“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Heb. 13:8
Mother Cornelius Taylor is unforgettable. She was a classic “church mother.” An older woman who wore dresses well below her knees, feet shod with block heeled, tie-up, black granny shoes, and never without a hat. Mother Taylor was a sweet old lady and a prayer warrior. But that’s not why she’s memorable. Her famous taglines were, “I’ve got love onboard for everybody” and “I have one face under one hat.”
Mother Taylor loved the Lord. She loved people. She wasn’t two-faced. Like Jesus, Mother Taylor was always the same, consistent, one face under one hat. That kind of consistency can only be found in knowing who you are and Whose you are.
To be truly successful in life and ministry it is imperative that we know our identity in Christ. Otherwise, we will take our cues from the world and our feelings and live lives of mistaken identity.
Pastors’ wives can feel pressured to be who people think we should be. That’s why it’s important, imperative even, to live up to who Christ says we are. Only in Him do we find the ability that gives us the stability to be consistently authentic, original, our truest self.
In Him you are:
A accepted in the Beloved and the apple of God’s eye. Eph. 1:6, Ps. 17:8
B born again and beautiful. Ps. 149:4
C chosen by God and more than a conqueror. Eph. 1:4-5, Rom. 8:37
D delivered from the power of darkness. Col. 1:13
E equipped to do all things thru Christ who gives me strength. Phil. 4:13
F fearfully and wonderfully made. Ps. 139:14
G growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Pet. 3:18
H the habitation of the Holy Spirit, an heir of God. Eph. 2:22, Rom. 8:16-17
I increasing in the knowledge of God. Col. 1:10
J God’s jewel; worth far more than rubies. Prov. 31:10
K known by God. 1Cor. 8:3
L loved unconditionally. Rom. 8:38-39
M made in God’s image and likeness. Gen. 1:27
N a new creation. 2 Cor. 5:17
O an overcomer. 1 John 2:13
P pleasing in God’s sight. John 8:29
Q qualified to share in the inheritance of the saints. Col. 1:12
R reconciled to God thru Christ, redeemed by His blood, reigning with Jesus, royal, rejoicing in hope, resting on God’s promises.
2 Cor. 5:18, Rev. 5:9, 2 Tim. 2:12, 1Pet. 2:9, Rom. 12:12, Heb. 6:12
S strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Eph. 6:10
T transformed by the renewing of my mind. Rom. 12:2
U undefiled in the way and walking in the law of the Lord Ps. 119:1
V a victorious, virtuous woman. 1 Cor. 15:57, Prov. 31:10-31
W God’s workmanship, created to do good works. Eph. 2:10
X expecting to experience exceeding great and precious promises. 2 Pet. 1:4
Y yielded to God. Rom. 6:13Z
Z zealous for the things of the Lord. Tit. 2:14
Beloved, if you adhere to who Christ says you are you will always be like Mother Taylor, who was so Christ-like, one face under one hat.