Heather, Day 3, A Princess

Heather, Day 3

A Princess in God’s Eyes

First, I want to apologize to the men reading this. It is all about the ladies today. I remember as a child, strutting around thinking I was a princess with my blanket around me and a tiara. What a difference our imagination makes. It is true that we are princesses. If God is our Lord, Jesus is our King, then as daughters of Christ, we are Princesses. Go ahead and claim it now, your royalty. Okay, now slowly come down off that pedestal. How many of you were just about to raid the dress-up bin in search of your own tiara and fancy princess gear? It is all about perspective, I guess.

Remember our King? Jesus came as a poor man who washed the feet of servants. Maybe the princess life isn't what we pictured at all, maybe it is more about our hearts, our lives than how great we look in a tiara. We are Christians. Shouldn't we start looking like it.

So why am I talking about this when I am supposed to be talking about me? I am supposed to give you insight on who I am. Well, I am Heather Nadine Collver, a princess of the Most High, now have a seat, I have some foot washing to do.

How do you think the world views Christians? How did you view Christianity before you came into your own relationship with Christ? I think I have been guilty of looking at others and thinking they were an example of Christianity that I could follow. I think that is making Christianity a brand. Something I can define and I can identify, just like my comfy Nike shoes or my 700 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets. It's not just another item I can add to my assets list, it's a heart issue, it is a soul issue. The only way I am going to truly reflect the Christ that is my King is by looking at his example, learning from him. I don't even have to do anything, my thoughts, my heart, my life must be in response to who my Jesus is, what he DOES for me, and what he desires in my life.

God has given us His Word to see what that picture is. We all need a personal relationship with God, Godly people who encourage us and keep us accountable and we all need to share our faith with those that are hurting and broken. We all need to make it more than another brand. It is a relationship with responsibility. Don’t let your friends go on in a desperate state, where there are too many alters to pull them further from God. Everyone deserves their claim to royalty, everyone deserves eternity.

I was vulnerable when I shared my testimony yesterday. I didn't know if it would impact any ones life. I got an email last night that rocked my world, my thinking, my soul. It literally made my head spin. What if you shared your testimony and only one person was changed by it. Is that one person enough? I hope I can encourage you to share your story with someone today.

Today, I carry around my past, it is weaved into my very soul. It takes more strength some days than others to reflect God as my Lord. He made me perfect in his eyes. So no matter where I am or what I am dealing with, he wants to be a part of my life. He wants to restore my relationships with my family as well. It is certainly a work in progress as each of us struggles with pieces of our pasts. He desires each of us to come to him. No one deserves his love more than another.

While reading my testimony, one may be tempted to judge or condemn my mother for what I lived through. I used to do the same thing. The truth is, though, that my mom struggles just like anyone else. I don’t think she used to dream of her life turning out how it did when she was a little girl. I bet she imagined herself as a princess as well.

We all mess up. Big or small. We aren't exempt from pain and suffering. I only hope my children will dream of being princesses. I hope that they will understand that they are truly royalty. I pray that they will not only remember the hard times or the moments I messed up, that my love will be more to them than the times when I couldn't love myself, or anyone else for that matter.

Now that I am a princess of the Most High, I realize that my family doesn’t automatically turn into a fairytale with orchestrated music and magic and fireworks. Since I became a Christian, I have had to make many hard decisions, many sacrifices. I have watched my mom struggle in her own Pig Pen, almost taking her own life and I have watched my youngest sister struggle in her own pig pen as a foster child. I have watched my sister Shawna struggle with relationships and finding her own identity. I have watched her sacrifice to be the best mommy she possibly can and I am proud of her. I have watched my oldest sister deal with anger and pain.

I have dealt with each of the same issues in my own way. Closing up, building walls. God has helped us to begin our restoration project. It will take a while, but he is good at working on each brick, one at a time, so we don’t pick it back up and put it back on the wall. I couldn't have imagined it this way and God knows what would have happened if he was not the one in control.

One thing I try to remember each day, to embrace who I am, I am unique and I was created to be me. I must never compare myself to others or think that I know what they are thinking or how they view me. I must believe that God has done a great work in me and that he loves me. My biggest wish is that I will teach my children to slowly separate from me, being the person God intended them to be, not some crazy idea that I have for them. I pray that they will embrace their gifts and that they will, above all things, know and love my Father, their creator, and walk in a relationship with Him.

Ephesians 4:29-32
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 4 Here is the whole chapter for you to read.

Whatever Your Doing: Sanctus Real