The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come...

Today's random thought comes from a quote from one of my all-time favorite Christmas stories - A Christmas Carol. Some may not realize that this beloved Christmas classic with Scrooge is actually, in Dicken's own words, a ghost story. Each ghost comes with a lesson and insight that if read/watched carefully reveals so much about human character.

The quote that came to mind today was when Scrooge is facing the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. "The Phantom slowly, gravely, silently approached. When it came, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.

It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand. But for this, it would have been difficult to detach its figure from the night and separate it from the darkness by which it was surrounded...

Although well used to ghostly company by this time, Scrooge feared the silent shape so much that his legs trembled beneath him, and he found that he could hardly stand when he prepared to follow it...

"Ghost of the Future!" he exclaimed, "I fear you more than any spectre I have seen."

The random thought came that Scrooge feared what the Ghost of Christmas yet to come would show him. Could this be because up to this point, Scrooge had very little hope? All he saw was the harsh reality that had been his past and that he saw in the present because of his own ignorance. With a foundation like that, how could the future be anything other than grim?

But for those who know the story well, things take a very different turn for poor old Scrooge. Instead of continuing on his present path, he learns to keep the spirit of Christmas alive every day of the year...and as we all know, Christmas is the day we remember that God sent Light and Hope into our world. We never again see Scrooge fearing that ghostly apparition. In fact, it seems he lived with joy.

"He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world. Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them; for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms. His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him.

He had no further intercourse with Spirits, but lived upon the Total Abstinence Principle, ever afterwards; and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! 

So there you have it, another random thought. And, as many random thoughts do, it brings with it one more random thought. 

Scrooge's first name is Ebenezer, which is a Hebrew name that means stone of help. The name “Ebenezer” actually comes from the Bible. In 1 Samuel, Israel has experienced revival after repenting of their sin (much as Scrooge saw the error in his own past) and destroying their idols - (much as Scrooge destroyed his idol of money.) During this time, their enemy attacked and God sent supernatural help (I guess in the story A Christmas Carol, the ghosts could also be considered 'supernatural help.') When the battle was won, they set up a rock and named it Ebenezer, saying "Thus far the LORD has helped us." It became a constant reminder of how God had saved them and continued to do so.

Ebenezer Scrooge has for many become a reminder that we need to let go of our own past, destroy our idols, and live in the hope God gives for the future.

May your random thoughts today turn you toward the hope of the upcoming day. And for those who mourn because of loved ones who are not still with us, may you also find rejoicing in that they are waiting for you in heaven with open arms. They are free of worry and pain and the daily struggles of life. The same God that delivered in the Old Testament still delivers today. We need not fear the future.  

"And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!"

Ever wonder why a stable?

The following "random thought" actually came about while teaching in Kid's Church just before Christmas. I don't think I've ever heard this before....in fact, I had never thought of it before the words began to come out of my mouth that Sunday morning. 


It was a typical Children's Church service a week or two before Christmas. I had a wonderful group of kids, most of whom I had known since they were born. These children knew the Christmas story quite well, so making it real and new was quite a challenge. I had told the story and tried to paint a picture so that the children could experience the story anew. It was then that I asked the question - "Why was Jesus born in a stable?" Of course, the response was "Because there was no room in the inn." Then I asked a question even I hadn't considered before. "Why wasn't there room at the inn? Did God forget to make reservations?" Of course, we all laughed at such a ridiculous question. Obviously the birth of Jesus being in a stable was no accident....but why would God allow His Son to be born in a stable?

It's not like God didn't know when Jesus would be born. Yes, the city was crowded, but couldn't God have made room for this family in an inn somewhere? After all, He's God! He knew when the angel told Mary she'd have a son that they would be making this trip 9 months later! He could have made arrangements! I understand that there are many different views as to what this stable might have been, but it doesn't change the fact that a stable isn't a place for a baby to be born! That's where animals are born....animals like sheep and goats and cows. The kind of animal you'd use for a sacrifice.

You know, every time I think about that, it causes a lump to rise in my throat. Jesus, the King of Kings was born in a place where sacrifices are born. He was laid in a manger - the place where the animals would go for food....The Bread of Life, Jesus - born as a sacrifice.

This Christmas, as you take time to read the original Christmas story, may your heart be filled with the knowledge of God's love for you. Merry Christmas.

John 1:29 "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

This blog was one of the first I ever wrote, back in 2008...but it's one of my most favorites.

Photo by Bill Fairs on Unsplash

Guilty...

