I am ...

What defines us?  How do we fill in the I am ... statement??

In my study, Jennifer Rothschild says that we often define ourselves by what we do ... and our struggles.  We ceratinly are not the first ... or the last to do this.

“I am a foreigner and stranger among you." - Abraham (Gn 23:4)
“I am the daughter of Bethuel" - Rachel (Gn. 24:24)
“I am Abraham’s servant." (Gn. 24:34)
“I am now an old man" - Isaac (Gn. 27:2)
"I am slow of speech and tongue.” - Moses (Ex. 4:10)
"I am a guardian-redeemer of our family" - Boaz (Ruth 3:12)
"I am weak ..." - David (2 Sam 3:39)

We are pretty good at following the pattern ...
I am ...
daughter
friend
minister
lazy
selfish

But there's so much more to our identity.  She reminds us, who we are and what we struggle with are not the same.  Because the truth we tend to forget is that, I am ...
deeply loved
completely forgiven
chosen and valued
changed ... and being changed

I am ...
going back to work tomorrow
so ...
I am ...
not sleeping late tomorrow
so ...
I am ...
going to bed. :-)