Month: August 2016

“What Do They Call You? What Are You Answering To?”

A few weeks ago, I was communicating via email with some former coworkers when one of the ladies replied to me saying, “You are still crazy.”  Now, I know her intent was not malicious, but  I wasn’t laughing anymore.  I politely replied, “No, I am not crazy.  I may say or do some things that may seem crazy, but I am not crazy.”  Because we used to laugh and play around like that, she thought I was kidding, so she came back and said, “See she’s still crazy.”  By now, there is nothing in me that finds this funny anymore.  I replied and addressed her by name and said “I am serious, I no longer answer to crazy or any other negative connotation.  If you keep calling me crazy, I am going to just stop responding.”

Some may say I went too far, she was just playing… In our past interactions I didn’t have a problem with this coworker and others referring to me as “crazy,” and many other negative connotations.  I would laugh with them and even answer them because I didn’t know who I was; but I have grown, I know who I am, and I no longer answer to those names.

So, I ask you: What are people calling you?  What are you answering to?  On this journey of learning and accepting your true identity you have to make the decision that you don’t have to accept what people call you, or how they perceive you.  Know who you are and that is the only name you should answer to. People will only do to you what you allow them to.  It is your responsibility to show people how you want and deserve to be treated.  Other people’s perceptions, are just that, their perceptions.  I have said for years, “Your perception is your reality.”  It is not your job to try to change anyone else’s perception of you; but it is your responsibility to introduce to them the reality of who you are, your true identity.  If others don’t want to accept who you really are, that is their choice and their right, but you too have the right to not allow anyone to disrespect you.  They may even rebuttal and say, “Oh, you forgot where you came from.”  Simply reply, “No, I didn’t forget where I came from, I just choose not to dwell there anymore.”

Once you come into the knowledge and acceptance of your true identity, you must embrace it.  How can you learn your true identity?  Everything you need to know is written in the Word of God; what HE says about you, that is your true identity!

What Should You Answer To?

2 Corinthians 5:17 ~ “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” – HE calls you a “New Creature.”

Ephesians 2:10 ~ “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” – HE says you are HIS workmanship, created by HIM.

1 Peter 2:9 ~ “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light;” – HE says you are a chosen generation, you are holy; HE called you out of darkness into the Light.

John 15:15-16 ~ “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. – HE calls you Friend.

16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” – HE chose you!  HE ordained you!

Philippians 4:8 ~ “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” – Think good and positive thoughts about yourself!

What HE calls you is the only name you should answer to and nothing else…If God said it, then That Settles It!

Get Your Own Vehicle and Drive Yourself

Recently, I made plans to ride with a friend to a function we were both attending.  As the date approached, on two separate occasions, I tried to convince her to change her mind about the time she was planning to leave for the function.  My thoughts were “I want to get there on time.” Her thoughts were “As long as I get there.”  Right before I was going to make a third attempt to change her mind, I had an epiphany, “Drive Yourself!”  That Settles It!  No need to try to convince her to leave when I want to leave. After all, she never asked me to ride with her, I just pushed myself on her, but I have my own car, so I can drive myself.

During my drive there, which took about an hour, I couldn’t help but notice that the scenery was just beautiful; I mean picture perfect; so serene, so calm, like a page from a magazine.  I couldn’t wait to get to my destination, so that I could share with the others all that I had seen and learned about the unfamiliar territory along the way.

The next morning as I lie still meditating and reflecting, this came to me:

In this life, you cannot try to force people to take you where you want to go.  You cannot expect them to push you and carry you into your destiny. If you want to get somewhere, you have to be willing to do the work to get there yourself.  You need to Get Your Own Vehicle and Drive Yourself.  What is that vehicle?  Your true identity in God. How do you drive yourself? Find your purpose and do whatever it takes to get there; even if no one else wants to support you, cheer you on, or push you; you encourage yourself.

