Spring is in the air, and the hunt for a new home is on! The process is exciting, but it is also nerve-wracking! First, there is the search, with so many things to consider. Is the house conveniently located? Is it large (or small) enough to fit our needs? How does it line up with the criteria that we have decided upon? And most importantly, is it God’s will? There are so many things to think about. However, once a possible choice is made, the really stressful part begins -- The Application.

Filling out the application is not difficult in itself, but waiting for acceptance is. Hopefuls, like us, are put through a gauntlet of questions and each one causes us to try to prove our value. And, as each question is answered, more questions run through our minds. Will they think we are a good risk? Will they think we make enough money? Will they judge our credit fairly? I even ask myself if they care that I love gardening and keeping a home looking nice. But it all boils down to one main question, “Will I be deemed worthy?” That question hurts.

Acceptance is something we all want. We strive for approval. Whether it is with our peers, our family, or a new job or house, we long to be considered “good enough”.  Unfortunately, we don’t always find the kind of acceptance we seek.  Not everyone will like us.  We won’t always be given that new job or house, and if we place all our hope in those things, we will be crushed.  Praise God that there is another way!

Our God is the most welcoming of Landlords. It doesn't matter if we are rich or poor -- He welcomes us just the same.  He looks past our age, our job and the color of our skin.  He doesn’t mind the length of our hair or the style of our clothes.  Instead, He sees right into our hearts.  He knows our scars, our pains and our fears.  And regardless of where we've been He loves us all.  “He doesn’t care how great a person may be, and He pays no more attention to the rich than to the poor. He made them all” (Job 34:19).  What a wonderful promise that is!  No matter who we are, where we come from or what baggage we carry, when we answer His invitation to come to Him, He welcomes us with open arms.  And there, when surrendered at His feet, we will be showered with forgiveness, acceptance and never-ending love.

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow - not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below - indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

Accepted by Him,





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43 Comments

  1. Thanks for posting this! It really serves as a reminder of the hope to come! Romans 8 always gets me, really, thanks a lot!

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  2. Clint BakerApril 29, 2012

    God is so awesome in His preservation of us until that final day! Thank you!

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  3. friskychileApril 29, 2012

    Another beautiful and inspiring post Joan! A great reminder that even when we feel unimportant and inferior, we need to stop and remember that
    God's character goes into the creation of each and everyone of us, and that we must have as
    much respect for ourselves as He has for us. This is key to living the abundant
    life that He desires for each and every one of us; seeing ourselves through His eyes. 

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  4. How exciting to be looking for a house!  Btw, the photo of the ideal looks amazing.  Just like I picture in my dreams with the white picket fence.

    But I love the reminder you shared.  We are accepted and approved by our God.

    Beautiful post.

    Blessings and love,
    Debbie

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  5. Yes...no matter what, God will never let us go!  What a comfort that is!  I'm placing my hope in Him!

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  6. So true!  We need to believe the promises that God has given us, including remembering His love for us!

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  7. Hi Debbie!  I am so excited to be accepted and approved by God!  His love is incredible!

    Blessings, Joan

    P.S.  I love the picture of that house, too...roses and a white picket fence!  We'll see what He has planned!!

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  8. Just remembering that He is with us always is such an encouragement!  I'm keeping my eyes on Him!  Blessings!

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  9. What sweet refreshment to my soul this day. Thank you for this good and timely reminder!

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  10. I love living in my Father's house!  And I am even more overjoyed that He prepares a mansion for me to live in eternally.

    By the grace of God, I am deemed worthy!

    GOD BLESS

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  11. That's a great comparison!  Yes, in my Father's house I am accepted!  He is such a loving God!

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  12. I agree!  It is such a blessing to know that He loves us and accepts us, even if those in this world may not.  Our God will never reject those who come, seeking Him!

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  13. this? i needed today.

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  14. It is so comforting to know that he accepts us just as we are. I was thinking today about the verse pertaining to setting our sights on things eternal. Indeed, if we put our hope in the things of this world, we will be disappointed.

    Blessings,
    Joan

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  15. Oh, how exciting for you to be out there looking for a new home! I hope you'll find exactly the one your heart is desiring for!

    Yes, we all look for acceptance but we don't often get it. But thank God, we can all run to Him and be COMPLETELY received and accepted - blemishes, failures and all. I linked up a post with you that has a slight similarity- "What Can Change Our Harvest".

    Have a blessed week,
    Rina

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  16. Thanks for your inspiartional post:)

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  17. This is so important to remember!  No matter what, God loves us and accepts us.

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  18. Denise OldhamApril 30, 2012

    Awesome reminder.

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  19. Yes we can always look to our Father to love and accept us, warts and all! 

