Hello My Name Is...

"Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me."
John 15:15b NLT

“Abraham believed God and was set right with God,” includes his action. It’s that mesh of believing and acting that got Abraham named “God’s friend.” James 2:23b MSG

What is your name? That's easy to answer. But then, what are names you wear in life? What are the names you call yourself or that others have called you? Do any of these sound familiar?

Defeated, divorced, molested...
Angry, alone, addicted...
Ugly, obese, anorexic...
Cancer survivor, arthritis patient, learning disabled...

Let's rethink this. Here is what the Bible says.

Redeemed, set free, victorious...
Child of God, Friend of Jesus, Beloved of God...
Justified, righteous, blameless...
Accepted, empowered, a new creation...

And so much more!

I don't want to be known as a cancer patient or survivor without being known as God's child. Cancer is just a small portion of my life. I am a daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend.

We need to recall the words the Bible states about us and also speak those things over the people around us.

I like how this song by Michael West puts it:

"...Hello, my name is regret
I’m pretty sure we have met
Every single day of your life
I’m the whisper inside
That won’t let you forget

Hello, my name is Defeat
I know you recognize me
Just when you think you can win
I’ll drag you right back down again
‘Til you’ve lost all belief

Oh, these are the voices. Oh, these are the lies
And I have believed them for the very last time

Hello, my name is child of the one true King
I’ve been saved, I’ve been changed, I have been set free
"Amazing Grace" is the song I sing
Hello, my name is child of the one true King...

I am no longer defined
By all the wreckage behind
The one who makes all things new
Has proven it’s true
Just take a look at my life

Hello, my name is child of the one true King
I've been saved, I've been changed, I have been set free
"Amazing Grace" is the song I sing
Hello, my name is child of the one true King...

What love the Father has lavished upon us that we should be called His children
I am a child of the one true King..."

Matthew West

c2013 Sparrow Records

You can watch the video here: http://is.gd/UCucqH

My prayer for you is that you would not allow yourself to be labeled by whatever negative experiences you have been through, or by anything you have done that you regret. Don't use any of those things as your name.  The name your parents gave you is what you should go by and then back it with the scriptures and what God says about you. For example, the verses I listed at the beginning of this post talk about how we are a friend of God. Just thinking about the fact that the God of the Universe eecalls you His friend and wants to have an intimate friendship with you will change how you view yourself! Start to speak the truth of who you are in Christ into your life. You can use what you have been through for His glory!

By: Beki Beane and Erica Faraone

Bear It All

"Bear (endure, carry) one another's burdens..." Galatians 6:2a AMP

"Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down." Romans 12:15 MSG

I am a better laugh than cry kind of girl. I have shed a few tears through this process. I have laughed a ton. There is nothing funny about cancer, but I have found humor along the way!

I have met a few people that are fighting cancer and are on a journey of their own with chemo regimens and surgeries. Chemo is different for everyone. There are different treatments for different types of cancers. How people tolerate their treatment is very different as well. Oh, and not everyone loses their hair!

I met a gal and we hit it off right away. We exchanged numbers and we are staying in contact. She is just beginning her chemo journey. She texted me last week and told me that she was cutting her hair short in preparation for it falling out. I felt like crying. It brought back the day I had my hair cut. I knew I would lose my hair and I thought it would be fine. It wasn't fine. It was hard. My hairdresser gifted me my hair cut and she cried and I held back the tears. One day my hair was shedding so bad, I called my husband and had him pick me up from work to shave my head. I thought I was prepared, but as he shaved my head I cried. It made the journey more real and I knew that now everyone would know. I sent my closest friends and family a picture so they would be prepared.

I now know what it feels like to actually want to take, carry, and endure another's burden. I don't want anyone to have to go through any of what I've had to go through. I want to be there for others in any way I am able. To laugh or cry with my friends.

My prayer for you, is that as you go through life's journeys that you would be mindful of others that are struggling as well. God wants us to bear each other's burdens as He carried, and daily carries, ours. God created us to do life together and be there for one another.

"Blessed be the Lord, who bears our burdens and carries us day by day, even the God who is our salvation!" Psalm 68:19 AMP

Amen!