Hello Echoes of Grace Friends,

Welcome back! I’m glad you returned.

After an extra long summer break, the technical glitches have been solved, Echoes has a new look, and I’ve been collecting thoughts to share with you.

The new picture above is compliments of my good friend, Kathy Lorimor. Motivated by Psalm 16:11, I collect pictures of paths. I especially love this one because this curvy path leads through the woods. I love walking in the woods. And because of the twists and turns on this path, it reminds me of our lives ~ full of twists and turns.

My prayer for you is that the words of Echoes each week will offer encouragement to you as you traverse the twists and turns of your paths.

With September usually come many opportunities to join, to grow, to serve. My email box has been bulging the past few weeks. I bet yours has too. But we all have limits!

 

So the question … when to say yes, when to say no, and when to say maybe? One opportunity that landed in my maybe pile is GriefShare. Mom died last September. I wonder if God will meet me through this ministry. Maybe.

Keep reading and I’ll share with you one principle that helps me land on the yes, the no, or the maybe.

 

Knowing My Limits

“You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore”
Psalm 16:11

Ahhhh, September, the gateway to a new year. (I’m a teacher by training. For teachers often September is the start of the year.) Enticing opportunities, good opportunities abound. The I shoulds, I coulds, and the I’d really like to rumble through my mind. And you know, my fall calendar has some white space.

DECISIONS …

My mind wandered to John the Baptist. Much of his narrative is recorded in John 1 and John 3. As I re-read those familiar words, something new caught my attention.

John 1:19 – “… Who are you?”       John 1:23 – “… I am the voice …”
John 1:30 – ” … After me comes a man who ranks before me …”
John 3:28 – ” … I am not the Christ …”
John 3:29 – in an allegory he identifies himself as the friend of the bridegroom.
John 3:30 – “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

John’s words are all responses to the religious leaders in chapter 1 who were challenging his identity; and in chapter 3 to some of his followers who were trying to understand his limits.

Both times John responds with identity statements.

And his identity determined his participation.
John the Baptist knew his limits.

Could that same principle help me know my limits? YES!

My … Our … most important identity is our child of God Identity. One of my favorite scriptures that speak of this identity is I John 3:1.

“How great is the love that the Father has lavished on us …
that we should be called children of God …
and that is exactly who we are.”
I John 3:1

With that identity comes desires and responsibilities.
With that identity comes opportunities I need to be faithful to.
With that identity comes opportunities I need to pass on and grieve.

Wrapped in my identity are God imposed limits.
Wrapped in my identity is God’s protection.
Wrapped in my identity is God’s design for me.
Wrapped in my identity is another opportunity to trust his love.

I (like you) have other identities that factor into my limits.
I’m a wife, a gramma (and a mother), a friend, a sister, and a missionary to name a few.

Remembering my primary identity, often brings clarity to the opportunities that come my way and define my limits for me.

John called himself the friend of the bridegroom who is Jesus. We too are called friends of Jesus (John 15:15).

As Jesus’ friend, John hears Jesus’ voice, he rejoices, and his joy is complete (John 3:29)!

Living in his limits, knowing his identity ushered in complete joy.

Please come back next week for some thoughts on No Limits.

BTW, when you sign up to follow Echoes of Grace, I also send a short personal note your way almost every week including a devotional thought. In next week’s note I’m going to share some other principles that help me define my limits. Or just email me sue@suetell.com, and I’ll be glad to sign you up.