The other night I was coming home from chaperoning a middle school dance and I had one thing on my mind - finally relaxing for the day. I had left home that morning before 7 a.m. and was returning about 10 pm. It had been a LONG day...because of that, I was driving a little faster than I realized. 

Yep - you guessed it. I passed a police car, looked down and saw I was over the limit and then looked up to see blue lights. I pulled over. I was guilty and I knew it. I waited for my just punishment and hoped it wouldn't be a huge ticket.

The police officer came to my window (from behind - for the first time I realized he had no idea that I was me...I could have been someone angry or even someone with a weapon!) I said hello and immediately said I am so sorry. I just didn't realize I was going so fast. I sat there in my ugly Christmas sweater and said something about chaperoning a jr. high dance - I think I was trying to explain my ugly sweater. I'm obviously not used to being stopped.

The officer asked my name, told me to slow down and be careful. I said "Yes, sir!" and thanked him profusely and told him to be safe as well. He then said "Merry Christmas."
Why share this with the world? Because at that moment I was completely overwhelmed with thankfulness for my Lord. I had a perfect example of being guilty and being forgiven. All I could think about was how I deserved punishment and instead, I received mercy. 

To the police officer, whoever you are, I am praying for you daily. You were a picture of Christmas to me the other night, not because you told me to be safe and have a Merry Christmas, but because you were a reminder of what Jesus did for me that very first Christmas when He brought mercy into this world. I pray that you will be safe because, like Christ, you face danger for me so that I don't have to. I pray you feel God's love and peace and goodness just as you showed it to me.

And for what it's worth, I am slowing down.

*(I just realized that I had made this picture at the dance...maybe I should have paid attention! LOL!)

Luke 23:41 New International Version (NIV)

41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

John 1:29 New King James Version (NKJV)

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Thanksgiving?

Random thought for today - be forewarned, it's an odd one for the Thanksgiving season.

Here goes: The past is always painful. It is filled with regrets and wishes that you had treasured the moments more. Seems like even the best memories are tinged with some sort of pain. Like a line in a novel where you know things look good but something bad is lurking around the corner or the way you feel right after eating that third slice of pie.

Even in the story "A Christmas Carol", the ghost of Christmas past brings pain, bringing back memories that Scrooge would like to forget.

But the past is simply the past. A shadow of what has been and unless you let it, it has no hold on you. It is smoke and mirrors used by the enemy to try and stop you in your tracks...to keep you from moving forward.

I don't think I'm the only one who has ever thought of the past as painful. The Bible is filled with promises of the past being forgotten!

Philippians 3:12-14 New International Version (NIV)

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:17 New International Version (NIV)17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Isaiah 43:18-19 Message

“Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new.
    It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? 

There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.

I really like that one - the promise at the end!

And yet our past is what brings us to today. It is not to be relived but remembered with thanksgiving. God has brought us safe thus far and safe He'll lead us home. Even our failings have not kept God from His purpose in our lives. Many times the children of Israel were told to "remember" - but specifically it's WHAT they were to remember that is important. They were to remember all the times the Lord delivered them...in a way - delivered them from that painful past. 

Psalm 103:12-18 The Message (MSG)

6-18 God makes everything come out right;
    he puts victims back on their feet.
He showed Moses how he went about his work,
    opened up his plans to all Israel.
God is sheer mercy and grace;
    not easily angered, he’s rich in love.
He doesn’t endlessly nag and scold,
    nor hold grudges forever.
He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve,
    nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.
As high as heaven is over the earth,
    so strong is his love to those who fear him.
And as far as sunrise is from sunset,
    he has separated us from our sins.
As parents feel for their children,
    God feels for those who fear him.
He knows us inside and out,
    keeps in mind that we’re made of mud.
Men and women don’t live very long;
    like wildflowers they spring up and blossom,
But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly,
    leaving nothing to show they were here.
God’s love, though, is ever and always,
    eternally present to all who fear him,
Making everything right for them and their children
    as they follow his Covenant ways and remember to do whatever he said.

So maybe this is an appropriate topic for Thanksgiving after all. Happy future everyone.

I am a bad Christian...

I wonder how many people read the title of this and wondered what I have done that I shouldn't have done. Actually, this is a thought that came to mind this past Sunday as I was getting ready for church. 

