Who Am I?

     Who am I? This is a question that has been asked for centuries. Most of us have possibly asked the same question. People often ask the question of us, “Who are you?” or sometimes, “What are you?”  They see the person that we present by our “stage” presence but are not really able to see who we are. Even when we look in the mirror, we will see only a representation of the real person. I’ve heard of many young people that are constantly searching and going in many different directions to “find out who they are.”

    We used to play games with the children by describing something or someone and allowing them to identify the person or thing. If we were trying to identify who we are and trying to get someone to guess, what would we say? Would we start by describing the outward appearance, with all the identifying features or would we start by trying to describe the inner qualities, or faults, that only God and the individual really know. The outer is easily describable but the inner is difficult because our inner being is often camouflaged.

     While taking personality test years ago, I took the test and then gave the same test to three of my direct reports to also evaluate me. When the instructor gave me the results, I tried to give it back to him stating, “You must have given me the wrong one.” The fact was that I perceived myself totally different as the others saw me. Then, I began to take another look and ask, “Who am I?” Or, even more alarming, do we really know the answer to the question?

    I believe that it is so easy, at times, to really lose sight of whom we are, who we belong to and the purpose that we have in life. “I recently read again, the story of a man that was arrested at the age of twenty-five and was convicted as a political prisoner. At the age of 80 when the Soviet Union was being dissolved and many people were being released, it was decided that he should be released.  Before leaving the prison, he asked for a mirror.  As he looked into the mirror, he fell to his knees and buried his face in his hands and wept.  He had not seen his face in 55 years and therefore didn’t know what he looked like.  He had lost all perceptions of who he was and how he looked.”(1)

     According to the scripture, we are very special with respect to how God looks at us.  God uniquely made each of us; therefore, we are special in His eyes. There is a children's song that says, "I am a promise I am a promise I am a possibility I am a promise with a capital P. I am a great big bundle of potentiality"(2)

The writer of Psalms stated, “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous-and how well I know it. You were there while I was being formed in utter seclusion! You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe.”(3)TLB

    Do you know who you are? If someone asks you who you are, what will be your answer? So how will you describe yourself to others? By what they see or by what you say? So I now ask you, “Who are you?”  What will be your answer?

Who am I? I am ____________________.

    Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us exactly as we are.  We know that we are creations of your beauty and love. Help us this day to praise you for us being fearfully and wonderfully made. Help us to be all that you intended us to be. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

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[1] Unknown source
(2) Bill and Gloria Gaither

[2] Ps 139:14-15

Happy Birthday America

This past week we were privileged to once again celebrate the birthday of our great nation. This day, amid the fireworks and cookouts, gave us an opportunity also to reminisce over our life and see the results of the freedom that we enjoy. Although the freedom was not obtained without a price, it was given to us to enjoy and protect so that future generations may also reap the benefits. 

We know that nothing is really free. Many sacrificed their lives, the lives of loved ones, their family relationships and others, their health to provide for us this freedom. Some sacrificed voluntarily and others by request. I’ve met very few that served and regretted having served but the majority was very proud of having served, in any capacity to preserve our freedom. It’s now our responsibility to not allow their sacrifice to have been in vain.

This freedom allows each of us to be the best that one is capability of becoming and achieve the impossible dreams. Most of us did not achieve the great things just because of who we were or because of a biological inheritance. It took a lot of attitude, plus work, plus dependability, commitment and other qualities and a whole lot of God-given creative ability. Take a close look back and remember the  journey of  your ancestors, the commitments of your parents, the route your life has taken and mostly likely, it will look like a Divine plan that was in place to bring you to the place you are today.

When God made man, He made us in his image and part of His image was His creative ability. Although we cannot create worlds, we can create things that change the world. We have great creative abilities and should constantly be looking at ways to use that gift from God. The freedom that we enjoy here in these United States gives us the power to change ourselves, and those things around us. We have the ability to change for either good or bad. We need to follow God’s creativity example and realize after He finished each day of creation, He looked and “saw that it was good!” Are we able to say the same?

