This is such a foundational question to life. Maybe THE question. Imagine a child not knowing their identity? Lost? Afraid? Angry? Sad?
Parents, Imagine for a second your own children... How important is it for them to know deep in their heart that they r loved by u? If they didn't clearly know this, would they be the same child???
We r the same way with our Creator. If we don't fundamentally know that we r loved, then we will THINK differently, resulting in different behavior.
GOD LOVES U RIGHT NOW. WHO U R, Where u r.
We r connected to him right now, at this very second. Just like a child to their loving parent.
THIS IS YOUR IDENTITY!!!!!!!!
He loves us. Oh, how he loves us.
When we forget this fact, when we do not "bask in the light" of this very fact, we may start FEELING SEPERATED and ACTING different.
We may become like a child that feels guilty about being "bad". They may start to think they themselves r bad, then act out on it.
Next we may start thinking "I have to clean my life up, my marriage, my career, my bad habits, my drinking, my behavior, etc.... THEN (and only then) I CAN GET RIGHT WITH GOD.
BUT WE HAVE IT ALL BACKWARD!!!!
We can NEVER clean up our life enough!!! What r u going to do? Clean it up 10% better? 50%? 100%? 200%??? How good is good enough for God???
The good news is that we don't have to clean it up at all to have relationship with God. Just like a loving father or mother, your identity is that he loves u right now and is waiting with his arms open, ready to embrace your heart and ready to share relationship with u.
He created u for the same reason your parents created u and for the same reason u created your kids.... FOR RELATIONSHIP!!! THAT IS YOUR IDENTITY!!!
He loves us. Oh, how he loves us. Its written in your heart. You know it. Embrace it without guilt. The last thing GOD wants u to feel is guilt. Guilt seperates. Divides. Destroys. Guilt is the devil enemy.
Today, right now, begin by knowing u r loved. Like a child that knows this deep in his heart and stays close to the family.
That is who u r :-)
Peace,
Dave
(Picture is Jonni helping our friend Sagi)
The story below of the Lost (Prodigal) Son is a great Bible story that explains the kind of love that God has for us.
The Story of the Lost Son - Luke 16
11 Then he said, "There was once a man who had two sons.
12 The younger said to his father, 'Father, I want right now what's coming to me.' 13 It wasn't long before the younger son packed his bags and left for a distant country. There, undisciplined and dissipated, he wasted everything he had. 14 After he had gone through all his money, there was a bad famine all through that country and he began to hurt. 15 He signed on with a citizen there who assigned him to his fields to slop the pigs. 16 He was so hungry he would have eaten the corncobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any.
17 "That brought him to his senses. He said, 'All those farmhands working for my father sit down to three meals a day, and here I am starving to death. 18 I'm going back to my father. I'll say to him, Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you; 19 I don't deserve to be called your son. Take me on as a hired hand.'
20 He got right up and went home to his father. When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 The son started his speech: 'Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you; I don't deserve to be called your son ever again.'
22 "But the father wasn't listening. He was calling to the servants, 'Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Then get a grain-fed heifer and roast it. We're going to feast! We're going to have a wonderful time! 24 My son is here-given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!' And they began to have a wonderful time.
25 "All this time his older son was out in the field. When the day's work was done he came in. As he approached the house, he heard the music and dancing. 26 Calling over one of the houseboys, he asked what was going on. 27 He told him, 'Your brother came home. Your father has ordered a feast-barbecued beef!-because he has him home safe and sound.'
28 "The older brother stalked off in an angry sulk and refused to join in. His father came out and tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't listen. 29 The son said, 'Look how many years I've stayed here serving you, never giving you one moment of grief, but have you ever thrown a party for me and my friends? 30 Then this son of yours who has thrown away your money on whores shows up and you go all out with a feast!'
31 "His father said, 'Son, you don't understand. You're with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours - 32 but this is a wonderful time, and we had to celebrate. This brother of yours was dead, and he's alive! He was lost, and he's found!'"
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