Purpose

This is a picture of the tattoo I would very much enjoy. I was told that I should blog about why I want a tattoo instead of actually getting one. So here we go:

I have multiple reasons why I want this particular tattoo.

First
Luke 12:6-7 says: "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." This, to me, is a sign of worth and beauty. My whole life I have struggled with this concept because of different influences that I just can't get away from in today's society. I'm constantly told by commercials, billboards, peers, and other unreliable resources how to dress, wear makeup, wear my hair, what looks good, and what doesn't. I do feel like I've been taken away from that mode of thinking more now that God has me serving teenage students. He uses me to tell them of how much they are worth and, in turn, He reminds me how precious I am as well. So that's the first meaning to me: Worth and beauty.

Second
The picture of this bird reminds me of a liberating freedom because of the grace and fluency of the drawing. My freedom is found when I belong to Jesus. When I depend on Him with my heart, mind, body, and soul, I am free. Yet again, this brings me back to my first point: I don't have to worry about anything when I fall deep into His loving grasp. He has a tight hold on me and will not let me fall. I want to be free to fly in His arms.

Third
I had a miscarriage four years ago at the end of September. We didn't know if it was a boy or girl yet, but if it was going to be a girl, I wanted to name her Ellyana Grace and we would call her Elly for short. I don't talk about this much because it seemed like it was just a freak accident. But now that I know what the problem is (after four years), it seems easier to talk about. I have debated getting the tattoo on my shoulder and having the nose point slightly upward to represent her flying towards the sky. I know that God has the child I lost safe with Him and I look forward to meeting him/her someday.

Well, there it is. I've written out my thoughts on the reasoning behind it. Really, it's for me more than anything. Let me know what you think.

Elaina

And here it is! :)

Love and Liars

Constant reminders of how to love people have been echoing throughout my life the past couple of weeks.
Here is something I came across today:

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. What a man desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar." ~Proverbs 19:21-22

In other words, even though we may think we have life all planned out, God is still in control and may ask us to drop everything on the itinerary and become homeless, adoptive parents, or something else we weren't quite expecting. We, as human beings, are created to love and  to be loved. ("The greatest thing is just to love and be loved in return!!!" ~Moulin Rouge, gotta love it ;) and it's so true.) This is why, after many broken relationships, the human race still longs for more. We desire a love that is unconditional and that will stick around forever.

Then I came to the part of Proverbs 19:22 that says, "better to be poor than a liar." My thoughts wandered to the following:

"If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And He has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother." 1 John 4:20-21

This is what that means to me: It is better to give up everything you have for the love of your brother (or sister) than to "be a liar" and just walk on past those in need. Those that are in need of not just material possessions, but of love. Also, brother/sister does not just refer to our blood relation, but to the human race. We must learn to treat everyone as if they were our family. We are all God's creation and His creation is beautiful. We are all beautiful and desire a deep love that no else can give us. God is the only one up for that job.

Just a short thought I had for the day :) Love God, love people. Pretty simple, right?

Elaina