Falling in love with Christ brings identity.
This month, God's been carefully re-crafting my identity, sense of self. A lot of things had to go to make room for new character. But, I'm confident the end result will bring him glory. In the meantime, I'm discovering new facets of the personality He's shaping together.
Currently, I'm the youngest teacher at school, full of energy. Earlier this week a co-worker commented, "I wish I could still re-charge as fast as you." Granted, it doesn't feel like I'm recharged every morning, but apparently I'm convincing the masses.
My students are circulating a rumor that I used to be an auctioneer. I told them the story of how I lost my voice by screaming in Death Valley over Christmas break. Apparently that translated to "our teacher used to yell for a living."
In my small group, I'm privileged to be the voice of experience. It can be intimidating to be accountable for a group of beautiful young women. I pray for them to find true love and fulfillment in Christ.
With dear friends, life is slowly returning to "normal" even if it is a "new normal". My heart is starting to take risks again, starting to embrace adventure and companionship. I'm re-learning how to trust, to forgive.
And in public, I'm once again the smiling customer, exuding innocence apparently. The other night at Safeway, a checker nominated me for sainthood. (Completely valid nomination, of course.)
But the real point isn't being normal, or achieving sainthood, or even getting enough beauty sleep. The heart of the matter is that God is shaping my heart for His glory. My life is not that big of a deal. His glory is.
Tonight at small group we read through Hebrews 11. It's a gorgeous list of the evidence of God's faithfulness. A painfully beautiful reminder of God's timescale. A promise to cling to. A hope to own.
I desire no other "normal" than to trust the God who is faithful.
In keeping with the theme of this blog, the motto of my life:
"and without faith it is impossible to please the Lord." Heb 11:6
This year, I want faith to be my "normal", my character, my identity.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
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Ephesians 5
Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – and find out what pleases the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:
“Awake, O sleeper!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you!”
Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
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