{"id":23617,"date":"2018-08-04T03:30:02","date_gmt":"2018-08-04T10:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=23617"},"modified":"2018-07-31T14:36:38","modified_gmt":"2018-07-31T21:36:38","slug":"august-4-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2018\/08\/04\/august-4-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"August 4, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cFor we are God\u2019s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.\u201d <\/em>Ephesians 2:10<\/p>\n

Invalid<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As I sit here in my chair as an invalid, recovering from surgery, I am enjoying God\u2019s creation. I watch the hummingbirds come to the hummingbird feeder that hangs from the tree outside my window. I look out another window and see another tree where the squirrels climb up and down and chase each other around and bark at whatever seems to be bothering them for some unknown reason. A tiny bird climbs up and down that tree, probably foraging for bugs to eat. Looking through the screen door, I see and hear the birds outside.<\/p>\n

I have come to love the squawks of the magpies because they remind me of the blue jays during my childhood camping trips to Yosemite with my family. They are wonderful memories to enjoy. I would not be recalling such lovely times if I\u00a0were still carrying on with my overly busy lifestyle.<\/p>\n

I am absolutely in love with my Creator and His creation. I love when He sends a breeze and the leaves and branches on the trees seem to sing and wave praises to Him, their Creator. Yes, I am an invalid\u00a0<\/strong>in the noun form. However, I am not invalid\u00a0<\/strong>in the adjective form. The fact that I have become an invalid\u00a0<\/strong>does not render me invalid<\/strong>. I am valid. I am made in the image of God. He has a plan for my life. He has things for me to do while I sit in this chair. He brings many people to mind to pray for and perhaps send cards to, or even call on the phone to encourage them.<\/p>\n

Yes, an invalid can encourage others who are not invalids. People are hurting all around us and feeling invalid, even though they are not. We may even look in the mirror and see \u201cinvalid.\u201d But look again. We are made in the image of GOD! God is not junk and He does not create junk. He has created in you, in me, His masterpiece. Jesus validated us at the cross. We don’t need to be validated by anyone else.<\/p>\n

\u201cLord God, our Creator, help us to look in the mirror and see through Your eyes Your masterpiece in the mirror. With that image firmly planted, may we look around us and see each other as a glorious masterpiece You have designed and created for Your glory and pleasure.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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