Take What You Have...

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"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God’s] own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.  Once you were not a people [at all], but now you are God’s people; once you were unpitied, but now you are pitied and have received mercy."
1 Peter 2:9-10 (AMP)

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​Every time I read this verse, and others in 1 Peter, I feel overwhelmed with the gift of pure love God has so generously given to me and to all that love Him. Who wouldn’t want this? I, as well as many others, have been chosen, and because he chose us, we are His royal priests. We are part of a consecrated nation and considered to be so special that He calls us His own! 
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Being His own comes with some privileges that are worth far more than money can buy. We can speak and claim excellence over ourselves. Excellence in our deeds, our virtues, and all that we perfect to do. 

Earlier in the chapter it says this:
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" [Come] and, like living stones, be yourselves built [into] a spiritual house, for a holy (dedicated, consecrated) priesthood, to offer up [those] spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ."
1 Peter 2:9-10 (AMP)

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Living stones provide shelter, warmth, and protection to each other when built upon the Cornerstone of Jesus.  The Cornerstone determines the placement of all stones so that all is aligned with Him.  Each stone needs the other to be a strong structure, and for each stone to remain living the focus must remain on the Cornerstone.  We as Living Stones need each other to carry out all that God has given us.  As Living Stones, we are a royal priesthood to each other.  We are a consecrated nation.   As God’s people, His very own people, we can take hold of all the treasure He has offered us and build life together.  We are vibrant, loving, gifted, powerful, hopeful, courageous, fulfilled, faithful, loyal, and eternal.  Anyone that enters into our living shelter will leave with more light than before.  A light that penetrates from living well.

The most beautiful part of being built together as Living Stones on the Cornerstone of Jesus is that we receive mercy.  When we as His people surrender to the strength and love of Jesus, we receive His mercy.  This mercy opens up a new life of opportunity; it moves our focus from all our failures to Who Jesus is and who He created us to be.  When we receive His mercy, we are firmly aligned and rooted on the Cornerstone, which gives us the desire and the ability to take His truth about life and live it with heavenly intention.

He has called each one of us out of darkness, He has placed us in His Light.  This light never goes away.  The light you and I carry does not go out when we enter into dark places, no, no!  It lights up the darkness and resonates mercy to all who cower there.   We envelope His identity and offer it to others, bringing them to a place of recognition.

Jesus, our Cornerstone, is solid.  He has provided you and me with a marvelous light in which we can live.  He chooses to cover you in His mercy every day and He rejoices over all that He has for you.  Take what you have and light up the day!

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Guest Blogger - Bethany Elle

My name is Bethany. I am a friend and devoted follower of Jesus Christ, I love spending time with him and sharing the stories he tells me with others.  I’ve been married for over 36 years and have four sons and one daughter, three daughter in-laws, and seven beautiful grandchildren.  God has blessed me with a ministry, Agape Celebration, we focus on celebrating God through art and bringing woman to a place of understanding their identity through Jesus. I love to write and speak about life experiences and the hope of Jesus.  
Bethany Elle
Founder/President
Agape Celebration, Rooted in Mercy 
www.AgapeCelebration.com, www.Rootedinmercy.com
208-297-2480