What Defines You? Words of my Heart, By a Texas Artist Laurie Pace

What Defines You

With much reflection on the life of someone I loved dearly, I sat last night with my husband and two of my children and shared what was the essence of our loved one to each of us. Although his physical body no longer walks this earth, his spirit now seems to surround us and lift us in joy.  His completeness with the Father is a celebration as is his healing to be whole again.

He was a man of integrity and directness. He was a man that held each of us to high expectations and loved us deeply. He did not put up with anything he thought was out of line and often put fear into our hearts, but we still knew he loved us.  He had hopes and plans for our lives.  We did not always do what he expected, nor did we do it his way.  We took the tools he gave us and we made our way the best we could.  Every mistake made us stronger. Every new challenge encouraged our growth. He mentored us in life by setting the standards with strong core values and he led by example.

He was a man rooted in Christ. He derived his identity from Christ and lived his life in Christ.

Today we seem to be defined by the media, by what they are pushing and how we want to be seen by others. We seek things that are wants and not needs.  We are enticed by the world and we often choose to live seeking self gratification. 

We have choices this new day to live as we did yesterday, or to begin again in His light and put down  roots in Christ.

Words of my heart, Laurie

"He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,  who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
   
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.' " For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses ; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.  No one has seen God at any time ; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him."