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!

LOVE: IT ALL BEGINS WITH HIM

Good Morning Friends!

I pray your Saturday – and your weekend – is off to a great start

Me? I am taking the opportunity to relax at home this morning and think on this thing called: LOVE ... AGAPE LOVE 

What is and why start our three week love journey here?

Agape love is the highest form of love – IT IS A GODLY LOVE

And without it, none of the other types of love we will be discussing over the coming weeks is possible. IT IS A SELFLESS, SACRIFICIAL AND UNCONDITIONAL TYPE OF LOVE

The closest that I believe most humans are able to get to this type of love is the love a parent has for a child. Which is fitting – since it is a love that should reflect the love our Heavenly Father. Yet, even the love of parents fail. Turn on the news any day of the week and you will, unfortunately, hear some horrific tale of some heinous action of a parent who was filled with anything but love for their child.

YET – THE LOVE OF GOD IS UNFAILING & UNCHANGING!

It can be seen from the first chapter of Genesis to the last chapter of Revelation ...

and everywhere in between

Genesis 1: 26-28 chronicles our beginning: ‘Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness … So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them [and] v28 ‘God Blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase…”

He loved us so much that He made us in His image. And the first action on His heart after that, was an act which flowed out of His tremendous love for us:

GOD BLESSED THEM

Revelation 22:17 extends this invitation to all, ‘Let the one who is thirst come, and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.’

There are so many who are thirsty nowadays – thirsty for life, thirsty for love, thirsty for God

His love – that agape love – IT IS A NEVER ENDING LOVE

His love – that agape love – IT IS NOT BROKEN … like so many are on the inside

His love – that agape love – IT MEETS US WHERE WE ARE & cuts through our brokenness

His love – that agape love – IT IS AN ALL-ENCOMPASSING LOVE

His love – that agape love – IT SURROUNDS US

His love is without demand or condition

Knowing us fully – with all of our faults – HE STILL LOVES US COMPLETELY

That is some kind of love!!!

Praying Your Day is Blessed &

The Remainder of Your Weekend, Filled with Love

The Father's Ornament

Zenobia - It is a unique name yet also one that, for many years, was not particularly meaningful to me. Everyone would comment on how beautiful and different it was but I always wanted to know what it meant beyond the fact that it was a name held by a 3^rd century Syrian queen. Don't get me wrong, she was quite a queen, a warrior queen known for great military conquest, full of beauty, strength, knowledge and wisdom. Yet being named after Zenobia, the self-reliant conqueror, never did anything for me personally.  

As I got older and researched it, every definition would say ‘given life by Zeus or daughter of Zeus’. However, that was never a definition that resonated with me. Being named after Zenobia, the daughter of a mythological god, was not awe inspiring either. It must mean something more … something more significant … something more purposeful.

Well, a couple of years back, I came to the realization that Zenobia was not just a Greek name. It is also an Arabic name which means ‘Father’s Ornament’. Now that was something to which my spirit could grab hold.

Over the past few days, I have heard messages on identity. And it got me thinking about the way that God has been speaking to me over the past several years, helping me to regain my sense of identity. The youngest of four, picked on as a child, growing up in a broken home and the turmoil of a failed marriage, my sense of who Zenobia was had taken a quite a beating over the years.
     Yet God has been slowly restoring me, for He knows I can never be all that He has called me to be until I know who I am. That is why I think He revealed this definition to me a few years ago. You see, the definition of 'The Father’s Ornament' is special. And I capitalize Father, because for me it is not just significant that I am merely any father’s ornament, but that I am the Father’s ornament.

A quick check of the Webster’s online dictionary defines an ornament as follows: a useful accessory; something that lends grace or beauty; a manner or quality that adorns; one whose virtues or graces add luster to a place or society. And what is an accessory? Well, one of the many definitions is that of an object or device not essential in itself but adding to the beauty, convenience or effectiveness of something else.   

Zenobia: the Father’s object, whose virtues and graces add luster to a place or society; not an essential object but one that He chooses to employ.

POWERFUL! 

What a joy to be the Father’s light in a dark world: not because of anything I have done, not because of my graces or virtue , but because of His Holy Spirit living in me and shining through me. What an honor! And it is an honor bestowed upon every believer – whether your name is Zenobia or not.  You too are the Father’s Ornament. 

‘You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.’ Matthew 5:14-16 NASB 

‘Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.’ Matthew 5:14-16 MSG 

So to all the Father's Ornaments I say,
Shine bright so that all the world can see ...
And glorify your Father in heaven!