Not related to Nancy's and Jonathan's thought-provoking conversation -- this one is a praise. I am so thankful for Joslin and the work she is doing with our toddlers!

Annikah is in the habit of requesting songs while we drive, (as though Mommy is some kind of DJ) and today she said, "I want Whole World!" meaning, "Please play He's Got the Whole World in His Hands," which is one of the songs Joslin sings. Later, I played "This Little Light of Mine," and Annikah listened for a minute and said, "Like at church." !!!

I think church has suddenly become a fun and enriching place for her (not just the place where she gets to see her favorite person Taddy!) and I am just so grateful!

Love your thoughts on the question, "Who am I?"

I've been listening to a podcast lately (http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/2009/pelikan/) and in it Jaroslav Pelikan (a theology scholar) brought up the point that Jesus asked a similar question time and again during his life, "Who do you say that I am?"

I would like to ask Him that same question of me. "God, who do you say that I am? I would love and probably even more detest to know the answer. But how enlightening would that be? I fear asking, though, if I am honest.

Likewise, I am trying to meditate more these days. It helps to focus on a passage, an idea, or something simple that can be brought to God in various, repeating ways. This idea of asking the question, "Who do you say I am?" of Jesus, of God, of the Holy Spirit, might be a challenging and wonderful meditation to explore. Thanks for starting this thread, Nancy!

And now about the Prayer Bulletin entry for Wednesday, May 5. The words I chose were: "Praise... that You do create new hearts in us - and by an act of our will, we are changed from hopeless to trusting."

As my friend challenged me and asked where I had found that in the Word [as she's used to me giving Scripture to back up my prayers], I've given it some thought. The first part of the praise is not difficult to support directly from Ezek 11:19 where God says He will put a new spirit in us, and replace our hearts of stone w/ hearts of flesh. The second part of my praise is a little more obscure and perhaps my wording is a bit off. [I'd like to hear your thoughts.]

I do believe that we have the option to choose to see life through God's perspective or the world's view. If I choose to let His eyes be the way I view my life and my every day situations/concerns, then I will be hopeful and I will trust Him with the outcomes. Colossians 3:16,17 does speak to this when the Word commands us to "LET" the Peace of Christ rule and LET the Word dwell within us richly. That is saying to me the same thing as 'choose to see as Jesus sees' as I let the Word govern my thinking. Choosing is an act of my will.

So... when I am tempted to worry about future outcomes that may SEEM hopeless, if I let Jesus eyes be my eyes for the worries, then my hopelessness is changed as I begin to trust Him to take care of the outcome.

Does this make sense to anyone?

I continue to wrestle with the 'right' answer to "Who are you, Nancy?"

So much seems to have to do with what I do. But... I'm thinking that, very possibly, what I do is determined by who I think I am and even more importantly by 'Whose I am'. It could be said that my choices of what I do, think, or say, is determined by who I think I am as well as Whose I think I am.

If I am thinking I am my own person, then I will choose willfully. If I am of the mindset that I am HIS child, created, bought and owned by GOD, then I will choose more Godly things to think, do and say.

So...I will tell you that I AM a person whose heart's desire is to live in the mindset of being HIS, but even with that beginning mindset, I can so easily, in a given conversation or thought, be yanked off track, and be willfull, selfish, w/out regard for the 'check' in my spirit. What that 'off track' place does to/for me is significant. I AM a person that is growing more sensitive to that 'check', and more frustrated with that willful 'I am my own person' mindset. I am hopeful that, given time, I will respond to the 'check' BEFORE I speak.

That's enough rambling on that. Anyone have a response?? JOIN IN!!

Ok, so I am going to try to answer the question: "Who are you?" right, this time. Yesterday, in church, I was much more consumed with what I do, and not about the 'who'. The problem I have, as I ponder this, is that the 'who' question is more about God and my answers sound so sanctimonious... and unfulfilled, somehow. Like, I do believe that I am called by God, but what about those times when I don't listen to him. I don't want to give you, my reader, a wrong impression.

I am loved by God too. That never changes, but how I respond sure does.

I am hemmed in, before and behind.
I am known, seen, understood by Him.

And I am wanting to lean into those truths in my 'everyday', more and more.

Right now, my time's run out, and I must go to my day, but I'll be back.