“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 NLT

“In all of creation, identity is a challenge only for humans. A tulip knows exactly what it is. It is never tempted by false ways of being. Nor does it face complicated decisions in the process of becoming.” David Benner, Psychologist

The other night I watched a crime show where the villain was a serial killer. The heroes pursued this psychopath right to the top of a building where the villain plummeted to his death. Except… He didn’t die. He was comatose for a few years and awoke to not knowing who he was or what he’d done. Finally, his memory started coming back to him during his murder trial. He was distraught, drenched in unbelief of his past and broken. His identity was a murderer. Death by cop was his answer.

Not so for us.

As adults, we define ourselves by our status, career, parenting, volunteering, money, etc. The hardest to grasp is we are a masterpiece of God created for good things—good works. We were made in the image of the Father. Our works point to who we are.

Here are some starting places:

Are you a creative person? Did it lead to becoming a beautician, decorator, writer, chef or graphic artist? A parent and/or spouse?

Are you a problem-solver? Did you become a CEO of a company, a computer programmer, start a problem-solving business, work in construction, a plumber or electrician? A spouse and parent?

Are you a loyal person? Do you work in the military, and provide for your family and church? A spouse and/or parent?

Are you a compassionate person? Do you work in healing both emotionally and physically? Volunteer? Give your time and money? A spouse and parent?

Are you intuitive? Do you work in law enforcement, social work or counseling victims? A spouse and/or parent?

Are you detail-oriented? Do facts and figures make your heart sing? Are you into research? Architecture? Do you know exactly when your child came home?

Are you athletic? Parents who run to a frightened child in the middle of the night will say yes. Do you work in physical or occupational rehab? Roofing? Logging? Fishing?

Are you empathetic? Do you work for a non-profit that rescues disaster victims or child-trafficking victims? School counseling? A spouse and/or parent?

The list can go on and on. All of the above are characteristics of our Father and his son, Jesus. These attributes are yours too. These are who you are! How the Father made you. You may be a nurse but what God-given attributes lead you there? You’re a spouse and parent who needs to do all of the above. How blessed that we can choose how to use these attributes to grow the kingdom and full, joyous life here!

As a semi-retired person, who I am leads me into other projects. I was creative as a child and I am now. I just display it differently. I drew pictures as a child, I draw now and I garden. Creativity will last me a lifetime.

Musings

Who are you? Really. We’ve let others, addictions, society, status and money define us. For a long time when someone asked, “What do you do?” I thought what I did was who I am. I am a parent, employee/employer, wife, writer, animal lover and more. But first, I’m a beloved child of God. As a child of God, I need to look at my God-given characteristics and with His help, do good works. Another blessing of knowing who you are in Christ is it’s a rewarding and fulfilling journey. What are yours? Do you know? Writing them into a tablet or journal may help. Asking an intimate friend may help. Of course, prayer and the Bible helps. It’s a blessed self-discovery journey in partnership with our Father.

Prayer

Dear Father,

We forget what a glorious thing it is to be made in your image. We forget that we can do what the Son has done and is doing through us. It’s a marvelous and awesome task! Thank you for the wonder of self-discovery and the opportunity for good works that you had planned for us eons ago. We pray they are for You and yours.

Amen.

Abide-Anchor

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain…” Hebrews 6:19 NIV

“Love is the anchor through every storm.” Unknown

We are anchored to the Savior of our souls. He is Love.

Like a boat anchored to its dock, we are anchored to the Son. We do many things, float, roll side-to-side, sway, but we’re safe. We’re anchored. Firm. Secure. Even when hurricane waves roll over us.

We are anchored to the Son.

Many years ago, I had a 1964 Chevy Impala I loved. Really loved! I have a soft spot for American vintage cars not only because they remind me of American road trips (Route 66) and history but because they’re just so special. They all had a unique look with power and speed. However, I was driving my Impala at a reasonable speed in the middle of summer and the car stopped handling. She was swaying all over the road like I’d hit black ice. I stopped and looked all around the car. Flat tire? No. All good. Power steering fluid? All good. Pump? Good. Looked under the rear and there it was: a broken sway bar. How? I don’t know. It was not expensive to replace and the mechanic found a solid replacement from the junkyard. Soon after, I was zooming down the road.

