{"id":1901,"date":"2019-11-05T10:56:44","date_gmt":"2019-11-05T18:56:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/?p=1901"},"modified":"2019-11-05T10:56:44","modified_gmt":"2019-11-05T18:56:44","slug":"philippians-23-4-who-i-am-who-really-is-number-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/?p=1901","title":{"rendered":"Philippians 2:3-4 Who I AM — Who Really Is Number One"},"content":{"rendered":"

Philippians 2:3-4<\/strong> – Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.\u00a0Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,\u00a04\u00a0not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.<\/em><\/p>\n

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a <\/strong>– \u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>Love is patient,\u00a0love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.<\/em>\u00a05\u00a0It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,\u00a0it is not easily angered,\u00a0it keeps no record of wrongs.\u00a06\u00a0Love does not delight in evil\u00a0but rejoices with the truth.\u00a07\u00a0It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.\u00a0 8\u00a0Love never fails.<\/em><\/p>\n

Attached is a biographical poem I wrote about 1986, I was about 28 years old.\u00a0 Married to my wife about 8 years.\u00a0 My elder son was about 5 years old and my younger son was about 1 years old.\u00a0 There was strife in our marriage, but not talk of divorce.\u00a0 It was then that God took me to task, He pointedly asked me who I loved most.\u00a0 Who was most valuable to me?\u00a0 I answered, at first, the correct answer but I was immediately convicted because my life did not match up to my answer that God, Teresa and the boys were who I loved most and who I most valued.\u00a0 The fruit of my life was that I mattered most to me.\u00a0 I lived most to please myself.\u00a0 Not that I did not love God and did not love them, but stupid worldly values and selfishness were too big a part of my life.\u00a0 Like scenes from “A Christmas Carol” God revealed me to me.\u00a0 I was ashamed and hurt.\u00a0 Like Scrooge got the chance to repent and change, so did I.\u00a0 Was I perfect after then?\u00a0 No, no, no!\u00a0 Far from perfect.\u00a0 Still not perfect.\u00a0 But I became determined to make sure God was first and my family’s best interest came before mine.\u00a0 God’s brought me a long way and I have so much further to go.\u00a0 He will get me there.\u00a0 He will bring me home.\u00a0 Praise God!<\/p>\n

Settle in, the poem is long!\u00a0 It speaks of my wife, my parents, my sons and of course God’s loving growing of me.\u00a0 God is so good!<\/p>\n

Young.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Standing up for what I believe,<\/p>\n

Refusing to relinquish what I want,<\/p>\n

Or who, or what I am,<\/p>\n

Battling for my rights,<\/p>\n

Pushing back against the hand of the world,<\/p>\n

Leaning into the strong wind,<\/p>\n

Out shouting the thunder,<\/p>\n

Being who I am.<\/p>\n

Being true to who I am!<\/p>\n

I will be me!<\/p>\n

I will! I will! My will!<\/p>\n

Bending only to gain,<\/p>\n

Always returning to form.<\/p>\n

I must be me.\u00a0\u00a0I must be me.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Still young, but not as much.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Black is black.<\/p>\n

White is white.<\/p>\n

People are what they are.<\/p>\n

Not knowing they are also a who.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve shouted at the storm,<\/p>\n

Screamed at the silent moon.<\/p>\n

Parents are parents,<\/p>\n

Loving me always,<\/p>\n

The sun watching over me in the light,<\/p>\n

At night, the moon stands guard,<\/p>\n

They are there, always there,<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t understand who they are,<\/p>\n

Just that they are.<\/p>\n

If my point is made,<\/p>\n

I am satisfied.<\/p>\n

I know they have feelings.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t know they have feelings.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Learning.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sharing my life with,<\/p>\n

