Hands of Little Shepherd

Life stories, Encouragement, Walking More Christ Like, Development of a Ministry with Animals/Farm for God's Glory, The Gift of Serving

CHOSEN AND CHERISHED

By: Hannah Cushman


I had the opportunity to put together and speak at a ladies day not too long ago. Here is some of the presentation. I hope it is an encouragement to you today!


Have you ever had any of these feelings or similar words spoken to you?

I am not good enough that I can never measure up to the demands and expectations required of me. Making me feel like a failure.

I was told today that I was ugly. And when I look in the mirror I can’t see past the pimples, the wrinkles, the extra pounds, etc… I can’t see anything different from their statement must be true.

I was told I can’t be trusted because I made a statement that the other person could not verify as the truth.

I lost my job today because they no longer needed me or wanted me. No longer had a position for me.

Get out of this house and of this property you are no longer family. We have other estranged family and it ok that your one of them… You lose your sense of belonging, maybe even security…

And the list or life situations we find ourselves in could continue….

Now these maybe so scenarios you felt/experience through the words and actions of others. This may lead you to feelings that you are not chosen, wanted, cherished, or valued as a human being or the person you are….

Maybe you try to face each day and hold your head high but still you are sinking… Not sure if you are going to be able to keep treading water to keep your head up and breath again… with each stroke you make to save yourself a wave comes crashing in and takes your breath away/your energy/your life…

Now maybe you’re at the point where the weight of the words and actions you have experienced have almost taken their toll on you. You cannot see any worth in yourself or continuing….

BUT THEN YOU REMEMBER/MAYBE LEARN FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT…

  • You are CHOOSEN to receive the ultimate gift of grace and love and you are cherished by your Heavenly Father…. Now you might be thinking….
    • I am chosen? –
    • I am cherished? –
    • What about this gift?
    • For me?

Maybe you are asking:

  • Why?
  • It can’t be me that is chosen no one else has wanted/chosen me?
  • Do you know what has been done to me…
  • Do you know what I have done…
  • Do you know what I have done to others….
  • Etc.

First, what does it mean to be CHOSEN or CHERISHED:

  • Being chosen means you are handpicked and extend an invitation to participate in something.
  • To cherish means to care deeply for something or someone/to treasure them, to comfort, protect, care for, and devote yourself to them.

Why would God consider me chosen? Why would He cherish me?

  • YOU ARE CHOOSEN AND CHERISHED! BECAUSE YOU ARE A DEARLY LOVED CHILD OF GOD!

You see the feelings or experiences you endured that have caused you to view yourself or life in a way of not being chosen, wanted, cherished, or valued are actually lies from Satan to hinder you from coming to know, experience, or fully live in the life that has been chosen for you, if you are willing to accept His gift. We each have been given the gift of grace and love through the ultimate sacrifice of the blood, death, and resurrection of Jesus. BECAUSE HE CHOOSE YOU, ME, ALL OF US!

Get this:

  • He chose you before you were even a thought to your parents.
  • Psalms 139:13 ESV – For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. Vs. 14 goes on to say I am fearfully and wonderfully made… Vs. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was being made in secret, intricately woven…
  • Something I find so uniquely interesting is that when God formed the universe and us, He designed different things to reflect and remind us of Him… We are so chosen by our Heavenly Father that when He was knitting us together, He designed a part of our body to remind us of Him and His ULTIMATE GIFT.  

Have you ever heard of a protein adhesion molecule called Laminin? Who here has ever heard of Laminin?

Well, this is so interesting!!!!

Laminin Protein (Louie Giglio – The Miracle of Life from How Great is Our God)
                           (choose from the following links)

(In case video does not work BUT MAKE SURE TO ACKNOLEGE THE SOURSE):
God will always hold you together.  Cell adhesion molecular. Protein molecule.  Cell organizes into certain molecular structures and that determines what protein they are. There are between 10,000 and 60,000 proteins in the human body, we don’t really know how many proteins there are. But one of them is a cell adhesion molecule it is organized into this certain structure and that tells the cell what its job is in the body. It is the rebar of the human body. It is the steel that they put in concrete when they lay the foundations of things. It is Laminin is that stuff to your body. It is holding your membranes, your skin, your organs together and in place. It is the glue of the human body. How crazy miraculous is it that the stuff holding your body and mine together is in the shape of the cross. Colossians 1:16-17 In Jesus Christ all things hold together…. 

WOW!!!

Our Father/Jesus has given us so many reminders of what was done for us so we can live with Him, have fellowship with Him, and spend eternity with Him.  

Second: What is the gift? How do I get the gift?

  • First, we need to realize the problem. We have sinned. Our sin separates us from God. – Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 
    That there is a penalty for sin and that is being separated from God forever. We are destined for eternity in hell. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. We cannot earn our own way. No matter how hard we try we cannot save ourselves or get rid of our sins through what we do, or being good, or going to church, or being baptized. Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
  • We are helpless, we are sinners, and we are enemies. We need to understand this, and it can be hard because we must humble ourselves to the point that we can admit how helpless we are because of our sin. We are an enemy to God until we can see this and realize God sent His only Son, Jesus, to save us. Jesus came and lived a perfect, sinless life and then died on the cross for our sins. BUT it did not end there because if it did, we would have no hope for the future. He conquered death and rose again. Showing that He has triumphed over sin and death. Why because God loves the Helpless person, God loves Sinful People, God loves Enemies. Because He has chosen you, He cherishes you and loves you no matter who you are or what you have done. He has demonstrated ultimate love to us… this kind of love is willing to die for another. Romans 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
  • So how can I know God? This starts with you accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ enables us to have a relationship with the Father and eternal life through His death on the cross and resurrection. Romans 5:10 For while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
  • How do you accept Jesus as your Savior? Romans 10:9 if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
  • Assurance – How do I know for sure: (Need to add and finish)

Did you know?