If you want to learn anything about a vehicle, you consult with the manufacturer.  Every manufacturer provides you with an owner’s manual containing vital information for the operation, safety, and maintenance of the vehicle.  Your identity in God is that vehicle, God is the Manufacturer, and HIS Holy Word is the owner’s manual.  So, it is your responsibility to consult your Manufacturer and owner’s manual and schedule regular maintenance in order for your vehicle to operate properly.  You must continuously study the Word of God and spend time with HIM so that you will have the knowledge of who you are, your purpose, and how to get there (fulfill your destiny).

Who are you?

You are the child of a King (Galatians 3:26).  You are joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). You are seated in Heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). Your Father owns cattle upon a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10).  The Earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein (Psalm 24).  You have legions of Angels awaiting your commands (Matthew 26:53).

What is your purpose?

Get involved in the “family” agricultural business: one plant, one waters, and your Father gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:7-9). We were created to worship HIM and bring Glory to HIS name; to witness and win souls for the Kingdom of God. Please note: that your life alone can be a witness before people without you ever speaking a word.

How will you get there (fulfill your destiny)?

By allowing your light to shine so that men will see your good works and glorify God (Matthew 5:16).  For the lost souls to come asking “What must I do to be saved” (Acts 16:30-31).  That means you can go after the career or dream you desire (because your gifts will make room for you); whether it’s owning your own business, writing a book, or becoming a top executive for a Fortune 500 company; and wherever your gifts take you, just make sure you allow your light to shine and when people ask, you share with them about the goodness of our Lord.

Oh, I should warn you: when you decide to Drive Yourself, just be prepared, because you may have to go alone.  Remember I said my friend was okay with “just getting there,” but I wanted to “get there on time.”  Everyone won’t understand your desire to get there on time, and that’s okay.  Sometimes you have to leave those “as long as I get there” people behind and Drive Yourself.  Everyone isn’t equipped to go with you, and instead of delaying your arrival, or having a lot of unnecessary distractions along the way, you may have to leave some people behind. The road may be a little lonely, but remember what I said about my drive: “… the scenery was just beautiful; I mean picture perfect; so serene, so calm, like a page from a magazine.” The road may be lonely, but all that you will experience and learn along the way will be worth it and you will want to share with others.  One of the best feelings in the world is being able to share experiences, from which you’ve learned and grown, with others, contributing to their growth and helping them to walk into their destiny.

So, That Settles it! Your time is Now!  Don’t delay any longer, waiting for someone else to drive you!  “Get Your Own Vehicle and Drive Yourself!”

“It Is Written…And So Shall It Be”

So, you have been struggling with so many different things such as low self-esteem, insecurities, financial difficulties, poor health, regret, fear, doubt, loneliness, and so on and so on.  You wish, and secretly dream, everyday that your life could be different.  You go to sleep dreaming about a better life.  You daydream during your waking hours about this better life.  But, somewhere in the midst of all the dreaming, there are these negative voices that begin to speak and tell you, “You are not smart enough.  You know you are too fat.  You are too ugly.  That’s already been done.  You are going to die.  You will fail…”  Now these dreams have become nightmares, because you listened to these lies and you slipped off of the steps of hope and fell into the dungeon of doubt, fear, and insecurity.  So, you lose what little ray of hope you had and you quit before you even got started.  Sound like you?

Have no fear.  There’s still hope for you.  The Word of God tells us how God sees us, and that with HIM on our side we can do anything.  We have to first make sure that HE is on our side (by accepting the Lord Jesus Christ into our lives as Lord and Savior).  Now that you are a part of the Kingdom of God, know that there is no good thing that HE will withhold from you.  When we come into the Kingdom of God, all of our past sins are forgotten.  So, let’s move past our failures, shortcomings, and regrets.  It is written, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”  We have a clean slate, so let’s start fresh by identifying ourselves as HE sees us:

We are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27)

We are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)

We are HIS workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works (Ephesians 2:10)

It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”  We are going to retrain ourselves not to live based upon people’s perceptions of us or our situations, but based solely upon the Word of God and what HE says about us and our situations.  It is written, “I can do ALL THINGS through Christ which strengthens me,” and so can you!  And so shall it be!