Identity Security

Here’s one conversation Mary didn’t have to have with Joseph as they awaited the birth of the baby she was carrying: “Joseph, what should we name the baby?” Unlike most people awaiting a birth, they had no question about what they would call this child. The angels who visited Mary and then Joseph told them both that the baby’s name would be Jesus (Matthew 1:20–21; Luke 1:30–31). The angel that appeared to Joseph explained that this…

Light is remarkable, yet we go about our lives hardly giving it any thought. For instance, light is a singular white beam, but it can be separated into many colors. Countless scientists have devoted their entire career to proving whether light is composed of particles or waves, yet remarkably it’s both. And when combined with water and soil, light helps life to grow. Not only that, but it moves faster than everything in the known universe. Keep these qualities in mind…

Since the beginning of time, every age has faced unprecedented battles. Today’s Western world lives and breathes a gospel of now. Instant gratification is the way of our culture; it is the norm, the expectation. This gospel has deeply infiltrated authentic Christianity, and the desire to have it our way and to have it now is toxic to becoming restored as a man. When we turn to the gospel, the story of God and his kingdom, we find a very different reality. Doesn&rsquo…

At the Himba of Namibia in Southern Africa, the date of birth of a child is fixed, not at the time of its arrival in the world, nor in its design, but much earlier: since the day the child is thought in His Mother's mind.⠀ ⠀ When a woman decides she's going to have a child, she settle down and rests under a tree, and she listens until she can hear the song of the child who wants to be born. And after she heard this child's song, she comes back to the man…

I recently experienced a "God moment" while starting a new entry in my journal.  I wrote the date at the top of the page like I always do, but this time I paused because it felt... different.  It felt significant.  Do you know that feeling when God is trying to get your attention?  I wrote the date, and I saw the blank page and rather than diving into the normal writing routine I just stopped and waited.  Here was just a page with a date…

“Understanding your identity in Christ is absolutely essential to your success at living the victorious Christian life…The more you reaffirm who you are in Christ, the more your behavior will begin to reflect your true identity.” From Victory Over the Darkness, by Dr. Neil Anderson Here’s what God’s Word has to say about it. John 1:12 I am God’s child John 15:15 I am a friend of God Matthew 5:13 I am the salt of the earth Matthew 5:14 I…

“Our globe is being shaken harder and harder by the forces of chaos. As it’s shaken, so are we. The more chaotic it is, the more shook-up everyone in it tends to become. It’s like trying to do everyday life in a continuous earthquake. Or in a swirling snowstorm. It’s hard to gain our bearings. To think straight. To see what’s really going on.” Allen Arnold – Chaos Can’t I remember, very clearly, a time in my life when the only…

The way to render a man happy, is to engage him with an object that will make him forget his private troubles. — Pascal Don't be fooled by the apparent innocence of the object you've chosen as an idol; what is the function of it? Most of our idols also have a perfectly legitimate place in our lives. That's their cover, that's how we get away with our infidelity. The prophet Isaiah gives an example of this when he marvels at a man who cuts down a…

Today I'm sharing an encouraging story sent to me by a long-time friend who's part of the ministry team at Jesus Film. Take the time to read it. You'll start the day with a much-needed smile seeing Gods amazing grace and mercy. _________________________________ Madagascar is an enormous island nation located off the coast of East Africa. Thousands of small villages dot the countryside, connected by foot trails, rugged roads and rivers. In one of these…