Queen Victoria once attended a service in St. Paul’s Cathedral and listened to a sermon that interested her greatly.  Afterwards she asked her chaplain, “Can one be absolutely sure in this life of eternal safety?”  His answer was that he knew no way that one could be absolutely sure. 

This incident was published in the Court News and came to the notice of a preacher named John Townsend.  After  reading  of  Queen  Victoria’s  question and  the  answer  she  received,  he  prayed  and  then sent  the  following  note  to  the  queen: To  Her  Gracious  Majesty,  our beloved  Queen Victoria,  from  one  of  her  most  humble  subjects: With  trembling hands,  but  heart-filled  love,  and because  I  know  that  we  can  be  absolutely sure now  for  our  eternal  life  in  the  home  that  Jesus went  to  prepare,  may  I  ask  Your  Most  Gracious Majesty  to  read  the  following  passages  of Scripture:  John  3:16;  Romans  10:9–10.  I sign myself, your servant for Jesus’ sake, John Townsend 

John 3:16 (ESV)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 10:9-10 (ESV)
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Later the Queen would send a letter in response: To John Townsend:  I have carefully and prayerfully read the portions of Scripture referred to.  I believe in the finished work of Christ for me, and trust by God’s grace to meet you in that home of which he said, “I go to prepare a place for you.” (Signed) Victoria Guelph 

After Queen Victoria’s discovery she used to carry a small booklet to give away. Its title was Safety, Certainty, and Enjoyment by George Cutting. This is what she found in Christ.

And if we look at Romans 5:9-11 we could say that vs. 9 represents Safety, vs. 10 represents Certainty, and vs. 11 represents Enjoyment.

Romans 5:9-11 (ESV)
9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

When we choose to accept God’s gift to us, we are justified by his blood (made right or made new. We are cleansed) and we are saved from his wrath which would be eternal separation. In verse 10 we were once enemies to God because we did not know Him…But through the death of His son who took the punishment that we deserved as His own we can now be reconciled/restored to fellowship or a relationship with God. This is how we can be certain of the gift for us and the hope for the future. And the best is yet to come…. We have all heard that said before but, in this context, it is the truth! Because we can rejoice in God through Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation…. If we have accepted His gift, we have been restored to having a relationship and fellowship with God and we get to have and receive the enjoyment His presents in our lives and being with Him for eternity.

God has created you in His image. He has created things to remind us of His ultimate gift through His act of ultimate sacrifice. And He did this because He chose you and me to be a part of His perfect plan for, we are His dearly loved daughters. Are you willing to say yes to His gift and follow Him?

Conclusion:

As I wrap up here this morning, I would like to ask some questions for us to think through and ponder.

How do you respond to this kind of Love?

  • Will you receive it.
  • Will you rely upon it.

How does knowing you are chosen/handpicked for being a part of the family of God help you?

  • Have you accepted the invitation of the Father, or do you have yet to accept the invitation?
  • If you accept the invitation, are you going to choose to cherish this relationship?
    • Are you going to choose to Listen to Him?
    • Are you going to choose to Learn from Him?
    • Are you going to choose to Lean on Him?

How does it feel to know you are cherished/treasured/deeply cared about by God? You are His dearly beloved daughter!

  • Do you believe that you are chosen, cherished, and loved so much that God sent His Son, Jesus to die and then conquer death so that you can have a relationship with Him and live with Him for eternity?
  • Have you received His gift for you?

As we get ready to close, I like us to listen to this song. As it is playing, I would like us to take a few moments to ponder our hearts and or our lives and pray.

 Closing Prayer:

Oh Lord I pray for each person here today. Lord, I hope that each one will know just how dearly loved they are and that before they were even thought of their parents…You choose them! You want them chose You as well and enjoy the fullness of a life that walks each day having a relationship with you. You want them to know they are cherished and so dearly loved by You. Lord, if there is anyone here today struggling to know that you have chosen them and that you love and cherish them, I pray that you will knock down those ways and allow them to experience the fullness of a relationship with you. And for anyone here who has never accepted your gift I pray that you will open their hearts to receiving your gift and the blessings of a life with fellowship with you. Lord, I thank you for this time that we have had here today, and may you bless the remaining time we share. Amen

The Love of God

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.

  • Refrain:
    Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
    How measureless and strong!
    It shall forevermore endure—
    The saints’ and angels’ song.

When hoary time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song.

  • Refrain:
    Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
    How measureless and strong!
    It shall forevermore endure—
    The saints’ and angels’ song.

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

  • Refrain:
    Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
    How measureless and strong!
    It shall forevermore endure—
    The saints’ and angels’ song.

Hannah Cushman

Leave a comment