Friday, January 4, 2013

Mission 2013 # 5. Who Am I


The tag line at Sweeten Life Systems is "Building a lifetime of great relationships with God self and others". This series is looking at all of those relationships from a biblical point of view as well as psychological, physical, interpersonal and emotional as well as family functional perspectives. In summary, we find that building healthy relationships with God, self and others improves the health and well being of every facet of life.

Relating well to God improves our health and welfare. People who relate to God live longer, healthier and more satisfying lives.
Relating well to myself improves our health and welfare. People who relate to self live longer, healthier and more satisfying lives.
Relating well to others improves our health and welfare. People who relate to others live longer, healthier and more satisfying lives. 

I will share with you research studies that prove these statements. There are thousands of them but I will share just a few with a bibliography for more reading.

Today I am sharing no research but a song from a great play. It addresses a very important theme: Identity. Is my Identity based on may past or my new life in Christ. It is the most basic idea about my relationship with myself. If I think my Identity is based on performance, past works, my perfect behavior then I will treat myself badly. But if I know who I am in Christ I will love and nurture myself. Here was the rumination of Jean Valjean about that very topic.

Jean Val jean in Les Miserables

He thinks that man is me
He knew him at a glance!
That stranger he has found
This man could be my chance!

Why should I save his hide?
Why should I right this wrong
When I have come so far
And struggled for so long?

If I speak, I am condemned.
If I stay silent, I am damned!

I am the master of hundreds of workers.
They all look to me.
How can I abandon them?
How would they live
If I am not free?

If I speak, I am condemned.
If I stay silent, I am damned!

Who am I?
Can I condemn this man to slavery
Pretend I do not feel his agony
This innocent who bears my face
Who goes to judgement in my place
Who am I?
Can I conceal myself for evermore?
Pretend I'm not the man I was before?
And must my name until I die
Be no more than an alibi?
Must I lie?
How can I ever face my fellow men?
How can I ever face myself again?
My soul belongs to God, I know
I made that bargain long ago
He gave me hope when hope was gone
He gave me strength to journey on

[He appears in front of the court]

Who am I? Who am I?
I am Jean Valjean!

[He unbuttons his shirt to reveal the number tattooed to his chest]

And so Javert, you see it's true
That man bears no more guilt than you!
Who am I?
24601!


Why I am a New Person

Casting Crowns 2003


Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
Vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours

Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again
Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
Vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
Vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours

I am Yours
Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear
'Cause I am Yours
I am Yours


If you or someone you love struggles with low self esteem, get my book Power Christian Thinking. It will assist you in developing the Mind of Christ.


 

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