Everybody clap your hands...

As you might have guessed, this is the inaugural blog post for the Elevate portion of the Impact blog. I will be posting weekly in hopes of keeping everyone in the loop of general information. Don't forget to keep checking the main page for calendar updates for all of HD Children's Ministries.

This weekend (Memorial Day Weekend) we will be having a stand-alone lesson based on Max Lucado's book "You are Special."

I don't know about you, but self-esteem is something I have struggled with off and on my whole life. Webster's defines self-esteem as having "good feelings towards oneself" or "pride in oneself." Sounds good enough, except for the fact that I do things on a daily basis to self-destruct in that area. I'm known for not only tripping over my words, but also tripping over my own feet as well. Left to my own devices I would have zero self-worth.

We live in a world where we are convinced that we must not only prove ourselves, but also earn the admiration and respect of others. I must - through my money, clothes, demeanor, and achievements, earn my position in the social hierarchy of the world. According to God's truth (Galatians 1:10) - that's just not true. Comparison is the thief of joy.

Galatians 6:3-5 says "Live creatively friends. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life."

The truth of the matter is that God loves us just the way that we are, no qualifications necessary. In fact, 2 Corinthians 12:9 says that God's power is PERFECTED in our weakness. Jesus plus zero equals everything.

It is my hope that every adult and child in Elevate this weekend would recognize and live victoriously knowing that a life concerned with what the LORD thinks is the only thing that matters. God desires for us to know his secure love! God-esteem and not self-esteem brings TRUE freedom.

Our Bible story this weekend can be found in Jeremiah 1:1-9. See you guys in Elevate! (Don't forget to let us know if you will be unable to be there!)

“…Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work…” Jeremiah 1:5