Freedom, Identity, & Mocha Lattes
DEBRIEF, DAY 1God's up to a whole lot in Stephanie Bernotas' heart.If I had to sum it all up in one word, it would be FREEDOM.Freedom from living in f...
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DEBRIEF, DAY 1
God's up to a whole lot in Stephanie Bernotas' heart.
If I had to sum it all up in one word, it would be FREEDOM.
Freedom from living in fear. Freedom from trying to please. Freedom from the past.
It is for freedom Christ has set us free.
I used to spell life "f-e-a-r." I used to be scared of terrible things happening to me. Being kidnapped. Dying. Plane crashes. You name it. Fear controlled my life.
I used to have to please everyone around me. Make sure they liked me. Make sure my parents approved. Make sure God thought I was good enough to be called a Christian.
I used to let my identity be shaped by the way people had hurt me in the past. The things guys had told me. Never being pretty enough. Never being good enough.
But God. (I love those words.) Last summer, through some heartbreak, He held me in His arms and whispered, "Come away with me." And here I am, on this crazy adventure with God, a honeymoon of sorts, complete with crazy adventures, adorable orphans, hard labor, messy community, back pain, diarrhea, and the occasional latte. God has used these past few months to wreck me, love on me, and help me begin to come into my identity as His daughter.
At first, I thought I couldn't be Stephanie Bernotas anymore. I had to simply be Stephanie, daughter of God. Yes, I am His daughter, but I am also Stephanie Bernotas. My identity is in Him, and I want more of Him and less of me, but I am also exactly who He created me to be.
For so long I prayed, wanting to please the Lord, "rid me of myself, I belong to You." I am on this journey of doing so. A journey of abandonment. A journey where I give up comfort and familiarity to see where the Lord takes me. This is good. But this is not where it ends.
God loves me. A whole lot. And I'm learning that He loves me for me. Think about it.
God loves that I love mocha coconut lattes.
God loves that I love lying in a field waiting for shooting stars.
God loves that I get really, really, excited about autumn.
God loves that I love cuddling with toddlers.
God loves that I really like feet.
God loves that I have a turned up nose.
God loves that I would give anything to run in a field of sunflowers.
God loves that I am Stephanie Bernotas.
I think He laughed today as we so desperately searched the city for Starbucks. "My girls are so silly."
I used to think that God was some big old professor in the sky, giving me grades on how well I was doing.
He's not. He's my Daddy. And He loves me.
This is not to say we shouldn't strive to be more like Christ. This is not to say we shouldn't empty ourselves of personal satisfaction. That we shouldn't rid ourselves of idols. That we shouldn't want to please our Daddy. This is just to say, there is so much FREEDOM in Christ.
Freedom to live. To live as Stephanie Bernotas, sunflower and latte lover.
For you parents, would you not agree that it brings you joy when your children are happy? When they enjoy hanging out with each other? When they enjoy the gifts you give them, the meal you made, or the art project you did? I am starting to learn that God also loves when His kids enjoy each other and His creation. It brings Him joy and honor.
We can love sunflowers to the glory of God.
We can enjoy lattes to the glory of God.
We can come into the fullness of our identity, and glorify God.
It glorifies God when we come into who He has created us to be. When we stop trying to please, and just enjoy Him. When we walk in freedom. It is for freedom Christ has set us free.
I still believe we are called to defend the rights of the poor and the needy. To pour ourselves out for the afflicted. To not live in opulence. To strive to become more like Christ. I believe all that WHOLEHEARTEDLY.
But there is freedom in Christ. There is freedom to be who He has created us to be. He finds joy in us finding joy in Him and His creation.
It's when we have that joy, that satisfaction, and that security in our identity, that a relationship with the Lord looks attractive. It's fun! It's freeing! It's beautiful!
God is not a big professor with a ton of rules. Yes, there is totally right and wrong. Yes, there is suffering at times. Yes, we do not have freedom to abuse grace.
But we have freedom to be ourselves. And God loves Stephanie Bernotas, His daughter. And He loves you. And He loves that you love what you love.
So if you like lattes, invite friends out for coffee and share with them your joy in the Lord. If you like football, use it for the glory of God. Whether you eat, or drink, or enjoy... whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.
You are His son or daughter. He loves you and is proud of you. Enjoy who He has created you to be. Rid yourselves of selfishness, malice, anger, and all sorts of sin, but embrace the freedom to live and enjoy the Lord and His creation.
So Jesus, thank you for sunsets, the beach, mocha coconut lattes, sunflowers, starry nights, crickets chirping, african dances, children, the color orange, moose, forests, snow capped mountains, ministry, fireworks, new socks, pajama pants, orphans, mustard yellow kitchens, theology, turquoise coffee pots, and the freedom to love what you created me to love.
I'm free. You are my identity. And I'll drink coffee to Your glory.
Below is an excerpt from John Piper's article, "How to drink orange juice to the glory of God."
How To Drink Orange Juice to the Glory of God
September 15, 1986 | by John Piper | Topic: Christian Hedonism
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