The Value of a Penny

"Find a penny pick it up, then all day you'll have good luck!"
How many of us grew up reciting this cute phrase as we joyfully reached for the shiny, copper coin sitting at our feet? As children, that penny is seen as a small token that later will be dropped into a piggy bank to join the others. While that penny is often seen as worthless in the eyes of our society, some will see it as valuable.

Yesterday, as I was loading up my car to head back to Huntington, I looked down to see a penny. If you've ever been around me when I see a penny, my inner child beams with excitement while I bend over to retrieve the small treasure. But yesterday was different. I wasn't eager to collect my find. It was muddy, I was in a hurry, and face it, it's a penny. My attitude was telling me that in the scheme of life that penny wouldn't be worth much at all.

Despite my circumstance and negative thinking, I couldn't pass up the opportunity. As I reached down for it, something dawned on me. Does God see me as I see this penny? Dirty, worthless, and insignificant? As a hassle to claim?

As I held the penny in my palm, I took a minute to look at it and answer my question. Grace set aside, I am seen as dirty, worthless, and insignificant; but without any hesitation, God picks me up, dusts me off, and places me in His hand, as a treasure He has plans to use.

The story and comparison doesn't end here. I placed the penny in my pocket, still pondering, when while I was taking another load to my car, the penny fell from my pocket directly into the mud beside my tire. The connection hit me again:

No matter how many times I fall from God's hand and direction, He is always so willing to pick me up, show me grace, and set me back on the path of His righteousness. In his eyes I am His daughter, His daughter who He has shown mercy and redemption. His daughter which He has plans to use for His glory. His daughter who has no reason to have worth, but who He finds unexplainable value and love in.

Unlike a human response to the value of a penny, God gives his immeasurable love to His sons and daughters. He rescues us when we are lost and carries us with Him until we reach the finish line as holy and pure. He sees value in our lives and purpose in our steps.

I encourage each of you to trust in Him and allow Him to guide your life. In the scale of His God-sized plans, you may seem small, but we serve a God who is mighty and purposeful; allow Him to clean you up and treasure you for life.

The Oxford English Dictionary and Jesus

Being the geeky English major I am, the Oxford English Dictionary and I are best friends. That being said, it provides me with definitions to all things literary and all things life-y (I am aware this is not a word; my blog, my rules :) ) The OED defines the word sufficient as, "
= to provide for the needs or accommodation of, to satisfy (a person or animal)" (proof). So, one should find sufficiency in things such as food, sex, and alcohol, right? That's what the world tells us so that MUST be true. Ladies and gents, I don't believe that is at all what the definition of sufficient is. If you would, let me explain my thoughts and reasons.

First off, almost four months ago God blessed me with an incredible fella who courageously ask me if he was "worthy enough to be my man". In the time we have been together Justin has brought me back to the heart and core of my faith; the love of Jesus.

Jesus is the definition of sufficient.

I've wasted hours, days, weeks, months, and years trying to satisfy void with the things of this world, leaving me continuously frustrated and hopeless in their lack of worth. I knew Jesus and God's love is all that I needed; I truly KNEW that, but did I ever TRUST in that? No. I didn't. I'd wake up and go throughout my day, trying to make my own decisions keeping God aware that I appreciated the thought of His help, but there are people out there who need Him more than me. I was fine. As long as I went to church, prayed, and was a good girl then I was doing what I was supposed to. I couldn't have been farther from the Truth.

Maybe one day it hit me and I just didn't realize it until weeks of feeling immense joy and love radiate from my soul. Through this time God has made it blatantly aware to me that JESUS IS SUFFICIENT. I need nothing else in this world and thinking otherwise would sound as if Christ's death and resurrection wasn't enough.

I used to work at GNC and stressed to customers that a multi-vitamin was the first step, and necessary, when participating in any workout and/or diet plan. This is because it fills in the gaps of poor American diets and allows for our bodies to run smoother and excel farther. Jesus is the core and foundation, obviously far,far more important than an over-priced vitamin, of all things in life. Without TRUSTING He is sufficient nothing else can build and grow to be more like Him.

Also, Jesus is the gap-filler. There is a hole in each of our hearts. A hole of heartbreak, a hole of deceit, a hole of depression. A hole that can only be filled with the overflowing love and sacrifice of Jesus. Until you try and wrap your mind around that and surrender the void to Him, I'm not sure that you will ever find the true meaning of sufficient joy and love.

I have no theological degree and I don't preach over a church, but I do have a faith and a God that can do immeasurably more than we could ever dream(Eph. 3:20).

One last thing, Paul writes to the church of Colossea, "the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord's people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col.1;26,27).

Christ was the mystery. He and His hope, glory, love, and sacrifice has been revealed. Trust in these and learn the true definition of sufficienct.

He. Is. Enough.