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The Power of Thanksgiving

The Power of Thanksgiving

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High.” Psalm 92:1

Working in the medical field, I see how a grateful attitude can really change the outcome of a patients life. You hear it all the time, those who having fighting spirits and live life with gratitude have better outcomes.

Dr. P. Doraiswamy of Duke University says “If [thankfulness] were a drug, it would be the world’s best-selling product with a health maintenance indication for every major organ system.”

Studies on gratitude have shown measurable effects on everything from neurotransmitters (serotonin, norepinephrine), social bonding hormones (oxytocin), cognitive and pleasure related neurotransmitters (dopamine), to inflammatory and immune systems stress hormones (cortisol), cardiac and EEG rhythms, blood pressure, and blood sugar, according to Doraiswamy. Other medical studies have indicated a thankful attitude reduces stress and boosts immunity. 

So, being thankful is actually good for your health, who knew? In this season of Thanksgiving and even as we lead into the Christmas season, it’s important to reflect on this past year’s thanksgivings. Not only the good, the connections we’ve made, the laughs we shared but also the bad.

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

In this passage Paul encouraged all believers to in the church of Thesslonica to be continually grateful for who God is and all that He has done. How is that possible for someone like Paul? Who has been in prisoned on multiple occasions while writing his letter to continue to show gratitude, mercy and understanding? The first pet of this passage reminds us to be thankful not of all circumstances but IN all circumstances. He reminds us to always be joyful despite the challenges we may face and to never stop praying no matter where we may end up or what situation we may find ourselves in.

For every one bad thing that happens, there’s still at least four other things in life to be grateful for and instead of focusing on the negative and allowing it to consume us we have the power to overcome any obstacles with optimism, hope and light given to us by the Spirit. It’s because of Gods amazing grace we always have something to be joyful about.

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy.” Philippians 1 :3-4 (NKJV)

Paul wrote this letter to the Philippians while he was under house arrest chained to a guard with scars on his back and body torn. Instead of focusing on his chains and allowing the situation to consume his every thought he gives us an example of what to do in hard seasons. Instead of stewing in self pity he turns outward to Christ and others.

It’s easy to get caught up in the negativity that the world brings. It’s in our human nature to let it be all consuming at times but Paul shows us a different nature, a new nature that all followers of Jesus have access through the Spirit of God in us. 

Instead of focusing on the negative, Paul went out of his way to thank the Philippians. And even more astonishing, he told them he constantly prayed for them. So, in the middle of a terrible time, Paul prayed and thanked the Lord for their love and faithfulness, for their generosity, for sharing in the gospel with him. It’s important to acknowledge friends that walk with us in our journey and the impact that have on the greater outcome as Paul did to the Philippians.

The attitude of Thanksgiving does wonders for not only your health but for your soul.

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” Psalm 107:1 (NKJV)

In Luke, there is a story where Jesus heals ten lepers but only one comes back to show gratitude and thankfulness. The other lepers were considered whole in body but ill in spirit.

As God’s people, we have everything with which to be thankful. It is good to reflect on what you have. Every good gift is from God. God has blessed you with life, access to a personal relationship with Him, daily provision, gifts and talents, work, family, friends, the family of God, and a hope of Heaven with Him for eternity. 

The more we learn about God, the more we should praise and glorify Him. Our gratitude to Him for all of His goodness is one of the most beautiful ways to offer praise and thanksgiving to Him.

Happy thanksgiving from my family to yours! I hope you have a safe and wonderful holiday!

Wonderfully Made

Did you know that according to scientist the odds of you being born are about one in four hundred trillion or more? A miracle means something is so unlikely it is pretty much impossible. By that definition, you are a miracle.

Discovering the life you have been created for begins with believing you have been made by God and for God. You have been wonderfully made by the One who breathed you into existence. The psalmists said it best when they said “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” (Psalm 139: 13-16)

There is nothing you can do to add or take away from your worth. You have been made with dignity, love, purpose, wonder and awe. When the world tells you that you are defined by your appearance, struggles or accomplishments remember that it’s okay to hide in God, the source of your true value and remember that your true identity cannot be shaken.