First of all, I'd sat sipping my coffee too long and I was going to be late to church. I knew I could sit at home in my pj's and watch online, but I decided I really needed to go in person so I could listen to the message undistracted. (Online is fine when I can't make it, but I'm far to ADD to pay attention to the screen most days.) As I was hurriedly getting dressed, I thought about the fact that I was going to miss most of praise and worship - what a "bad Christian" I was being. That, of course, set my ping pong brain onto another course of my bad Christian self. I started thinking about my neighbor's visiting parents and how I had not invited them over for a meal. (Let's be honest - I never invite anyone over for a meal, but that's beside the point!) See, I have this weird thing about my house never being "enough" to invite others in. It's never clean enough, nice enough, whatever enough. I know, it's not about the house - in my head. But it's very difficult to budge a mindset that has developed over the past 59 years. I can't even offer good food because I hate to cook. That is not an overstatement...I truly hate to cook. (Maybe that's why my food doesn't taste very good!) And in my mind, "good Christians" have the gift of hospitality and can cook like some of my precious friends. They love to get together for meals and to go out to "fellowship", but honestly, I don't enjoy doing that. My goodness, my bad Christian self is really showing its ugly head!

Don't get me wrong, I love people! I love to visit at the mailbox, chat in the store, laugh together at work, sit together at games...those are my "living rooms" where I feel most comfortable. Put me in a crowd of strangers and I promise you I'll leave with interesting life stories and new "friends". I am a strange combination of introvert and extrovert in the same body. But that's not the definition of a "good Christian". 

I'm not a "good Christian" in other ways either. I don't stop and talk to every homeless person (though I do stop at times.) I don't support multiple ministries on a regular basis (though I do support some.) I don't live a life of minimalism in order to sponsor missions or give all I have to the poor, (though I do try to sponsor missions and give...) There's just a lot of things that "good Christians" do that I don't. I guess I could be called one of those hypocrites that so many people cite as the reason they don't go to church. I really am sorry for that. 

But as I said - these thoughts were running through my head as I was getting ready for church (my mind works VERY quickly!) Over and over, I thought of ways I was not a "good Christian." 

I was late, yet when I arrived at church, there was time for one more song and the words answered every question I had about not being a "good Christian." The words were "You are good, good, You're never gonna let me down...Worthy of every song we could ever sing...we live for you! Holy, there is no one like You, fill me with your heart and lead me in Your love to those around me." (Okay, maybe it was two songs.) Are you spotting the answer yet?

Then we had a guest speaker that surprisingly I don't think I've ever heard before. (I think I've been upstairs with the kids every time he's visited.) He spoke about the power of testimony - your story. He said that a testimony is the Word of God being illustrated in someone's life and it should be shared because someone needs to hear it. It lets them know that if God did something for you, that He'll do it for them too! At one point he told of a young woman who was newly saved that listened to God and reached out to him...she had no idea he had planned to take his life that day, but God did. Instead of taking his own life, he gave it to the Lord and found life he had never known. Isn't that just like God? 

Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure that young girl hadn't had time to become a "good Christian" yet. She was a baby herself! But God used her.

That's the whole point. It's not about whether or not I'm good - He is. If I could brag on God because of the good things I have done, then it's not really God I'm bragging on. Instead, I testify of how much He loves me in spite of me! He is good, good, and He's never gonna let me down. I am a bad Christian...but I am loved by a good, good God. That is news worth sharing no matter where your "living room" is at. 

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:15-16)

I could never be...

My son and daughter are in college and at the point of deciding what they want to do with the rest of their lives. My daughter is looking for her passion, and my son is looking for a career that makes MONEY! The rest of their lives lies before them, and they are looking at all the paths, trying to figure out which road to travel.

I remember those days. I also remember saying that the one thing I could never be was a teacher. Pretty sure those were my words when I was deciding on a career. Actually, it was more like "I will NEVER be a teacher!" Famous last words. Now, I am not only a teacher, but I love what I do!

When I was younger, I was certain I was called to preach, despite the fact that in my denomination women weren't allowed to preach. I figured it meant I'd become a missionary or something. But teaching - that was something I was certain I would not do. By college, I'd fallen into picking a career I thought would use my talents and provide an income - advertising. (Honestly, I do still use what I learned in advertising. I am constantly convincing my students they want something they have no interest in - education.)

The idea that I am trying to get at is that at some point I quit looking for what I thought I'd do and started looking at what God had planned. Slowly I started to trust that God would open the right doors for me to walk through, I just needed to listen as I walked along. I also learned that what I dreamed of doing as a child and what I am now doing weren't all that different.

I am kind of a missionary. My mission field is in middle schools, one of the most frightening mission fields on earth! Of course, I'm kidding, but still, it is a mission field. While I don't "preach" per say, I do have a group that I guide and mentor each year as they navigate the treacherous path of puberty. All this and I still get to enjoy all the comforts of home! 

