My Trademark

Two of my childhood friends and I decided we each needed a trademark. Each time we'd write our names, we'd add our trademarks - on pen pal letters, artwork, and schoolwork. My trademark was a fuzzy caterpillar.

I could quickly scribble vertical lines and add two antennae to portray a caterpillar inching across the paper. As I scribbled my caterpillar, it came to life to me. As my trademark, it became part of my identity during a season of my life. Where my name was, a squiggly caterpillar followed.

Fast forward several decades. Serving at a girls' day camp, I needed a "camp name," something for girls to call me, a way for them to identify me. The choice was a no-brainer for me. Butterfly. Over the next several years, I was introduced to many young girls as Butterfly, and I still meet young women who only know me as Butterfly. It is my identity to them.

Throughout my life, I've "trademarked" myself many times through a variety of relationships and situations.

My most important trademark, the only one which is constant and sound, is the stamp of Christ-follower on my soul. I stand firm in my identity in Jesus. Every time you see me or my name, I want you to see God. I want to have an inseparable identity in God. God is God without me. I am not fully Susan without God, because he IS my identity. He created me, guides me, fulfills me. God is my trademark.

I'm thankful my childhood trademark was a fuzzy caterpillar - and I later chose the butterfly as part of my identity. As insignificant as a camp name or childhood symbol might seem, they've been meaningful reminders of God to me.

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18

Allow God to unveil you. How is unveiling connected to transformation?

How has God transformed you in the past week? Month? Year? Your lifetime?

Be unveiled. Be transformed. Give all glory to God.

But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:16-17

Too Much Nativity?

"We're swimming in nativities." I had told the woman at the post office it didn't matter what type of stamps she gave me...just use whatever she had in excess. Should I be sad, assuming few people were requesting nativity stamps? Or grateful to be able to "swim" in nativities? I began to wonder...

How often do I get caught up in what many Christians would say is the secularization of Christmas? I don't mean "caught up" in terms of participating; I'll quickly declare "guilty" on that charge. I enjoy shopping on Black Friday, stuffing stockings on Christmas Eve, and eating all those calorie-packed, once-a-year sweets...none of which has anything to do with the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. Okay, perhaps I could rationalize gift-giving as a biblical concept, but seriously? My enjoyment of gift giving has little to do with my relationship with Jesus. My enjoyment of secular aspects of Christmas are more about tradition than faith, and I enjoy tradition.

Here's my struggle: How much Christians, including myself, focus on the secularization of Christmas when we could be expending the same energy fully embracing the opportunities this season gives us to share our faith and, most important, the truth about Jesus.

When someone wishes you "Happy Holidays," do you (a) complain that someone has secularized Christmas or (b) reply with a hearty "Merry Christmas"? Can we be certain what a person's motives are for replacing Merry Christmas with the phrase Happy Holidays? Perhaps it's because they want to bundle their Christmas and New Years greetings into one. Or even if they're intentionally taking Christ out of their language, so what! You're not responsible for their choices...but you ARE responsible for yours. Do we think we're going to deepen our relationships with people and build trust more by lecturing them about the secularization of Christmas or by delivering a hearty "Merry Christmas" in return? There's more power in Christ's spoken name than all the words we can possibly string together as a justification for the use of his name.

Think about struggles you have with the secularization of Christmas. Company parties. Elaborate gift exchanges. Overwhelming obligations. School productions. I'm not saying we shouldn't fight battles for God. But which battles are we fighting because he's instructed us to fight them on his behalf, and which are we fighting on our own behalf? If we personally are offended and choose to fight a battle that isn't in God's timing, we can adversely impact someone's faith journey. We might think God led us into a situation to teach someone about Jesus with words of condemnation. But we're to teach them by our behavior, full of grace and mercy, instead. If we're to confront someone, God will instruct us to do so in love, not in judgment. God judges. We obey.

