#ImPluggingIn

Here I am, Lord send me. But first.... let me take a selfie.

Frankly, I don't even need to be sent. I have access to the whole world sitting in my pocket right now! Needing a word of encouragement? I can just browse through the Twitter feeds of my favorite mega-pastors! Haven't told anyone about Jesus recently? Simple, I have 140 characters to tell them how much I love him! Can't remember that great verse where Jesus said something pretty important? I've got my YouVersion handy! I can even give it to you in 22 different translations! My Instagram feed is equally inspiring, from #nofilter pictures of nature, to me artistically reading the Bible with an artistically foamed latte. Don't worry, I only take selfies if they have a deep quote attached to them. 

I laughed too, until...

I realized I was kind of convicted. Which did I refresh more often, my Twitter feed, or my soul? Did I put more thought into how beautiful God's creation was, or what Instagram filter would make others think it was beautiful enough to like?  In the last months, I haven't written anything on this blog. I didn't really have anything to say. But that changed as I thought about technology, social media, and Christianity today. Obviously Jesus didn't walk around Jerusalem surfing the social scene on his iScroll. I doubt the oblivious disciples hashtagged #SonOfGod when they told people about what Jesus had taught them.  And I don't think that Jesus was prophesying about Twitter when he said "Come follow me." However, the question remains, what do we do with all of this amazing technology we have access too? There is a simple answer:

"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,

Do it all for the Glory of God."

~ 1 Corinthians 10:31

But what does that even mean? How do we do social media for the Glory of God? How do we use technology for the Glory of God? #wut

We're all alone together.

Riding public transit is an interesting thing. Depending on the time of day, I frequently find myself packed into a bus, uncomfortably close to complete strangers. But I think the most uncomfortable part is the absolute silence. Woe to the traveler who dares raise his voice above a low whisper. Fortunately it is easy to stay quiet when there is absolutely no one to talk to. I do manage to make this time quite productive though. I browse the bus, shopping for headphones in the sea of people drowning out the "noisy" environment, or check up on my neighbor's Instagram feed. Unfortunately when I get off of the bus it isn't much better. Just take a look around. Most people are lost in whatever song is currently playing through their headphones, and that couple over there are on a date, along with all of their friends and followers. To be fair, I have to admit I am a culprit too. After all it is a lot less awkward to throw on the headphones, avoid all strangers, in a world of my own. The thing is though, I see now that this is killing our generation. From the girl that gets 100 likes on every Instagram picture, but looks in the mirror and sees no beauty, to the kid with a 1000 followers, but no one to talk to about how he doesn't want to live anymore, somehow, we have gotten it wrong.

It seems that today we are more connected than ever before, but also much more lonely. 

Counting By Ones

Today, society is all about numbers. Really it is no wonder it is so easy to feel like a nobody. We determine value based on likes, views, profits, and followers. Let's just be honest, you are not going to break Ellen's selfie retweet record. But more seriously, in our world full of totally connected, totally lonely people, maybe we should start thinking and counting more like Jesus -- One by One. Over and over he ignores the masses and focuses on the individual. In Luke 8:40-48, Jesus stops for the one woman in the crowd who was unclean and lonely, and he calls her daughter. In John 6:9-13, Jesus finds one boy in the crowd, and uses him to feed five thousand. In Luke 22:54-62, even as he is dragged away to be beaten and crucified, he picks out Peter in the crowd, and looks straight at him as he denies him. The list goes on and on, and the point is clear. I often feel like just one in a crowd, and I think a lot of us do. Isn't it awesome to realize that Jesus counts us one by one. He knows you and he loves you. And that is one thing you can say in 140 characters that just might change the world.

Go Unplugged or Get Plugged in?

What I am definitely not trying to say is to return to the stone age. You don't need to burn your phone. You don't need to drive a horse and buggy, and you don't have to delete every social media account you possess #Overkill.

I do have a challenge for you though. If you have gotten to this point without checking Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, you are on the right track. 

In the next week, I challenge you to do three things to start changing your approach to technology.

1. Wherever you are, Be all there.

If you're meeting someone for lunch, turn your phone off. Make the people you are around a priority. Let them know you care more about what is going on in their world, than who literally can't even right now.

2. Say it to their face.

Lets just be real, it is a lot harder to tell someone you appreciate them, that they are really good at something, or that they looked beautiful, in person, but it is also way more meaningful. Try to do this once a day.