I often times have to remind myself that my identity lies in the ourpose that God has given me. It doesn’t lie in the hands of those who choose to judge me for my actions or inactions. I am the daughter of a loving and forgiving God who will always accept my flaws and griefs; Who knows me fully and better than anyone. In knowing that, I am reminded of my beginnings and my endings.

with love,

c.p

Highlights from James 1

“When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it a great opportunity for joy.”

Not “if” but “when”. God knows we will face trials and tribulation and with his word he will give us everything we need to fight these battles.

“… Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea.”

As hard as it might be, you must have faith in God and God alone. You must be loyal to Him. Do not let your fear override your faith in Him.

“God blesses those who endure testing and temptation.”

Temptation does not come from God. He is never tempted to do wrong. When your faith is tested your endurance strengthens. God will gift you with the good and the perfect. We are God’s most prized possession and He reminds us of this throughout history. In Him, we are cared for.

“… You must be quick to listen and slow to speak and slow to get angry. “

Take time to hear what God is telling you. Do not be tempted by anger and aggression. Our human anger does not produce God’s righteousness. We must always humbly accept God’s word as it has the power to save our souls in times of temptation and weakness.

“Don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says.”

According to God, the perfect law will set you free. It’s important to apply the word to daily life. To not only read it but meditate on it and let it reside in your soul. God will bless you for doing so.

“If you claim religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself…”

Always be kind and courteous when it comes to your words. The tongue is the key to life and death, it can lead you astray. It important to season yourself with comforting words of grace and patience. Be kind to others, in word and in deed.

Forgiveness

Ah, forgiveness. Probably one of the hardest things in life to master. To forgive means to release someone of debt; of feelings of grief or negativity. It’s hard for me to forgive wholeheartedly at times. It’s easy for me to say “I forgive you” or “I forgive them” but not really, truly meaning it. My trust in them may lessen or I’ll be more caution in trusting someone again if they have done me wrong before and if someone does something wrong to the person I care about? Count me out, grudge for life. Sometimes bitterness tastes so good and I don’t quite understand why.

7 times 7

When thinking of forgiveness I always think of the parable of the unforgiving debtor, or servant depending on which bible version you have. The parable begins with Peter asking a simple question to Jesus, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!”

Matthew 18: 23-35:

“Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. 24 In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. 25 He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt.

26 “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ 27 Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.

28 “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.

29 “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. 30 But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.

31 “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. 32 Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ 34 Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.

35 “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”

Do I want to live a life as a prisoner and be tortured forever? Absolutely not. Will that happen because I decide to hold on to bitterness, anger and negative energy? It certainly will. I discovered something about forgiveness recently that has changed my whole perspective on the matter. When you refuse to forgive someone, whether it is a little thing or a big thing, you are allowing that person to hold a certain power over you. Not forgiving someone is hurting yourself far more than it is hurting the other person. You are sacrificing your peace of mind when you allow others to make you feel bitter and cruel and uneasy. You are giving yourself a life of torture and imprisonment whether that is your intention or not. “An entire sea of water cannot sink a ship unless it gets inside the ship. Similarly the entire negativity of the world cannot put you down unless you let it get inside you.”

Hold God above all else, this will allow you the power to forgive unconditionally. Seven times. Seven times seven times. Seven times seventy-seven times, no matter how many times we fall down God and Jesus are there to pick us back up again. To show us mercy and forgive us, we have to offer the same love and kindness to others. In order to truly allow ourselves peace of mind, we must forgive others. Peace within ourselves often times have to come from a place of grace and understanding.

Colossians 3:13

“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”

We are reminded throughout the bible the sacrifice that God made for us to relieve us of our sins. God forgives us as many times as we need in order to have a clean heart and a clear mind. With confession and absolution, He cleanses us from all wickedness and sins we have committed to one another; including the grudges we hold. He grants us love, peace, and understanding. He is faithful in this always and this is how we should be to our brothers a sisters. By opening up to God about our sins and our feelings, it allows us to release them and be made clean.

