YQ Review: Identity

Thanks to all who came to YQ!!! Most of us are sick or have been from this weekend. I want to review a bit of the happenings on the weekend with everyone who came and to update those who didn't.

Let's start with AJ's beautiful Outfit

Joking. But, in honesty it was pretty cool to see him cry over the work God had done over the weekend.

Let's talk Grant Fishbook and the amazing messages that were uttered speedily.

Honestly, he was a fast talker and at times difficult to keep up with. Besides criticizing his form, let's look at the message. First, know that all his messages will be on Briercrest's website, under podcasts, very soon!

The first two message had everything to do with Identity. The idea that, in Christ we have a new identity. Just like God changed Jacob's name from the trickster to wrestles with God and overcomes! God names him Israel! That man, a man who was so corrupt and sick with sin was transformed by God to give birth to the great nation of Isreal. His name bore the name of an entire nation. When we come to God, repenting of our sin, God gives us a new identity. He makes us new beings. God names us (here I can picture Grant's thumbs up as he numbers them) "My Child," and a few others that slip my mind. Can you help me out? What are some names God gives us?

In finding this new identity we have to throw our current identity to God and pick up the new one, like Moses threw his identity in his staff to the ground and picked up his new one, trusting in God that the snake would not bite him. What are the implications of this you may ask?

YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN. We try to rule our lives the best we can but in reality we belong to God. His blood has paid for us and he gives us our new identity and life (1 Cor 6). I dare you to read that chapter and see for yourselves. And see how good it is that we are not our own. This is not a tragedy, but a blessing. Check it out.

As scared as the Groundhog

Feb 2nd was a grand day. The sun was shining, the snow was glistening. Then, in a moment, chaos broke out. The groundhog saw his shadow. Terrified as he was, he leaped back into his whole in fright of the darkness cast by himself. Thus, he predicted 6 more weeks of winter.

The issue is this: The Historic Foundation of Canada did a test within 13 cities from the past 30-40 years and found that the groundhog is only successful 37% of the time. If only he realized the sun caused his shadow then he may be more credible. Huh...

Ephesians 5 talks about a load of rules we are to follow. Though not as ridiculous as the groundhog rule, the passage can sound like our mom is down our throats telling us not to have sex and stop swearing or I'll wash your mouth out with soap. Feel my wrath!!!!! The problem isn't the rules or discipline, its the fact that we have no idea why there are rules.

Verses 8-9 begin to tell us the answer. It's because "you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as Children of light." The darkness once filled our lives, but when we come to God and find ourselves in His grace, he fills us with his light and we become light's for God and we must not put it under a bowl (Matt 5).

The Ephesians passage has a dilemma: It says we are light, but yet calls us to be light. If we are light why are we not being light? That is exactly Paul's and God's question to us. God says, I have purified you and have called you my child. I make you holy and your name is now written in the lambs book of life. And you still live as the child of darkness I redeemed you from.

Here's the issue we face: We get scared of our own shadow, just like the groundhog. And are wrong 37% or more of the time. If only it were the opposite. We get scared that there is still darkness in our lives and we hide from it instead of facing it. If only we realized that the only way we see sin and darkness in our lives is because God reveals it to us (1 John 3:20). If only we saw that The Shadow Proves the Sunshine, as Relient K reminds us, then we could face our sin head on realizing its God who is shining behind us. He causes us to be light, but all we see is our own darkness!

So turn around little groundhogs, see that the Shadow proves the sunshine and let the Lord's brilliance illuminate us.

God's Will (What will you be when you grow up?)

Psalm 19 ends with a powerful prayer that admits the defeat of the self and the power of God. It is a prayer of confession that takes honour from the self and places honour where it belongs, with God.

The psalm begins with creation proclaiming the glory of God and then turns to the laws of the Lord being perfect, "reviving the soul." Next, David confesses his hidden faults and willful sins as well. Then this verse blows everything out of the water, "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Oh Lord, my rock, and my redeemer."

As I attempt to wake up each morning I also make a second attempt: to get focused. Our society pushes us to success and to "advance" in life. We are asked from a young age "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Of course this is an innocent question . . . until it becomes our obsession. I would like to answer this question, though, for all to hear. My answer is this:

PERFECT! That's right. I want to be perfect when I grow up. In Thessalonians 4 and 5 Paul redefines what God's will is for our lives or what our destiny or desires may be. Not once does it mention a where or a what, but a How. Its not where you live or what you become that is ultimately God's will for our lives, it is How we live it out. Being holy and sanctified is what matters. God's Spirit gives us this gift of holiness and sanctification. In other words, God makes us perfect in Him. Not perfect in our terms, but his. Complete in unity with God. So, one can be a plumber and still glorify God with his life, maybe better.

How can we let the Spirit do this in our lives???? Its really hard some may say. Here is some help from Colossians 4:2-6:

1) Be in Prayer

2)Be Watchful

3) Be Thankful

1) Be in Prayer because this is our direct connection with God. We must spent time with Him to be immersed in His Spirit.

2)Be Watchful in how to be God's light in a dark world. Serving others in Christ removes selfishness.

3) Be Thankful because a thankful heart is a soft heart, and God molds soft hearts. God can purify soft hearts but hard hearts He leaves alone.

So I end with this focus and Prayer as I enter this New Year: "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Oh Lord, my rock, and my redeemer!"

A Christmas Blessing

As life moves forward I notice my last post was in November. You can tell that the Christmas season really takes a toll on you.

As you read this I want it to be more of a prayer of blessing over you as you celebrate family, food, friends, and whatever else Christmas brings.

May you richly enjoy the provisions of the Lord

And Celebrate all He has given.

May you also focus on Christ

In His humble act.

May God lavish on you peace and love

Through the joy of His Son

May you look to Him as Life and for life.

John 10

Life

I imagine that I will title many Blogs "LIFE" over the course of this blog,. but for good reason. It is a necessity to focus on the wrath of God and the pain in this world, but only when leading to the life that God has promised and gives today. The flip side is also true. Life is so much more beautiful when viewed in light of God's wrath and the suffering of this world. It is at this point where we do more than quote scripture, we proclaim "Jesus is life!" Just as Jesus did not end with death, but was resurrected to life on the third day so we have a resurrection to hope in.

Though we were objects of wrath, because of God's love, we are made ALIVE with Christ. This life brings us to the heavenly realms with Christ. Notice we are "made" alive. Two things: 1) It is not by our own power. 2) It has been done and is happening. "For by one sacrifice he has made perfect those who are being made holy" Hebrews 10:14.

Discover the Life with Christ. It fulfills, it completes, it makes us perfect in Christ. Living by our own nature causes death. Our world causes death, whereas our God regenerates and creates life. All Glory and honour belongs to Him who alone is immortal and gives immortality.