Safeguard Your Identity

When I heard Lauren Daigle’s new song yesterday morning as I was taking my granddaughter to work, I knew it was my inspiration for today’s post. The song's words describe how we see and think about ourselves and, oftentimes -- it's not a pretty sight. It's also how we think others define us. We determine that our identity is that part of us that others know us by and or the image we show to the world. Sometimes our identity is known by the amount of money we have in our bank account or our credit card. After all, identity theft is rampant – and someone out there desires our identity because they think theirs stinks...or lacks.

The fact is that our identity is all about God coming and rewriting on our heart the words the world might have said that is against us – those words that say we’re not enough and lies that tell us we’ll never measure up. God comes and replaces those lies with His Truth that we are loved, we’re strong because of Him, we’re held, we’re able and He’s a God who is willing to meet us in the middle of all times, of all things. He’s called us saints. It’s all about what He says versus what the world says.”

We can start by saturating our minds with the truth of God’s Word. It’s filled with reminders of His unconditional love for us. He says “You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). He says that “Nothing can separate you from His love” (Romans 8:35). It’s time to stop letting the enemy steal our identity. We are God’s masterpiece. It’s time to believe it!

May Lauren’s words help you rethink how valuable you are – how worthy of God’s love you are – how precious you are in God’s sight and how much He longs relationship with you each and every day…..each and every hour! You were hand-picked by the great harvester to be His one and only. Listen to the words of this song and may they bring you to a place of confidence, self-respect, joy, approval and the knowledge that you are beautiful. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Pa4DUz4CDU

“You Say” by Lauren Daigle
I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I’m not enough
Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up
Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low?
Remind me once again just who I am, because I need to know

[Chorus]
You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
You say I am held when I am falling short
When I don’t belong, oh You say that I am Yours
And I believe, oh I believe
What You say of me
I believe

[Verse 2]
The only thing that matters now is everything You think of me
In You, I find my worth, in You I find my identity, o-ooh

[Verse 3]
Taking all I have and now I'm laying it at Your feet
You have every failure God, and You'll have every victory, o-ooh

Oh I believe, yes I believe
What You say of me
Oh I believe

Earth to Heaven -- Heaven to Earth

Yesterday, I posted about my Sweetheart's debut into heaven on the 16th of November, 2010. But today, November 17th, it’s all about heaven-on-earth!! My sweet Bryson James Wuerch made his debut into earth 10 years ago today and what a blessing and special joy that boy is to us! He’s the youngest – number 6 in the chain of our grandchildren. God put “icing on the cake” when he came along.
He lights up the room when he walks in. He's hilarious -- without trying, and best of all for this Nana – he’s still my lovey, cuddly boy and I'll hang onto that as long as I can. He's a unique, one-of-a-kind ORIGINAL!

I’m so happy I’m here in Austin today for the big celebration that starts this morning at breakfast and when he gets in from school, we’ll have our annual birthday treasure hunt where he'll get clues I’ve made up for the special treasure he’ll eventually find. It only happens once a year and for years that's how I've rolled. Honestly, it's not the treasure or the gift that my grandchildren remember. It is the feeling of excitement that Nana stirs up. I make every effort to fill my grandchildren's love tanks. It takes a lot of energy to undertake such audacious activities, but it's so worth it. In the grand scheme of things, they'll remember how much they are extremely loved and how special they are to me.

While I'm celebrating my sweet boy's birthday today, I'm thinking about the most important thing we can do for others is to celebrate them and help them to know THEY MATTER. Why does it matter? Because it matters to our Creator. He specifically planned each of us individually and uniquely with the funny little quirky smile we might have, the color of our hair and eyes, the freckles on our nose. We are so special that His eyes are on us ALL the time. He knows everything about us. We're His special treasures......and He thinks about us ALL THE TIME....so shouldn't we think about others in a way that God uses our arms to hug them, our mouths to tell them how special and beautiful they are. After all, they're our sisters and our brothers in this royal family of God. I can't explain it in mere words, but God sure can! Just take a look at how He masterfully and lovingly planned us and created us! We are ALL so special to Him. I hope these words convince you of that!

Psalm 139:1-5; 13-18 "O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit or stand. When far away, you know my every thought. You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. You know what I am going to say before I even say it. You both precede and follow me and place your hand of blessing on my head. You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it. You were there while I was being formed in utter seclusion! You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book! How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I can’t even count how many times a day your thoughts turn toward me. And when I waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me!"