Prayer of David: Psalm 86: 1-16

Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer;
    answer me, for I need your help.
2 Protect me, for I am devoted to you.
    Save me, for I serve you and trust you.
    You are my God.
3 Be merciful to me, O Lord,
    for I am calling on you constantly.
4 Give me happiness, O Lord,
    for I give myself to you.
5 O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive,
    so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.
6 Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord;
    hear my urgent cry.
7 I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble,
    and you will answer me.

8 No pagan god is like you, O Lord.
    None can do what you do!
9 All the nations you made
    will come and bow before you, Lord;
    they will praise your holy name.
10 For you are great and perform wonderful deeds.
    You alone are God.

11 Teach me your ways, O Lord,
    that I may live according to your truth!
Grant me purity of heart,
    so that I may honor you.
12 With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.
    I will give glory to your name forever,
13 for your love for me is very great.
    You have rescued me from the depths of death.[a]

14 O God, insolent people rise up against me;
    a violent gang is trying to kill me.
    You mean nothing to them.
15 But you, O Lord,
    are a God of compassion and mercy,
slow to get angry
    and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
16 Look down and have mercy on me.
    Give your strength to your servant;
    save me, the son of your servant.

As I mentioned before, not forgiving others makes you feel pent-up with anger, resentment and negativity and when you feel that way it doesn’t allow you to have an open, loving heart. When you are so consumed with unforgiving emotions it doesn’t leave much room for God and the overflowing love he has to offer. He has given you the gift of love, mercy and grace so that you may also show others and show the world what it means to be loved unconditionally and relentlessly. God always forgives us and we should show the world what that means to us.

with love,

c.p

Purpose: Making something beautiful out of the ugly.

I like to believe that just like me, a lot of us think that purpose is a one-time thing. We think that purpose is a major life event or small moments when we are given credit for the gifts we’ve been given. Truth is, a life of purpose is far more a journey than it is a moment.

Have you ever heard of spiritual gifts? Gifts given by the Holy Spirit? It’s kind of an intimidating thought to be honest. Their is a whole list and what the mean and how they can sometimes overlap. It’d s whole thing and I’ll post a link so that some of you can watch the video on it that will explain everything a lot better than I ever could. But as far as these spiritual gifts or talents go, they can often times be linked to our purpose in life and the life that God has intended for us. It’s mentioned in Timothy 1 and 2:

 1 Timothy 4:14

“Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you.”

2 Timothy 1:6

“This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.”

I feel like some peoples gifts are obvious and loud. Take music for example, I have a couple of musically talented friends that use their gifts to bring people together. I’ve heard a lot of musicians say that music is one of the things that helped them get thorough some of the toughest moments in life. Their purpose isn’t about one day on the calendar, it’s lived throughout their lives to make a positives impact on people. I feel like I am one of those people who are positively impacted by music. It can be uplifting, comforting even healing. Music isn’t specifically on the list but there are gifts such as healing, leading and teaching and I love to believe that these people have touched on several of those in their lifetime.

Spiritual Gifts Explained

For such a time as this?

Gifts and talents aside, one biblical story that comes to mind when I think of purpose is Esther. She lived out her purpose over time; she started out as a young Jewish girl captive under the Persian emperor and then throughout time found herself in the position of Queen (by God’s grace). That seemed like a big deal until the day came that her true purpose really shown, a Persian leader wanted to eradicate the Jews. Her Jewish uncle reminded her that she, “came into her royal position for such a time as this…”. With her gentle spirit and grace she was able to convince the king not to kill the Jewish people.

Esther 4:14

“If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”

Her purpose was lived out through her lifetime. Just as musicians, teachers, preachers and anyone else who moves radically in the name of Christ to make a difference in the world and make positive impacts on those around them. Just like your life and my life can be. Jesus tells us first to seek the Kingdom of God. When we desire to love God, love people and use our talents and gifts that He gave us to do that then we get to experience a life of true purpose!