3. Snail Mail
This one is gonna be the hardest. Think of someone you appreciate a lot, or someone that you notice is going through something hard and write them a letter this week. Let them know you care, that Jesus cares, and that you are praying for them.


I'll take the challenge with you. Comment below if you are willing to try to help the lonely feel loved. Let me know how it goes! If you want, share this blog post on Twitter with the hashtag #ImPluggingIn

Prayer:

Daddy,

It is so easy to feel lonely and worthless.

This world wants us to believe no one cares.

Remind us that you care and that you know each of us by name.

Help us to use what we have been given to share that love with the lonely.

Make us a generation who love recklessly and inconveniently.

Just like you did.

In your son's name.

Amen

My Broken Identity- Why don't I like who I am?

 Identity 1.0

A long time ago, God spoke. He spoke and there was earth. He spoke and there was light. He spoke and there was land. He spoke and there were plants.  He spoke and there were stars. He spoke and there were animals. But then, God stopped speaking. He stooped, and like a kid in a sandbox, created man and woman with his hands. 

In our creation we see our true identity --the Image of God--. But what is an image? An image is just the picture of the real thing. God never meant for us to be confused about our identity or purpose. In fact he laid it out very clearly! 

~Then God said: " Let us make man in our own image,

and in our own likeness [identity] , so that they may rule over 

the fish in the sea, and the birds in the sky, over the

livestock and all the wild animals, and over all

the creatures that crawl along the ground. [purpose] ~

Genesis 1:26

So why does this identity seem so far strange? I don't feel like a ruler. I don't feel like a painting of God. Unfortunately, Identity 1.0 is broken.

Broken Identity. 

So I'll just be real. It is really hard for me to do two things. First to accept myself, second to believe that God could accept me. A snide remark in 8th grade on the way to a pool party set a course: "You're fat  and ugly you shouldn't even come."  For the next four years, my body was my enemy. From not eating to bulimia, I waged a war against my new found identity: Fat. Through girls and popularity I desperately tried to erase line after my name that said Ugly. As I faced the reality of childhood abuse, I quickly added Worthless to my resume. Throughout those years, I struggled as I tried to fit "Christian" into my identity.  I wondered: if I am "Beautifully and wonderfully made" why do I see "Ugly and Worthless" in the mirror? Attempts to change behavior fell far short of changing my heart. 

I asked how could God love me when I didn't love myself?  I concluded that "Christian" just couldn't fit into my identity. Fat, Ugly, Worthless, Broken, and a host of other qualities just didn't leave room for God. Then, the Identity Giver started working on my heart.

Yes, my identity is broken, but

so is everyone's. In Genesis 3, immediately after Adam and Eve bite into the forbidden fruit, something strange happens. 

~Then their eyes were opened, and they realized they were naked~

Gen 3:7a

So either Adam and Eve are the two most oblivious people on the planet, or there is more to that verse than "Uh-oh, we aren't wearing clothes lets go make some." If that were true, it wouldn't make sense that after making clothes, they hide. When asked by God why they are hiding, the response is "I'm naked". The fact is, that for the first time, Adam and Eve felt shame about their bodies. And since that day we have never really stopped feeling that shame. 

It is fascinating to me that the first negative thing ever felt was something that still today is destroying so many lives. To say that one verse fixed me would be a lie. But as I read that I realized that as humans we will feel shame about our appearance. I couldn't avoid it. So how would I deal with it?

This Clay Jar

~But we have this treasure in jars of clay. 

To show that the

all-surpassing power comes from God, not from us. 

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed.

Perplexed, but not in despair. 

Persecuted, but not forsaken.

Cast down but not destroyed.~

2 Corinthians 4:7-9

It took a long time for this to sink in. Matter of fact I'm still working on it. I'll be the first to admit I don't have the perfect body. To this day I'll look in the mirror and think something to the effect of  "Not good enough." 

But I am trying to find the beauty in my imperfection. this post won't solve your self-image issues, and nothing you read will. But realizing that through my imperfections, Jesus can shine more brightly, just might.

Clay jars aren't the prettiest, they crack easily. But the light of Christ shines brightest through my cracks. Wow, that is worded so well. The power to overcome your issues, from eating-disorders, to pornography, to seeking fulfillment in relationships, is from God. We can stop trying and start relying.