One may say, “I don’t know where to start using my creative ability.” We must remember that with every frustration in life, an opportunity exists to create. For every disappointment, an opportunity exists. For every “I wish,” there is an opportunity to achieve. We often wish that someone would create something to make one’s life better, but have you ever thought that you just might be that “someone?” Our freedom allows us to think and dream beyond our wildest imaginations. I remember statements that a drafting teacher would say to us many years ago, “If you can draw it, you can build it.” “If you can dream it, it’s achievable.”

Many complain about our country and perhaps there is much to complain about, but today I challenge each of us to play a little game. Take a sheet of paper and fold it down the middle and write on the top of one side, negatives and on the other side positives. Start writing everything that you can think about our country.  I guarantee that when finished, if ever, the positives will outweigh the negatives by a large number. Then look at the negatives and ask, “How can I use my creative abilities to turn the negatives into positives?” There will be some that one cannot change; that’s when we turn them over to God in prayer.” An unknown author stated, “The things beyond ourselves we leave to God.”

Happy Birthday America!

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”[1]

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[1] Ephesians 3:20-21 NLT

Commitments

At the end of each year, many of us take the time to look at the coming year to think about the possibilities waiting in the future. Although looking at the New Year, we are tempted to look through glasses of the past and therefore, make it difficult to see clearly into the future. This can be both healthy and unhealthy. It is so easy for us to enter a new year with the attitude of “just another of the same old thing.” It doesn’t have to be the same ole, same ole. Here are some simple things that is worthy of consideration as we start the journey.

•  Re-focus on the meaning of “commitment.” This is a word that should be studied and made a part of one’s nature and behavior patterns. A commitment should be strong enough that there is no alternate course to take.  One describing the meaning of the word commitment used the illustration of the pilot that heads down the runway and when the wheels have left the ground, one could hear the pilot say, “I’m committed.”  At that time there’s no turning back; it upward bound. 
•  Consider establishing some challenging, yet measurable goals.  The goals should be long range in nature, but also divided into small increments with specific time factors. One thing to remember that if we set the reviews of the goal to be on a weekly basis, one needs to make sure the goal is reached.  If one allows the goal to slip, then there is a strong possibility that the long-range goal will not be met. 
• In addition to physical checkups, a mental checkup is in order, especially the area of one’s attitude. An old supervisor once told me that, “attitude really determines ones altitude,” and ultimately determines the height of one’s ambition. If one’s “altitude” is right and the direction of one’s life is consistent with what is right, the sky is the limit. 
• Commit to follow the right path forward. Remember; there are no shortcuts to a life of success and happiness. It comes from a life of consistency and patience. A business associate once told me that, “Success is really spelled, WORK!” 
• Keep our eyes focused on a higher plan than we are now living. With us looking upward, we overlook a lot of the potential obstacles that will try to destroy our commitment. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious — the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.  Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.”[1]

     Some things in life take time to achieve. It seems like we live in a microwave society that wants instant gratification. I’ve heard the old adage that states, “The more hurried I go the more behind I get.” Ever been there? Patience is a virtue that is desired and many are too impatient to wait for it. Slow down and take time to live.  Part of a poem written by David Weatherford, entitled Slow Dance—“You better slow down, don’t dance so fast, time is short, the music won't last. When you run so fast to get somewhere, you miss half the fun of getting there. When you worry and hurry through your day, It’s like an unopened gift, thrown away. Life is not a race, so take it slower, hear the music before your song is over."

Each of us is writing a "book," a chapter at a time by the deeds that we do, by the words that we say; others are reading what we write, whether positive or negative. So I ask, “What are others saying about the books we are writing?”

Rather than making New Year’s resolutions, let’s make New Year’s commitments and make sure that nothing gets in the way. Commitment definitely limits choices because it is exclusive. Commitment builds faith and develops character. It is a spiritual discipline requiring time, work and determination."

    

“I look to the mountains; where will my help come from? My help will come from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.  He will not let you fall; your protector is always awake.”[2]

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[1] Phil 4:8-9

[2] Ps 121:1-3