I had several thoughts about tonight’s post.

I was going to write something about the election and how if your faith allows you to hate and jeer those who disagree with you politically, you might want to rethink what you believe. Maybe later.

Then I thought of writing about some of the great music I’ve been listening to that helps lift me out of the current state of chaos and transport me back to simpler times.

I finally decided to give yet another update on Peanut and her special foot.

Judging by the picture, I think she’s rather fond of that mismatched foot. Plus, what is more peaceful and stress-relieving that a sleeping cat?

Enjoy.

It’s easy to lose your identity in these crazy times. You get labeled and you take on titles and names for yourself.

Black, white, gay, straight, Republican, Democrat, conservative, liberal, left-handed, right-handed . . .

The identity that matters most — the only identity that truly matters in the end — is that of being a child of God and being in Christ.

That trumps all others. Your allegiance belongs above all else to Jesus.

Allowing anything else to supersede or be equal with that is pure and total idolatry. Your core value and worth come from the name Jesus gives you and who He says you are. Not from anything or anyone else. Period.

Let the God who knows your sin call you by your name.

When I wake up in the morning, regardless of who the President is or if we even know who it is, I will be thankful.

The sun will be shining (eventually) and I will be able to see and hear and smell and taste and touch the world around me.

There will be a thousand little gifts waiting for me to enjoy that I didn’t ask for and have taken for granted in my obsession over the few things I asked God for that He chose to withhold for a time.

I will still be loved and I will still be held and I will still be a child of God. No election can change that.

God didn’t call His church to be relevant or woke or contemporary as much as He called her to be faithful.

Faithful to the God-breathed Scriptures that are able to make one wise for salvation.

Faithful to the gospel proclaimed first by Jesus then by the apostles then commissioned to us to take into all the world.

Faithful to the Jesus who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

When the Church becomes too much like the world, she loses the very hope that the world needs from her.

When our faith adapts to the changing times instead of changing the times, we end up with a form of religion that denies its very power.

May we all repent and return and once again be faithful.

I ran across these words and knew immediately I had to share them. Not often do I read words that capture the heart of what I want to say so perfectly.

This one goes out to all who are in a dark and difficult season. I’m praying God’s strength for you.

“I would have pulled Joseph out. Out of that pit. Out of that prison. Out of that pain. And I would have cheated nations out of the one God would use to deliver them from famine.

I would have pulled David out. Out of Saul’s spear-throwing presence. Out of the caves he hid away in. Out of the pain of rejection. And I would have cheated Israel out of a God-hearted king.

I would have pulled Esther out. Out of being snatched from her only family. Out of being placed in a position she never asked for. Out of the path of a vicious, power-hungry foe. And I would have cheated a people out of the woman God would use to save their very lives.

And I would have pulled Jesus off. Off of the cross. Off of the road that led to suffering and pain. Off of the path that would mean nakedness and beatings, nails and thorns. And I would have cheated the entire world out of a Savior. Out of salvation. Out of an eternity filled with no more suffering and no more pain.

And oh friend. I want to pull you out. I want to change your path. I want to stop your pain. But right now I know I would be wrong. I would be out of line. I would be cheating you and cheating the world out of so much good. Because God knows. He knows the good this pain will produce. He knows the beauty this hard will grow. He’s watching over you and keeping you even in the midst of this. And He’s promising you that you can trust Him. Even when it all feels like more than you can bear.

So instead of trying to pull you out, I’m lifting you up. I’m kneeling before the Father and I’m asking Him to give you strength. To give you hope. I’m asking Him to protect you and to move you when the time is right. I’m asking Him to help you stay prayerful and discerning. I’m asking Him how I can best love you and be a help to you. And I’m believing He’s going to use your life in powerful and beautiful ways. Ways that will leave your heart grateful and humbly thankful for this road you’ve been on (Debie Davis Adams).”

How nice would it be to put down the phone and actually pay attention to what’s around you? Maybe do some face-to-face interactions?

I’m so thankful that I grew up in a world before the internet and social media took over everything. I’m glad I didn’t have a smart phone or video game controller glued to my hand when I was a kid.

Perhaps every now and then do a small fast from all things electronic and world wide web-y. Maybe just for kicks and giggles pretend that it’s 1993.

Lately, I’ve been trying to do better. By that I mean I’ve been making better food choices (mostly) and exercising more (mostly) and trying to get more sleep (for the most part).

It may not be perfect. I still could probably do better. But it’s a start.

When you start out jogging, you don’t quit because you can’t run a 5K right off the bat. You have to start with a mile (or even half a mile). Maybe you mix walking and running for the first few times. But you start somewhere.

That’s the key. Just start somewhere. Don’t let past failures keep you from trying again. If you start out with the idea that you will fail, you’ve already lost. It all begins with believing that you can succeed.

So far, I’m down about 5 or so pounds. I’m okay with that. I might slip up occasionally, but that’s okay, too. It’s a process. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

And if I can do it, so can you.

It’s Wednesday. I think. I keep wanting it to be Thursday, but I’m 98% sure it’s not. Is anyone else having as much trouble keeping up with the days of the week?

At least I know for sure that it’s November. Oh wait. It’s October. Dang it!

But I woke up this morning. I enjoyed a roof over my head and more than enough food to sustain me. I had reliable transportation to and from my job.

So there’s that.

I think that qualifies as a pretty good day.

“So they stoned Stephen while he called upon God, and said, ‘Jesus, Lord, receive my spirit!’

Then, on his knees, he cried in ringing tones, ‘Lord, forgive them for this sin.’ And with these words he fell into the sleep of death” (Acts 7:59-60, J. B. Phillips).

The next time you’re finding it difficult to forgive a family member or friend over something done to you, remember that Stephen was able to forgive those who were in the very act of stoning him to death.

Let that sink in.

That’s next level forgiveness.

That’s the kind of forgiveness that doesn’t come with human effort. There’s no amount of strength or willpower you or I could summon up that could bring us to be able to forgive this way.

Think of Jesus, who said, “Forgive them for they know not what they do,” as a prayer for the ones who were in the middle of murdering Him.

I could never forgive like that. But if the Life of Jesus resides in me through the power of the crucifixion and resurrection, if the Spirit of Jesus indwells in me, then the power of next level forgiveness lies in me as well.

That doesn’t mean forgiveness is easy, but it’s possible. Remember no matter how hard it might be to forgive someone, it’s much harder to live under the weight and burden of unforgiveness and bitterness.

Forgive as your Heavenly Father has forgiven you. As you forgive others, so shall the Father forgive you.