As we do, culture will press hard on every side. But it won't crush the truth. You will be perplexed by the way you feel, but not in despair as you hope for healing, and the day all things are made new. Persecuted, by temptation and a culture that hates what you stand for, but never forsaken by the Giver of Identity. You will be cast down, as you and I fail to rely and fall back into our sins, but never destroyed. Because me and Paul are both persuaded that 

~neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities nor powers, 

neither things present nor things to come, 

neither height nor depth, 

nor any other created thing 

will be able to separate us from the love of God 

which is in Jesus Christ our Lord.~

Romans 8:38-39

Identity 2.0

Hey you. Yea you. Jesus loves you. He accepts you just how you are. With all you failures, and all of the identities that you and others have assigned to you. Don't get me wrong, God hates our sin. But as a much wiser man than me said, "God accepts you where you are, but he wants to take you further." He will take you home, don't expect to "have it together"  this side of heaven, taking peace in the fact that He has given us the only identity with any eternal value: loved and redeemed. 

So what now? 

First realize that in some way we all struggle with identity. There are no exceptions. 

Second pray that you could find the beauty in the redemption of our broken identity. Let God shape your life around the identity he has given you.

As you look into the mirror, read the scale, look at your brokenness, or examine your sin know that you are loved. But also have hope and confidence that he will take you further.  

Welcome, brothers and sisters, to Identity 2.0.

A prayer:

Lover of my soul, Giver of Identity

hear the cry of my heart to you. 

I often feel so worthless, so ugly, so fat, so _______.

I fail to put the identity you gave me first. 

Forgive me.

Remind me each day that you are the Giver of Identity.

On this earth I am broken, but let your glory shine 

 brightly and brilliantly in my weaknesses. 

Help me believe you accept me,

and accept that you want to change me. 

I want to stop trying and start relying. 

Thank you that I am never alone. 

I can't wait for the day you make all things new. 

Until that day I live for you.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Not My Testimony.

Testimony....great.

Every time I hear someone say "Hey man, tell me your testimony" I freak out a little bit inside. Maybe that is because it seems like they just asked me for my life story, a detailed list of my failures and my flaws. Yes like every average christian testimony mine has some sweet redemption, but I have to be honest, I am often afraid of how my testimony will come across. It is almost comical how self-conscious I am about it. The person before me shares there story and I start thinking my story isn't as cool as theirs, or it is more shameful than theirs. As a result, I sadly often just keep it to myself. 

Then I realized what the problem is.

Turns out, I am looking at testimony totally wrong. I usually view it as my story, full of  my mistakes, my heartache, and  my pain. Consequently, because it is all about me, It's my rep that is on the line. Giving my testimony becomes a story about my performance. And I'll just let you all in on a secret....the story of my performance would not make a good read. When my testimony is a story about what I've done and how I've improved, I am probably making the right decision by keeping it to myself.

But that is not my testimony.

To make it simple: my testimony has nothing to do with me, and everything to do with Jesus. 
It is not the story of my life.... It is the story of what happened when I met Jesus. 
Not the story of what I did when I met Jesus... It is the story of what Jesus did when he met me.
And then Luke 8:39 hit me.

"~Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.~ 

And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much 

Jesus had done for him"

Dude's got testimony skillz.

Or maybe he just understood. Understood that he had been demon possessed running around naked in the tombs (and I think my issues are embarrassing). Understood that he would never have gotten rid of them on his own. Understood that a man named Jesus walked up and healed him. A lot like me he was looking for the easy way out. "Just take me with you!" he pleaded. "No, go share your testimony." Jesus replied. This is where me and him are different. You see he understood. If this was me the last half of the verse would go something like this:

"And he went away, keeping the story to himself,

because he didn't think he had performed very well."

Did I mention this guy Understood? He didn't just "return home and declare it", he proclaimed it to the whole city. Not the story of what he had done, but what Jesus had done for him.

I still wince when I hear "testimony",

but at least now I can stop and remember this story. Forget about what I've done and get excited about what Jesus did for me. It will take time and I won't be perfect, but I am starting to understand. I hope and pray that we can stop thinking about how good our story sounds. That we can tell people about the miracles he has done DESPITE of our "best efforts." That we can go be his light, and stop worrying about how brightly ours is shining.

