Welcome my friend! Come on in for our time of tea & reflection together.
It has been raining here, the plants & ducks are loving it.
Although, not all the birds are loving it as I saw a family of Kookaburras, perched on our clothes line, looking rather wet with punk featherdos. LoL!
I’ve made tea in an interesting little glass teapot. With it we have slices of gf freshly baked Blueberry, Coconut & almond loaf.
We’re sitting in my loungeroom listening to the pitter patter of the rain upon our front pergola roof.
Which is quite soothing…
Significance
If we’re totally honest with ourselves, we all yearn to have some type of significance & purpose in this life, don’t we!
It may be to correct a social injustice or find the cure for cancer.
It may be to make a positive contribution within our community.
It may be to leave a legacy in our professional life or for our family.
For Christians it’s often to have an impact upon the world in sharing the Good News of Christ.
Whatever it may be, we want to make a significant & positive contribution to those around us…
But has wanting to have Significance become the focus rather then the outcome?
It’s an interesting question, don’t you think! I found this train of thought in a professional article I read recently.
It gave me much food for thought!
And I have come to the conclusion that there is a very fine line between wanting to make a postive contribution to our fellow man & having a Significance addiction.
Let’s explore this, shall we…
We live in an age where wanting to have Significance, either postive or negative is at fever pitch
We can see this on social media platforms, reality TV shows, FB selfies & YouTube broadcasts.
You may be thinking at this point; isn’t that attention seeking rather then wanting Significance Jennifer?
Well, yes & No.
Let me explain that answer by looking at the following definitions;
Significance is to be seen as worthy of importance.
Attention seeking is wanting to be seen as worthy of importance by getting another’s attention.
There isn’t a great deal of difference.
Both definitions are wanting to have some type of Significance [importance] with others.
Now I can hear many saying the following;
“…but Jennifer I’m not seeking importance or attention. So I’m not addicted to having Significance!”
I thought the same until I pondered & reflected upon the following…
How often have we…
Got slightly miffed because someone else was offered the position that we thought we should have been offered; at work, in voluntary work, on the sports team or in ministry?
How often have we…
Felt we weren’t appreciated for something we really worked hard for with great sacrifice?
How often have we…
Felt rejected at not being consulted when we may have many years of experience both in life or professionally in that area?
How often have we …
Felt left out of social, church or family gatherings?
Interesting…isn’t it!
We all want to have some type of Significance… Don’t we!
Did you know we actually already have great significance?
But we often don’t recognise it!
For we are called God’s own masterpiece!
Let’s pause for a moment & really let that sink in my friend…
The Creator of the Universe calls you & I His masterpieces!
Now that is significant!
We are told,
“…[God] did form my inward parts; [God] did knit me together in my mother’s womb.”
Psalm 139: 13 paraphrased
Then when we come into a personal relationship with God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ we are also told,
” For we are God’s own masterpiece, recreated in Christ Jesus [born anew ] that we may do those good works which God planned beforehand for us that we should live the good life which He planned & made us ready to live.”
Ephesians 2:10 Refer 2
In other words we are very important to God! Who has already planned a life of significance & purpose for us even before we were born!
How exciting is that!
So, in this season of celebrating Jesus’ miraculous birth.
Let us remember He is the most Significant One & it’s through His love & grace that we have significance.
Until next time,
Jennifer
You’re most welcome to join me in The Reading Nook
© 2021 Jennifer M. Ross, teawithjennifer.blog, All Rights Reserved. Photo by Tijana Drndarski on Pexels.com
Our poor achievement culture completely misses the reality that each one of us is infinitely precious and significant whether we cure cancer or spend our life in a body wracked with troubles from birth.
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Yes, I agree Elizabeth, the true treasure of who we are to God is passed over for the trinkets of achievement.
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And our country wonders about the vast unease of so many.
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Beautifully said, Jennifer. To know the Creator of everything calls me a masterpiece delights my heart. Thank you for using your gifts to edify and encourage.
Much love,
Pam
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You’re most welcome Pam. Thank you my sweet friend for your lovely encouraging words ❤️
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Thank you for this encouraging reminder that our significance is in Christ Jesus, Jennifer. Love and blessings to you!
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Love & blessings to you too Trudy! 🤗
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Jennifer these are truths I need to hold more closely, I am so accomplishment orientated, I often miss the true significance I already have in Christ!
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I think we can all relate Donna, especially with the western world’s focus upon merit & accomplishment which sadly has even crept into our churches!
Lovely having you drop by today my dear friend ❤️
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Our significance is never out of date with God. 😊
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I love that statement Herry! 🤗
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😊
Happy Sunday, ma’am.
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Thank you, & happy Sunday to you too Herry! ☺️
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Jennifer, it’s so easy to cross the line here, isn’t it?! I don’t remember the quote and I know I can’t do it justice but I heard someone say that if we realized that we already have all the love, all the acceptance, etc. that we could ever need, we would stop trying to extract it from everyone else!
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Wow, that’s very profound Donna thank you for sharing that! 😊
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Being God’s masterpiece is indeed significant! Thanks for putting things into perspective for us, Jennifer. We can get out of alignment with this so easily.
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That we can Lisa!
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We do want significance don’t we. And that’s because we are created to have great significance/ We just need to be looking in the right places, or to the right one for our significance.
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Exactly Theresa! 😊 So lovely that you could join me in a cuppa today.
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The question you ask is a powerful one, Jennifer. It is so easy to get off track. May we keep our focus and eyes on the Significant One from whom we derive our significance. Amazing to ponder this!
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Thank you Joanne, I thought this love of thought was rather thought provoking too 🤔
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Jennifer, the way you named this is so interesting to me! I’ve often thought about approval seeking, but have not exactly thought of it as looking for significance. This is a great thought to ponder on. Thanks so much for helping us name things!
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Thank you Leslie & you’re most welcome. Lovely having you drop by today ☺️
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Jennifer, the way you have named this is very thought provoking! I have worked on myself a lot as far as approval-seeking. I had not thought of it as a search for significance. And being addicted to these things is a real-life issue! Thank you for naming things for us. It’s giving me a new way to think about this topic!
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It’s wonderful to hear you have been seeking to grow in this area Leslie. ☺️
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Ahhh, Jennifer. You’re touching on one of my lifelong lessons. When I was in my thirties I really grappled with God about being significant . . . somehow. He reminded me that I was significant because I was His girl, He loves me, and that was all that really mattered. I still struggle with the desire to be significant sometimes, but not nearly like I used to.
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I love this testimony Jeanne, we are His girls! Thank you for sharing it with me 🤗
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I check my motivation in everything I do-is it for me or for Jesus?.
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What a great check to have Jansaun! Lovely having you drop by today ☺️
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Jennifer, I love the verses you’ve used to explain how significant we are to God … the one about us being his masterpiece is especially powerful. Our culture has so many exhausting expectations about what significance means, but it’s comforting to know that God has prepared work for each of us to do and by doing it to the best of our ability, we bring HIM glory. Wonderful post!
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Thank you Lois! We can indeed miss our important significance in the culture of today. But praise God the Holy Spirit is always guiding & directing us in God’s plan for our life which is comforting. It’s so lovely having you drop by today ☺️
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Great points to ponder, Jennifer… Thanks for sharing. 💞
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A pleasure Bette 💕
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Happy New Year, Jennifer! ✨
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Happy New year, Bette! 💕
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