“I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one (insert your name here) who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” Luke 7:28 NIV

“Children are the world’s greatest recorders, but they are the worst interpreters.” Unknown

We are children of the Most High. We have a place reserved in heaven. Yet, we struggle with this immense and powerful truth.  Why?  How we view ourselves. Imperfect parents, siblings, teachers. Trauma. Loneliness. Rejection. Awkwardness. Abandonment. Many of you suffered losses and experiences so great that nothing can compare. However, let’s take in, record, adopt who we are in our Perfect Parent.

So, when I’m down, I pull out some of my favorite verses and insert my name. Care to join me? I’d love that! I’d love to know some of your favorites too.

Musings

All the following are from the NIV translation.

Feeling awkward, stupid, mistakes etc.” “But God chose the foolish things (insert name) of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things (insert name) of the world to shame the strong.” 1 Corinthians 1:27

Feeling there’s nothing we can give. “Truly I tell you, anyone (insert name) who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.

Guilt, Self-Loathing, Doubt.  “Come to me, all (insert name) you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Disability. Illness. “But he said to me (insert name), “My grace is sufficient for you (insert name), for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I (insert name) will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2^nd Corinthians 12:9

Suffering. “But rejoice inasmuch as you (insert name) participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you (insert name) may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:13

Confidence. For God so loved the world (insert name) that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever (insert name) believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Self-esteem. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ (insert name)t, the new creation (insert name) has come: The old has gone, the new is here (insert name)!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

There are so many wonderful, effective, loving ways God describes us!  I’m sure you have your favorites with your name that intimately builds your relationship with Christ and others.

Prayer

Dear Father,

Thank you that you personally know me. Know my name. Love me unconditionally. Your mercies are made new every morning.

My name, heart and prayers is in this old, but lovely hymn.

Just as I am, without one plea

Aut that thy blood was shed for me

And that thou bidst me come to thee

O Lamb of God, I come, I come

Just as I am, and waiting not

To rid my soul of one dark blot

To thee whose blood can cleanse each spot

O Lamb of God, I come, I come

Just as I am, though tossed about

With many a-conflict, many a-doubt

Fightings and fears within, without

O Lamb of God, I come, I come

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind

Sight, riches, healing of the mind

Yea, all I need in thee to find

O Lamb of God, I come, I come

Just as I am, thou wilt receive

Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve

Because thy promise I believe

O Lamb of God, I come, I come

Just as I am, thy love unknown

Hath broken every barrier down

Now, to be thine, yea thine alone

O Lamb of God, I come, I come

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.” 1 John 4:18 NASB

“To love at all is to be vulnerable, love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” C.S. Lewis – Four Loves

I love authentic people, not only are they easy and fun to be with, but they give me courage to live authentically. They’re warm, inviting, graceful, joy filled.  They are not perfectionists. I leave their presence feeling just a bit better. Enlarged. May we be courageous enough to do the same.

And you will get hurt. You will be stunned. You will have a broken heart. You will be betrayed. You will be criticized and sometimes cruelly by spineless creatures on the Internet. Sometimes our own family. Yet, love we must, authentically, or it’s not love. It’s probably some people-pleasing, approval-seeking, manipulative, codependent behavior. It’s making someone else responsible for my well-being, my sense of self, validation. If that person disapproves, then I crumble. Thank God!  Work to do. There’s only one Person who can give us perfect love. And he waits for an invitation. He does not cross boundaries, threaten or intimidate. He does it perfectly. Where is our treasure? Where is our self-image? What is our idea of success?  

People die. Pets die. Plants die.  I read somewhere that the greater the love the greater the grief. Grief is the final act of loving someone. But it’s authentic, painful, agonizing, but part of who we are. What an empty life without authenticity. Love. The good and the bad. Joyful and despairing.

Musings

The most authentic, unassuming, validating Person I know is Jesus. From rabble-rousing fishermen, tax collectors, prostitutes to me, what an authentic person! He had no advantages. He grieved. He wept. No status. No sports cars. No designer clothes. No media platform. No agent. Yet, people were drawn to him. Changed with him. Loved with him. Died for him. He experienced everything and more.

Prayer

Father,

Thank you that you have made us unique individuals with stewardship over the talents you’ve given. Help us to live authentically for that is the only way we can truly live and love. Love hurts sometimes. Your beloved son knows this. “For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Thank you for joy and a life with all the colors.