In, through, and by his love,

Josh

Two word testimony tool!

I don't know about you guys, but the whole "I need to tell you my life story!" testimony is kind of daunting. 

So here is a cool tool I picked up from the U of I Navigators:

Think of two words. The first word is something you were before Jesus. The second is something you are because of Jesus.

Classic Examples:                                   Dead----------Alive

                                                              Lost-----------Found

                                                            Hopeless-------Hopeful

                                                            Selfish----------Selfless

Think of your own! Take your time! Make it personal! Then when someone asks for your testimony or you get a chance to witness give them two words :)

It really makes them curious and it helps generate natural discussion!

My two word testimony:                        Alone---------Home

Ask me about it sometime :)

Feel free to comment with YOUR TWO WORDS!

Not Feeling It

All too often,

I find myself in a dilemma. My heart just won't seem to buy in to the things I know are true. I know the truth, but my feelings don't support it. I know in my head the right things to do, but honestly don't have a desire to do them. Inevitably I begin to wonder "Am I missing something?"  Maybe you've been there too. When I get there I tend to examine my motives, put more time into my "Good Christian things." But at the end of all my efforts, my heart still leans toward doubt, fear, and shame. The truth is, sometimes I'm just not feeling it.

Looking for answers,

I often turn to look at other people. People whose passion, love, and zeal for God seems unlimited and never ending. From biblical heroes, to the passionate Christians I know, to the people making tidal waves for God in the world today. But without fail, I find that every Christian I elevate to be some kind of hero, just makes me realize how widespread a problem this is. The man after God's own heart, David, questions in words more eloquent than mine:

Why are you down cast, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? (Psalm 42:5)

Seems to me like some days, the man after God's own heart was just not feeling it. And no matter whom I ask, there is not a man or woman I have met that can claim to always be content with their relationship with God. 

It seems universally human,

this downward spiral of the heart and feelings. But the real question is how do feelings stack up to truth. As Jeremiah puts it:

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. 

Who can understand it" (Jeremiah 17:9)

Maybe then, the heart and feelings are not the best barometer of what is actually going on. And  if salvation is based on the condition of our heart, then no one is saved. Thankfully, it has a much better foundation.

"For by grace ye are saved through faith, not of yourselves. 

It is the gift of God." (Eph 2:8)

So now what?

Last I checked, this side of heaven my heart will always be wicked. There will always be days when my passion for God is less than I would wish. There will be times my prayer seems like a weird conversation with myself, and God's word like a Chinese novel. But I don't want to let my heart deceive me anymore. I challenge us to remember what is true, that our salvation was never based on our strength, passion, righteousness, or dedication. Let's choose to rely on God's love for us, not our love for him. Together let's live in the grace he gave, hoping patiently for the day when our love, and our relationship with God, will be perfect. The day our hearts can't deceive us anymore. Until then, when we aren't feeling it, keep living it.

A Prayer:

God,

There are times when I'm not really feeling it. Times when I'm not really feeling you.

I know that I love you, and more importantly I know that you love me.

Help me to live by grace, and not be deceived into thinking my feelings can change the truth.

I choose to follow you even when my feelings aren't buying into it.

Give me strength, and transform my heart to love you more each day.

I can't wait til the day that you bring me home and my love for you is perfect.

Until then I hope and live for you.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Marriage

The title "Marriage" really gets your attention.

Maybe it is because marriage is kind of a big deal. I mean from everything going on today to define marriage as this or that, to determining who, when, why, and where you are marrying, we can't get enough advice. 

Unfortunately,  this post will not answer those questions. On second thought, maybe that is a good thing. (I am definitely not the person you should be getting marriage advice from.) However, my brother just got married!! And I just wanted to share what I learned through it.

First: God is a healer.

I knew this already. But it sank in as I saw my brother taking his vows. The brother standing their was not the same brother I had a year ago. The sister well....I didn't have her a year ago at all. As I watched their engagement I couldn't help but be disgusted. :) but more seriously I couldn't help but be amazed. I saw God bring together two broken people from two broken families, and use them to heal not only each other, but others around them.

Second: Marriage really isn't about the people getting married.

