at the helm. He takes our greatest weaknesses and turns them into our grandest strengths. That's what happens when we turn our lives over to Him - we get out of the caboose and get to ride up with the chief engineer to places we never imaged possible.
Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, It is amazing to think of all that You have done in my life. You have taken my greatest weakness and turn them into my greatest strengths. When I am weak, through the power of the Holy Spirit, then I am strong. Thank you for working in me and through me. And help me never to believe the lies of the enemy that say "I'm not enough" again.
In Jesus' Name, Amen
Now It's Your Turn
Do you see yourself as God sees you?
Here are just a few glimpses of what He sees when He sees you.
Matthew 6:26 Valuable
John 15:15 Christ's friend
Romans 8:1 Free from condemnation
Romans 8:37 More than a conqueror
Ephesians 1:1 A saint
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed
Ephesians 1:7 Redeemed
Ephesians 1:11 Chosen
Colossians 1:20 Holy
This week, write these verses on a card and put them on your bathroom mirror. Every time you look at yourself, remember, this is how God sees you.
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