Finding Identity

Waiting...I hate to wait. I'm sure you do, too. Unless you are just completely laid back, you probably don't like it. Last week and this week, we're talking at Identity about "Living in the In-Between: What to Do While You're Waiting on God." We talked about that God rarely gives a promise that He fulfills immediately, inspite of how much we want everything "right now"! He requires a "waiting period." And what we do in that time determines, it seems to me at least, how quickly or soon we receive those promises.

Hebrews 6 tells us that through faith and patience, we receive the promises or inherit the promises of God. It takes both, our faith in God's character to fulfill them and patience to let Him work His perfect work in us while we wait. I believe that one of the reasons we have to wait is that God is building His character into us, so that we can hold, or contain the promises when it does come.

What are the promises you are waiting on? Do you really believe what God said He will do? Hebrews 11:6 says we must believe that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him diligently. We have to have faith in His unfailing character. But also, are you patient, waiting expectantly allowing Him to do His character work in you? If we get what we want before we can handle what we want, we may lose it. But if you and I can be patient and allow His purpose in our waiting to be fulfilled, we'll have the character to keep what He gives!

What are you waiting on?

Posted by PJ at 9:57 AM | Permalink | Comments

More sunrise pictures! 

Posted by PJ at 7:12 PM | Permalink | Comments

This is a picture of sunrise this morning on top of a "mountain" near here where we held our first Identity Sunrise Service. It was absolutely beautiful.

Posted by PJ at 7:06 PM | Permalink | Comments

Tonight Joanne and I met up with Brandy and Mandy and went to a FREE Delirious and Tree63 concert. It was a great night. The music was loud, and the energy was great, the presence of God was so strong. It was wonderful. I just couldn't get over that Delirious was in Clarksburg...and a free concert at that!

Saw someone there tonight that brought back a lot of bad memories. We never spoke, but seeing them brought up unexpected anger and feelings of guilt in me. It is amazing that after 13 years what you think that you've already dealt with you, you really haven't completely. I know that I've given a lot of it over, but here it was shining in my face once again. During one of the songs I realized that the words of these people had carried far greater weight in my heart than I had even thought, though I knew that it had hurt me greatly before. But I began to see that I've allowed their words to many times outweigh the true words that many other people have spoken over me. That even in those good times, these previous words that hurt and stung had taken a bit of the "thunder" from me. And many times, I'm still comparing those words together and finding myself lacking.

Father, forgive me for listening to evil reports and negative declarations of who I am and what you are and have made me. Thank you that you are not bound by man's insecurities, frustrated by man's opinion and certainly not swayed by man's judgment...even though we are many times...okay, most of the time. Help me to hear you and listen to your voice above all and over all others. It's your voice that matters, it's your voice that I need. Thank you. I love you, God.

By Casting Crowns...Voice of Truth...no wonder it means so much to me:

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes
To climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out His hand
But the waves are calling out my name
And they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again.
"Boy, you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
The voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand
But the giant's calling out my name
And he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again.
"Boy you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"

But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
From on top of them lookin' down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
The voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Posted by PJ at 10:42 PM | Permalink | Comments