Do you remember the movie Pretty Woman? I’ve watched it many times over the years and I love the story because the story revolves around a woman no one in their right mind would ever choose.
And yet… our hero Edward, a broken-prince of wealth and stature, sees the remarkable potential in a disillusioned prostitute named Vivian.
The line I most remember, is from the scene where our hero and heroine are sharing their hearts, and Edward whispers, “You have so much to give…” and Vivian responds, “The bad stuff is easier to believe.”
Embracing the new you
It is one thing to hear, “You are the Bride of Christ.” but for a long time I found it quite a challenge to “see” myself that way.
The bad stuff was easier to believe.
It has taken some real work to rewrite some of the old tapes that still try to play in my head.
Destructive words, of gossip and slander, cruel deeds of rejection, thoughtless critics with flippant sneers–these are easier to remember and believe aren’t they?
Yes, forgiving is essential–but forgetting? That is hard.
Yet… we have been purchased by His love!
We are the redeemed, the Church–the Bride of Jesus-– and He proclaims us beautiful, pure, and chosen!
As we gather here today, there are tears as we share our hearts about “the bad stuff that is easier to believe.”
We all struggle to forgive and forget. And, it can be tough getting the Truth from our heads, those crucial eighteen inches, to our hearts.
Yet though we might find it difficult to overcome our past hurts, Emilie reminds us again with today’s gem of hope…
You are loved. You must take that to HEART if you want to live in HOPE.
God’s word reminds us: We Are LOVED!
- …I have loved you, O my people, with an everlasting love; with loving-kindness I have drawn you to me. Jeremiah 31: 3 TLB
- For this is how much God loved the world—he gave his one and only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in him will never perish but experience everlasting life. John 3: 16 TPT
- His love broke open the way and he brought me into a beautiful broad place. He rescued me—because his delight is in me! Psalm 18: 19 TPT
- The one I love calls to me: Arise, my dearest. Hurry, my darling. Come away with me! I have come as you have asked to draw you to my heart and lead you out. For now is the time, my beautiful one. The season has changed, the bondage of your barren winter has ended, and the season of hiding is over and gone. Song of Songs 2: 10-11 TPT
You are chosen…
And because you are His own “chosen one,” I wanted to share a poem I wrote many years ago:
Come now My child and never fear
Come away with Me that you might hear,
About My love, and plans, and means–
Of visions sweet and awesome dreams
For you My love–for you alone
No more concealed, but now, revealed
~~~
And one thing more, a gift I bring
As angel choirs sweetly sing
A name I’ve saved for time like this,
Bestowed with Love and angel’s kiss
For sweet you are–betrothed to Me!
And heart-to-heart we’ll ever be
~~~
And so I join, these two, to one
SweetHeart you are from this day on…
My chosen one; My Sovereign Bride
The one for whom I came and died
My Kingdom-all I came to make,
Forever yours, “So come now, take…”
Your rightful place–here by My side,
My sweet, SweetHeart, My heavenly Bride!
Our fourth cup
As His Bride we are dearly loved. Today let’s share our cup of HOPE with someone who might feel alone and forgotten.
Perhaps someone in the hospital, or in a care facility of some kind, an elderly neighbor who gets few visitors, or even the local jail?
Father,
Show us today where we can take Your love and remind someone, that if they are Yours, they are not forgotten–they are chosen!
You LOVE them with Your everlasting love.
Help us be Your hands and feet in the earth,
In Jesus Name, we ask You to use us God. Amen.
* Emilie’s “gems” are shared with the permission of Harvest House Publishers. They are: Taken from: A CUP OF HOPE by Emilie Barnes, Copyright © 2000, Published by Harvest House Publishers
Photos courtesy of: Unsplash
This weeks photo credits and “My Thanks!” go to photographers: Chien Pham, Jared Subia, Delfi DeLaRua, Debby Hudson, and Annie Spratt
Women With Destiny 