Your life’s purpose is between you and God. It doesn’t matter how many followers you have or if someone else is better than you at it or what you think other people expect from you… It is always about God and what God has placed within you that will help him bring Heaven to Earth.

 Matthew 6: 31-34

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

with love,

c.p

Depression

It won’t stop the sunrise.

Depression sucks and it doesn’t pick favorites. Depression is natural. It comes from a place of deep sadness and grief and can be caused by a lot of things in our daily human lives. The loss of a loved one, the loss of a friends, a break up, a tragic event, a life change we weren’t expecting… So many things and so many triggers and it has been felt all over the world for thousands of years.

Psalm 34: 4-10

I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.
    He freed me from all my fears.
 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
    no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
 In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;
    he saved me from all my troubles.
 For the angel of the Lord is a guard;
    he surrounds and defends all who fear him.

 Taste and see that the Lord is good.
    Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
Fear the Lord, you his godly people,
    for those who fear him will have all they need.
Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,
    but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.

Depression is often difficult for us to know how to handle because we feel like we need to handle it on our own. What I feel like it is important for us to understand is that when depression sneaks it’s way into our lives we are not broken or outside of God’s love. He is right there with us to help us carry our sorrows and if you surround yourself with the right people, they too with be right there with you to help carry your emotions. In Psalm 34, in Him we can pray and be answered. We can be freed from fear. We can seek help and find joy. In desperation we can pray and be heard, We can always take refuge in Him.

There is another time in scripture that we can see God’s people face this emotion. David, he was a hero and a man after God’s own heart, expresses to God that he feels lost, forgotten, empty and that even his bones ache within him. You see Job (poor poor Job) who seems like he has it all and is often times considered a righteous man ends up finding himself in a place where he wonders if there is a rhyme of reason to the pain that he feels. And of course, in the infamous, shortest verse of the bible, we even see Jesus himself weep and is moved in his spirit.

John 11:35

“Jesus Wept.”

There is so much power in that small verse. If you are unfamiliar with the story, Jesus is called to go to the home of his friend Lazarus. By the time Jesus gets their his friend has been dead for four days. The bible says that Jesus looks around at his mourning family and is moved in his spirit and begins to cry hard. The powerful phenomenon happens just a few verses later when Jesus raises His friend from the dead. This is powerful because Jesus himself knew that He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead but He still decided to take a moment and weep with his friends and those around Him. We believe in this moment that God was being intentional. He was reminding us that even though He is all knowing, He knowns that we are not. As a loving God, He steps into our pain and chooses to experience what we experience.

If you find yourself in a moment or season of depression, God is near, He is with you, and He is the great comforter.

Matthew 11:28

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

“…Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” We can always go to God in times of need. When our burdens are heavy. When we are weary and can no longer carry these things alone, we can walk with God and Christ and be revived. We can also go to our family and loved ones for support and understanding but we must also go to Him in prayer and seek refuge in Him alone and those who believe will find favor in Him.

I want to remind you again that Jesus weeps with us and wants to take away our sorrows. It’s okay to embrace the sadness on the hard days but don’t let the darkness consume you. There is light and there will always be another day. Another sunrise to look forward to.

with love,

c.p

Joy

John 15: 9-11

“Remain in my love as I have remained in my father’s love… So that you will be filled with Joy… Joy will overflow!”

When I think of the word Joy, I think of happiness in it’s purest form. Immense happiness. I think of the feeling you get when you’re watching a child grow or when you are full on laughing with friends. When looking up the definition of Joy, Joy is considered great happiness. It comes from selflessness. Joy is a state of being rather than an emotion. It’s felt on a less common level.

Galatians 5:22-23

“The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things.”

This God given fruit is something that cannot be taken away by worldly things. But as the old saying goes, you reap what you sow, this is also true for those who feast on our God-given fruit. You must focus your attention on the Spirit and what it is trying to tell you. When these things get tested, you must take a moment and recognize that you are blessed with the option to to either be patient and kind and good or to be selfish, jealous and cruel. To live in joy and peace you must focus your energy on to them. This world will do what it can to drive you away from the Spirit’s power but you must stay true to yourself and what you want to preserve from this life. Crucify the bad and give your life to Jesus’ cause. WWJD? He would love first so you can have joy second.