My brother's wedding service was on Luke 15, one of my favorite passages in the bible. More specifically, it was about the prodigal son. At first you might think "Great choice guys, a story about an unfaithful son who runs off to spend money on hookers and partying. Well played." In actuality I think it is the perfect passage. 

It shows the relationship between God and us... his children. He loves us so much that even when we come to him having kind of directly abused his provision and love for us through our sin, he is so excited he throws a party. For a long time I have "known" that marriage is an analogy of the Jesus relationship to the church. But this story really explains that. For me that means that if I get married, I have to love to the point where even when I am completely justified in withholding my love, as the father in the story was, I don't. There will be other times when I am more like the son. I am in the wrong and I have to humble myself and apologize. 

Third: Prayer changes things.

A common expression with powerful implications. In Matthew 21:22 Jesus says that if we believe, we will receive what we ask for. Verses like this are often abused, and I'm not saying pray for a house, car and your next outfit. I am just saying that I believe in prayer, and that our God hears it. I have seen my family overcome a lot, change a lot, and I believe with my whole heart that only God could have done that. There are always going to be days when we feel like we are praying to a wall. Let's just be honest about that. 

There will be things you can't get through on your own. Marriage is one of them. I am just thankful we don't have to.

Finally,

Marriage is a hot topic among young Christians. I mean I'll admit, it's kind of important and life changing. It is a commitment for life, and most of us want a happy one. Again I don't have answers, but I know who does. As one of my favorite artists wrote "I'm just another beggar pointing y'all to where the bread is." The most important thing has to be Jesus. Not your girlfriend, your fiancee or even your wife. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. My parent's marriage and my brother's marriage taught me that, and whether you are single or married, I challenge you to put him in his rightful place. He is a pretty good matchmaker and he can help you love like you alone couldn't. Also pray til you are blue in the face. (Luke 18:1-8).
Also Congrats Drew and Taryn. I love you both so much and am so confident in the work God will do through you.

With love,

Josh

P.S. for any of you that are interested, here is a link to a song I wrote for Drew and Taryn. It is a rough recording that I just made but I know a couple people wanted one so here it is! 

Two To One (Stripped)

My Favorite Part of Christmas

Everyone loves something different about Christmas.

For some of us, it is the lights and decorated trees, the wrapping paper and copious amounts of sugar-laced treats.

For others, it is the music, the snow on the ground, the caroling and the festive shindigs that are thrown.

Some people might enjoy that their grouchy neighbor actually smiles during December, and still others enjoy that it is a season of giving.

And then of course we all know the radical Christmas people. 

They have wanted it to be Christmas since last Christmas and have been listening to festive music since way before  Thanksgiving. 

Personally, I'm not a huge Christmas season fanatic. But there are three things I really love about it. 

#3 The Gift Giving

I don't know what it is, but there is something really awesome about giving gifts. I will be honest, my gifts are never gifts that cost a lot or necessarily even look nice. I think it is more about the thought that goes into it. Gifts involve inside jokes, memories of the past, and the occasional practical joke. A good example of this comes at my own expense.

It was during my middle school years (that excuses everything right?)  and what I really really wanted for Christmas was a iPod touch. I had told my parents at least 400 times, and I was so ready to unwrap it.

As we opened our presents, the pile under the tree dwindled away. I received my final present, and let's just say it was shaped nothing like an iPod. Brokenhearted, I unwrapped.....a ceramic bowl. For the record it was a nice ceramic bowl, but all I wanted to do right then was break it... a lot.

My selfish little tears on the verge of spilling out I took the bow and ran up to my room. It was then I noticed the box attached to the bottom of the ceramic bowl. 

Several minutes later a very humble middle school Josh walked down into the living room with his new iPod to be shamed by laughter.

God put some thought into his gift too. Thousands of years of thought actually. He did it in a way no one expected. It was almost a practical joke. The King of Kings born to a poor virgin in a stable and then rules with love.

I love gifts.

#2 Family Time

Even more than most holidays, the family seems to really pull together during Christmas. This year my brother went a little far will the whole concept and decided to pull in a fiancee. Not to rant or anything but the whole wedding thing is really harshing my mellow this winter season. Forcing cutbacks on presents and making us celebrate Christmas early. Baa Humbug. 

Totally kidding, I think Drew wins best Christmas present this year hands down. 

The family is one of God's best gifts. Our family hasn't always been the closest I'll admit. But as God has brought restoration and healing, I get more and more excited about family. 

