Are you Magic Rocks or a Guitar?

Sunday I was speaking about how we often get into an identity crisis because we lose an understanding of who we are. In Christ we are not only a product of the explosive creative power of God, but a masterpiece in His eyes that he claims as a part of his private collection. That will never change, I will never lose that.

Though I never lose who I am in Christ, there is a battle going on for my understanding of who I am. When that understanding is stolen from me...I get into an identity crisis and instead of having a life of courage and confidence I have one of fear and discouragement. It doesn't have to be this way.

It is the difference between magic rocks and a guitar. Magic rocks are a toy product that you place in a container and in a matter of hours they grow into small stalagmites. They are colorful, but meaningless. Most of the time they are given as gifts and after a few days they are thrown away...meaningless product.

Oh the other hand, a guitar, when placed in the hands of someone with the skill to play it, can create music that moves, inspires, and challenges people. People can point to a song that impacted them, but no one ever says that their life was changed by magic rocks.

Do you think of your life as more like magic rocks (there is movement, color, busy happenings but it all seems a little meaningless) or a guitar (something that when I place myself in the hands of God can create something that is powerful for me and others.) As long as you let the words of others, the culture, and your circumstances shape your understanding of who you are, you will always feel more like meaningless magic rocks than a guitar that God can use.

Today commit to renew your personal pursuit of God so he can give clarity as to who you are, and help you see you like he sees you.

Who Am I?

I have not been blogging lately, it is amazing how often things will get in the way of things that you love.

Today I am pondering how I am called in Ephesians 2:10 that I am God's "workmanship." That word in the the original language carries with it the idea of a fine piece of art, or poetry. I literally means that my existence is a sonnet penned by God himself. That sounds impressive. Poetry is an art form in which the author pours his heart into every word, it is intentional, it is passionate, it is personal. I am told that is my identity from God's perspective. That is reality.

That may be reality, but so often i do not feel that is my reality. I often feel average, tired, and and maybe even forgotten. What I am and how I view myself are often two different things...Why is that?

What are your thoughts on the subject?

Here is what I think as I read the stories of the scripture:

1. I don't choose to believe God. God tells me how valuable I am to him, that I am His sonnet, but I often choose to embrace my emotions more than choose to believe. Every moment we have an opportunity to decide what will lead us. We will either choose to be led by a choice or by an emotion. I can choose to believe that I am prized by God and today is a day to live as such, or I will let my life be led by the current emotions. What is leading your life today? Sometimes you just have to tell your emotions to SHUT-UP.

2. Lifestyle gets in the way - This goes to the question, "Is Christianity a set of beliefs or a lifestyle to embrace (and I am not talking about just a moral code)?" I think we get tired and frustrated when we strive to live by the perceived "Christian Code" more than we strive just to constantly ask, "Jesus, where/how can I submit my life to you right now? What is not under your leadership, and how do I get it there?" So often I think we reduce a life with Christ to a set of norms--is that ever powerful?

3. I need to enjoy what I have. So often I lose the joy of a moment because of instead of enjoying what I have, I am more consumed with what I don't.

Your thoughts?