Being Remade

As you come to Him, the living Stone – rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him – you also, like living stones are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:4-5 (emphasis added)

Axl’s outgrown his various children’s Bibles, so we recently moved on to the real deal. It’s slow going with a seven-year-old, reading only a chapter or two a night, but so far he’s embracing the language and there’s never a shortage of questions and commentary.

Last night we read that God changed Jacob’s name to Israel. We talked about the meaning of the name, “one who struggles with God,” and looked at the ways Jacob and eventually the nation of Israel lived up to the name.

At the bottom of the page there was an exercise. Part 1, pick a new name from the list provided, one that describes the person you want to become. Immediately, Axl proclaimed “prayerful.” We talked about prayerful and what being a prayerful person might look like. Part 2, have your parents call you by your new name for a couple of days as a reminder of the person you want to become.

Axl, who moments before embraced the idea of his new name, suddenly lay stressed in his bed lamenting, “I didn’t know there was a test.” Instead of focusing on what he was becoming, Axl only saw what he was not. Axl failed to understand that we are “living stones being built into spiritual houses.” Once I explained that becoming a young man of prayer was a process, a commitment, an act of endurance that God strengthens him for (Hebrews 10:14; Philippians 2:13) he relaxed and prayerfully ended his day.

Hebrews 10:14 clearly relates this complex truth. Through His sacrifice we are forever perfected, brought into right standing before God, yet we are being sanctified. We can rebel against the process, but when we submit, who we are today is not who we will be tomorrow.

What if God let you choose a new name, what would it be? Share this exercise with a little or maybe spend some time with it personally. It might be fun to have a new name for a few days.

Enjoy this video by Jason Gray, “I Am New.” If you are viewing this as an e-mail you may need to go the actual blog site to watch the video. You can do that by clicking HERE.

                                     Not who I was I am being remade. I am New.

Beautiful and Touch Up Free

As a wanna be photography enthusiast, I love that Photoshop can turn out of balance candids into portraits and landscape snapshots into frame worthy pieces. At the same time, I’ve seen the distorted reality it brings. Photoshopped pictures provide us with a measuring stick infinitely greater than our actuality is or will ever be.

Cate Blanchett’s recent cover of Intelligent Life reveals the beauty of a Photoshop free advertising message. Jamie Lee Curtis paved the way in 2002 for these bold campaigns that capitalize on courage, honesty, and acceptance. Jessica Simpson joined the crusade in 2010 by going touch up free on the cover of Marie Claire. We are seeing an increase in awareness and a cry for the truth in advertising, but there is still a long way to go. And not just with the ad execs. Here’s a disturbing bit of info, Jessica Simpson’s au natural cover was the worst selling of that year. What, as a society, are we telling these companies when given the choice between fake facades and true beauty we choose the lie?

We don’t have to boycott brands or write lengthy letters to take a stand on the issue. Instead, let’s take a stand in our own homes. Talk, talk, talk about the images that surround us. Talk, talk, talk about how they make us feel with our girls and with our boys, because believe me our boys are not immune and it starts early with them too. Talk, talk, talk about the power our words have over others and commit, as a family, to say only what is true, necessary, and kind (James 3:1-12). Talk, talk, and keep on talking about the truth of who we are in Christ, and live knowing those truths are enough.

Here’s a quote I love: Parents need to fill a child's bucket of self-esteem so high that the rest of the world can't poke enough holes to drain it dry-Alvin Price

Dove is in the middle of an inspiring campaign to not only combat the effects of distorted media, but also to inspire our kids to embrace their differences and the truth of who they were created to be. As a part of that mission they have produced the following videos. I highly encourage watching them with your children. I suggest watching both videos with your boys, but only the girl one with your little ladies. (If you receive this blog via e-mail, you may need to go HERE to view the videos.)

                                     (this one takes about 20 seconds to start...)

You can also find some creative, fun activities centered on positive self-image for your children at Dove’s website. Click here to go there. They are designed for girls, but can easily be modified for boys, especially the guide for moms.

God’s Word is our greatest resource in encouraging our children and our greatest weapon against the propaganda that seeks to dilute them. Here is a very short of list of verses that give us a glimpse of our true identity as believers and children of God.

(Scroll over the Scripture address to see the full text)

John 1:12, John 15:25  – As a believer, we are a children of God; and He calls us friend.

Ephesians 2:10 – We are God’s workmanship, uniquely created for His work and purposes.

Colossians 3:12, 1 Thessalonians 1:4, Zechariah 2:8, Psalms 139:14  – We are chosen, Holy, and dearly loved, the apple of His eye, who is fearfully and wonderfully made.

Romans 8:37– We are more than conquerors.

Let’s search God’s Word today to discover more truths about our true identity, and daily share them not only with our kids but also ourselves. I know I have an affinity for forgetting.