I'm allergic to almost everything. I guess it's just a part of who I am. My friends often joke of trying to feed me mushrooms cooked in peanut sauce with cat hair. Of course they wouldn't do it though, cause I'm allergic to those three things quite a bit. When I started developing allergies in H.S. it was frustrating. I had to refrain from eating tons of foods I used to eat. It was hard to watch others eat peanut butter and chocolate. It was hard to stop wearing cologne and switch laundry detergents. I felt like I should move to another planet. It struggled to accept who I was.

How often do you think about who you are? If you're like me you probably think about it every day. Sometimes it's difficult to like who we are. Or, maybe you don't want to accept who you've become.

If I asked you, "Who are you?" you would probably say your name. Names don't mean what they used to. In ancient cultures your name had everything to do with who you were. Names had meanings and significance. I like the Native American Indian way of naming. They would come up with names like, "Strong Like Bear" or "Stinks Like Buffalo". The names described character or physical attributes. It was the same in the ancient Jewish culture. Your name carried with it insight into who you were.

What about these characters in the bible and their 'Indian' names? Do you remember who, "A Man After God's Own Heart" was? We know him better as David, or what about, "The Beloved"? You might recognize him as John the Disciple. Then there were men who got name changes. When God did something significant and life changing in these men He gave them new names. Abram was changed to Abraham, Jacob was changed to Israel, and Saul was changed to Paul. What would your 'Indian" name be? Or, do you need a name change?

When we think about it we have many names don't we? I'll fill in a few of my names, but you think about how you would answer. The names our parents give us; Joshua Kenneth Harris. Then there are the names our friends give us; Jose, Preacher, Allergy Boy. What about the names we give ourselves; Funny, Athletic, Distrusting, Failure, Wont Give Up. I may want to change several of these names, but wait, what about the name God gives me? I had made many lists of who I thought I was and who others said I was. Then God asked me one day, "Do you want to know who I say you are?"

When we try and find who we are in others, we only come away feeling inferior. When we try improving who we are with the things of this world, it only lasts until we find something better to be. When we can only see the faults and failures of self we become self-focused and hopeless. When we focus on who God says we are we find strength, peace, purpose, and hope.

God knew what he was doing when He made you. He has a special purpose and plan for your life. Ask God who He says you are. Ask Him to reveal what it is about you He loves so much. When you focus on God's name for you your purpose and plan will began to reveal itself.

So..... who does God say you are?

*Here are some verses to help get you started: Gen. 1:27; Psalm 139:13-15; Ii Co. 5:17-21; Eph. 1:3-7; Gal. 4:7; Rom. 5:21; Eph. 2:23; Rom. 7:4-6, Eph. 2:1-6

- Josh