Who are you?

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. Psalm 139: 14 (KJV)

I am on a journey back to me.  I know, I know...I should know who I am by now, but the reality of that is - I do not know who I am - really! Recently, I have given much thought to this question because I found myself trying to fit into a box meeting the constraints of "whom" others say that I am or who I should be.  The problem with this is, these people do not know who I am.  They cannot know because, in order to know who I am, they have to know who my spirit man is. In order to identify another's spirit man, you have to know who YOU are in the spirit and at this point in time, many are not concerned about their spiritual identity.  They are giving lip service to Christianity, but are failing to fulfill their need to relate with The Father.

But, I am there. I want to be a more effective vessel for God.  I want to be a walking billboard which says "I know a Someone who loves you in spite of everything you have ever done or imagined, let me introduce you to Him." In order for me to be that billboard, I am revisiting the question of "who are you?" Susan has gotten lost in being the wife, mother, teacher, entrepreneur, student, sister, aunt, caregiver, friend, etc.  So I am going to do my first work over again.  I am going to rediscover me and who I am in my Father's eyes.

I started with this devotional article found on http://www.todayschristianwoman.com - "Need a Confidence Boost?".  So today I take the first step - I am replacing my misconceptions of me with truths that are presented in God's Word. Using the article as a foundation, I will spend time with the following affirmations and scriptural proof of who I am in Him:

• 
  
• I am:
• Fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)
• Precious to God (Isaiah 43:4)
• Cared about since my conception (Isaiah 46:3)
• God's child (John 1:12)
• Jesus' friend (John 15:15)
• Chosen by Jesus (John 15:16)
• Loved dearly by God (John 16:27)
• Free from condemnation (Romans 8:1)
• A temple—a dwelling place—of God's Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16)
• Redeemed and forgiven of all my sins (Colossians 1:14)

The author ends this study with the following quote about God's generic description of Eve - "All he tells us about her in Genesis 1:27, 31 is that she was made in his image and it was very good!" So, I am inserting my physical strengths, weaknesses and character flaws in a descriptive sentence of who I think I am and ending it with "I am made in the image of God and He says that I am all of that and more!" Stay tuned for the make-over!

Wallace, Verla. "Need a Confidence Boost?" Today's Christian Woman. N.p., 01 May 2000. Web. 14 Dec. 2016.

A Tribute...

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5: 8

Mothers are our special gifts from God. They carry us in their bodies, rock us on their knees, nurture and care for us and protect us with every part of their being.  They usher us into adulthood with tears in their eyes and pride in their hearts.  For those that are called Home early, they still left their imprint on the lives of their children.

As a mother, I am blessed to have witnessed my son reach natural adulthood and I am excited about what God has ordained for his future.  I am blessed as a daughter to have had my mom for 39 years of my life and I cherish the legacy she left with me...

But today, I celebrate the life of a woman that I never had the opportunity to meet.  Mrs. Patricia Faucett Gonzalez is my mother-in-law.  I married her son 6 years and 3 months ago.  She went to be with the Lord 33 years ago today, two days after her 40th birthday.   Ms. Pat left a legacy through her husband and 4 children - Anthony, Patrick, Deatra and Kenneth.  She loved her children...how do I know this?  Even today, the love is evident in all the memories her family and friends share of her.  She touched and impacted many lives in her 40 short years here on Earth.  Her children like the rest of us have stumbled and tripped in life, but her prayers and words of wisdom were planted and continue to sustain them.  So today, they still overcome - they get up and try again.  Her love for cooking  - which is a love language among Southern-born mothers - is evident.  All of her children, even Kenneth who was very young at her passing, have her gift for creating dishes full of love and yumminess.  She was outgoing and made many friends throughout her life and they still share her memories with her family.  What a legacy to leave, Ms. Pat! I never met you here on Earth, but based on your testimony - We will meet in the spiritual realm.  Continue to rest in peace, Ma'am. 

So yesterday did not go so well...

"Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness."

Lamentations 3: 22-23 (NKJV)

No matter what yesterday's challenges were, today is a new day.  It is a day to start over, continue on the right path, change directions or any of the other opportunities we have to correct what we did wrong or what did not go right yesterday. We are granted with new mercies.  

Do not look back...the past is gone! Live and enjoy today.  Be kind to someone...smile or just treat someone to lunch or coffee unexpectedly.  Seems simple huh?  Sometimes the simplest things can turn around the ill effects of yesterday.  God grants us new mercies EVERY DAY! As long as we live, as long as we breathe, we have the opportunity to move in a new direction, change our attitude, help somebody, start a business, go back to school...get the point? Our Father is a God of many chances...take advantage of His grace and mercy today.

The woman at the well took her opportunity...The adulteress took her opportunity and Jesus cleaned the slate with five words "Go and sin no more!"...even Saul became Paul...what are you waiting on? Salvation is waiting on YOU - that is the first order of business! Forgiveness is there, just receive it! Don't forget to forgive yourself while you are at it! Ask God to guide you in the walk He has purposed for your life. Then watch Him bless you! Then watch it manifest in your natural walk...Returning to school - go ahead and register! Business opportunities have your name written all over them! That new job...it's waiting!  Go for it! Go in faith, believing that what God has for you...it is for YOU! Make it a great day, be blessed!

When will I Iearn...

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8: 28

I truly believe in sowing into the lives of others.  When my friends have businesses, I do my best to help them if my circumstances permit.  The thought behind that is one's freedom from want does not come from working for someone else, it comes from working for yourself.  It's a philosophy that we should teach our children.  

Lately, my frustration has been rooted in my sowing into an infertile ground.  People who pretend that they desire better, but their actions do not match their words.  I believe what I am told until proven wrong.   Maybe they are just slow to act, or life happens, I get that.  I suppose I think people were taught the values that my parents deeply instilled in me.  IF you are not going to do something that you committed to, acknowledge that with a phone call, email or (I do not oppose) a text. Values and mutual respect are becoming things of the past...OK, #rantover.

God has a purpose in this, even if I cannot see it yet. My blessings are pre-ordained and about to overtake me...I am the victor, not the victim. Let's make it a great day!

New Day...New Mercies

"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23 (KJV)

So yesterday did not go so great! I became frustrated with my husband and somewhat irritated at my son.  The source of that irritation was not directly contributory to either of them.  They were just convenient.  I did not act out on my frustration. I felt it though and I forgot to "cast my cares on Jesus." I internalized all the emotions and did not find an outlet. That's not healthy for me or anyone...

BUT today is a new day.  A chance for me to start anew.  I have breath in my body, so I get a do-over. God is faithful to allow us do-overs. Some say he is God of second chances, but many of us have gotten even more do-overs than we can count. We go back and mess up time and time again.  We have to be thankful for Our Father of second chances and forgiveness.

 I want today to be a day that I can say, I got it right.  I do not want to waste my do-over.