Writing a book takes at least a year.  Or a lifetime. Beautiful Lies took a lifetime of believing people measured my value.  Broken by the lie that “I was what man thought of me,” I grasped for a clearer reflection of who I was.  Seeing myself through the Father’s eyes made all the difference.  In His eyes, you are His Beloved, even in your frailties.  My gift to you today is a passage from the book that healed me as I wrote it ….

 The Father Speaks

Humans are made in my likeness, but they try to make me like them.  This confuses you.  If you make me in the image of restless man, I will never be enough to satisfy your yearning heart.  Yes, some men reflect my image well; they teach you who I am through mirroring forgiveness, grace, patience, and a love that protects, believes, hopes, endures, and is couched in kindness and self-control.  Yes, a man can be a picture of my love, but only my Son was perfected in love. 

My dear one, do not form me in the image of your father.  I am the Father who made your father.  Somewhere along the way he may have created a new definition of me; in the mirror of that definition, you may feel that I am inaccessible, unreachable, condemning, or angry.  You may feel that you are unworthy or unable to live out the dreams of your heart.  Whether or not your father accurately portrayed my heart toward you, it’s alright.  I can fill in the gaps.  Remember, it’s human nature for man to try to define me in his own way. 

But I want you to redefine who I am by looking into the mirror of my Word.  I am your Provider, your Healer, and your Banner.  And my banner over you is “LOVE.”

I am the God who birthed you.  As a father, I watch over all your comings and goings.  I have seen every failure, every hurt, every victory, every valley, and every mountain you’ve traversed, and I know all too well the storms that have torn your precious heart. 

These are things your earthly father could never fully know.  Come to me, my wearied daughter.  I am here, waiting for you.  You don’t have to do anything but believe for me to be pleased with you.

Before my Son ever performed a miracle, before he ever fed the thousands, before he taught a single parable, and before he laid down his life, I spoke a word over him that I speak over you now:  “This is my Son, whom I love.  With him I am well pleased.”

This is the life I want for you, daughter:  to walk as one who knows she is my beloved, with whom I am well pleased, before you’ve done a single thing right. 

Look away from the mirror of man; so often, his love is woefully incomplete.  Look at Me!  See your true reflection in the mirror of Me.

(Read more …)

You are His Beloved.  Every day, all day.  No matter if you are lost and wandering, resting and waiting, wondering why each day is such a fight to do it right, or you know exactly how you look in His eyes,  know this:  He loves you!

Have a great weekend,