Maybe we need to stop looking at our jobs by what the world says they are and started looking at them for what God intends for them to be. 

I recently heard a comedian joke with a man who managed a university copy center. He asked him if he'd dreamed of doing this when he was a kid. Of course, no one dreams of growing up to work at a copy place, but then he asked the man what he liked about his job. The man responded that he loved working with the kids. See - there it is. It's not the job, it's what God has us doing while we are there.

What has God called you to? Maybe you'll be a doctor, or lawyer, or Indian chief...or a teacher, or a copy center manager. No matter what the world says you are, ask God what He says you are. You might just be surprised to find it's what you've always dreamed you'd be.

Jeremiah 29:11 (MSG)

I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

What's in a name?

This is kind of part two to my last blog, but I stumbled on it while I was studying for my lesson for Children's church. 

Our lesson was on Luke 5:17-26, the story of the men who brought the lame friend to Jesus. But that's not what caught my attention. It was the "heading" above the next section, "Jesus calls Levi and eats with sinners."

Most of my readers already know my son's name is Levi, and the remarkable way he got his name. What many don't know, and honestly I had forgotten, was something else that makes his name a gift from God.

Quick background for those who don't know. Years before we adopted Samantha and Levi, we'd adopted a baby boy and named him Matthew, gift of God. After over seven months, the adoption fell through and Matthew went back to his birth mother...and our lives changed forever. It was a time when I questioned God and His love for me. I literally shook my fist at God at one point and said, "if this is who You are, I choose not to serve You." Yeah, I know. I should have been struck dead at that point, but as I've often mentioned, God loves despite our stupidity and rebellious nature. Instead of striking me dead, He poured out His love and showed me that I had no clue Who He is, or how much He loves me. (Kind of felt like Job at this point, with God asking him was he around when the world was created?)

Anyway, fast forward a lot of years. God had not only blessed us with a beautiful baby girl but now with a baby boy that we named Levi. We didn't know that Levi meant "unity" when we chose that name, but he really has lived up to his name. He brings people together wherever he goes! He carries the name of my grandfather, even though I had no idea of that when we named him. It was a name that "fit".

Then, one day at church, a friend said something that stopped me in my tracks. He said something about how cool it was about Levi's name. I thought he meant any one of the many stories I've already shared, but then he said, "you know, Matthew...Levi." That's when, for the first time, I realized that in the Bible, Matthew and Levi were one and the same. 

God had truly brought us full circle from losing Matthew, to finding Levi. 

That brings me back to the section in Luke that I stumbled on while studying. Luke 5:27-28,
"After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him." There it was...a promise and a reassurance that God has it all under control. 

Even though my son sometimes acts like, well, a typical son, God's not finished with him yet. The call over his life may not be clear to him yet, but it's still there. I just need to let go and trust that. 

For those who wonder if my son will read this - are you kidding? Of course, he won't! I'm sharing because I know the things I go through are not that unique. Somewhere out there is another mom who is looking at her grown-up baby and wondering what happened. When did they quit believing we'd hung the moon and could fix any problem? When did they decide that we actually didn't know anything? Will they ever look at us the same again? Well, no...probably not. But we can trust God's Word when it says "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6 Even the knuckleheads...

Take heart fellow moms. What's in a name? A whole lot, especially when it's called by Jesus.

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

When God won't back you up...

I know, I know. God is always there for me. I have no doubt about that; however, sometimes God just won't back me up!

This week has been a hodgepodge of ups and downs...mostly ups. I was feeling pretty good about life in general! Then I went to see my son four hours away and got a less than excited reception. He was in a mood and as usual, since I'm a safe place to vent, I caught the storm cloud. I'd love to say I was a mature person and just let it slide, but to be honest, I was hurt. I guess I was looking for one of those made for movie welcomes where the son gets tearful and hugs his mom like he's actually glad to see her. Instead, my son was asleep and when I woke him, it was like he'd forgotten he'd asked me to come. I was there to help with some paperwork that couldn't be done over the phone. Anyway - the particulars aren't what this blog is about. 

I left from my visit hurt. I had planned on taking him out to lunch but after my reception and the subsequent trip to the college, I decided to just sign the papers and make the four-hour drive home. He could figure out lunch on his own. 

This morning, I decided to look up verses on what to do when someone you love hurts you. 

Matthew 5:44-47
“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

Well, that wasn't what I was looking for. I mean, after all - my son isn't exactly my enemy! Try again.

Romans 12:1-2
So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

God, you are not backing me up, here!