A person who chooses to share with me.<\/p>\n

Being who I am,<\/p>\n

I am who I am.<\/p>\n

Take me as I am,<\/p>\n

Unwilling to lose what I know,<\/p>\n

To be the best gift to the rest of my life.<\/p>\n

Is what I am the most important thing?<\/p>\n

What I am,<\/p>\n

Is it really what I want to always be?<\/p>\n

Am I willing to be someone different?<\/p>\n

Will I cease to be me if I change?<\/p>\n

Who then am I if not me?<\/p>\n

Snakes shed their skin because of growth.<\/p>\n

To me, am I, what matters most?<\/p>\n

Or is it those who love me?<\/p>\n

Who I love?<\/p>\n

Who I am.<\/p>\n

What I am.<\/p>\n

Who I will be,<\/p>\n

What I will be.<\/p>\n

Who or what matters less,<\/p>\n

Than who I love?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Moving along.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A rose petal squeezed tightly in a fist,<\/p>\n

Loses its beauty,<\/p>\n

Where is it?<\/p>\n

Is it?<\/p>\n

Shedding of skin is an ordeal,<\/p>\n

It is uncomfortable,<\/p>\n

There is risk involved.<\/p>\n

Vulnerability is inevitable.<\/p>\n

But the prize is worth it.<\/p>\n

One is lonely.<\/p>\n

Loneliness can be adapted to,<\/p>\n

But is not what I want.<\/p>\n

Who I am,<\/p>\n

Will not keep me happy.<\/p>\n

Who I share my life with,<\/p>\n

Will.<\/p>\n

Not knowing how to change,<\/p>\n

Or how much to,<\/p>\n

Is bewildering and frightening.<\/p>\n

But my rose petal is more beautiful,<\/p>\n

Than I.<\/p>\n

For my rose petal I will grow.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately my heels,<\/p>\n

Dig deep furrows.<\/p>\n

With trepidation,<\/p>\n

I allow myself,<\/p>\n

To be dragged,<\/p>\n

And pushed.<\/p>\n

For my rose,<\/p>\n

For my rose,<\/p>\n

For others.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Moving further.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Who were,<\/p>\n

Who are,<\/p>\n

The sun and the moon.<\/p>\n

Does the sun cry when,<\/p>\n

It is out of sight,<\/p>\n

And the moon stands guard?<\/p>\n

Does the moon cry,<\/p>\n

When not on duty,<\/p>\n

When out of sight?<\/p>\n

It hurts me to know,<\/p>\n

That I didn\u2019t know,<\/p>\n

They hurt,<\/p>\n

Like me.<\/p>\n

Like me,<\/p>\n

They were doing,<\/p>\n

Their best,<\/p>\n

And feeling very,<\/p>\n

Very unappreciated.<\/p>\n

I am wounded,<\/p>\n

Adolescence is a period of time,<\/p>\n

Not an excuse.<\/p>\n

Who I am is not as important,<\/p>\n

As my parents knowing,<\/p>\n

I love them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Something New.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A miracle in my arms.<\/p>\n

Loving what I hold,<\/p>\n

More than who I am,<\/p>\n

What I am.<\/p>\n

My miracle is more,<\/p>\n

Than all I am,<\/p>\n

Or will be.<\/p>\n

Sharing the miracle,<\/p>\n

With the one who shares,<\/p>\n

My life,<\/p>\n

Is more precious,<\/p>\n

Than who I am.<\/p>\n

Or anything I could be.<\/p>\n

Anything I could be.<\/p>\n

Or would want to be.<\/p>\n

Who I am,<\/p>\n

What I want to be,<\/p>\n

Is not as important,<\/p>\n

As what I must be,<\/p>\n

What I must become,<\/p>\n

For those who love me,<\/p>\n

Those whom I love.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Another something new.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Worry crept into my life,<\/p>\n

Could I ever love,<\/p>\n

Another miracle,<\/p>\n

As I have loved,<\/p>\n

My first.<\/p>\n

Silly to worry,<\/p>\n

The answer is yes.<\/p>\n

Miracles are not the same,<\/p>\n

They come at different times,<\/p>\n

Accomplish different things.<\/p>\n

They give something new to your life,<\/p>\n

Something unique to your life.<\/p>\n

Who I am,<\/p>\n

Is not as important,<\/p>\n

As who I need to be,<\/p>\n

Who I want to be.<\/p>\n

Then why are there still,<\/p>\n

Furrows behind my heels?<\/p>\n

Perhaps they are not as deep,<\/p>\n

But they are there.<\/p>\n

Lamentation sometimes,<\/p>\n

Overwhelms me,<\/p>\n

Sorrow holds me tightly,<\/p>\n

Around my throat,<\/p>\n

As the furrows remain,<\/p>\n

Behind my heels.<\/p>\n

Will the furrows ever just,<\/p>\n

Go away?<\/p>\n

Who I am,<\/p>\n

Is not,<\/p>\n

Want I want to be.<\/p>\n

It is not worth,<\/p>\n

Protecting.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Half way.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I shed my skin,<\/p>\n

