. . . in God I trust; I am not afraid. (Psalm 56:11a NRSV)

Over and over a common phrase is heralded to those who played a role in the unveiling of Christ’s arrival: “Do not fear.” What was common to each person’s experience that they needed angelic reassurance that everything was going to be okay. I’m pretty sure just meeting an angel would be cause for fear, awe, trembling and distress. But below the surface is there something more? What was behind their need for assurance?

We ask questions: “Am I getting “it” right?” “Am I making progress?” “Am I likeable, lovable?” “Am I fun to be around?” “Am I valued, valuable?” “Am I okay?” “Am I enough?”

When I tell myself I am less than, I begin to spiral into doubts and insecurities. When I trust that I am loved and lovely and loving, then I soar. I soar with the GREAT I AM beneath my wings, assured that I have nothing to fear.

When I trust the GREAT CREATOR of the UNIVERSE, I am not afraid.

When I experience death, I get angry, depressed and lose hope.

When I choose to celebrate the life given, and enjoy the now, I find hope in the midst of despair. The pain of death isn’t removed, I just find ways to trust the GOOD that is all around me, even in the midst of brokenness and failure to live at peace with one another.

I am not always, not afraid. I need the reassurances, too. Maybe you need a word of encouragement, like I do. I invite you to listen for the whisper, for the song, for the angelic chorus repeating the words : “Do not fear . . .”

ADVENT{ure} PROMPT #8

Take five minutes or so and respond to both of these prompts:

I am . . .

I am not  . . .

After you finish, note if anything surprises you or leads you to further exploration of the topic. Reflect on those thoughts, too.

I remember laughing so hard over the ridiculously funny results of playing Mad Libs, when I was a kid. I loved choosing random words to fit the categories! Learning the parts of speech is actually a fond memory of mine. I know, I am a bit of a word nerd and grammar geek.

I thought on this cold Sunday evening, you might like a fun prompt to warm your soul. (You’ll have to get some fuzzy socks to warm your feet.) I am listening to Christmas music, and sitting near our empty Christmas tree, waiting to savor the tradition of trimming the tree by adding lights and the accumulated ornaments from 32 years of gathering memories.

 

I look forward to cozy-ing up our home for the holidays and the upcoming winter. I am sentimental, and yet have learned to only decorate as little or as much as I like each year. This year, I am pacing myself. A few decorations here. Some lights and “a grove of trees” in the yard. I will trim our indoor tree this week. In the meantime, I thought a short prompt based on Mad Libs would be fun.

ADVENT{ure} PROMPT #7

I am ____________. (noun)
I am ____________. (-ing word)
I am ____________. (adjective)
I am ____________. (adverb)
I am ____________. (number)
I am ____________. (color)
I am ____________. (place)
I am ____________. (verb past tense)

I am Kel.
I am living.
I am vibrant.
I am lively.
I am fifty-three.
I am green.
I am home.
I am loved.

 

Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

(Psalm 37:4 NRSV)

Hello there! I am excited today to share a special post and reflection on the topic of  “I am-ness”  from my dear friend and fellow word lover, Lynn D. Morrissey:

i am . . .

by Lynn D. Morrissey

Who are you? And who am I? On the surface, the answer seems simple; but trust me, it’s stratified.

Isaiah 62: 3 says: “You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.” God uses this regal designation to show the value He placed on His nation, Israel. But surely, He immeasurably cherishes Christians, who have been bought with a high price: the precious blood of His own Son, Jesus.

You are wearing your King’s crown of diamonds. You reflect His image. You are a “new creation,” a chosen, forgiven one! You are valuable. You are beautiful. You are multiply faceted. You are exquisitely cut. You are a reflection of the one, true Light. In Him, alone, you live and move and shine your *true* identity.

Just as no two diamonds are alike, no two crowns in God’s hands are the same. The facets in your diamonds reflect God in singular, extraordinary ways. Your particular personality, preferences, and passions are distinctive. And the more you know Him, the more you know yourself.

Who you are is not your name or what you do. Who you are is who you are in Christ and in how He has created you personally to radiate His glory, how He has made you individually to shine.

And glory! One day, in His great heavenly throne room, you will cast your crown of diamonds at His feet, consumed in *His* radiance, *His* glory, *His* brightness, *His* perfect, brilliant love. You will need no crown, because you will be in the presence of your King!

Using the journal prompts, “i am” and “I AM,” explore your unique self in relation to the one, true, great I AM. Take your time. Ponder the beauty of who He is, who He’s created you to be, and your relationship with each other.

