It's Who I Am

I struggle with identity. The knowing-who-I-am kind of identity. So
easily I forget I was made in the essence of God (Genesis 1:27). That is
a pretty big deal. You were made in His essence, too. And that is a big
deal, too.

The things of this world--ranging from female
ideals I see in advertising, to unmet expectations of friends, to my
own battle with perfectionism-- tell me who I should be, how I should
look, what I should pursue. Tangled in the lies of temptation, I forget I
am enough because Jesus said so.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  

2 Corinthians 12:9

This past weekend, I was up to my neck in that forgetfulness, wading through
negative self-talk and doubt. My best friend had pointed out how hard I
had been on myself. I am so thankful for friends who will be real and
vulnerable and honest, but with grace and love and acceptance.
Her insight sparked a prayer, "Lord, show me how to rest in
your love."

God's answer came at the most unexpected moment. Saturday, I watched my dear friend worship Jesus and trust God's plan while sitting in front of her father's casket. She was trusting God had taken her daddy to be home with Himself. It was the epitome of selflessness as she rejoiced that her father was in heaven, healed and whole, even though his passing was leaving a huge void in her own life. Her two grown sons then played this song...

And, then, in the quietness of my heart, I heard, "Your identity is my love. It's who you are."  

He's a good, good Father. It's who He is. 
And I'm loved by Him. It's who I am.

It does not matter what influences I encounter. I am loved by my Father. It's who I am. 
It does not matter who accepts me and who judges me. I am loved by my Father. It's who I am. 
It does not matter if I mess up, am imperfect, or totally suck. I am loved by my Father. It's who I am. 

It's who you are...it's who you are...it's who you are...

You, too, are intimately loved by the God Most High. May you live in abundance, standing on that truth. 

Live wholly, love fully, rejoice daily.
KC

The Truth Will Set You Free

Yesterday, a friend of mine commented on the 'ease' in which I have jumped into community here in Virginia Beach. She claims it is my outgoing personality.

Pssshhhh!!!!

I was just about speechless when she said that because I do not consider myself an outgoing person. I was the wall flower, too self-conscious to talk to anyone. In high school, people thought I was stuck up because I did not speak, but would walk with my head held high. I was merely pretending to be bazillions times more confident than the reality hidden behind the straight face.

I have felt forgotten. Unnoticed. Overlooked. Unappreciated. Never enough.

A myriad of circumstances and situations contributed to my very low self-esteem. But God had a different ending to that story. Those hurts do not define me. Healing has brought great freedom.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:17

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Psalm 147:3

And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.
John 8:32

Yesterday, when my friend commented on my outgoing personality and I pondered her statement as I drove home from church, I heard a whisper from the Lord...

"I have healed and I continue to heal."

Amen!!!!!!!! If that is not beautiful, I just do not know what is!

If you are the brokenhearted, press in and press on. Psalm 55:22 tells us to give our burdens to God. You can be real with God. He is a real God and made you with real emotions, real questions, real expectations. You can tell him how much your situation sucks. You can tell him you cannot carry the load anymore. He's got you. And, slowly, day by day, as you release control and learn to trust the Maker of the Universe, your hurts begin to heal. And one day, the forgotten, unnoticed, overlooked, unappreciated, never-enough girl has grown into an outgoing, accepting, brave woman. Only by His healing.

Live wholly, love fully, rejoice daily.
KC