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  20. I love how you said it, 'Our God is the most welcoming of Landlords.'

    Praise God for this, we are accepted! Such grace it is.

    Blessings & Peace,
    Deanna
    ps- this is a very welcoming blog meme you have, thank you:)

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  21. I love how you said it, 'Our God is the most welcoming of Landlords.'
    Praise God for this, we are accepted! Such grace it is.
    Blessings & Peace,Deannaps- this is a very welcoming blog meme you have, thank you:)

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  22. I love how you said it, 'Our God is the most welcoming of Landlords.'
    Praise God for this, we are accepted! Such grace it is.
    Blessings & Peace,Deannaps- this is a very welcoming blog meme you have, thank you:)

    pps- this might be a repeat comment but I didn't think the first went through, lol

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  23. Praying for your move! Praise God that He will accept all applications from sinners knowing they need a Savior and trusting in His death, burial and resurrection as the only way to Heaven!
    Love in Him,
    Laurie


    http://savedbygracebiblestudy.blogspot.com/
     

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  24. I'm so glad you were encouraged!  Blessings, Kendal!

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  25. So true.  So, rather than being disappointed...I am placing my hope in the Lord!  I know with Him, I'll never be disappointed!  Blessings!

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  26. Thank you so much, Rina.  I am trusting God to bring the right place for us...the one He desires for us!  I love how He loves us, no matter what we've done...no matter our past failures.  He will always welcome us, dust us off, and set us on the right path again!

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  27. Blessings to you, Ligaya!  Thanks for stopping by!

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  28. It is wonderful news, isn't it?  I'm so thankful to be loved by the King!

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  29. Thanks, Denise!  Have a blessed day!

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  30. "Warts and all!"  That made me smile!  So true...it doesn't matter what we look like -- He accepts us all the same!  Blessings!

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  31. God's grace is overwhelming, isn't it?  What a blessing it is to be accepted by Him!  Thank you for your kind comment about the meme...you are more than welcome to link up any time!  Blessings to you!

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  32. Hi Deanna (aka D M)!  I don't mind the double comments at all!  Thanks for stopping by and being such an encouragement!

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  33. Yep!  I'm so glad that I have been accepted into the family of Christ!  There is no better thing!  Blessings!

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  34. I love the idea of new house hunting and the connection with acceptance and approval.  A universal need and longing.  Blessings to you as you search for a new house to make a home.  "Unless God builds the house, those labor in vain who build it."  

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  35. Thanks for including the verse from Jeremiah in your comment above!  It is so important to seek God's will and to build our homes upon the Rock!  Blessings, Brenda!

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  36. Beautiful post! I am forever grateful for God's unconditional, unending love for me! He knows everything about me, yet He loves me. That's indeed amazing!

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  37. Wendy @ ECTaSMay 01, 2012

    PTL re: His unconditional love for us.  You are so right - God's love is not judgemental but unconditional.  

    In the town where I live, there is a middle-aged man who sits day in, day out handing out Gospel tracts to passers by.  No matter what the weather is - you will find him in the same spot Monday through Saturday - rain, hail and snow!  You would never guess that he is a multi millionaire - one of the wealthiest men in the UK.  He reaches out to rich and poor alike with the greatest gift he can offer them - the gift of God which is eternal life.  This man's love is unconditional too.  He reflects the heart of Jesus.

    P.S. Thank you for the lovely comment you left on my blog this evening (UK time).  I appreciate you stopping by.  
    Wendy

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  38. You made a wonderful contrast here between how the world measures us to see if we're worth enough and how God measures us according to how much He loves us. Have fun house-hunting--praying you find just the place God wants to plant you!!

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  39. His love is indeed amazing!  I am so thankful -- without Him, I'd be lost!

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  40. What a blessing this man must be!  May we all reflect the heart of Jesus everywhere we go and to whomever we meet!  Blessings, Joan

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  41. Thanks, Shaunie!  I am so thankful for God's unconditional love!

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  42. I'm totally convinced that God led us to the house we now live in. We moved here over 22 years ago. We were leaving a home I loved in California and moving to the desert of Arizona. We looked at a lot of houses and even put money down one one house but decided to look a little further. Then we found the perfect house. It had everything I had ever wanted in a house and then some. I didn't think we would find a house we liked as well as we did the one we were leaving, but we found one so much better. I really believe it was God's will. And it is so much more important to be in a right relationship with God than it is in what house we live in. 
    Thank you for sharing again.
    Blessings,Charlotte

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  43. Things always work out for the best when we follow God's leading!  And you are right!  The most important thing is to have a right relationship with Him!  What a blessing to be accepted by Him!

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