Almost There by Susan L.

  I am created in His image. Genesis 1:27
  "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." NKJ

  The title, Almost There, is because this is the last affirmation on the first page. It's double columned so there's seventy on each page. It is such a thrill to have reached this first of three milestones. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to persevere with the goal of blogging about each one. Instead, I find myself looking forward to each day's challenging explorations with a sense of excitement that increases with each one.
  That's something to give a whole whack of thanks for: having a joy filled reason to get out of bed in the morning.

  There are probably books out there written by far more learned people than myself exploring the nature of God. To understand God is to understand ourselves. Living in a sin filled world kinda hampers our understanding. :) Isn't that the understatement of the year!
  Until we get to sit with Him in Heaven, our understandings fall miles short of the truth. That's why He gave us a Guide Book, the Bible. That's why He sent His Son to die for us.
  I often think about the time before time when God started laying plans for each one of us. I have imagined Him humming joyfully to Himself as He lovingly puts us together with a dash of this, a splash of that, a whole whack of this for sure!
  Brown eyes? Hazel with flecks of green? No, this lovely child gets deep blue eyes that sometimes look a little bit sad. I'll give her a generous helping of perseverance, too! She's going to need it. And He sighs, His own eyes sorrowful for a moment, knowing what the world has in store for His child. Then He smiles a smile that lights up the heavens because He knows that eventually she'll decide to turn back to Him.
  It boggles this little brain because no two people are alike. Even identical twins are different. Drawing from the knowledge of Himself, He predestined everything that makes us uniquely us. 
  Is that another reason why it's so hard to fathom God? We, you and I, are only given a small share of His identity?
  I've learned it takes relationships and community to help understanding grow. Which is part of Him as well: the Holy Trinity. He is a Community within Himself. There's books on that, too.
  No one has it "all". Sometimes it's hard to recognize those gifts which are part and parcel of  God's identity. Some have a way with children or animals or mechanical things. Medicine, public service, teaching, languages, science, mathematics, art, music...if I was to write a list of all the jobs in the world, each one contains a clue, a hint of God's nature that was incorporated into our DNA right from the get-go.
  The world says, "What we do is who we are."
  God's love turns that on its head, "What we are, we do."
  Our enemy likes to make sure that gets twisted. Actions and behaviours based on half-truths or outright lies are used to keep us apart from each other and the Lover of our souls.
  Beloved, be loved. Before the dawn of creation, you were lovingly formed. No matter what you're doing at this moment, no matter what the past held, throughout it all you were and are loved by a Love that surpasses everything. It's why He made you, to pour out His love upon you so you can pour out His love on others.
  Thank You, Jesus, for Your sacrifice that made coming home to my Father possible. Thank You, Holy Spirit for guiding me into truth and actions. Thank You, Father, for making me just as I am.