Luke 6:27
“To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. 
Luke 6:37
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Come on, God! You're not playing fair! He's my child and yet he acts like I'm his enemy! You don't understand...oh, wait. I guess You do understand.

How many times have I gotten angry at God for my own failures? How many times have I blamed Him for the way life was treating me, (when actually, I had pretty much been found sleeping when I should have been up and about His business?) How many times have I gotten mad because MY plans weren't playing out the way I thought they should? How many times have I responded to His gifts by looking at what others have and practicing envy instead of gratitude?

Yet never once has He turned His back on me. Never once has He washed His hands and said, "Enough!" I can always come back as a His child, knowing that my Father loves me and will care for all my needs.

It's hard to admit that a child acts like, well, a child sometimes. It's hard to watch as they do things that hurt themselves and those around them. It's hard to take the brunt of their frustrations - but parents often do, (no matter what age their child happens to be.) Why? Because no matter what, that parent will love. That's what God did for us. 

I guess I should have taken my son out to lunch after all.

Photo by Atlas Green on Unsplash

Who I am...

I haven't written in a LONG time - mostly because I figure I have nothing to say of any weight. Today, however, I read an article that caused the random thoughts to start turning. It was an article about famous people who "came out of the closet." No, this isn't going to be a blog about that - but something a lot of them said struck a nerve. In the article, a lot of them said they had been spending time discovering "who they are." That of course, started me thinking about all the DNA/ancestry sites that are springing up so that people can discover "who they are." From this, comes today's random thoughts.

Now, I've seen all the commercials and thought that I'd like to know my ancestry. It sounds so cool to know where you're from! The father's day commercials made me want to buy a kit for my husband. Since both of my children are adopted, I've thought about purchasing a kit for them. My son's should REALLY be interesting - he's such a delightful mix of nationalities. But that's where it stops, with a thought. For one, I'm cheap and for two, I don't really trust the accuracy of these test, and for three, I'm not sure I want to share EVERYTHING with some company I don't know. But there's a greater reason. I already know who I am, and who they are. Each of us is a child of God.

My "past" is probably interesting, but it's just that - past. Maybe I'll discover I have a hero in my past - I can't claim anything from that. I didn't do it. Maybe I'll have a villain - again, not me.  Maybe I'll find out some pertinent medical history - but I am just too old to care. Besides, God tells me that "by His stripes" I am healed. That's medical history enough for me. 

As for discovering "who I am," - why? I'm but a blip on the screen of life, here today and gone tomorrow. I'm more concerned about discovering what God says about me and what He has for me to do while I'm here. There is value in understanding the past, but I cannot change it. All I have at my fingertips is today. What will I do with this day?

As for those trying to discover "who they are," I'm afraid many are looking in the wrong places. People will delight in telling you who you are, but very few have your best interest at heart. Their opinion changes according to how they feel about who THEY are! Nope, there's only One who is unchanging and that I trust to help me discover who I am and that is the one who made me. 

Perhaps you don't believe in the Creator (which makes me wonder how you stumbled across my blog since that's all I write about!) In any case, if you've read this far I'm going to add in a few verses about who God says we are. 

Genesis 1:27 (NIV)
So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.

1 Peter 2:9-10 (MSG)
9-10 But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.

1 John 3:1-2 (NIV)

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ² Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

Romans 8:1-2 (NIV)

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ² because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

Ephesians 1:4 (MSG)

Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. 

And this one is my favorite!

Colossians 2:8-10

Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything. They spread their ideas through the empty traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings. But that’s not the way of Christ. Everything of God gets expressed in him, so you can see and hear him clearly. You don’t need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ and the emptiness of the universe without him. When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything.

I could probably spend all day adding verses, but you get the idea. (You can even do a search on your own about all that God has to say about who you are!) The point is, it's not our past that tells us who we are - either distant past of ancestors or recent past of our own mistakes. It is in who God says we are that we will find our peace. 

I'm thankful for all who have gone before me. I am proud to be called the daughter of Howell and Victoria, but now it's up to me. What will I do with the time I have here? I am Donna, just Donna; and my past does not determine my future in Christ. No one will look back and say, "Wow, my ancestor was Donna!" That won't matter, but each day I spend encouraging others and pointing them to Christ, THAT will make a difference. 

I know I love and accept my own children for who they are, even when they make me crazy! If I, being a flawed human can love them, how much more can my heavenly Father love me? So who am I? Perhaps a better question would be "WHOSE am I?" Just a child of the King who is loved for who I am, faults and all. And that is enough.