1. D1) Knowing and Accepting Myself Developing our Personal Talents Nov 28’10

2. Self-Acceptance 1) To accept ourselves, we need to begin seeing ourselves the way God sees us—through the eyes of His unconditional love. Understanding the word “Acceptance” Accept = to receive (something offered), especially willingly Involves a kind of "approval" or "agreement“; Having problems accepting ourselves = no agreement with God who created us: "And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good (suitable, pleasant) and He approved it completely" Genesis 1:31 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew and approved of you [as My chosen instrument]“ Jeremiah 1:5 As servants, we need to see each of our children regardless of behavior, beauty, intelligence, etc. as God sees him/her!

3. Self-Acceptance 2) Self-acceptance is that we have to have peace with Him, we must believe that God loves us unconditionally and then receive His love daily Believing In and Receiving God's Love "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us“ Romans 5:8 God doesn't wait until you and I are perfect to love us—He loves us unconditionally and completely at all times. “God knows our thoughts before we think them, our words before we speak them, and has all the days of our lives written in His book before they ever take place” Ps 139: 2,4,16 He knows all of our weaknesses and every mistake we'll ever make. Yet, He STILL loves us. Wow! As servants, we need to love each of our children regardless of his/her mistakes or behavior or social status!

4. Self-Acceptance 3) If we don't have peace with God and accept His unconditional love, we won't have anything to give to others! Loving others starts with loving yourself as Christ made "For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is complied with in the one precept, You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.“ Galatians 5:14 God wants us to love ourselves! “For He has made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” 2 Corinthians 5:21 In Christ, we are made righteous, and He loves us just as we are. As servants, our peace/love with/to the Lord become the source of our love to our children.