Scary? Yes. Losing control is frightening, whether in a vintage car or other life experiences. We don’t have control over many things in our lives, especially others. Like a ping-pong ball hitting all sides and traps with noise and panic, life can be brutal. We need an anchor. Someone who keeps us centered. Someone we trust. This is where we may get into trouble. From numbing our feelings, denying our feelings and clinging to all sorts of inappropriate behaviors and toxic people, we become overwhelmed by a tidal wave of pain. We left the anchor of our souls. We no longer abide. We drift. We drown.

Time to enter the inner sanctuary. Drop anchor. Abide. This is our time to build up each other, remind each other, seek out each other and pray with each other. He’s always with us. He stretched out his hand to Peter who stepped out from the boat in the midst of a dreadful tempest. We can too. Any time. Any place. For any reason.

Musings

“If you feel separated from God, who moved?” Have you heard that quote before? There’s truth to it, though trite. And even better–a wonderful promise from scripture: “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.”  There have been times in my life when I thought and felt (scarier still) I would never be rescued, loved, or secure but I was. Firm. Secure. Anchored. Not by my own efforts. Not recognized until later. Have you experienced the same? Share it with someone who’s stumbling.

Prayer

Dear Father,

Thank you for your promise, “The enemy will not snatch them from my hand.” There are times when staying afloat is impossible but you are there. We may not feel it or recognize your constant presence until after the tidal wave rolls over us but we know your invisible hand saved us. Faith has increased because of the tempests and tests in life where your presence went before and during our trials.

We abide.

Amen.

“If it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Romans 12:8-9 NIV

“A great relationship isn’t when a perfect couple comes together, but when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences.” Unknown

Being a mom, of course, I’m biased. My son is different from me. He is an avid golfer. I detest golf, playing it anyway. He started lessons when he was five years old, thanks to my dad, and earned money for his first real game at a nine-hole course. He’s played many tournaments where he came in first. He got a Hole-in-One! My son loves four-wheeling throughout all the beautiful places in Utah, where he lives. Me? Not so much. Love hiking the beautiful canyons and mountains in Utah. Four-wheelers are noisy! I want peace and quiet. I love horses and my son would ride with me. He was a natural rider and developed trust from the horses. I was not a natural. I would rather pet them, hug them, brush them and give them treats. But I sure appreciate how different he is from me. He raised two beautiful daughters and during their dramatic teen years, he thought he’d never make it through. He did. Beautifully, but not unscathed. The girls had their own ideas, which were different from their loving and attentive dad.

Perfection: Impossible. Not your spouse, girlfriend/boyfriend, boss, family members or you can do this. Only one man was perfect. We know what happened to him.

Excellence: Possible. But only you with your Father’s help can you do this for yourself. And it’s a daily decision. Today I will practice excellence. That’s how great athletes, spiritual leaders, writers and parents do excellence. They practice every day. Rain, snow, disturbing news, or whatever shows up, practice every day. It may be for only a few minutes but it will reward you.

How? We give ourselves not out of duty or fear but love. See 1^st John 4:9-10 And it starts with our Father. We give, surrender and trust him and we are transformed into doing this. It eventually gives birth to excellence. Willpower may work but only for a time. We need supernatural help.

Let there be space in your togetherness. My husband and I learned this. I love flower gardening and he loved photography. He would make trips to take pictures of our beautiful Idaho and I would be knee-deep in dirt, mulch and fertilizer. When he came home, we shared all we enjoyed with each other. He took pictures of my flowers. I framed his best photos to display in our home and for gifts.

Musings

You’ve heard the expression, “Be you; all the others are taken.” Be an excellent you. Your Father will reveal your uniqueness and gifts. We need to remember others need to be who they are too. If there’s a change needed in you or another, let our Father take the lead. Pray and get back to your excellence. Celebrate the differences! Give praise to the differences. We aren’t cookie-cutters!

Prayer

Dear Father and Lord,

Help me to do all with a loving heart.

May I expect nothing in return.

With your guidance and loving example,

I will never be disappointed.

