Embracing Our Uniqueness in Christ

Have you ever wished that you could decorate your home like someone else?  This someone else seems to have just the right kind of decor in their home that is illuminated with just the right kind of lighting and furniture that gives it an airy feel.  It’s the kind of feel that makes you want to stay for a while.  The kind that makes you want to sit with a cup of coffee or tea, and snuggle up with their perfect-looking throw. 

Photos by Matthew Henry

It’s so easy to get caught up wishing that we could have a home, a car, a job, or any other kind of material object that other people have.  The question is, have we stopped to think about how good and creative of a God that we have to give us the things that are unique to us and our families? 

Some of us are the cute cottage-style type, then we have tudors, farmhouse style, industrial, town-homes, traditional, duplexes, and the list can go on and on.  The truth is, if we could trade with these people, after a while, we’d see something else that we would feel is better.

embracing our uniqueness, comparison, houses, cars, gifts, talents, simple functional grace-filled, valley of grace blog store, katina horton, store owner, author, podcaster, broken pieces, blogger, speaker

When it comes to our spiritual gifts and talents, we play the same game.  We say things like, “I wish that I could teach or preach like him or her.” Sometimes this person does a better job than we do.  However, that is not the point.  The point is, that because we have been uniquely designed by God, we will do what we have been created to do in the way that God created us to do them.

God tells us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.  In these wonderful creations of God, there are no two people who are exactly alike.  Even if we have 50 things that we have in common with someone else, we will still find 10 more that we don’t.

Embracing our uniqueness in Christ involves making peace with all that God created us to be.  It has taken me a while to realize this.  But as the old saying goes, better late than never.  We have to make peace with our physical appearance as well as our gifts/talents, personalities, and possessions.  Just recently, I was faced with an opportunity.  It took one accidental obstacle placed in my way to help me realize that the opportunity would not fit me as a person.

I am a talker.  A very detailed, dramatic talker at that.  Sometimes it takes a while to get through my stories.  My son says that it takes me longer to give the background information before I get to the point of what happened. It is so true.

Being placed in a role with a restriction on how the conversations would have to take place would have gone against my wiring.  I praise God that this one accident helped me to realize that among other things.  Take a moment and think about what things you have been doing that totally goes against your wiring.  

Let’s pray and thank God for all the things that he gave us that are perfect for us.  We can only be our true selves when we are who we were created to be.

Let’s have a party and join together in celebrating and embracing our uniqueness in Christ!

God bless and have a wonderful Sunday!!!

Episode 62: It’s Not That Bad!

The Valley of Grace Podcast
The Valley of Grace Podcast
Episode 62: It's Not That Bad!
/

Have you ever been in a conversation with someone, sharing your pain, pouring out your heart and soul, only told to be told, “It’s not that bad!” Tune in to today’s podcast episode to find out if it is “that bad”.

Podcast Outline

  • What is Comparative Suffering?
  • What is empathy?
  • Why Comparing Pain is Bad?
  • How can we do better when talking about our pain?

Background Scripture: John 21

Question for the week: What will you do the next time that you are tempted to rank your pain with someone else’s?

Challenge

Why Not Me?

Background on the Poem Why Not Me?

It is so easy as individuals, and particularly women, to get caught up in the cycle of the comparison trap. We wonder why God hasn’t fulfilled our very deep soul longing for our desires. We often forget that God is on a different timetable than ours. Praise him for his faithfulness as you wait for your breakthrough! God bless!

comparison, women, poetry, emotional health, mental health
Photo by Nicholas Githiri on Pexels.com

Why Not Me?

Why her and not me?

I am gifted, don’t you see?

I have read all your word.

Practiced all that I’ve heard.

I sang in the choir.

Served others till I tired.

Yes, I know that you’re the one,

Praising me from morning’s dawn.

I also know when you are ready.

When others’ gain is not your petty.

And so, for now, just focus on me.

Your breakthrough is coming.

I guarantee.

Other poems to check out:

Trials

The Body

Episode 14: Broken Pieces Introduction

The Valley of Grace Podcast
The Valley of Grace Podcast
Episode 14: Broken Pieces Introduction
/

Background on Broken Pieces Introduction

broken pieces, broken pieces introduction, paperback, emotional health, mental health, spiritual health, revolving door, toxicity, relationships, comparison, anxiety, depression, healing, broken healing, abuse, broken identity, blogger, author, author life, blogger life, podcast, podcaster, podcaster life, podcasting, trauma, pain, self-awareness, come to Jesus moment, complacency, stagnancy, shame, guilt, wisdom, acknowledging

The book Broken Pieces was released a few days ago. The poem that I wrote, which is also included in the book, can be found here. In this episode, we are dissecting the reason for the name, the chapters, and the overarching theme of the book. The introduction of the book will be read to help give listeners insight into wh
Broken Pieces is really about. Does the issues resonate with them? And if so, how to seek ways for God to glue these pieces back together.

Broken Pieces Introduction Podcast Outline

Introduction of the Book Chapters

  • Introduction
  • Broken Identity
  • Broken Thinking
  • Broken Approval
  • Broken Dreams
  • Broken Faith
  • Broken Judgment
  • Broken Shame
  • Broken Comparison
  • Broken Conflict
  • Broken Relationships
  • Broken Forgiveness
  • Broken Healing

Reading of the Introduction

Bible Verse to Focus On:

John 10:10

King James Bible
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.