VALUABLE Week One: Achievements

Hey there beautiful ladies! I am so glad you made it to our blog! Amy and I are beyond excited to start our Valuable study with you over the next four weeks. The truth is, each one of you is so incredibly valuable! And though you may already know this in your head, we want to help you truly believe it in your heart by reading and reflecting on how God, our Creator, values us. Who's ready?!

Week One: {A C H I E V E M E N T S}

achieve (uh-cheev) -- to bring to a successful end; carry through; accomplish.

Can you think of something you have achieved recently? How about your greatest accomplishment ever? Maybe you broke a track record at your school, got the lead part in a play, made it onto the volleyball team, made great grades in school, or got a special award for being a great classmate or student. Knowing you girls, with all your amazing gifts and talents, you are probably achieving some pretty awesome things!

When I was in 10th grade, one of my greatest achievements was making the top choir at my school. I was so happy when I saw my name on that list! When we work hard for something and are rewarded for that, it feels so good. It is in our nature to crave that recognition! We want to be proud of ourselves and we want to make others proud. When you accomplish something great, who do you tell first? I know that for me, it's always my mom. She is usually even more excited than I am to hear good news! I think we can all agree that achievements are great--they give us confidence in our talents and abilities, and they give us a chance to celebrate and make memories with our families and friends.

The tricky part is what comes after these achievements. It feels great to have everyone happy for us, but unfortunately the things we accomplish on earth don't last forever. Eventually, someone will beat us at our best sport. There will be days when our test grades are less than perfect. There will be teams we don't make, choirs we won't sing in, and special awards that go to someone else. But when this happens, it doesn't mean that we lose our value! And that's because our value is NOT placed in what we achieve, but in something greater! SomeONE greater. So. Much. Greater.

.....do YOU know who it is?

I'll give you three hints:

1. He's 100% perfect
2. He loves us unconditionally
3. He sacrificed his life so that we could be forgiven

Any guesses? {J E S U S} is where we should find our true value! Why? Because it's His love for us that is eternal. The love of the Lord does not depend on what we accomplish. Unlike many people in the world around us, He won't treat us any differently if we fail or come in second place. Jesus died for us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8). We didn't have to do anything to earn the love of Jesus, yet he found us valuable enough and worthy enough to sacrifice his own life on the cross.

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." 1 Peter 1:18-19

Ladies, I am SO proud of the women you are becoming. Keep setting goals for yourself, and keep working hard to achieve them! Just remind yourself, whether you win or lose, that you are not made valuable by your talents, brains, determination, awards, or accomplishments. 

• You are valuable because you were made by God and forgiven through Christ. 
• You are valuable because God loves you and delights in you! 
• You are valuable because there is only ONE you that has ever existed and that ever will exist. 
• You are valuable because God placed you here on earth and has a plan for your life. 
• You are valuable because God values you!

Lots of love to each and every one of you! 

Abbi