Amen.

Prayer: Courtesy of Robin Harville

“Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

“The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, ‘O God, forgive me,’ or ‘Help me.” – Billy Graham

Even little things can be a discouragement. Case in point: my new little dog. Housetrained. Not when it’s zero degrees. Sigh…

“I thank God for you every time I think of you,” Paul said. I do the same when I think of you who visit my blog. It’s such an encouragement that we are of one mind and heart throughout the world to bring people to Christ and to become more like Christ. To transform into new creatures. The world is so hostile. The enemy rages and wants to tear flesh. People are centered on themselves with solutions that do not save. And we are to carry on giving the good news. Truly, there’s a lot to discourage us.

Our father knows this. That’s why we have each other. Sometimes we need each other to celebrate good things, grieve, lift up, teach, hug (virtual hug here). We are part of the father’s plan; he knew we couldn’t do it alone. He gave us the Holy Spirit who works in us in spite of our flaws and sins. The Bible is full of such characters to encourage and teach us too.

The father saw fit to use us in little ways and giant ways. In good times and bad times. He always sees what we’re doing even when recognition and encouragement are sparse or non-existent.

Be patient. More importantly, be kind. The father always rewards at just the right time. We don’t open a cocoon too early but let it work perfectly into a beautiful butterfly. We don’t dig up the seeds we planted to see how they’re growing but we patiently water and feed them and rejoice when they sprout. And we don’t let our toddlers drive a car. “All things are beautiful in their own time.”

Musings

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” And this is good news. The best news. When problems, the world threatens us and we’re ready to give up, let us remember “There’s nothing new under the son.” He will overcome.

Prayer

Dear Father,

If we let discouragement stop us, nothing will get done. In fact, much of daily life can discourage and immobilize us. That’s why you gave us each other. Help us to encourage and appreciate each other. Let’s face it! It’s tough down here. But we have you, the Holy Spirit, grace and the blessings of each other. Thank you.

Amen.

Deep Water

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.” Isaiah 43:2 NASB

“God brings men into deep waters, not to drown them, but to cleanse them.” John Aughey

Many, many years ago my sisters and I, about elementary school age, were swimming at the local pool. We lived there in the summer. I bet you did too, or a stream, lake or beach. Kids, summer and water are natural. It’s like paradise! However, my youngest sister went too deep where I was swimming and jumped on my back in fear. Cloying, splashing, repeating “I’m scared” over and over. I couldn’t see because of the water but we made it. I don’t know how. I went back to swimming. My sister was done. One was overwhelmed. One was back at it. Both were grateful.

Deep Water. We can say that experience was nothing but for eight to 10-year-olds, it was traumatic! But that’s when many traumatic experiences happen. Childhood. And we need help.

Deep Water Responses:

Physical problems like overeating, drinking, not sleeping or sleeping too much, being startled easily and more.

Emotional problems like anxiety, avoiding people or situations, depression and lack of hope are difficult. They stick like Gorilla glue and we don’t even know why.

Another symptom is doing too much. Always going and if you stop, the world will end. A hamster on a wheel but the hamster enjoys it.

Pleasing others way beyond your limits.

I had all the above and more. I grappled with this for years! Still do. And I sought help from my Father, a professional and a dear friend.

Our Father promises to bring us through.

And the memories are there as a caution, to help others and keep us close to the father. It’s the really deep water that builds character, truth and trust. We probably will not know all the ways our Deep Water experiences have cleansed us and helped others here on Earth. The Father thinks it’s important and will reward us a little here and a whole lot more up there “Beyond all that we could ask or think.”

Musings

“No, that trauma you faced was not easy. And God wept that it hurt you so; But it was allowed to shape your heart so that into his likeness you’d grow. You are who you are for a reason, You’ve been formed by the Master’s rod. You are who you are, beloved because there is a God!” Unknown.

Prayer

Dear Father,

Thank you for our anchor, Jesus, and for bringing us through deep waters. Jesus reminds us he is the Living Water, we’re to lie down beside the still waters and we will be restored.

Help us in our Deep Water times. Help us to help others who may be drowning. Remind us always that Deep Water times are because you love us.

Amen.