Saturday, April 01, 2017

"His Family of Misfits" - 04/01/17 - 1 Samuel 21-24




"So David got away and escaped to the Cave of Adullam. When his brothers and others associated with his family heard where he was, they came down and joined him. Not only that, but all who were down on their luck came around—losers and vagrants and misfits of all sorts. David became their leader. There were about four hundred in all."(22:1,2)


I was never part of the "in" crowd. 

There are many memories tucked away of enduring the "joys" of being made fun of, not included and even bullied.  Until the past few years, I still allowed "bullies" to intimidate me.  To fall back into believing what they saw or said about me was The Truth.   God has opened my eyes, not only to myself and how He sees me, but also to those who used to intimidate me. I stress "used to".

Some days there are moments which bring up memories I had buried deep. ( Not deep enough obviously.) In trying to fill a void, to fit in, I have done many things I am so ashamed of. Thankfully, God reminds me I haven't been that person for over 35 years and our Savior's death on The Cross has covered me in His Grace and Mercy.  In Forgiveness.  

I no longer need to wear the "cloak of shame", for through His Blood I have been made new. 

I am Redeemed. 

In the past, all I wanted was to be included with those who treated me as an outsider. Now - I no longer care. It is because He has filled the void and I am His "misfit". 

He has blessed my life and given me so many treasures - Curt, Adam and Ashley, Nichalas and Amber, our grandchildren, Charlie and Ella, and so many others.  My life is very rich and very full. He has surrounded me with those whom I love and am loved back. Those who I am able to be myself, accepted and know - I truly belong in His wonderful family of "misfits"! There aren't enough words to express how very much I love this "family" He has blessed me with. And every day He introduces me to more siblings. How great is our Daddy!

The best part is, I am still a misfit in this world. 

Throughout Scripture,  I look at the people Christ surrounded Himself with and they were mostly the same as the band David had surrounded himself with. Losers and vagrants and misfits of all sorts. 

I see now, being a misfit was actually one of the best things that could have happened to me.
A blessing in disguise.

I love how our ABBA is able to take the "losers" and make us into His winners.
I love how He is able to take our shame and remove it from us in His forgiveness, grace and mercy.
I love how He has taken all of our sins, our missteps, and used them for His glory. 
I love how He takes the world's rejected and makes us totally accepted.
I love He how has exchanged the world's measuring stick for His own.

But most of all, I so love knowing - without doubt.  we "in" Christ.
We are one of His "misfits".
His Redeemed.
His Beloved. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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