Amen.

Damaged

“Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good.” Romans 12:21 HCSB

“He who works with his hands is a laborer.
He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman.
He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.”
― Saint Francis of Assisi

Other Bible translations say, “Do not be overcome,” which I appreciate and thoroughly believe. However, sometimes conquer really describes what we must do with evil, with the Holy Spirit’s help, of course. We Black Sheep, Scapegoats, Ne’er-do-wells, dysfunctional, rageaholics, addicted and downright ornery know it’s conquering evil that must be done. Not another. Not a group. Not ourselves. Not our family. EVIL.

I believe in God, so, I know Evil exists. Evil “disguises itself as an angel of light,” too. How many addictions have we adopted looking for happiness and security, how many people have we carbon-copied, how many positive-thinking gurus have we devotedly followed, how many quick-fixes have blown up in our face? By the way, regular people do this too.  Some of the faith do this. Evil is a “roaring lion” looking for someone to devour. Christ’s disciples were not immune, therefore, neither am I and neither are you

To conquer evil, we must put on the “breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation” and “draw near to God and He will draw near to us.” He conquers if we let him. Invite him. Trust him. Partner with him. We don’t go it alone.

Musings

The most loving, uplifting, encouraging people in my life were very damaged people. They still are with courage, honesty, hope and faith. They’re not perfect yet. I’m not either. Their compassion, patience and presence are what I too embrace, share and give. Conquer.

Prayer

Father,

“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” was Paul’s instruction to believers. He was very damaged until his road trip to Damascus. The legalist who wrote the most beautiful description of love. We have our roads too that introduced us to your love and mercy.  Only Christ is the true conqueror of every evil thing and he conquers with mercy and grace. Thank you that this is true for us. Give us the courage and strength to imitate You. To let you do the battle and win the war.

Amen.

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2

“Do not ask your children
to strive for extraordinary lives.
Such striving may seem admirable,
but it is the way of foolishness.
Help them instead to find the wonder
and the marvel of an ordinary life.
Show them the joy of tasting
tomatoes, apples and pears.
Show them how to cry
when pets and people die.
Show them the infinite pleasure
in the touch of a hand.
And make the ordinary come alive for them.
The extraordinary will take care of itself.”
― William Martin

My grandma’s birthday is today. Yes. June 21^st.  Her name was June. She’s gone now. She was the most loving, smart and forgiving person I knew. She’s been gone for over 30 years and yet I think of her everyday with some wistfulness. She was what the world would call ordinary.  Baseball was her game of choice, cardplaying with grandpa and her friends, the best homemade pies (still haven’t accomplished this). Staying overnight with her was a treat! Smelling the line-dried sheets on the huge bed, pancakes in the morning, games, stories about her childhood during the Great Depression. Her mother owned a small grocery store because she was alone with two girls to raise and this was so courageous during this dark time in history.  Stories about ice-skating to school, how she met my grandfather at an auction. How her great uncle was wounded fighting for the Yankees during the Civil War. Even more stories that still are fascinating to me and I share with others. She gave great hugs, warm, big, reassuring. Ordinary.  She taught me to be a grandma before I was in junior high school just by who she wasl. I now tell stories to my grandchildren about the old days of a wall phone with a dial, television without a remote and those funny rabbit ears on top, going everyplace in our neighborhood to play and coming home for dinner. No fear. Lots of community. And I give great hugs, warm, big, reassuring. Ordinary.

Musings

Throughout the day, throughout my life and when boredom comes, when I’m alone and feel nothing I do matters, nothing makes a difference, I think of my grandma. What a legacy she truly left me! She taught me love. Ordinary? Perhaps to the world. Then I remember all the ordinary things Jesus used to teach, encourage and love. Things like a mustard seed, salt and light, bread, living water, harvest and even his own humble and short life. Ordinary. A legacy of love and grace for all.

I’m about to play Go Fish with my five-year-old step-grandson. The start of a legacy?

Prayer

Father,

You bless the ordinary now and in heaven. We don’t see it sometimes. We forget “a cup of cold water only.” We forget we’re children of the Most High.  Help us to do the next right thing, the ordinary, the way you see them. Even Jesus said he did what he saw the father doing. May we do the same. Thank you for all the miraculous and wonder you’ve done and do. And thank you for the ordinary.

Amen.