Life is made up of seasons...this season my life has been a call to share in the sufferings of Christ. I remember the Lord asking me if I would drink of His cup of suffering if it meant that I would draw closer to Him and glorify Him- I said "yes my Lord."  It is humbling to know that there is nothing I will go through that Christ did not go through Himself. I feel Him pulling me close to Him and whispering "it's o.k. daddy is here and I know it hurts but we will get through it together." I count it all a joy in order to draw closer to my creator.

God has called me by a new name: ACCEPTED. I write it on my arm to remind me not only of who I am in Christ but whose I am. I have cast myself entirely upon Jesus and His word and that has carried me through this winter season. Jesus never said it would be easy but He promises we will never have to walk through it alone.

Never in my life have I lived so secure in my identity in the Lord- as His accepted one, even in the darkest time of rejection and loss I've never felt His presence so close and the joy of the Lord be my strength. God has allowed me to be stripped of everything in order to know He is enough. His love is stronger and bigger than any pain I have faced. At times I don't understand why I have peace, joy, and comfort in times of suffering but He has my heart and it is in the best hands it could be in.

In a season of sharing in Christ's sufferings there comes beauty for ashes.

I can praise God for my sufferings because he is using them to bring comfort and restoration to others as He has promised "the God of all comfort, who comforts us in our troubles, so we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God (2 Cor 1:3-4)." Again... all my pain, all my joy, all my trials, all my sufferings are worth it all. I remember one of my participants this summer telling me that my testimony was used to help bring healing to her life and free her from un-forgiveness. I remember thanking God that night with tears down my face thinking that it is worth the pain in order to see healing in the lives of His children and for Him to get the glory- that night God gave me beauty for ashes.

Nothing compares to knowing Christ my Lord...it is part of my inheritance to know Him in power of His resurrection and in my sufferings- either way it brings me closer to Him. I am strong enough in Him to stand in His love because His love never fails or changes. Nothing I do or have done will change His love or affections. I fear nothing with the Lord, I hold nothing back. He is worth all my time and affections.

I write acceptance on my arm and heart because I am defined by the love and acceptance of the creator and sustainer of the universe. I run to the arms of the Almighty God because nothing in this world can shake me out of His hands. He is the God holding the universe in His palm and holding me. My father has big strong hands and I feel secure in His love. He promises to never reject me because of His name and He was pleased to make me His own (Is 12:22).

As my team would tell you I pose the question randomly "who are you?" Who does He say that you are? My name is accepted one and it is written on my arm and heart.