Who Do You Think You Are?
Yesterday when I was in the grocery store, a little boy reached over, grabbed my cart
and pulled it over to him.
He was dressed in a cute “Spiderman” outfit and his sister, was dressed like a “Princess”
with sparkly shoes and a bow in her hair.
Since it was obvious the little boy was bored with shopping and wanted a little attention,
I said to him…Are you “Spiderman?”
With boldness and confidence he replied…”NO, I’m BATMAN!”
His mother corrected him and said, “No, You’re Spiderman”…but he emphatically
said…”NO, I’m Batman!”
Actually he wasn’t either one…but with childlike faith, he believed with all his heart that he was BATMAN.
This got me thinking…
As children: many of us have people we idolized, or looked up to and wanted to become.
In our local newspaper sometimes features pictures of children and what they say they want
to be when they grow up.
From early childhood, we are filled with questions, trying to find
out who we are and why we were born.
If we are not given the right information, we end up confused and frustrated with
our lives.
Since many in our world today are growing up in single parent homes, they feel
abandoned and betrayed.
When you look in the mirror…What do you see?
A beautiful, gifted, and creative person…or do you magnify the flaws, wrinkles, blemishes…
secretly wishing your fairy godmother could wave a magic wand and make you into Cinderella
or Prince Charming?
God gave us the Bible as a guidebook and manual, to help us learn about
him and to discover our true identity.
When God created Adam, the first man he said…
Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…
Genesis 2:26
The “Us” he is referring to is, God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit.
God skillfully formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed
life into his nostrils. This breath of life gave man a living spirit…
different and unique from all of God’s other creations.
The Bible shows us…
But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men,
another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
1 Corinthians 15:38-39
This verse helps us to see that we did not evolve from apes or any other creature.
God gave man dominion over the earth, blessed it and said…
Be fruitful, and multiply, and replentish the earth. I have given you plants
and trees yielding seed, and it is food for you.
God saw everything he had made and it was good.
To find happiness and fulfillment in life, we must first realize and acknowledge
that God is our Creator and Father.
We each have a divine destiny to fulfill, at a set and appointed time.
Before God ever formed us in our mother’s womb, he knew our name
and had a plan.
King David wrote…
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearful and wonderfully made; your works are
wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14
Let me ask you…When was the last time you looked in the mirror and praised God
for how he created you?
Do you grumble and complain about yourself, or are you thankful for how God made you?
David was considered a man after God’s own heart…and he knew who he was and was proud of it.
My frame was not hidden from you, when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my
unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:15-16
When God called David, he was just a shepherd boy tending his father’s flocks…
but God saw his heart and chose him to be King over the people of Israel.
As we read God’s word, we see that his first job for God was to fight a giant named
Goliath, who was bullying and mocking God’s people.
The entire army was afraid, but through the power of God, David killed the giant with
only a slingshot and one stone.
He was mocked by his brothers, and when Samuel came to his father’s home to anoint
him king…all of his siblings were invited to the dinner, but he was left out in the field tending sheep.
His father couldn’t imagine that his youngest son had such potential or would grow up to be
such a powerful leader, writer, warrior, and man after God’s own heart.
Before David could become King however, he would be persecuted and betrayed by
King Saul his father-in-law and many others for years.
This was part of God’s training process of life, to teach him how to be a good and godly
leader for his people.
He made mistakes, like we all do, but he did not allow fear or failure stop him from
fulfilling God’s plans for his life.
When God called Moses to lead his people out of Egypt and slavery, he was 80 years old,
tending the flocks of his father-in-law in the wilderness.
He was surprised that God would call him and said…
Exodus 3:11
Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring
forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
Before we can achieve great things for God, we must realize who we are,
and who God is.
Isaiah 43:11 says…
I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no savior.
We must realize that he is Almighty and with him, all things are possible…
but without him, we can do nothing.
He alone can give us the power to get wealth and prosper.
The Bible says a man’s gift brings him before great men.
We must be content with whatever God asks us to do, and not be envious or
jealous of other people’s gifts or talents.
When God called Mary to be the mother of her son Jesus, she was just a teenager…
but the angel said, you are highly favored.
This meant sacrifice and ridicule by others, but she considered it a privilege to raise
God’s son.
She didn’t need a career, degree, or title to find worth or value in her life.
Her husband Joseph remained quietly behind the scenes, providing food,
shelter, and spiritual guidance for his adopted son.
When a person accepts Jesus as their Savior, they become a part of the whole
family of God.
The Bible says…
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
For as many of you have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free,
there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according
to the promise. Galatians 3:25-29
As a child of God, we no longer have to feel unworthy or inferior to anyone.
We are uniquely created and each have specific DNA, fingerprints, and are a one of a kind creation.
God is the master artist, designing us beautifully and wonderfully in his image.
We know we are gifted and talented, because he is our Father and doesn’t make junk.
We should not want to look or act like everyone else, because we have royal blood flowing
through our veins.
