I Have You and You Are in God

1 Corinthians 3:21-23 "So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God." NIV

      My precious Lord, today You gave me another beautiful sunrise reminding me again of Your promises.  Thank You!  I love the quiet of the early morning when it seems only the sun and I are awake and I walk with You (literally outside or figuratively within my soul).  Your presence is so very real especially before the rigors of the day push themselves in.
"I come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the roses,
And the voice I hear falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses.
And He walks with me and He talks with me.  And He tells me I am his own. 
And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known."
A beautiful old Hymn, "In the Garden".
      There are days when the busyness and duties of the morning crowd in almost immediately and we do not have that time together or it is cut short.  It is in those times, I miss You so much!  I know You still walk (or in my case at work "sit") with me throughout the day, but the day is just never the same.  I honestly feel badly for those who are not "morning people" because they miss that sweet quietness of a brand new day as the sun peeks through the dark of night and starts to warm us again.  Its appearance makes us joyful most of the time and reminds me that You rule.
      But You are with me constantly in the early morning, noonday, afternoon, evening, at dusk and in the stormiest of nights. (June 29th)  You bring the deepest joy to my life.  I praise You, Lord, for what I cannot understand: Your unconditional love for me and the fact that You long for a deep relationship with me!
      I do have ALL things as I have You and You are in God!  I have no need to boast in mere men, and I also have no need to boast in myself.  There was a time when I was not comfortable with who You created me to be.  I wanted to be like the popular crowd so hid myself and became an impostor, a chameleon.  I was whatever I felt the world around me wanted me to be and was more concerned with the outside than the inside. 
      I have been reading the book "Abba's Child" by Brennan Manning (NavPress 1994, 2002), and although some of his theology is skewed, he does make some great points. In his own struggle to be authentic with You, he tells of his struggle with the "impostor" within.  The impostor is the false self we present to others to be more accepted by the world around us.  We are cowards and do not want to show the real self because we are afraid of rejection.  That certainly was true of me, and sometimes still is to my shame.    He says that the impostor is narcissistic making reciprocal sharing impossible. He says, "The impostor has built a life around achievements, success, busyness, and self centered activities that bring gratification and praise from others." (pg.43)
 He quoted, " James Masterson, M.D. stated, "It is the nature of the false self to save us from knowing the truth about our real selves, from penetrating the deeper causes of our unhappiness, from seeing ourselves as we really are- vulnerable, afraid, terrified, and unable to let our real selves emerge."  (James Masterson, The Search for the Real Self (New York: Free Press, 1988 Page 63)
      Lord, I am so very grateful that You unlocked me from that prison the day I trusted You and You alone as Savior and Lord!  You wrapped me in Your loving arms and told me You loved me unconditionally...warts, failures, and all, and NOTHING could tear me from Your grasp!  Just like a perfect loving Father with a tiny toddler, You love me, guide me, and hold me.  You do not keep me from all danger because I have to learn what it means to follow You closely and that there are consequences or rewards for my actions.  But when I fall down, You scoop me up and hug me, forgiving my failure, and restore me to a wonderful walk with You and ABBA!
      Our precious youngest granddaughter Anna, just turned one year old.  She is starting to say words and is learing to walk...or at least she is trying.  She does not care what people think of her or her achievements yet.  She is who she is, totally dependent on Mom and Dad for her provision and instruction, helped and encouraged by her older sisters who love her as she is.
This is how I am to be with You, Lord, and how we are to act within the church family!  Your plan is perfect!
Hallelujah!  What a Savior!