Not Gandalf.......God

Back a year ago I got this...title?  The girls at camp referenced me to Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings.  It was fun for a little while to go along with it and to feel kind of important and special because they thought so highly of me.

Now I see how ridiculous that was.  Honestly.

Everyone wants to feel important and loved.  Everyone.  They want to know that someone looks up to them and thinks highly of them.  After this summer, however, it isn't so important anymore.  Of course I want people to think good things about me.  But sometimes it is in those bad things or negative things that you can really see yourself.  I found that when I looked into those negative emotions that I was seeing parts of myself that needed work.  Some places needed a major overhaul and some just a slight modification.  I needed God's help to filter out the lies and reveal His truth.  His truth is that my trust and complete reliance needs to be on Him, not on the collective opinion of people.

I don't need people to think highly of me.  I need people to think highly of Him.

I put so much stock in titles that were so temporary.  I let my leadership gift be overshadowed by the title that accompanied it.  I tried, in my own strength, to do a job that required complete and utter dependence on God.  Trying it my way was epic failure.  Doing things His way may not always be fun or safe, but at least it yields better results for His greater glory.

I am very okay with that. 

Paul was, too.  He faced persecution and death at every turn to proclaim the glory of God and the life-saving power of Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the Cross.  I am sure he was referred to by many names, and probably not as nice as being called Gandalf.  Did the taunters and the hypocrites and the haters stop him from proclaiming the message of grace, peace and love?  Not at all.  In fact, it made his determination to see all come to Christ that much stronger so that the Name above all names would be proclaimed by all people.

^"Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.  Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of His body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.  To this end I labor, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in me." Colossians 1:21-29 

So, I no longer claim this Gandalf title given to me.  I don't want it.  Give it to someone else.  I want the only title on earth that ever really mattered.  The title that calls me His.  I am:

1. His beloved
2. His child
3. Daughter of the King
4. A masterpiece
5. One whom He delights in
6. God's princess
7. A Christ-follower
8. His creation
9.  Accepted and Forgiven
10. Dearly loved
11. A friend of God
12. A friend
13. A sister (in Christ and in family)


His Book (aka The Bible) tells me exactly who I am and how I am to live.  I choose to live as His.  I choose to try and do everything I do to bring Him the glory He deserves.  I don't need to live up to the expectations of man, but I do strive daily to be more and more like Jesus.

Not Gandalf...God.  If it is Gandalf you seek, the library is open.  If it is God you seek, call on His name.  He is waiting for you.