The Google version of me

Identity


November the month I start dreading mid October. Why you ask... it's the annual celebration of my birth.

I sincerely love life, I love my God, my family and friends. I thoroughly enjoy daily life, I enjoy my job, my activities and love my church. Every year without fail, the last week of October I wake up in panic.


"Oh noooo, my birthday is coming!"

          "How was that a whole 12 months?

                            "Who am I?"

                                      "What have I accomplished this year?"


Then I usually quickly jump out of bed to escape the pity party taking place in my mind.




On one slow day in the office I decided to google myself.

    I thought to myself what would someone think of me just by looking at the google options listed. If the person just looked at this page, did no further stalking, who would they think I am? Google gathered that I enjoy twitter, "I laugh too much and smirk in awkward moments," I am an actress, and by the pictures provided it looks as if I am a selfie-taking queen, that enjoys dancing and cook books. I wondered what do I know that Google doesn't? Is there more than the first two options listed?

    God has been teaching me over the past three years about my identity. I am good enough, I have worth, not of myself but worth that He has put within me. When I look at others all I see is worth, but I need to believe in the worth that HE sees in me.


    I was having my quiet time the other day and felt the need to read John 1. I didn't really want to read John because I felt I could recite it word for word, no need to read it. So I started "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God..."


....everything felt familiar until I got to verse 9


9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

    The idea of adoption has been on my mind a lot lately and one of my family member is currently living out an example of what the longing heart of mothering an orphan looks like. Listening to her story of how this child was before her and the miraculous improvements in speech and behavior, made me so tender to the idea how God chose us all. He saw the need we all were in and chose to make the sacrifice of all sacrifice to make us a part of His family.


    This idea of adoption has always been beautiful to me but especially now, watching a true example and story unfold before me. I have always heard in church that we have been adopted by God. Romans 8:15
             For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of                        adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.


    Reading in John I felt alive in the idea of I am not only adopted by God, but He has gone above that and it says "He gave (me) the right to become "a child' of God...not born of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will., BUT BORN OF GOD."

    This truly hit me in a place where I did not even know I need to be moved. It opened my eyes to my true identity in God, I am not just chosen or adopted by Him, I am HIS completely, if we were to go on Maury's talk show for a DNA test, Maury would say "God, King..you are the Father of Amberly Rose!" In my quiet time this is similar to how I felt, Maury sitting across reading the results and God saying "see I told you, you are mine!" I have a crazy imagination, I know.

        Heaven felt so much closer in that moment, God's voice louder, and my heart so much softer. It helped put everything in perspective. I am God's, I am His child, He can't deny me, because of Jesus' blood shed for me, I am now His. It blew my mind, I grew up in church and have always heard about Jesus' blood being shed for me, the perfect sacrifice.
What hit me this week is the fact that the ultimate switch took place in all of our lives.
Everything we deserved Jesus took and everything Jesus (perfect) deserves is now ours, this included sonship. In getting what Jesus deserves, we are receiving His DNA, His blood line, what a scandal that is.


    One of my favorite verses when sharing with someone about salvation is the promise found in John 10 starting in verse 27


27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all[c]; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”


     Nothing (no person, circumstance, sickness) can snatch us from His hand. You remember that song in Sunday school "He's got the whole world in His hand..." At my house we used to sing, "He's got mommy, daddy and sisters in His hand...He's got the whole world in His hand." There is actual theological truth in this silly song. He's has us in His hand and nothing can snatch us from our place in Him.

                                                          The one He loved


     We don't really know who wrote the book of John and we don't necessary know who is "the disciple whom Jesus loved." Many say it is John, others believe it is James but there is no actual evidence. I love the fact though that his identity is based on the fact that he is loved by Jesus. John 13:23, 19:26, 21:7 and 21:20


23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.


26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her,“Woman,[a] here is your son,”


7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.


20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”)


I love what Charles Pope says on this subject
"deeper purpose for not supplying the name of the beloved disciple is so that you will understand and experience in a very true sense that the beloved disciple is YOU. You are the disciple whom Jesus loves. You are the one who reclines next to the Lord at the Last Supper and first Mass (jn 13:23). You are the beloved disciple at the foot of the cross to whom the Lord said, “Behold your mother” (John 19:26). You are the beloved disciple who runs to the tomb and comes to faith (Jn 20: 8). You are the beloved disciple who announces to others, “It is the Lord” (Jn 21:7). You are the Disciple who follows after the Lord and Peter (Jn 21:20). The beloved disciple, if you are prepared to accept it, is you. "


      This week has been a week of my remembering my identity in Him, I am His daughter, His girl, I am safe in His hands, nothing can snatch me from Him, I am the one He loves!
 Hey google, I am the one He loves.
Praying this for all of us today!