Many feel sad and depressed because they don’t “fit in” to the world’s mold for society.
They feel lonely, ugly, and unhappy because they are not aware of who they are.
No one ever told them the good news of how special and wonderful they really are.
When Jesus lived on this earth he told us…
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Matthew 22:39
Until we realize who we are and love ourselves the way God created us,
we can’t possibly love our neighbors.
If we spend our lives despising ourselves, we loose our true identity, and
end up hurting other people all our lives.
The Bible says…If we continue in God’s word, we will know the truth, and the truth will set us free.
The Apostle Paul wrote…
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought
as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
1 Corinthians 13:11
It’s childish and immature to want to be like other people, when we are royal sons and daughters
of Almighty God.
He told us…
Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory,
I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD,
and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand
that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
I, even I, and the LORD; and beside me there is no savior. Isaiah 43:10-11
When we discover who we are and who our Father is, we realize
what an honor and privilege it is to fulfill His plan for our life.
David said…
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…Psalm 139:14
We no longer grumble about our appearance or think of certain features in our bodies
as flaws. We get up every morning thanking God for our eyes, ears, and every part of
our body.
We speak words of thanks each day like…Father I thank you for creating me in your image.
I am a gifted and talented person, and can’t wait to see how you use me to share your messages
of love with the world. I am strong, the word of God is in me, and I have overcome the evil one.
I am the righteousness of God, through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Each day, I am getting
healthier, stronger, and more anointed. Your healing power is flowing in my veins and I am
healed by the blood of Jesus. All I lay my hands to prospers and succeeds. I have your favor
surrounding me as a shield. Goodness and mercy follow me all the days of my life.
The more we read God’s word, we see how much he loves us and consider it a privilege to
spreading that love to others who are hurting.
We realize that God is our Father, Provider, and Protector.
He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.
Jesus said…
“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!”
Matthew 7:9-11
Beloved, you are loved and cherished by your Father.
He loved you so much that he sent his Son Jesus to die on the cross for your sins.
Come to his throne of grace and let him show you, Who you are and Why you were created.
Become part of our family and never feel alone again.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace,
and not of evil, to give you and expected end. Jeremiah 29:11
O Lord, I am so thankful…
Each and every day.
For loving me the way I am,
enough to gently say…
My child, I made you different,
than anyone else on earth.
So don’t compare your talents…
With others to find worth.
And when you fail or make mistakes,
I’m here to hold your hand.
To dust you off and dry your tears…
And give you strength to stand.
I have a plan and purpose…
Designed for you alone.
My word will lead and guide you…
Until I call you home.
So do not be discouraged…
Have faith and trust in me.
Abiding in my counsel…
I’ll meet your every need.
But now, O Lord, thou art our Father: we are the clay, and thou our
potter: and we all are the work of thy hand. Isaiah 64:8
Your sister in Christ,
Valerie Rousseau
THE RAMP
Fruit
Posted on April 10th, 2012.
I want my life to bear fruit. Jesus said, in John 15:8, “By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples.” It’s such a loaded statement that’s worthy of intense meditation. After all, Jesus just showed us the model of true discipleship: fruit.
So, being the simpleton I am, I’ve just been thinking about fruit…natural fruit…about the process to make it grow, etc. For instance, the growth of fruit, as with anything organic, takes time. We hate that. I’m still learning to love and appreciate words like “process” and “journey”. However, realizing the necessity of time doesn’t dishearten me anymore. It actually makes me want to endure and press to see what comes about! And as I wait, I still sow seeds for more fruit.
Bearing fruit, to repeat earlier, is a really loaded phrase. One verse that’s been prominent to me as I’ve meditated on this subject is Matthew 7:18. It says, “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.” Believe it or not, we are actually referred to as trees-look at Psalm 1. We know there’s good fruit and bad fruit, but that’s ultimately dependant on the tree (us). So how do we know what kind of fruit is coming? After all, we can know.
A farmer doesn’t plant an orange tree expecting watermelons, though I’d love to be see that. Here’s how you can know: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows into his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7-8) It’s all about what you sow, which manifests in what you do behind closed doors, in how you treat people, and ultimately, your personal pursuit of Jesus.
So, of course, all of us reading this want to bear good fruit. It’s a given. I’m right there with you. That scripture out of Galatians gives us MONUMENTAL insight into making that happen. I want to present one more thought. A fruit seed, by it’s design, is engineered to grow. However, that seed reaching it’s full potential isn’t fully reliant upon itself. Soil, sunlight, water, protection from animals-all play a pivotal role. It takes faith on an outside role. Jesus said, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5) That’s about as straight-forward as it gets.
Friends, it’s in us to grow, to mature. What becomes of that growth is dependant on our sowing and connection. I encourage you, as the Psalm says, “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.” Stay connected with godly people and authority and, ultimately, Him. There you can’t go wrong. And from that, there will be, hundreds, thousands, even millions shouting glory to God, all because they’re bearing good fruit.
You are loved by us, but ultimately by Him.
-Andrew
