Identity

There’s something about gifts and talents and abilities that give us a sense of pride. We belong to those things; we become what we are able to do. Our whole sense of being surrounds our ability to sing or dance or speak, dare I say preach?

I am a writer. Why do I call myself that? Because I find my identity in my writing.

It is who I am! I have learned and grown and become a “better” person because of the experiences my writing has given me. There’s a certain cliché to all practices. Writers are flighty and opinionated and passionate, and so that’s what I’ve become.

Likewise, singers are strong and outgoing and perhaps loud. That’s who they become. And anything you’re good at, you look at the best of the best and mirror the examples, good or bad. Why not? They must have become the best of the best for a reason. Talent and cliché go hand in hand.

This is how we form our identities.

I was reading a book by Charles Stanley titled The Source of My Strength. (Can I just say that is a man who has some opinion! All God-based, of course.) I came to the section of “Words of Comfort and Healing to Those who are Frustrated.” I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a very frustrated person, but a part of that chapter was dedicated to obeying God’s will and being joyful in Him rather than in the things of this world.

You see, the Lord required Mr. Stanley to give up his dear and beloved cameras in order to give more money to the church. Begrudgingly, he obeyed… and was blessed.

Matthew 6:20-21 says, “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

When we place stock in our talents, we sometimes forget to thank God for giving us those talents in the first place. Maybe I’m talking to myself here. I thought I had given God what was rightfully His, but I’m realizing that I’m still hoarding a lot of what I think is rightfully mine.

It’s time to give it up. 

Place your identity in the God who gives you life and strength and the talents that you now possess.

I firmly believe that once you give Jesus your all, He will do so much more through You.

What do you have to give up today?

Getting Personal (guest post)

It’s time to get personal…

Many of you know that this past trip to El Salvador was the second time our church has participated in a mission trip there. One of the advantages I experienced of going to the same place a second time is that I had a better idea of what to expect which helped calm a lot of my uncertainties and anxieties. Instead of being worried about some of the culture differences, it seemed to give me more confidence, more boldness, and more of a focus on the hearts of the people we were going to serve.

One thing I noticed on this trip was how much more our team seemed to have the opportunity to hear many Salvadorans personal stories. I’d like to highlight just one of the many personal stories that I learned about on this trip.

Two years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting a precious two-year old boy named Stanley. I remembered him because he had light hair and light eyes (amongst Salvadorans) and he was just so beautiful to me. His mother and older brother were regulars at the church. When I saw him this past March I immediately recognized him. His smile captured my heart and we began sitting next to each other each time we worshipped together at church. After speaking with their pastor, I learned some things that give me a greater understanding of why his mother so faithfully attends the church what seems like every chance she gets.

Stanley has three older brothers. His next older brother is several years older than him, and also attends church every chance he gets. I never met the oldest two (that I remember) but they are both teenagers. According to Pastor Martinez, the oldest one is very strong. Their family lives in Buena Vista, one of the poorer neighborhoods near Chalchuapa. Stanley’s father is an alcoholic, and gets into fights with his oldest brother. Yet rather than seeming depressed or hard-hearted, Stanley’s mother struck me as a kind and faithful woman. You could tell her church family obviously meant a lot to her and to her boys.

Since we’ve returned, I think of Stanley often. I pray for his safety and wonder if he gets scared when his father has been drinking. I wonder if he will someday be teased because his appearance makes him stand out. I think of his mother and wonder if she ever feels lonely. I’m sure it is hard living in a home with all males, let alone having your husband struggle with alcohol, and knowing that he gets into fistfights with his son. I try to put myself in her shoes and think of what I would do if I were in her situation. Her story inspires me and fills my heart with compassion. If I’m blessed to be able to return to Chalchuapa again, I hope to learn more about her and ask her more questions about what life is like for her. I pray for her often.

You see, I’ve realized something very powerful since we have gotten back home. Whether we are trying to win someone for Christ, or whether we are trying to help another Christian grow in his or her faith, we often have to hear their personal story, and we have to be ready to share ours. If you look through the Bible, it is filled with personal stories—good, bad, ugly, redemptive—all of them powerful testimonies of how God and His Son, Jesus, work in the lives of others and how They can work in ours. These stories seem to draw people toward God. Your story may help someone with no faith to believe in Him, and his or her story may inspire and teach you something new as well.

I’ve decided I’m pretty terrible at hearing others’ stories. It’s not that I don’t care (I really do—I’ve got a heart that tends to break easily for others). However, either I don’t take the time needed to really hear their story, or worse yet, I make assumptions about them without hearing their story, and neither of these are good traits. But thankfully, God’s not finished with me yet!

Hopefully, this revelation will be a lifelong lesson for me. And hopefully, if I put this lesson into practice, I can make an impact on those whom I cross paths with, and they can leave an impact on me.

It says in 1 Peter 3:15b: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have.” My interpretation: Always be prepared to share your story. But perhaps even more importantly, always be prepared to listen to someone else’s—whether they are a fellow Christian or not. There will probably be a blessing in store for you. God used this trip and Stanley’s family to reveal this to me. Gloria a Dios!

Jackie