Today was church day. I mean, it was Sunday, so that makes perfect sense. Church was great. When you go to church in a foreign country, that means a lot of things. If you don’t understand a language, then you will probably just be overwhelmed. If the people are worshipping, you will probably be awed at the sound of experiencing worship in another language, as you realize that God is a god of all nations. When you begin to understand the language, church just becomes a lot of work because you are working to translate everything in your head. At some point, language becomes a little easier and you can begin to worship. If you are awesome like me…… you get to sing in the gospel choir in English and you worship anyway. 🙂

 

My language is still at a point that I understand about 70% of the service. Everything about church was great. The music was good and worshipful. The preaching was good and solid. It was  just good. On top of that, even though the teaching is the more important part, I had some pretty awesome conversations after church. 

 

I met the man and woman who played music for the service. Apparently they have spent some time in America and also know a whole lot about Acadiana. The man, Constantino, proceeded to play cajun music for me and was upset when I did not know all of the words to the songs of my culture. I think I was too stunned that he knew what he did to be able to sing with him. Sometimes I experience the craziest things in my life. Today was one of those things. This is a small world. 

 

After church we drove up the mountain to have a picnic and spent some time walking trails. I thought it was beautiful. The green here in Tuscany is greener than any green I know. Even greener than John Green. (shout out to Kala America… and Shakespeare because I may have just invented the word greener. or maybe not) Do you catch what I mean by being greener than John Green? Gosh I hope so. If not, it’s not too late for you. 

 

Though my Tuscan picnic in the mountains with a view is very important, I will move on to things even more important. My thoughts for the day. 

 

The sermon at church today was part of a series. The text is from John 3 when Jesus speaks to Nicodemus about being born again, in the Spirit. This is important for every believer because new birth signifies new life, which we indeed have in Jesus Christ. The sermon went through several other texts that shed more light on what his points were, but I am going to add my own. 

 

I have a tattoo on my right wrist: the Greek words “new creature” and “adoption”. It’s important that you know this is my right wrist and not my left wrist, because there lies a different tattoo. Anyway, those words come from two Scriptures.

 

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 

“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying ‘Abba! Father!’”

Galatians 4:4-6

 

 

I wanted a tattoo on my right wrist because it felt naked compared to my left wrist. In actuality, I needed a reminder. As I have already mentioned…. I often need to be reminded of Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:17 was huge at a turning point in my life. The point that I became a believer. For me, new birth meant a new creature. Me, the old creature, was not a very nice creature. Nor was it a very clean creature. I needed to bask in the newness of life that I had in Jesus; and I did. Now, sometimes, I need to be reminded. 

Galatians 4:4-6 is also an important thing that I need to be reminded of often. Details aren’t necessarily needed. I just need to know that I have been given sonship (or daughtership…. my second new word in one post).

 

So as often as I look at my wrists, I am reminded of these things. I think it is safe to say that I need to look at my wrists more often. Occasionally I have to have them covered though. Well, that doesn’t matter. But let’s take this further.

 

What does it mean to be born again? To be a new creature? To be given sonship?

 

It means I am a daughter of the most High King of Heaven. If I am a daughter of the High King of Heaven, then why do I not live as royalty? I should. So should you believer. Ironically, the last time this thought was running rampant in my mind I was working at Bonefish grill. I cooked fish for 14 hours a day, but I showed up at work believing I was royalty. Royalty above all others. I don’t mean this in a stick my nose up in the air and wear corsets royalty. (though I am sure we are past that era) I mean I have worth. I have more worth than any royal being worth more than all the others. If you can wrap your mind around it….. you have the same amount of worth that I do. More than any other. 

 

So yes, hold your head up high. You are worth more than can possibly be imagined. Remember though, your King is a servant. Your worth does not determine what you can or can not do. You are loved and valued, but you can also scrub toilets. 

 

You’re welcome for your oxymoron of the day. Please believe in your royalty. I have been born again. I have been made a new creature. I have been adopted into the family of God. I AM worthy. I AM His. We are a royal priesthood. 

 

note: this blog does not encourage tattoos. I just need constant reminders.

also note: any trip with the Worthy family is deemed a Worthy Adventure. Thus, the title of the blog.