Psalm 126: 5-6

“Those who plant in tears with harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return to harvest.”

This verse always gives me the chills. Just like in Psalm 34:18 where we are reminded that God is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit; The bible reminds us time and time again that God is with us every step of the way. Through the highs and the lows. Your tears will water the seeds in which your blessings will grow from. Joy will come again because it truly never left you. The light inside you is always there, you just have to ignite it.

Philippians 4: 4-5

“Always be full of Joy in the Lord. I say it again- Rejoice!”

Whenever I think about my personal experience with joy I always think about children and being a mother. Watching my little one grow up to become so driven, so passionate, so full of light and love and excitement for life gives me that immense feeling of happiness and joy that can never be replaced or taken away. I’ve always said my sole purpose in life must have been to be her mother but she is a gift far beyond what I could’ve ever imagined. She, like so many other children, touch the lives of other people without even knowing that’s what they’re doing. They give joy and love so selflessly, it reminds me so much of Jesus and his message to all of us on what it means to have Joy in our hearts and to Rejoice and spread that joy whenever we feel it in anyway that we can. Even if it’s by buying your friend a coffee. Sharing a touching bible verse. A random act of kindness, any way that we can spread God’s love and message for joy is wonderful and should happen more often than not.

What has given you Joy today?

with love,

c.p

Anxiety

I think admitting our faults is one of the hardest things to do. It makes us feel vulnerable and scared. Anxiety is a natural part of the human experience. It triggers our flight or fight responses in our bodies when situations are dangerous or uncomfortable. There are many situations in life that can bring out our anxious energy such as a big test coming up or starting a new job or having to preform a speech in front of your peers. It’s okay to have big feelings when you are in big moments of your life.

Alone, in your mind.

Some of us experience this feeling even when big things aren’t happening and yes I say us because I, too, have experienced anxiety to an unhealthy extent. It can sometimes feel like you have all consuming thoughts that you can’t escape. But it’s just as much physical as it is mental. You feel it in your stomach just as much as you feel it in your mind. It’s so easy to get in your own head and let your brain dictate your life. In a moment of vulnerability recently, I opened up to my friends about some of the feelings I’ve been having. I felt guilty because my anxiety was controlling me to the point that I felt like I couldn’t be a good friend. I felt like I was just stuck on autopilot. Waking up, doing my tasks for the day and resting when I could because this feeling made me feel physically exhausted. Telling my loved ones was the first step in my recovering process, they encouraged me to seek help and supported me with words of comfort and understanding. Putting in out there in words made me feel less alone. Something that I was reminded of that day and what I want to remind you is this, we need to let the right people in so they can help us carry the big feelings, the people who love you will help you carry your burden without a second thought. Just like Jesus, He reminds us t hat we are not alone in this journey of big feelings because though he was one hundred percent God he was a

Keeping our eyes on Jesus

I think we are all too familiar with the scene in the bible of Jesus walking on water. In Matthew 14 verses 22-33, you see the scene of Jesus’ disciples crossing a lake in the middle of the night when a huge storm kicks up. They were scared and Jesus was nowhere near them. All of a sudden, they saw what they thought was a ghost walking on water towards them. Their level of anxiety skyrocketed. As the figure got closer, they heard a voice say, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid.”

They realized that, there in the storm, Jesus was near them. When Jesus said “It is I,” the original language would have been him saying “I am”. Which would be a statement that the Jewish would have known well . Jesus was saying, “I am God.” A lot is happening in this scene in the scripture. Jesus is letting the disciples know that he understands that they are full of anxiety and worry but is also letting them know that He is God and that when he is near they don’t have to be afraid.