Dear Reader, I don't know your family situation. But what I do know is that God can take the most broken situations and turn them into something beautiful. From divorce to death, from abuse to alcohol. Jesus can redeem your family. Out of the ashes of our mess, God can create beauty. We tried to fix it on our own for a long time. No one wants to be broken. But our sin is too much for us to heal, it is too heavy a load for us to carry.

This Christmas, turn your broken situation over to God. He kinda rocks at the whole family thing.

#1 My Favorite Part of Christmas is

That it isn't about us.

Every year at the Christmas church service, we usually hear the story of Christ's birth. But my favorite part of the story gets skipped every time. Matthew 1 starts with a long list of names, you know, the kind you always skip over when reading. It is Jesus' family tree. 

I challenge you to read it again. But for the slackers, I will point out some names that struck me and their...accomplishments.

Tamar- slept with her father-in-law

Rahab- prostitute

David- slept with a guy's wife, then murdered the guy and married the wife.

To me this just really speaks to the heart of God. If I was picking out a bloodline for the Son of God, you would be reading about big burly men of God and each generations Miss Israel. But thankfully, I wasn't picking.
This Christmas, some of you probably feel pretty flawed. And I will be honest so do I. I am not the ultimate man, the ultimate Christian, or the ultimate anything for that matter. My past isn't pretty, and my present isn't exactly beautiful either. I often don't feel like I am worth a whole lot, least of all the Son of God.

You may feel too broken to come to Jesus, and I have been there too. We might not make anyone's All-Christian team, and in the eyes of the world, you might be too dumb, too fat, too weak, too flawed, and too worthless to amount to much. But this story just shows how much differently God thinks than us.

God used some pretty broken people to give us a Savior. He used a family tree much like our own- full of pain, sin, and flaws. 

So this Christmas, remember that God so loved the world, that he gave (GIFTS!!) his only Son. That whoever, yea that means broken  me and you, believes in him would not perish but have eternal life.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Josh

What Are You Worth?

Lately,

this question has just been everywhere for me. I mean how can you really escape it?

Everything in this life is worth something. From gold and gas to stocks and funds, everything has a price tag associated with it. Naturally the question is,"What is on my price tag?"

Now I don't know about you, but I'll be honest. When I look at the world I see a lot of people who seem to be worth a lot more than me. Whether it's that brother over there who has more money in a week than I'll see in the next 10 years, or the friend who seems to have his relationship with Jesus way more figured out than me.

The list just keeps growing.

He's more attractive, he's wealthier, they're more passionate, they're less broken. I'm more scared, I'm less faithful, I'm less WORTHY.  Yea thoughts like that creep into my mind. Yea I find myself comparing myself to others more than I like to admit. But you know recently Jesus has been doing a remodel in the "worth room" of my heart. 

It all started when I realized...

It's okay, to not be okay. On top of that, I had to stop looking to people and society to find my worth, and look for my price tag in the Bible. That's when God laid Luke 15 on my heart. To summarize, Jesus tells three stories. In the first, a shepherd loses one of his 100 sheep. He proceeds to leave the 99 sheep, find the lost sheep, and then throw a party (worth WAY more than one sheep). In the second story, a woman loses one of her ten coins. She trashes her home, looking everywhere, finds the one coin, and throws a party (which would also cost WAY more than 1 coin). The third story is that of the Prodigal Son. You probably know it and are also catching on to the theme (a party worth WAY more than ____ ).

You see I don't think God is on the US dollar,

or any monetary system for that matter. To us it makes no sense that someone would spend time, effort, and money on something that is lost. That's when God told me "That's what you are worth to me Josh." And man I cannot wait for heaven because the way I read the bible I am expecting a party :) 

As I continued to learn about worth, I wrote a poem. It pretty much sums up everything I have learned. Me and Caleb P. recorded it, and set it to some musical magic, and yea if you want to check it out here is the link to download and listen:  What Are You Worth? 

Conclusion:

You are worth everything to God. He sent his son to save you and me. No one, and nothing can change that.

I still struggle with comparing myself to others. I still sometimes try to give myself a value I can put a number on. I need your prayers, and I think we all do. This world rips at our worth and results in some awful things: depression, anger, suicide. Let's keep our worth grounded in truth church.

Much love from a child of God,

Josh