Here’s who I am:

i am Lynn …
i am woman. i am child.
i am simplicity. i am paradox.
i am clear brook. i am stagnant pond.
i am summer-flourishing. i am winter-withering.
i am puddle-shallow. i am ocean-deep.
i am scattered leaves. i am flourishing tree.
i am open-lace curtain. i am closed-vinyl shade.
i am melody. i am cacaphony.
i am play. i am drudgery.
i am delight. i am despair.
i am sorority. i am solitude.
i am satin-shimmer. i am denim-drab.
i am pretense. i am honesty.
i am butterfly. i am caterpillar.
i am content. i am restless.
i am full. i am hungry.
i am saint. i am sinner.

i am … because I AM is …
I AM is Creator. i am new creation.
I AM is One, true God. i am image-bearer.
I AM is Lover. i am beloved.
I AM is Redeemer. i am redeemed.
I AM is Mercy. i am forgiven.
I AM is Refiner. i am purified.
I AM is Potter. i am treasure-in-clay.
I AM is Way. i am wayfarer.
I AM is Truth. i am truth-teller.
I AM is Master. i am servant.
I AM is Teacher. i am leaner.
I AM is strong. i am strong in Him.
I AM is Shepherd. i am sheep.
I AM is Father. i am daughter.
I AM is Friend. i am friend.
I AM is King. i am princess.
I AM is Rock. i am pebble.
I AM is Chief Cornerstone. i am living stone.
I AM is Lapidary. i am jewel.
I AM is Light. i am reflection.
I AM is Artist. i am masterpiece.
I AM is Door. i am knob.
I AM is Bread. i am fed.
I AM is True Vine. i am fruitful branch.
I AM is Bridegroom. i am bride.

I AM is Resurrection. i will be resurrected!
I AM is Eternal. i am eternal …

Lynn D. Morrissey is a Certified Journal Facilitator (CJF), founder of  Sacred Journaling, a ministry for reflective journal-writing, author of Love Letters to God: Deeper Intimacy through Written Prayer and other books, contributor to numerous bestsellers, an AWSA and CLASS speaker, and professional soloist. She and her beloved husband, Michael, have been married since 1975 and have a lovely daughter, Sheridan. They live in St. Louis, Missouri.

Essay by Lynn D. Morrisey (Copyright 2018. All Rights Reserved.)

Let me rest in grassy meadows;
    Lead me to restful waters;
       Keep me alive. (Psalm 23:2 CEB, paraphrased)

This fall I went on a little getaway to the country with a friend. We went to do some vision casting for our lives. Instead, we were led to waters of rest. We got up in the morning to see as many of the local springs as possible. We went to five different spots within eight hours. I was able to embrace the Creator of the Universe that day.

Today, that adventure seems far away, yet it has left its imprint on my soul. I long for similar encounters with Nature and the Great I AM. I wonder, if Moses longed for another encounter with the burning bush. And how often did David contemplate his surroundings before he wrote the Shepherd psalm? And do we have to be outdoors to encounter the Creator of the Universe?

Today, I was walking/running on our treadmill. I was listening to a recording of Psalm 23.  Often my imagination wonders. It goes something like this: What if, I could hear this familiar psalm in a fresh way? What if, the Shepherd of the psalm started making I am statements. What if, the sheep responded?

Here’s what I imagined:

I am your Shepherd.
I am generosity.
I am rest.
I am restful waters.
I am life.
I am guide and protector.
I am feast and defender.
I am goodness and kindness.
I am dwelling place.
I am forever.
I am your Shepherd.

I am your sheep.
I am needy, yet not wanting.
I am tired, yet rested.
I am dying, yet alive.
I am lost, yet on a path.
I am hungry, yet not starving.
I am met by goodness and kindness.
I am home, yet not yet.
I am eternally, your sheep.

ADVENT{ure} PROMPT#6

Choose a familiar poem, psalm or song and imagine the author speaking to you in “I am” statements, and if you want respond to those statements in your own present tense, first person, “I am” voice.

 

When you supply it, they gather it.
    You open your hand to feed them,
    and they are richly satisfied. (Psalm 104:28 NLT)

Think of all the possibilities, when you start a sentence with: I am . . .

I am sunrise.

I am blessing.

I am broken.

I am personal.

I am seasonal.

I am invitation.

I am house guest.

I am singer.

I am songwriter.

I am author.

I am publisher.

I am holy.

I am friendly.

I am sunset.

___________________________________

ADVENT{ure} PROMPT #5

Create a collage of possibilities. Or write a haiku starting with I am in each line.

I am cut and paste.
I am cut out of the same.
I am quite like you. (KSR)