1 Peter 5:7 7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.“

God is not surprised when anxiety enters our lives, nor is He mad at us when we feel anxious. He does want us to know that He is near and that when He is near we can face all storms with courage. It’s not wrong to feel anxious or afraid, but God is calling us to have a default emotion of courage.

Respond to your anxieties with faith. Open up to him and find security in HIm and leave all your anxieties behind.

with love,

c.p

Identity

Have you even been in a conversation with someone and they say, “Hey, tell me your story.” I feel like we all have experienced this at least once in our lives. What they ultimately are asking is Why are you who you are? What’s your identity?”

Have you ever had a moment of self-reflection and truly thought about your identity? This is something that frequents my mind so often, almost too much if I’m being honest.

When I think about my identity I often think about my relationships with other people. (i.e. mother, sister, daughter, friend) and how I can strive to be the best of those things for other people. I don’t really think about it being who I am when I’m alone in my day to day life. And I still believe that there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s part of who I am and how I operate. Though, I feel like I need to define who I am to myself and work out ow my identity aligns with God’s call.

I recently had a conversation with someone where the topic of identity came up. They discuss how they were afraid that their past story was also going to be their future identity. I think as young adults we begin to feel the pressure of shedding the parts of our lives we no longer want to align with. Which is a really uncomfortable process because it’s hard to transition into a new version of yourself.

“Though you can’t rewrite the past, it doesn’t have to be the pen that guides your future pages.”

From Saul to Paul

We are very familiar with the Apostle Paul and all of the wonderful works he did once he met Jesus Christ but before Paul gained his new identify and was named Saul, he wasn’t the greatest of men. When Paul was Saul, life his story was that he was born as a high level Jew, destined to be trained as a leader of the Pharisees. He leaned into the identity that lead him to actually kill many Jews that began to follow the teachings of Jesus. (This story beings in Acts 9: 1-19)

After encountering Jesus, he was given a new story to write, and more importantly a new identity. The same passion that he had when he was fight against Christians was not the same passion he had as he fought for Christians. Because of Paul, the gospel of Jesus Christ spread throughput the world at exponential rates. He leaned into the belief that no matter what our past is, God makes all things work for the good of those who love him.

Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.“

Through God’s love and hope.

I read this story once about a guy who had allowed addiction to consume his life to the point that he truly identified himself as an addict and said “This is who I have always been. I don’t know anything else.” He lived his life like this for a good decade until one day he realizes he didn’t was to be this person anymore. He sought out the help he needed. He sought out God. He wanted to be granted with a new identity. He bought a house and shared it with a few other recovering addicts who were on the same journey as him. Little did he know that his story would inspire so many people to do the same. People welcomed him with open arms and even encouraged him to buy more houses and use them to share his story and become who they are truly meant to be in this world. To be a guide for those who are lost and weary. To give them hope. Here we are a decade later and he has several dozen houses all over the state of California and has helped hundreds of people find refuge and purpose through the love of God.

Psalm 139: 13-14: “13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.“

I never put much thought into the word Identity. I jokingly have said that I was having an identity crisis when I thought about changing my name after marriage. Because I have always been my name and when that changes does it change me? I mean yes, I would be a wife instead of a fiancé but does anything else really change with that? Aside from that, I always considered your identity was a reflection of what other people saw you as, almost like a label. But I am learning that it is far more than just that.

I never considered someone’s identity is something that can be changed but it happens in the bible all of the time. When God decides to rewrite someone’s story he even goes to the extent of changing their name as we saw with Saul/Paul. But it can also be rewritten in your acts and how you choose to live our your purpose. Some people may think that it is dangerous to connect our identities to a story about our lives that are negative but I feel like it’s a beautiful way to connect with those in need. Sometimes it takes people to see that positive outcomes are possible to allow hope to grow within them.

In your life, whether it’s things you’ve done or things that have been done to you,. your story is not over and your identity is not done being formed. God intends for good in your life. He created you with purpose and on purpose! He can use your life’s story to impact the world.

