My Ink {Yep, the Permanent Kind}

I'm a little skeptical about writing this post because, well, some things I just like to keep personal. 
Occasionally something very amazing will happen to me, but I just don't want to share it. I don't want to have to put words to it and explain it, for then it looses its sacredness.

For example, having to explain "what God has been doing in my life" in an on-the-spot question is not something I generally appreciate. Not because He hasn't been doing something, but because I just don't feel like sharing. It's too precious to me to be forced to put into words at a demanding moment. If you asked me to show you a picture of what He's been doing, well, I could surely do that. 

It's weird. I know. I have this blog so that I can write out my thoughts but often times I'd rather just keep them in. 

That said, I'm now going to share a specific thing God has been teaching me. 
Maybe someone somewhere will be encouraged. Or perhaps someone will be outraged (for what I did is not appreciated by all people).

I got a tattoo. 

On my hand. 

It's very obvious.

And I planned it that way. 

You see, what I now have in permanent ink on my hand is the most precious word ever uttered. The word that holds the most value to me. 
The only word that I know gives me true value. 

For it is my value that I struggle with the most.

In 2003 I worked at Arrowhead Bible Camp. It was an absolutely wonderful summer, but also an incredibly challenging summer. 

I have been known for being hard on myself. 
One week at camp was no exception. One of the directors was rather miffed with me (in the good, gentle spiritual leader sort of miffed). He grabbed my hand and wrote, "The LORD's" on my palm. He told me, "Stop. Stop being hard on yourself. You are the LORD's! You are not stupid. You are not dumb. You are His!" (I don't remember his exact words but it was something like that.) 

I got the point. 

Fast forward several years and I'd forgotten. 
2013-2014 were rather difficult years for me spiritually and mentally (and I'm still struggling). I don't wish to go into it right now (see beginning two paragraphs). During this time period I have been continually reminded of what Cody had said. 

Or rather, what God Himself has said. 

Isaiah 44:5 "This one will say, 'I am the LORD's'; and that one will call on the name of Jacob; and another will write on his hand, 'Belonging to the LORD,' and will name Israel's name with honor." In this passage, Isaiah talks of God's blessings on Israel. I did not exist during Isaiah's time and I am not Jewish but a Christian, a follow of the Triune God of the Bible, so I do belong to the LORD.

Some days this is all I have to stand on. 
And even some of those days I feel that is shaky. 
But, I have to stand with what is true in Scripture and not my circumstantial feelings.

So I wanted a permanent visible reminder for myself of Who's I am. 
Not because it will ever change, but because I'm a visual person and I want this staring me in the face. Everyday. 

I did this because I love the Lord and I enjoy art. This is between me and Him.

I am the LORD's. 

Instead of 'The LORD's' or 'LORD' in English, I opted for the Hebrew letters YHWH (Yahweh).

The New Name

Over the past few months I have had so many things go through my head that I would love to write about:

• My current struggles with sleeplessness
• Modesty
• Marriage
• The benefits of living on a ranch
• Some new recipes that I created that will rock your world
• My sort-of-new Ink

But instead of sitting in front of this computer I have chosen to spend that time with my family. I hope you don't mind.
We traveled and laughed and cuddled and played outside and ate tasty food and did the dishes together and cleaned up messes and hibernated from the bitter cold. 

In the process of living I decided upon a new name for this blog I call home-for-my-thoughts. 

Instead of Reflections of a Redeemed Sinner, I've become Reflections of a Life Set Free.

For my life has been set free indeed.

If you've read my previous post (found here) you can understand my desire of the name change.

So, one of these days I will spend some time here again and share some deep thoughts. 
Until then, it's almost 50 degrees out and we want to play outside.