With great anticipation.<\/p>\n

I want to be uncomfortable,<\/p>\n

To be vulnerable,<\/p>\n

If it benefits,<\/p>\n

Who I love.<\/p>\n

Me,<\/p>\n

My will,<\/p>\n

Who am I,<\/p>\n

What am I,<\/p>\n

Is a sand dune,<\/p>\n

Changed by the wind.<\/p>\n

A willing sand dune.<\/p>\n

I am not,<\/p>\n

What I was,<\/p>\n

Not what I will be,<\/p>\n

Lacking what I should be,<\/p>\n

For those I love.<\/p>\n

They matter.<\/p>\n

If I fade,<\/p>\n

And they grow bright,<\/p>\n

Joy is mine.<\/p>\n

Who I am,<\/p>\n

Is one who wants to be,<\/p>\n

What I am not yet.<\/p>\n

More happiness,<\/p>\n

Lies ahead,<\/p>\n

As I become,<\/p>\n

Who I will be,<\/p>\n

And leave behind,<\/p>\n

Who I was,<\/p>\n

I am pleased.<\/p>\n

Changing for love,<\/p>\n

Loving to change.<\/p>\n

Fortunately,<\/p>\n

The sun and moon,<\/p>\n

Also the rose,<\/p>\n

And my miracles,<\/p>\n

Are still there.<\/p>\n

Who I am,<\/p>\n

Shows in<\/p>\n

Their eyes.<\/p>\n

I must keep,<\/p>\n

Changing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Molding me.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I look to Him,<\/p>\n

Who always watches,<\/p>\n

And never sleeps.<\/p>\n

He who has always,<\/p>\n

Always,<\/p>\n

Loved me.<\/p>\n

Me,<\/p>\n

Always changing me.<\/p>\n

He molds me,<\/p>\n

Lovingly.<\/p>\n

Molding fast when I can bear it,<\/p>\n

Slow when that is right.<\/p>\n

He sees the furrows behind my heels,<\/p>\n

He does not give up,<\/p>\n

But His Hands are on me,<\/p>\n

With me,<\/p>\n

Helping me to get,<\/p>\n

Where I need to be,<\/p>\n

And am far from.<\/p>\n

He is patient,<\/p>\n

But busy.<\/p>\n

The example,<\/p>\n

Is Him.<\/p>\n

What I want,<\/p>\n

Is to be like Him,<\/p>\n

That will be the best,<\/p>\n

For all.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Circa 1986<\/p>\n

Psalm 150:6<\/strong>\u00a0–\u00a0Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.\u00a0 Praise the Lord!<\/em><\/p>\n

Micah 7:7<\/strong>\u00a0–\u00a0But as for me, I watch\u00a0in hope\u00a0for the\u00a0Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear\u00a0me.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Micah 6:8<\/strong>\u00a0–\u00a0He has shown You, O man, what\u00a0is\u00a0good; And what does the\u00a0Lord\u00a0require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Numbers 6:24-26<\/strong> \u201cThe\u00a0Lord\u00a0bless you and keep you; 25\u00a0the\u00a0Lord\u00a0make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26\u00a0the\u00a0Lord\u00a0turn His face\u00a0toward you and give you peace.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Philippians 2:3-4 – Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.\u00a0Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,\u00a04\u00a0not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a – \u00a0Love is patient,\u00a0love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.\u00a05\u00a0It does…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1192],"tags":[129,94,1874,1871,17],"class_list":["post-1901","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-devotion","tag-corinthians","tag-micah","tag-numbers","tag-philippians","tag-psalm"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1901","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1901"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1901\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1902,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1901\/revisions\/1902"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1901"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1901"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1901"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}