What are ways that we can allow God to begin rewriting our stories and transforming our identity?

with love,

c.p

Purpose

I have been trying to decide how to start this blog post. I have been articulating different words and phrases in my mind to make this sound just right. There are sometimes though where the best way to tell a story is to just flat out say it and hope that whoever is reading or listening takes it the way that you intended.

Ever since I was a little girl I have been told that I was “wise beyond my years” I never quite knew what they meant by that. These words were told to me by very influential people in my life. My parents, grandparents, preachers and people of my church. I very heavily remember this happening when I was in middle school. Middle school was a weird time for everyone. It’s a very important time for us as far as character development goes. This is important because I very vividly remember feeling so purpose driven. I was so focused on finding my purpose and I re-visited this feeling when I read a couple of my old notebooks from my younger years. Was this the characteristic that set me apart from my peers?

I remember always being the sensitive one. The one who cried a lot and felt too deeply and gave too much. I was also always considered the friendly one. The one who always understood and made an effort to be that friend. That friend who always listened. That friend who was always there. The one who was the friend that she always needed.

I do believe that I had a deeper feel for life. A deeper love.

My purpose finally felt full in the tenth year of school. The year that I became a mother. I truly believe that there are all different ways that we are called in life. I was sixteen years old and I felt the most vulnerable I ever have in my entire life.

Seriously, I felt emotionally and physically drained from day to day. I was a high school dual athlete and involved in as many clubs as my schedule allowed not to mention that I did my hardest to be as involved in my church as possible. I did this all while carrying a baby I didn’t know was about to be born. Don’t worry.. This isn’t a virgin Mary story. At least God told her what was coming to her, I was blindsided.

My story is a basic one. I was in love with a guy that I thought could love me back but he just couldn’t do it in the way that I needed him to. I was way too much for him. But the love for that child came running through my veins as soon as the numbness of shock rolled off. Due to my situation post-birth the mention of adoption came up. It would be an ideal situation. I didn’t know I was pregnant. I held no bond to the child I bared. Giving a baby up for adoption is a wonderful thing. It can become such a selfless act if you allow it, if you have a loving, willing family on your side. I truly believe that there are some people called to be God’s vessel of the gift of life to those who cannot bare on their own. On the other hand, there are some people who are called to be parents even in the less-than-perfect situation. Even when the miracle of birth comes falling in your lap and you become a mother overnight. I am that people. Seeing her I felt all the overwhelming deep love that I felt over the years, I felt my purpose finally feel whole.

Remember me telling you that my purpose obsession happened in middle school? Guess when I met my daughter’s father.

I fell like there are some people who come into your life to leave and that’s okay. Sometimes they leave something behind that means far more than their presence ever could.

I have these coincidence’s happen often in life. That was just a major example. Sometimes God speaks to me with ideas. With words that I have to write down. With responses to a friend in need. Sometimes though it’s just repeating thoughts that I don’t always act on.

There was a time period where I put going to church on the back-burner. I adore my church very much. There is something about its core that makes me feel so much at home. It’s such a comforting feeling from the people there to the building itself. There was a Sunday were I just decided it needed to become more of a priority. I started going more and attending the adult Sunday School class and going to the events and you would have thought I would have never left the way that people made me feel. There are times where the would get people from the congregation to volunteer to read the readings for the day and most of the time it was the same people-probably the people that they know would say yes. But that made me think about my desire to do more in the church and to get myself more involved. That thought ket replaying in my mind and even though I knew it was as simple as telling my rector what I wanted to do, I just never said anything about it.

With that being said, a couple of months later I was at Christmas with my family when my aunt pulled me aside and asked the the golden question “I’m coming off the vestry this year and I need someone to take my place. Not only were you on the top of my list but your name was on top of each person who was delegated to pick the next nominees. when I tell you God speaks.. He speaks. I of course accepted the offer and I was super stoked about it.

(for those of you who may not know a vestry is a meeting of parishioners, originally in a vestry, for the conduct of parochial business. mainly known to be in the episcopal church. )

So this is it. This is what this whole blog is going to be about. My callings. My thoughts and understandings.

Thank you,

calling c.p.