Be Who YOU Be - 2

"Be Who YOU Be" is a thought far deeper and life-changing than I ever realized when I first"heard" it. I had no idea what would happen from the place I was with the grieving question, "But, Who do I Be?" "I don't KNOW Who I Be!!!! Father, show me Who I Am!"

I AM LOVED By GOD Himself!!! That is WHO I Be!!!!

Well, who doesn't Know that???

There are at least two basic aspects of "Knowing". Of course I knew that, "Jesus Loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so." I mentally have known that from memory as a child in Sunday School.

But, have I "Known" what that really means?Do I comprehend how that knowledge really impacts my life? What level of knowledge of God's Love for me do I really have? It is somewhat like, 'Do you know so and so?" "Sure, isn't she the one with the long blonde hair that works at the front desk at....?" and, "Do you know Duane Krieger?" "Sure, he is my husband. We've been married for, ahhhhh, 38 years. Yes, 38 years! The level of "Knowing" is drastically different.

I suggest that our level of knowledge of God's Love for us drastically affects our understanding of God, consequently, affecting our response to God. I used to respond to God sort of like an abused dog, cowering within myself, thinking God was ready to punish or condemn me at any time for even the slightest fault.

One of the most powerful thoughts I have had regarding this was one day when I was meditating on Matthew Chapter 14 where Peter was walking on the water toward Jesus. Peter saw the wind and became frightened and began to sink. Verse 31 tells us that, "Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him."

Probably most would never have the eye-opening revelation like what I had that day, but we all interpret things according to our past in many ways. I thought, "Jesus didn't hold Peter's head underwater yelling at him, chewing him out about his lacking of faith." NO!!!!! No, No, No!!!!! NEVER! IMMEDIATELY Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed Peter and got him to safety. He Loved Peter so much that He immediately rescued him. Yes, he corrected him, but not by holding his head underwater. 

More and More, as I grow in my "marriage" relationship to God, I am seeing and "knowing" Him more and more accurately. Things I used to think God would do, or heard other people say that God would do, I realize cannot be true, because He LOVES Me.

Ponder the following scriptures and find more that tell you about the Love your Father has for you. Allow the "Truth" to permeate deep within you and pray He will expose the lies you have embraced and see you Father as He is... Deeply devoted to you!

1 John 3:1 - See how very much your Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.

Ephesians 3:17- 19 - And may you, having been [deeply] rooted and [securely] grounded in love, be fully capable of comprehending with all the saints (God’s people) the width and length and height and depth of His love [fully experiencing that amazing, endless love]; and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself].

Ephesians 2:4-5 - But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

Psalm 145:8 - The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion.

Psalm 103:8 - The LORD is merciful and loving, slow to become angry and full  of constant love. 

Psalm 85:13 - for your love for me is very great. You have rescued me from the depths of death. 

Lamentations 3:22 - The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease.

 Ephesians 1:5-6 - For it was always in his perfect plan to adopt us as his delightful children, through our union with Jesus, the Anointed One, so that his tremendous love that cascades over us would glorify his grace—for the same love he has for his Beloved One, Jesus, he has for us. And this unfolding plan brings him great pleasure!

Think about THAT for a while, why don't you!!!!

And....."Be Who YOU Be.....Loved by your Father with the Same Love He has for His Beloved One! " Be Loved because that IS Who YOU Be!!!

Be Who YOU Be

 You have heard me mention this little statement "Be Who You Be" many times in my writings. It ranks in the top of impacting statements that are life changing to me. As I learn, I find out more and more about "Who I Be". The bottom line and the essence of that statement is that "I am who God says I am" and that's the final answer. 

I first heard with my physical ears the statement "Be Who You Be" on a TV program called "JAG". It wasn't the physical hearing with my ears that was the issue, it was the way that statement ricocheted through my entire being then and for days and weeks to follow. I knew God was getting my attention as that statement continued to echo within me. Even now, years later, it still impacts me. I know that it is a statement from God to me. I believe, to the entire world. 

At first it was an exciting statement, but after pondering for awhile, I became concerned as this question, "Who do I Be?"  rattled me. I did not know the answer to "Who am I?" How can I "Be Who I Be" IF I do not know Who I am???? That was a serious problem to me, especially since I know it was God telling me to "Be Who I Be!!!!

Over the years there has been an ongoing flow of answers to that question, far more than the basic, yet profound answer, "I am a child of God"

The first things that really got my attention and began a change in me are these simple truths....Notice, I say, "Truths". That word, "Truth" is key to "Be Who You Be". We believe lots of things, we would say anything we believe is True, because we "believe" it. However, Truth be told, the only "Truth" is what God says. Anything else we call True, is subject to change. God's Word is unchanging, Hebrews 6:18. His Word will never change. His Word is Jesus, the same yesterday, today and forever. If what I think does not agree with what God says it is not the Truth. In fact, if it is not the Truth, it is a lie. Sadly, we believe a lot of lies that we call truth. The devil has effectively deceived us and we have accepted his statements as True to us. We don't even realize it. We are told and replay the lies in our minds and hearts for so long that they can only be exposed by the real and only Truth, The Word of God. John 17:17 "Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth." The Holy Spirit enlightens our understanding Ephesians 1:17-18, and as we begin to renew our mind to God's way of thinking, The Truth, we are changed more and more into the likeness of Christ. Ephesians 4:23-24.

Ooooops, that was a detour..... a very, very necessary one....back to the first simple "Truths" that changed my life..... I am Accepted by God, Approved of by God and Adopted by God and it is His pleasure to do that. He wanted me so much that He adopted me and Chose me to be His very own. He actually really wants Me....He wants you, too.

Ephesians 1:5-6

For it was always in his perfect plan to adopt us as his delightful children, through our union with Jesus, the Anointed One, so that his tremendous love that cascades over us would glorify his grace—for the same love he has for his Beloved One, Jesus, he has for us. And this unfolding plan brings him great pleasure!

Psalm 119:18 

Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.

Honestly, I didn't even get to what I was planning on sharing today, but it is a good start with lots of life changing "Truths" to ponder on. Perhaps the three aspects along the line of "Be Who YOU BE" that I had intended to share will be three more posts in the upcoming days!!!!