THANKS GIVING 2019: IDENTITY

Good Evening Friends!

I pray you had a great day –

It is COLD AND RAINY here in Virginia Beach

AND –

Days like this … they get me in a reflective mood

I do not know the precise reason

Perhaps it is because there is not much more you want to do when the weather is YUCKY

In any event – it got me thinking about one of my favorite children’s movies: MOANA

It is a Disney film about a young girl named Moana who has been chosen to help her people. Their island is dying. And, as part of this mission, she has to engage the assistance of a demi-god named Maui

That part aside, it is an interesting little film –

                It is one of those movies that I stop and watch every time I see it

AND – there is one part in particular which resonates with me for some reason

Facing challenges in their quest and dealing with Maui wanting to abandon the mission and literally jump ship [or raft/canoe], Moana reminds Maui ‘We’re only here because you stole the heart [of Te Fiti] in the first place’ – to which Maui responds, ‘No we’re here because the ocean told you, you were special and you believed it.’

THEN –  sounding every bit like she is attempting to convince herself and Maui, Moana declares:

“The ocean chose me!"

AND THEN – Maui, offering one last quip before he leaves, states, ‘The ocean chose wrong.’

NOW –

I will not go through the entire movie because that scene right there is what got me thinking tonight.

AND –

I started thinking about myself – 

And then I started thinking about all the other people out in this great big world tonight.

So what does this have to do with thanks giving and the subject of identity?

IDENTITY IS CRUCIAL – AND SOMETHING TO BE THANKFUL FOR

‘If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old is gone; behold, the new has come!’ II Cor. 5:17

Yet, people will always attempt to flip the script on you –

to even blame you for things they have done;

or to project their issues upon you.

Earlier on in that movie, Maui tells Moana that he was not born a demi-god; that he was tossed into the water [discarded like unwanted garbage] by his human parents – and that he was plucked from the ocean. However, rather than focusing on the fact that he was rescued from a certain death-sentence, he continued to struggle with his own identity – and projected his issues upon Moana.

This is what happens to men and women everyday

BUT – DO NOT EVER allow someone else’s tainted self-image define who you are

Who you are with does not define who you are

What your enemies, family friends & associates say does not define who you are

Where you have been does not define who you are

Where you are presently does not define who you are

Where you are going does not even define who you are

NONE OF THAT DEFINES WHO YOU ARE

WHO THE LORD IS DEFINES WHO YOU ARE

THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY – 

                and your relationship with Him through Jesus Christ, 

                empowered by His Holy Spirit – THIS IS WHAT DEFINES YOU

BE CAREFUL who you allow to speak into your life and who you listen to –

                They are likely struggling with their own demons

Choose to listen instead to the voice of the LORD –

Which lovingly speaks to each and every one of us, reminding us:

‘Before I formed you in your mother’s womb – I knew you;

before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you ….’ Jeremiah 1:5

In that verse, the LORD is speaking to Jeremiah and reminding him that He chose him and appointed him a prophet. Now, we are not all destined or appointed to be prophets. However, we are all chosen and appointed.

UNDERSTAND – that the area or subject that gets you fired up and causes a righteous indignation to arise within your heart … is likely the precise area where you have been ANOINTED AND APPOINTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Your battle to maintain your identity has a MUCH BROADER IMPACT BEYOND YOUR LIFE.

There are people who have experienced victory – BECAUSE OF YOU

There are people who find strength for another day – BECAUSE YOU ARE ALIVE

There are people you have not even met yet,

who will be IMPACTED FOR ETERNITY – ALL BECAUSE OF YOU

If you have to tell yourself [and your audience] everyday who you are – 

YOU DO JUST THAT

BUT –

DON’T YOU EVER GIVE UP, DON’T GIVE IN & DO NOT FORGET WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST!

Praying you have an incredibly blessed evening –

Stay warm … and dry … 

FULLY AWARE OF WHO YOU ARE & THANKFUL FOR THAT IDENTITY

Blessings & Much Love in Christ!