Category: Identity in Christ

Posted on

The right of every woman and girl

For 25 years, God has allowed me to share His heart with Texas college and high school women about our true identity. Who are we, anyway? All of us currently live in a world of pretend, heartache, and shame. Yet, we are more than filtered Instagram pics.  Our collective beauty can be more than external.  Our level of satisfaction in life should be more than just “the next thing” in life.  All women sense there is something more to life than beauty, school, career, health, wealth, marriage, and motherhood. Is there something else to make us feel valued?  Rather than a something, could it be a Someone? Could it be Someone who knows us because He made us?  I cannot adequately express the joy of seeing young women choose to come to Jesus to be made new as someone cherished, valuable, and crucial to the plan of God. It’s no accident that the first person to see the Risen Christ was a radiantly new woman. (John 20) Remember, Jesus was -and is-perfect and yet He gave His first glimpse of resurrection purity to an astonishingly imperfect woman who loved Him. Mary could be my bestie! (Can I get a witness?)

He is still at work in the lives of women.   

Now, ready for some next generation hope? For years,  my daughter (and her dance pals!) joined me to speak about true identity  every summer.  These are more than just cartoon princess events. These are times we look at what Jesus -the true King-offers to every girl who believes in Him the role as Daughter of the King.  The symbolism of this crown is never lost on these girls! They understand it’s a gift to be received and that crown means “princess”.  When girls put on this crown and turn (for the first time) to see themselves in a mirror, they always smile at their reflection! Why? Because the unconditional love and favor of the King has been lavished upon them and they see it represented by the crown!  

Many of are not girls anymore-yet we STILL want new identities.  We don’t want a mere makeover.  We want a MakeNew.   Have you given up on feeling “special” in this world? Look out of this temporal world to the eternal Kingdom of Love. Jesus holds out a new crown  for you with the inscription SHE WHO IS ADORED.  He loves you. (John 3:16)  We’ve all made mistakes. (Romans 3:23) Jesus paid for our mistakes and wants to give us new hearts and new lives!(Romans 5:8) Now what? Tell Him you believe Him . Tell Him you believe He is God and you are not. Thank Him for dying for you. Ask Him-now-to make you new! (Revelation 3:20) Are you ready? Your life is about to radiate His love, His purpose and His power! Learn about your King by reading the book of John.  Then,  look in the mirror and say, “This girl is special for she knows the King! ” 🙂

 
Posted on

Jesus on one page?

Monday morning pals & I took the identity of Jesus (“Christology”!🤓) & put it on ONE page!! Jesus said this about Himself-John 8:56-59, John 14:8-10, Matthew 28:18-20. His followers said this about Him- Colossians 1:15-17, Colossians 2:9, Hebrews 1:3. Jesus fulfills Old Testament prophecy Isaiah 53. 2 big church heresies-Arianism (“Jesus was a man, but not God”) Docetism (“Jesus was God, not man”) The takeaway? Jesus is fully God, fully man, died for sin, & rose from the dead. Bam! This is the crux of our faith-the basics (which are never basic!), the Essentials, “follow up”, & orthodox view of the Greatest Person of all time. Can you imagine if we all learned this & talked about it over coffee? Share this with your friend, your bible study, or your child! Thank you to my girl, @ashlamonogue for taking messy & making it beautiful!! @lorincatalena @aliciaroselima @ashlamonogue You ladies inspire!!! You each are examples of wanting to KNOW Him-I love u!! @gracebible #followup #basics #churchhistory #orthodoxy #theology#identityofchrist #whodoyousayiam

Posted on

How to accept yourself

There are two creatures that amaze me-the caterpillar and the butterfly. In a sense, they are both butterflies.  I once read a quote said, “Nobody looks at a butterfly and says ,”Hey, look at that converted worm!” Reality says the butterfly has been utterly transformed.  From dull gray to delicate yellow. Is there any creature that reflects our identity as believers in Christ? Death to life. Peasant to princess.
Adjust our vision, Lord.
If we have are believers in Jesus, we know (but struggle to believe) that God HAS a life planned for us. The life He longs to gives is new beauty, not former shame.

It’s not even a makeover! It’s a MAKE NEW!
Proud? He can give us His humility and security.
Vain? He can give us His beauty and peace.
Weak? He can give us resurrection strength.

Every day, I have to have to answer the question “Will I accept myself?”  If you are a human, you will instinctively see the slimy caterpillar as your “mini-me”. You will think of yourself as only suited for the ground. You feel like you are a creature meant for lowly living-primarily in the dark.
Ask Jesus to help you see the truth of your new identity. He does not see you as a worm!
Picture the old chrysallis husk cracking open and falling off. This is your past. Maybe yesterday?
Now, imagine our wings. Our wings are light and free, yet strangely out of proportion! Our remake reflects God’s design for us.
I have always loved butterflies and never knew why. I think it’s because they are transformed beyond imagination. They seem secure and quietly content in their new form. I want to live like that-my function being reflected by my form!
Believe truth and look up to your heavenly stylist. The strength of His smile shines on you. Open your wings!
Now fly because you can.