I post this picture, not in any way to make those other than INFJ (99% of the world's population) to feel excluded, but as an anecdote to what you may find both here and with me. INFJ is an acronym from the Meyers-Briggs personality test, and one of the many ways and things by which people--to an extent--find the ability to define themselves.
Similarly, and in my own fashion, I will post a song along these lines which is currently popular among Christian radio.
Matthew West - Hello, My Name Is (Lyrics) - YouTube
Now, as one of the many things I enjoy is media, you can expect a song, image, video, or combination of such things with every post you'll read. More than likely, it will deal with the topic at hand, but is not exclusively deemed to do so.
The title of this first blog comes from a thread created in the singles forum of similar tone. It acts as a bit of a 'virtual journal' for people to vent, express, explain, and otherwise post their ideas, feelings, and goings on. I believe blog systems, as over or under utilized as they may be, were intended for this same purpose, so while I will not be withdrawing from said thread, I do want to make the most of what's offered to me and us all.
For today's though, theme, or whatever term you dub most beneficial, I would like us to think about how we define ourselves. How do you define yourself?
For Jordan, the once-drug-addict who wrote Matthew West a letter, it was by his failure and addiction, but through the power and grace of Jesus Christ (God) was able to redefine himself as 'a Child of The One True King'. That is where the song originates, and if you haven't heard the story, I encourage you to:
Matthew West - The Story and Song of "Hello, My Name Is..." - YouTube
How do you define yourself? There are a number of ways we think in this regard. Some define themselves by what they do. Some by their connections...some by their triumphs, failures, or even the way other people see them...
Well, I'm not here to tell you who you are or how to define yourself, as only you and God are capable of doing so truthfully. What I am here to do is help you think, be a friend and brother, and hopefully help us all become a little more...the more we were made to be, and will hopefully help each other choose.
I gave a sermon once titled "Be More...". It was part of a series preached by my local campus minister, but my own original (though inspired) addition to the series. Taking from that, I'd like to draw your attention to a bit of scripture as read in Eugene Peterson's "The Message" translation:
9-11 If you go against the grain, you get splinters, regardless of which neighborhood you’re from, what your parents taught you, what schools you attended. But if you embrace the way God does things, there are wonderful payoffs, again without regard to where you are from or how you were brought up. Being a Jew won’t give you an automatic stamp of approval. God pays no attention to what others say (or what you think) about you. He makes up his own mind. -Romans 2:9-11
You see, God knows who we really are, and is the only one who could help us see that, even and especially when we or others cannot see it in ourselves. I hope you hear that as you read this...I mean really get it!
I used a story in this sermon. It's a story by Max Lucado called 'You Are Special'. I will not detail it to you now, because I'd like for you to read it. What I will say is that the story is an allusion to our lives. What defines you? How do you define yourself?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15QuHygLwFU
I'll leave you with one more music video, and I hope to write here periodically (or at least, much more often that I tend to). In the past, I've faltered and been poor at keeping up with journals, blogs, and other things of such nature, but if even one post could help you in any way...if even one thought made you smile, or touched your heart, or ultimately (in my hopes and prayers) connected you to God in some way, then it is most definitely worth it!
Tenth Avenue North - You Are More - YouTube
Think about who you are. Pray and seek God about it. Listen, learn, wonder, and maybe...after some short or long amount of time...you, too, will realize that you are more. I believe it. I understand God as one who believe it. Will you?
*and as a later addition, I've written a song that somewhat speaks to this:
[video=youtube;x0LyCc0V-3Q]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0LyCc0V-3Q[/video]
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