Think of all the opportunities we have to obey God during this season. Doors fly open for us to share our stories of faith. Christmas isn't just about the birth of Jesus. Christmas is about Christ, from heaven to earth to the cross to the grave and to heaven, an agonizing and sacrificial journey to offer eternal life...for you and for me and for every single person in your life today. People you know and people you don't know. God has designed your day to reflect him. Will you do it? And will you fully reflect him in his grace and mercy and love and provision?

As for me, I bought the nativity stamps. Each time I use one, I pray for not only the person who will receive that envelope but also for every person who touches or sees itAnd that's what I want my life to be. I want anyone who touches or sees my life to experience Christ.

For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. - John 3:16-18 (NLT)

Compassion

Only seven of the eight remaining dancers performed on So You Think You Can Dance. (Yes, I watch it...regularly, and yes, I love it! I could give the excuse that it's a bonding experience for me and my daughter, but I'm owning my enjoyment!) Ashleigh hurt her arm the morning of the performance, and the doctors wouldn't clear her to perform. Her partner had to dance with stand-ins. But people can still vote for Ashleigh, and if she gets enough votes, she advances to the finals. What do you think of someone getting to advance without actually performing?

How do you respond when someone gets a promotion when you think you've worked harder? Or someone keeps her job when you get laid off?

What about when someone gets a scholarship over you, and you're certain she has more money than you?

How do you respond anytime a person gets something you perceive to be undeserved?

I have to admit my initial response is sometimes an internal, perhaps even audible, cry of injustice. I want someone to perform for reward. I don't want to take up the slack of someone's unwillingness to fulfill their work responsibilities and not receive compensation for it. I don't want to sacrifically give of my time and energy and continue to be asked to do more. I don't want to see someone ask for support when she's unable to perform.

It hit me when I read similar comments on a blog this afternoon, all commenting on whether or not Ashleigh should be able to continue. I'm a hypocrite. My internal, and sometimes audible, cry of injustice is in direct opposition to the basis of my faith.

Compassion is the "sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it." (merriamwebster.com) No judgment on whether or not the distress is justifiable. No comparison to our own distress. And a willingness to act.

Take a look around. At work. In your home. At school. In restaurants. In Church. While shopping. God brings people into your life and asks you to have a sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it. Act on it despite your internal or audible cry of injustice. God did it for you.

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. - 1 John 3: 16-18 (NLT)

Free to Be Me

It's Independence Day. Not a day I typically get ultra-excited about. Not that I don't think it's important. I'm honored to live in the United States of America. I say thanks to servicemen and women whenever I get the chance. I respect the flag. I appreciate this country's history. I appreciate the freedom I have.

Or do I?

I had a busy week, but God prompted me to pause occasionally to remind me of the freedoms I have...and often take for granted.

• I drove from Illinois to Kentucky to Missouri. I didn't worry about my security. I stopped when I wanted to get a drink. I chose where to buy gasoline. I talked to whom I wanted.


• I ate when I wanted, where I wanted. One day I walked into a restaurant and asked to see the menu before I decided. I chose to eat there with two of my girlfriends...and what a great choice it was!


• I walked through a convention center for several days, chatting with such a wide variety of people about different topics: family, ministry, government, travel.

That's my sticky note version. Make a list of your own. Think about today. What have you been free to do today?

Do you consider your everyday freedoms as "rights" or "privileges"? I'd certainly like to say privileges...but I'd be lying. I make choices every day that I treat more like a right than a privilege. I should be able to access the internet. I should be able to shop where and when I want. I should be able to talk about whatever I want with family and friends. I should be able to worship where, how, and when I want.

When I consider my choices as rights instead of privileges, it all becomes about me. And it's not about me at all. With freedom comes requirements and responsibilities. Not selfishness.

Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace. - Romans 6:14 (NLT)

Sure, I'm free to be me...the me God created me to be.

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. - Galatians 5:13 (NLT)

God gave you freedom. How does your life reflect it?