Choices

People say that we are who we choose to make ourselves. How true that is! With the Author of all the universe at our side, we, not the events of our lives,  create our identity. 

When you look in the mirror, don't you dare see all the times someone made you feel like you aren't good enough, pretty enough or smart enough. Don't dwell on all the heartbreaking "no's" or all the times someone told you "I'm sorry but you're just not worth the trouble." It's happened to all of us in one way or another. Someone has let us down. Someone has shattered our heart. People have broken promises time and time again. Those things hurt, but we can't define ourselves by these things.

What do I want to be remembered for? My failures and my heartbreaks? No. Through me I want people to see the greatest victory this world has ever known. I want everyone I meet to see the light of the risen Christ shining out from inside me. And if I can do that...then what power do these seemingly earth-shattering events have over me? None. This world is thirsty for true beauty and true love. So give it to them.  

A very close friend of mine shared this quote from Thomas Merton with me last night: 

"My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am doing Your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please You does in fact please You. And I hope that I have that desire in all I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this, You will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust You always. Though I may seem to be lost in the shadow of death, I will fear not, for You are ever with me, and You will never leave me to face my perils alone. Amen. 

Let that be your prayer just like I've made it mine. Let it empower you! I'm so done with all of us choosing to stick around in our misery because it makes us interesting or different or whatever. It's time to end all that. We have a God who died so that we could live a life of hope. What a slap in the face it must be to him each time we CHOOSE our misery over his joy. Enough is enough.