I Am Somebody

Facing setbacks

To be somebody is to face setbacks in faith, hope and love

to be able to see them as the Selah of the Lord

- times for listening to His voice

- times for rest in His presence

- times for being refreshed in His purpose for my life

To be somebody is not to close your eyes to dark reality

or to run away from difficulties and trials,

but to face all the realities of life

with faith in God, hope in God alone,

and  love Him who is in control and showering His love on us

in all circumstances at all times.

Being remembered

To be somebody is being remembered

On a very ordinary birthday,

By wife, children and grandchildren,

By family and friends,

By people near and far away,

Through e-cards, phone calls and text messages.

Being remembered on a birthday,

Is a token of love and appreciation,

Making you feel you are somebody.

But really, it is the person who remembers another person

And care enough to express his or her love

Who is somebody!

To be somebody is to forget about oneself

To remember our neighbour

And think about our other people’s need

Praying for friends

To be somebody is to pray for your friends

when pain in your body keeps you awake

and don’t allow you to sleep

but your care, concern and love are overcoming the pain

and causing you to pray with such fervour and zeal

that you transcend the aching body.

When you are able to forget your own pain

because you care for your friends

and must lift them up to the Throne of Grace

you show yourselves to be A Great Somebody

able to deny your own needs to meet those of others!

Valueing relationships

To be somebody is to value relationships

above politically correct opinions

or orthodox teology and right confession of belief

Living in a good relationship

with my Creator and my fellow man

make me a human person

Political opinions or religious theories

have a tendency to make me a political animal or a religious beast

Being a friend is more important

than having the best argument

When you care for people

by showing love through acts of mercy

you far exceed the greatest philosopher

in his clever definition of love

When you live in proper relationships

you are really somebody

even though you can't explain love

Seeing people through eyes of grace

To be somebody is looking for grace

And not be blinded by needs or shortcomings

It is to see God at work in people

Rejoicing in the small beginnings

Marvelling at the faith of the trembling steps into new grounds

Appreciating the budding potential

- in people longing, dreaming and believing

When you can flow with the grace of God

In whatever measure you find it in people

You will be able to help them grow

Bringing out the best in them

Stirring them to aspire for more

Provoking them to love and good works

You are somebody when you see people

Through the eyes of grace

Then you enable them to see themselves

Through the eyes of hope and faith

Ignoring the failures and dreaming of new adventures

As they rejoice in the incredible wealth of grace and kindness

Shown to them by God and their fellow man

Connecting people

To be somebody is being in the business
Of connecting people and
Allowing yourself to be connected to people
- Constantly reaching out to others
- Constantly breaking down barriers
- Constantly jumping over walls
- Constantly removing borders
Receiving and giving spiritual insight
Leaving comments and responding to e-mails
Talking on the phone and sending SMS messages
Touching, hugging and kissing
As you generously encourage others
Blessing them with your big smile
Accepting them for what they are
Receiving them into your heart
Lifting them up to God in prayer
Allowing God to speak to you
Through those who are different from you

Great people have the capacity
Of being joined in heart with a diversity of people
Each time they enter a covenant relationship
By the uniting Spirit of God
Their capacity for connecting with others is being enlarged

Being married

To be somebody is to be married
Because marriage is a risky enterprise
To marry is to dare to commit yourself
- to another person for life just because of love
To marry is to renounce a life of sovereign decision making
And to embrace the views and opinions of another person
Before any decisions are made – together!
To marry is to dare to open up your life
And fully share it with the one you love!

To be somebody is to stay married
In spite of differences and conflicting interests
In the faithfulness and loyalty of love
You will find strength and wisdom
To overcome the biggest obstacles
And fight through the battles to win the war of Love
By laying down your life
To make your marriage partner happy

To be somebody is being married
And enjoy every minute
As you find your way - together