What is your culture? Your identity? Your truth?

Culture can be defined as “the language, beliefs, values, norms, behaviors, and even art, buildings, weapons, machines, and even eating utensils, hairstyles, and clothing.” If you were to tear down every brick that creates who you are, what would define you?

That question can be very difficult to answer, at least it is for me. Whenever someone asks me to describe myself, I never know what to say. It’s either because I don’t want to sound selfish and prideful or I really just don’t know. My brain freaks out when that question is asked. But really though, what is your IDENTITY, your culture, your truth?

After being born in Kansas, my family moved us to Blair, Nebraska, a small town (for me) outside of Elkhorn and Omaha. In Blair, everybody knew everybody. We would walk to school and then right after school we would all hang out at our friends house. Sometimes we would all walk downtown and grab ice cream from the ice cream parlor, my favorite was always cotton candy. Or we would go to Lions Park and play on the playground down there for hours. Blair was home for me. Around fourth grade, my family and I moved to Omaha, Nebraska. This was a big change for all of us. I never really understood why we moved, but I just knew our cousins and grandparents lived down there. So we moved. Our house in Omaha was massive compared to the small ranch styled house we had in Blair. Omaha was very intimidating because I didn’t know anyone. I didn’t even know who my neighbors were because they never left their house, at least that’s what it seemed like. In comparison to Blair, the people in Omaha were never outside, it was like lava to them (relating to the game the floor is lava). Nobody ever told the full truth and were just living their personas. Since I was living there from fourth grade to senior year of high school, the culture became imperceptible to me. After senior year, I moved to Kearney which really reminded me of the life I lived while in Blair. This event genuinely changed my perspective and I felt like I could fully see the culture around me and truly be thankful for it.

The culture you live in reflects who you are, how you act, and what you say. For instance, people in the Midwest say “ope” or “oof” A LOT. You don’t really hear that anywhere else.

So let me ask this again…what’s your culture???

All week I have been surrounded with subjects such as “identity”, “culture”, and “truth”. This all has led me to write this blog.

Let me tell you right now, I’m not perfect. I mess up A LOT. But what’s my identity? what is my truth? In Genesis 1:27 it says, “So God created human beings in his own image.” We were created to reflect God’s nature. And in Genesis 5:1 it says that He made us to be like himself. I just think that’s mind-blowing. I don’t know about you, but I don’t feel like I am anywhere close to the image of God. With knowing who God is and what He says reassures me in knowing that I am created by God and in the image of God. God created me uniquely and set-apart. I’m not like anyone else, and neither are you. Identity is really one of the most important things to surely understand who you are. Knowing what makes us tick, makes us laugh, what brings us true joy is undoubtedly a key to understanding ourselves. Identity in God doesn’t depend on the color of hair you have or the trends of todays society, and really anything you can think of. Have you let others define who you are? Tell you who you are and who you aren’t? Messing with your heart like it is a puppet, pulling each string until it snaps. God has ALREADY defined you in His perfect Son, Jesus Christ! But we forget that sometimes, and chase after meaningless desires and earthy possessions to find who we “truly are”. Sometimes you would see that as trying to fit in, be cool. To try and be someone we’re not. Our true identity is much more precious. It is eternal. Galatians 2:20 says “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” So why do we try sooooo hard to fit in and get approval from a world we are not apart of? Listen, I know this sucks to hear, but we will never get their full approval. And anyways, the worlds approval doesn’t matter. Let me repeat that again: the worlds approval DOESN’T MATTER. You have a Heavenly father who loves you more than anyone on this earth ever could.

Do you know how special you are in God’s eyes?? Here is what God says about YOU:

• 1 Peter 2:9 – You are chosen
• 1 Thessalonians 1:4 – You are irreplaceable
• Deuteronomy 14:2 – You are treasured
• Romans 8:38-39 – You are loved beyond compare
• Jeremiah 1:5 – You are set apart
• Isaiah 49:15-16 – You are not forgotten

Don’t skim this. Read each word intentionally and take it in. This is YOU. This is who you are when you get that bad grade on a test. This is you when you’ve messed up so very bad and feel like it is unforgivable. This is your identity. On good days, it might be easy to agree, but when the bottom comes out from under you, do you still believe this as your identity? Do you embrace it? No matter how you are feeling today, who you use to be, and what you are going through, this is who God says you are. This is your identity for all of eternity. Embrace it!

So let me ask you this one last time…what is your culture? What’s your identity? What is your truth?

Love,

Emily