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How often do you sit down and really think about the question “Who am I?” Or do you just run from thing to thing busying yourself with all these different hats that often have the ability to form your identity.  But if you take a moment to think deeper, Who are you? It isn’t always comfortable is it? Does it make you feel content, restless, anxious, satisfied? Is it hard to come up with an answer? If you take the time to think about this, does it change anything?

I have been struggling with this.  Who am I? Right now, all I feel like I am is a mess. I feel like I can’t keep up. I feel restless. I feel bored. I feel too busy.  But I know deep down that isn’t who it is. But why is it taking over? I know I am a child of God, I know I am valuable to God, I know I have purpose in God.  But I give in to this world that screams insecurity, success, comparison, all those things that get in the way of my true identity.  And its overwhelming. Rather than being overwhelmed by the power of Christ in me and my identity in him, I am overwhelmed by the inadequacies I feel and the things I am not doing.  I am distracted by too many things. I am filling time rather than filling my soul. But God created me as me. Unique, in Him, with purpose. And I want to be able to live in that. So I need to take some time to think, “Who am I”? “How did God make me me?” I want to be free in me. I want to be free to run recklessly, passionate about life. And be …

Reorganize

Last week I had the incredible privilege of being included in a reorganization process where two groups were merging into one. Both groups had a common foundational vision to care for the poor and underprivileged and both groups had grown out of a common passion to serve Christ, show love in action and make a difference. Reorganizing brings fresh opportunities, new ways of solving problems and renewed energy. Reorganizing challenges us to think outside the box and to open our hearts and minds to new ideas.

Some principles I learned through this process are emphasized in these passages from the bible(The Message version).

“If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care — then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.”
Philippians 2:1-4 MSG

“So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:22-25 MSG

Communication is key when one is working with others to help them refocus and reorganize. When I am trying to encourage relationship reorganization and influence others to change, I must be willing …

It’s a powerful feeling to be forgiven for a mistake you’ve made. Knowing that although we messed up, we get a new chance to be better and to do better. As part of our sinful nature we are going to mess up and make mistakes A LOT. But we are also saved by grace–and forgiven by a love so powerful that he throws our mistakes as far as the east is to the west.

“As distant as the east is from the west, that is how far he has removed our sins from us.” -Psalm 103:12

As I was recharging myself this week by forgiveness this song came on the radio and it just so perfectly portrayed God’s forgiveness. Let the words rush over you, empower you, and fill you will joy that you serve a God that forgives. The song is called, Drops in the Ocean, by Hawk Nelson.

“Drops In The Ocean”

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Have you ever felt a physical affect from being afraid? In your mind you feel anxious, uncertain, and hesitant.  But in your body you may actually be able to feel the tension, the strain, and the heightened senses. But what is that fear? Is there really a danger? Or is the situation blown out of proportion because of a bias, a preconceived idea, or an opinion? Some of our bodies affects are good things.  Sometimes we need that extra adrenaline or the alert of danger.  But what about when our fears are just holding us back from who we want to be?

Fear prepares us to react.  But reactions are impulses, in the moment gut feelings, and can’t sometimes be far from reality. We go into fight or flight mode. Rather than being able to assess the information, listen to our hearts, minds, and feelings, we react.  Being aware of fears, of your triggers, or your anxieties can have a huge influence on how it affects you.  Fears will most likely always be there, they will come and go. But the more we recognize them, the more we are able to put on the necessary armor to battle against them. Have you recognized your fears? Or are you blind to them? Think through what keeps you up at night, what keeps you from doing things, what are those gut reactions that leave you unsettled?  Be real with your fears. And Be real with what you can do about them. And release them.

What can you do?

• Talk to someone about them
• Think about what your reactions are, then go backwards to what your fears may be
• Breathe
• Yoga, or something that relaxes you
• Call a friend
• Pray specifically over the actual fear
• Ask for Prayer from other

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How do you live your life?  Does what you believe make a difference in how you make decisions? Does it reflect who you are? What are you holding on to? What do you need to release? Are you living life to the fullest? Or are you missing out on something more fulfilling? This week I was reading the part in James that talks about faith and deeds.

In the book of James in the New Testament of the Bible, James 2:18-24,26 says “‘You have faith; I have deeds’. Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.…