Passage From Pastor Rick Warren
To my dearly beloved Childhood Cancer Family
First, and foremost, let me express to you my deepest apologies for the lack of consistent communication during the past two weeks… I love you and miss you all more than you can possibly imagine.
Furthermore, I sincerely enjoy being able to spend some quality time with you on a daily basis, as I find that reflecting upon your extraordinary strength, valiant courage and compassionate spirit helps cure many (if not all) of my daily worries, fears and anxieties about my very own life, my family, my hopes and my dreams.
That said, I came across this encouraging passage today from Pastor Rick Warren and thought it prudent to share his message with all of you.
Please know that my colleagues and I at Childhood Cancer Hall of Champions remain here for you and your respective families today, tomorrow & forevermore…
#StandStrongInFaith . . . ALWAYS . . .
God Bless . . .
Written by Michael Velazquez
“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.”
Ephesians 1:4-5 (NLT)
Every person wants these three things—more than anything else: to be loved, to be accepted, and to be chosen.
These longings are there even in people unwilling to admit it.
But there’s good news: You don’t have to look anymore for love and acceptance. You’re already chosen, loved, and accepted by Jesus Christ.
Everyone wants to be chosen—from your childhood days at recess to your adult workplaces and love life. Being chosen is key to establishing your self-worth.
The Bible says in Ephesians 1:4-5, "Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure" (NLT).
God created the entire universe because he wanted a family. The whole reason the universe exists is because God wanted children to love.
According to this verse, when did God choose you? God chose you before the world was made!
Before God chose to create the universe, he had already chosen you. In fact, that's why he decided to make the universe. He wanted a place where you could live. Before God chose any tree, he chose you. Before God chose the oceans, he chose you. Before God chose every rock that exists, he chose you.
That’s an amazing thought—that even before he chose to create the sun and moon and stars, God knew you and chose to love you. That is the foundation of your identity.
Nobody wants to be chosen last. But you have never been last in God’s thoughts. You have always been first on his mind. He chose you, he loves you, and he accepts you. You can rest in these truths today.
