Living an Intentional Life
Tatum and I searched all over for the little guy? Where did he go?
Then, I see this two eyes peering from under her bed. He would not come out!?
Sometimes, the ringtone on my phone text scares him, and I thought the new one was safe (it’s a choo-choo train), but apparently not!
Tatum crawled under her bed to comfort him.
Then she figured she’d stay under there with him and her baby.
Now, I have two rug rats under there. HELP!
There is a battle brewing in the world. Some would say it’s war against nations. Some would say it’s a battle in the workplace. Others say it is among familiies. According to our Pastor, Terry Crist, he says the REAL issue is the issue of identity. We all struggle with the question, “WHO AM I? WHO WAS I CREATED TO BE?”
It makes sense that the common man wants to belong and be important somehow.
WE have a choice: One can listen to how the world defines him/her or one can listen to how GOD defines him/her. This is the message I want Tatum to hear. Her identity, our identity, is what GOD says about her and us.
So, Tatum here it is:
YOU ARE LOVED BY GOD; that is your identity. You will struggle with wanting to be affirmed by people. This is natural! But do you know what? A mistaken identity will lead to wrong behavior. This comes from Proverbs 23:7, As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he!”
Honey, spend time on your inner man. Spend time nurturing your soul and getting to know God. Know that He loves you with All that He is. You must understand who GOD made you to be. (too many people spend time on their bodies and minds and relationships and although VERY IMPORTANT, they can’t define you.)
Sure, you have your hard work. Some will say, “She is such hard worker.” Awesome!
That may be true. But that is not WHO you are.
Others will say, “Oh, that Tatum…she is so smart and well read!” She keeps on the latest world news, reads the funnies, enjoys books.. Again, wonderful! But this is not WHO you are.
And then others will try to define you by your relationships. You have many loved ones, and even in church, when others are running amok, you listen and are kind. 
This is all important and good. BUT your identity is being at the HEART of God and His HEART is Jesus, His gift to us. YOU are more than the identities the world gives you. Ephesians 1:11 says IN Christ, we found out who we are. As a follower of Jesus, your identity comes from your relationship with him. 2 Corinthians 5:15-17 “and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.…”
Tatum, you are a NEW creation. Not as a little beautiful girl (although true), but ONE LOVED AND ADORED BY GOD. He has GIVEN you Jesus. Jesus gave HIS life so you could not only have Him live in your heart but also to have a relationship with GOD!
1. It’s a complete transformation. AND now..We live with a GREAT expression of gratitude and great expectation. 1 Peter 1: 3-4″ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” WE ARE IN HIM!
2. We now live a resurrected life. HE CAME TO GIVE US LIFE! (A new one!) and He came to give us life abundant. You’re a new self, Tot. Colossians 3: 1-3 “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.…”
3. SO this world gets tough and the people in it may disappoint, but know that your citizenship is in heaven and you’re a new citizen with a REAL Father. Jesus is your LORD (God is your FATHER!) Phil 3:8-10: “More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;…”
Tatum, your identity is that of a child of THE Father. God. He gave us Jesus, His son, who died so that we may LIVE LIFE ABUNDANTLY and to HIS glory! Let’s do that. Let’s make the most of our life, loving others, being a light, leading others to the truth, and putting our FAITH in Jesus.
I love you darling, and may you always remember WHO YOU ARE.
Can soap be this much fun! Grab an egg beater, some measuring cups, and you have yourself a party. 
To top it off, get some DOT PAINTS and make letters. This stuff is genius! No mess no fuss. Just unscrew the top and dab away. She made her own “D” today with dots.
Has paint ever been so much fun? And neat for that matter!
And what a blessing it is. I’m part of a tremendous group called Mom’s of the City (MOTC). The joy of being part of this group last year as a SAHM enabled me to make a bunch of close mommy friends and friends for Tot. It’s also a group that believes that you just have to be REAL and show up. We all come twice a month for sharing, praying, encouraging, and laughing! Tot gets to be with her friends at the same time.
This next year, I have been asked to be a table leader. This means I’ll be loving on about 8 women as I help them build stronger bonds with not only each other but Jesus and His love. Being a part of the leadership also means I had to attend a meeting this Saturday all day. What was I to do with the Tot? Well, dear Janette had the same issue, so I brought Tatum over to play with her boy, Levi, and she hired a sitter, Jackie, for the whole day. They had a B..L..A..S..T!!! This calmed me and also made her so happy!
Jackie mentioned she was so kind and polite the whole time. This also made me smile!
Of course we had to start the day with a devotion and quick story as usual. This starts the day out with a positive spin and a calm mind!
Bringing Tot to a Bobby’s book launch brought back odd memories and made new ones. Bobby just wrote a new book called, Help! I’m Really Single. This gave Tot the opportunity to meet some of my old friends, see Bobby and stay up late! (oh and have a real hotdog) 
She immediately spotted him and wanted a picture with her Godfather. 
She especially wants to have him teach her how to skateboard.
It struck me how as time goes on many things stay the same. Many of the singles there (half the crowd) were from a group I was in years ago. They are all still hanging out and still well, hanging out. Single. It seems as though Bobby has a captive audience. I edited the book and have to say it’s effective and true..and hopefully will help some of these guys to “man-up” and make a commitment.
Meanwhile, Tot and I sat in the back, listened, laughed and she ….
enjoyed her hotdog!
It’s been pretty awesome to have my first born hang with me lately. He’s been sleeping in my room, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.
However, I think the best part is the fact that Tatum loves Coti so much. She being an “only” has produced some anxiety for me lately, I must admit. But she loves playing with him and throwing the ball. They play catch the ball and have the cutest camaraderie. I even saw her compassionate side poke out as Coti had to go to the Dr. for his foot. Supposedly he has allergies (like the rest of us), and he needed to eat more broccoli, cauliflower and pumpkin in his food. Seriously? She said also to never give him garlic, onion, or grapes. Sure… I’ll watch the dog’s spaghetti sauce intake with a side of luscious grapes!?
Anyway she loved on him like her own little brother. AND SHE EVEN let him wear her Minnie barrette! Now that is love.
Love these two cuddle bugs.
