Samurai…and donut holes?

What’s your name?  Mine is a strange one:  Danita.  Constantly misspelled, usually mispronounced.  And while I enjoy the ‘uniqueness’ of my name, the world doesn’t often recognize me!

Last week a good friend typed an encouraging message to me on Facebook.   She is one of my ‘soul’ sisters, part of a group of treasured Jesus- girlfriends who were standing together in intercession.  We were all facing tough stuff within our families, claiming God’s promises in the face of some ugly realities.  The truth is, while Jesus came to bring us life, and abundant joyful life, the enemy is  determined to steal and kill and destroy all that God intends for us (John 10:10) .  We were simply taking the authority He has given us to literally draw a line in the sand, put on the weapons of our warfare and say ‘No More’!

As she typed ‘Danita’, Facebook immediately underlined it in red.   Now, when this happens, you simply right click on the underlined word and a list of possible meanings shows up, right?  Well, when she right-clicked my name, the top possibility was ‘Samurai’.  Yep, that’s right!  According to the word processing folks at Facebook, ‘Danita’ can be translated as ‘Samurai’.   I am not only Danita, I am a warrior, a part of the spiritual elite.   Just like the Samurai in feudal Japan, I am chosen for a specific task, equipped to fight on behalf of ‘my people’ in prayer.   O, yes!  Thanks, God, I needed that!

That same week, another friend sent a group text about who was bringing what to our school breakfast.  When she typed in ‘Danita Hiles’, her phone translated it as ‘donut holes’.  Donut holes? Ha!  Besides really messing up our breakfast menu, this got me thinking….who am I on any given day?

How do I see myself as I face today?

Am I a ‘Samurai’ – a mighty Kingdom warrior full of His purpose for the day, equipped for whatever it brings?  Certain in being chosen, knowing that I am being led? 

Or am I a donut hole, fluffy, doughy , the leftover afterthought,  not much substance, molded into whatever shape the day forms around me?

Life easily slaps labels on us, doesn’t it? : widow, single mother, stressed, exhausted,  alone, hope-less,  adrift, forgotten.

“Is this really who I am”, we cry?  “Do the circumstances of this day really define me?”

Or is there the possibility that when we ‘right click’ on our day that His Word has a different definition of who we are, no matter what is going on around us. He says that we are:   Chosen, Adored, Created, Strong, Full of purpose, Divinely Equipped, Faith-full and Dearly Loved.

We can get so caught up in the daily stuff of life that we forget who we really are. I don’t know about you, but I need to remind myself every day.   So go ahead.  Find out what He says about you and post reminders in case you forget.    Put a card in your wallet.  Tape index cards on kitchen cabinets.  Write a message on your mirror !

Text yourself a reminder scheduled to your cell phone.   Just imagine cruising through an ugly day and ‘bing!’  you look down to see a text:   ‘Hey girl- yes, you – I love you.   I know the plans I have for you, for a future and a hope’ – Love, Jesus’.   Stuff like that has a way of re-formatting our thoughts and changing our perspective on the day, doesn’t it?

Here are some thoughts to get you started:

I love you with an everlasting love. I will continue to show you my kindness.  Jeremiah 31:3

The Lord has chosen you to be His treasured possession.   Deut. 14:2

Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world.  Jeremiah 1:5

I am my Beloved’s and He is mine.   Song of Solomon 7:10

We are His workmanship, created in Christ to do good works which Christ has ordained for us Eph 2:10

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God, for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with robes of righteousness.  Isaiah 61:10

With much love, a shiny sword, and no donut holes,

Danita ( Samurai )