Who am I?

Here are five things GOD is teaching me about who I am as a daughter of CHRIST ...

1- But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, decieving yourselves. - James 1:22
Being in Madrid and seeing missionaries "in action" has taught be a lot about what this verse really means. It is so easy to call myself a Christian and read my Bible every day and get so caught up in myself that I forget what being a follower of Christ is really all about. I am supposed to be a doer. We have all heard the question "you can talk the talk but can you walk the walk?" The next thing I have to ask is what does it mean to walk the walk? The answer I feel God is giving me is simply this: instead of letting others know I am a Christian by my telling them they should know that I am a Christian simply by my actions. It should be evident in all that I do and the way I live my life. It kind of reminds me of that old cheesy hymn that I've learned to enjoy "they will know we are Christians by our love"

2- For am I now seeking the approval of man or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. - Galatians 1:10
I have always considered myself to be someone who did not care what others thought of me. And I honestly believed that I truly did not care, however recently I have been learning a lot about myself. Although I have never cared about what people thought of my physical attributes, I have always cared about what people think of my personality. I am what we call a "people-pleaser" always trying to be who people want me to be just to make everyone happy. What God is teaching me is that I need not seek the approval of "man" because if I just seek after Christ and strive to be more and more like Him and serve Him, everything else will fall into place. Besides, I do not have to be loved by everyone... Jesus wasn't, right?

3- And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. - Galatians 6:9
This verse has particularly meant a lot to me as far as missions goes. I know God is calling me to be a missionary and witnessing the Cady family's life out here (and others) I have had a glimpse of how hard it is actually going to be. There are so many times when I get down on myself because I feel like what I am doing is not worth anything, it was all a waste. But God is teaching me that just because I do not see the results right away (and may not even see them until I am in Heaven) He is still using me for His glory. This again is simply another reminder that none of my actions are for me but for our Lord and Him alone.

4- Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. - Ephesians 6:11
This one has been particularly ringing throughout my mind. It was only this year that this verse became so real to me and I found myself finally asking, "what does it mean to put on the 'whole armor' of God?" I am learning more and more that spirtual warefare is a very real thing. Satan is so unhappy with me right now for serving my Lord and he is trying to attack. But God is a faithful God. He is a God that will not let me fall. His strength overpowers Satan beyond my imagination.

5- If I must boast I will boast of the things that show my weakness. - 2Corinthians 11:30
I always thought thatI needed to be strong. No one could ever see me cry. In fact, off the top of my head I can only think of four people who have ever seen me cry. In the hardest times of my life I vowed to myself to not show any signs of weakness, emotionaly, physically, and spiritually. I have learned more than ever that we were never meant to carry our burdens alone. I have learned that yearning for strength is an act of pride. Pride... one of the seven deadly sins. If I must boast, what do I have to boast in? Surely I cannot bost in my strengths for I am the worst of all sinners. I am no better than the woman who aborted her baby or the man who killed his wife just as I am no worse than the child who lied to his mother. So what do I have to boast in? My weakness, for in my weakness, Jesus remains strong.

Lyrics of the Day:
*Fetter: A chain or shackle for the ankles or feet.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
- Robert Robinson (Come Thou Fount)
Written in 1758 and still impacting the hearts of man.