Wanted.

Wanted. Beautiful. Loved. Treasured. Precious. Kind. Important. Missed. Valued. This is a list of words that have been running through my mind lately. Words that you long to hear from someone. Anyone. Looking back at my prior unhealthy relationships, I realize how much I turned to guys to tell me some of those things. Only wanting confidence and to feel important. Girls long to just feel wanted. We want to hear we are beautiful. It's beautiful to us to hear someone loves us. We love to feel treasured and adored by someone. It's a treasure to us when someone tells us we are precious. When we hear we are precious, we choose to be kind. When we are kind, we feel important since others seem to enjoy our presence. We don't feel important until we hear we are missed. When we are missed, we feel valued. You get my point. All of them go hand in hand and feed off of each other. Of course, let's get down to who. Yeah, some hear that stuff from their parents everyday. But it's not the same as having the guys say it to you. Comment on your pictures on Facebook saying you're pretty. Wanting to see how many people you can get to like it. We all do it.
Well this led me to thinking about how much we already have all of these characteristics. We don't need anyone to tell us. Tonight in worship, we sang a song that just hit home for me.


When I lose my way,
And I forget my name,
Remind me who I am.
In the mirror all I see,
Is who I don't wanna be,
Remind me who I am.
In the loneliest places,
When I can't remember what grace is.

Tell me once again who I am to You,
Who I am to You.
Tell me lest I forget who I am to You,
That I belong to You.
To You.

When my heart is like a stone,
And I'm running far from home,
Remind me who I am.
When I can't receive Your love,
Afraid I'll never be enough,
Remind me who I am.
If I'm Your beloved,
Can You help me believe it.

Tell me once again who I am to You,
Who I am to You, whoa.
Tell me lest I forget who I am to You.
That I belong to You.
To You.

I'm the one you love,
I'm the one you love,
That will be enough,
I'm the one you love.

Tell me once again who I am to You.
Who I am to You.
Tell me lest I forget who I am to You,
That I belong to You, oh.

Tell me once again who I am to You.
Who I am to You.
Tell me lest I forget who I am to You,
That I belong to You.
To You.


God sees you as so much more than what you see yourself or how others see you. You have to believe it for yourself before you let anyone else tell you. You are so much more in His eyes than what man has to offer. Sure we love hearing those comments, but have confidence in yourself knowing that God already sees you as all of those things. And when it feels like its never enough, remember of the love He has for you. Sending His one and only Son to die on the cross for you. That is the ultimate sacrifice. More than any man has to offer. That is the ultimate love. So turn to Jesus today as you look in the mirror. Your beauty comes from God and God alone.

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." -1 Samuel 16:7.

A letter to Heaven.

Hi Pappy. I decided to write you a letter every year... I wrote you a letter and put it in your casket, so I figured I'd keep writing to you. I can't believe you've been gone a year. Not a day goes by that I don't think of you and miss you. They say it gets easier, but that doesn't seem to be true. Every time I would come home from tour and walk down the driveway, I would sit in your chair and do a word search like I used to do sitting on your lap when I was little. When I would go back home, I secretly cry every time. I try so hard to be strong for daddy and Grammy, but sometimes I can't. I try and numb myself to the pain and not think about it. Because anytime I do, I break down. I wish you could be here especially now that I'm home. I hope I made you proud on tour. I know you are watching over me. Grammy still cries often. I pray one day God blesses me with a marriage like you two had. 57 years later and you two still loved each other. So much has happened this year and so often, I would want to pick up the phone and call you to tell you about it. When I would call gram, she would sound so excited to talk to me. I still listen to a recording of your voice telling me I'm the bestest baby in the world. A year later and things still aren't normal without you. We all miss you pappy. I love you with all my heart and I miss you more than ever...I'm still not ready to let go of you. Continue to watch over us. You will always be my best friend. I love and miss you pappy.

Love always,
Boots/Punchin' Judy Cookin' Dinner