Excerpt from new smart phone devo: Who do you claim to be?
But to all who did receive him [Jesus], who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12-13 ESV)My true identity: I am God’s Child
Most countries issue a birth certificate to the parents of all newborn children. You most likely have a birth certificate. Have you ever seen it? It has details like your full name, place of birth, date of birth, and an official government seal and an official certificate number… and maybe your baby footprints.
Your birth certificate is what is called a vital record. It not only proves you were born, but proves who you claim to be. A birth certificate is the foundation for your legal identity. It proves your citizenship to your country of origin and in most cases guarantees you all the authorized benefits, privileges and rights afforded to you as a citizen of your country. If you want to enter kindergarten, play on a sports team, apply for a driver’s license, obtain a passport or enroll in Social Security, you will need a birth certificate. You can’t just claim these rights and privileges on your own. Your parent(s) have to vouch for you. They have to legally declare you to be their child. Then you are free to receive all your legal birthrights and entitlements.
When you believed in Jesus and embraced him as your Savior, you experienced what the Bible calls being “born-again” (1 Peter 1:23). This new birth, when publicly validated, guarantees you all the blessings and privileges of citizenship in your Father’s Kingdom. Upon your re-birth in Jesus, God officially declares you to be His child (John 1:12). This truth is the most vital thing about your identity. Who are you? Who do you think you are? Who do you claim to be? By God’s authority and will, you are his child. You are a child of God. Say that out loud; “I am a child of the most high God.” Say that again.
Yes, because of Jesus, you are now a child of the Most-High God. You are not alone. You are not disadvantaged. You are a child of the Most-High God. Not because you say so, but because God says so. It’s official. This is your real identity. Rejoice in that today!
Give us your feedback on this simple devo. Generation Freedom is hoping to create a smartphone app for the “Who I am in Christ Statements”! The writing is complete, now comes the upfront cost for design and code writing.
10 Spot Challenge...$10 to make a difference
So… a few weeks ago I attended a Sunday morning worship service where the strangest thing happened. Instead of me being compelled to make a donation, the church leadership actually gave away money to everyone in attendance! I kid you not. Everyone in this sizable crowd received a 10-spot ($10 bill). The challenge was “Take this money and use it to bless others.”So here is my idea. Please take a minute to read this proposition and consider joining me in this 10-Spot Challenge.
About a month ago there was a nationwide sting conducted by the FBI that resulted in the arrest of over 150 domestic human traffickers/pimps and the subsequent liberation and processing of over 100 teens who were domestic sex trafficking victims. In case you missed it, here is the link for the details:
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/29/19754475-more-than-100-teens-rescued-in-weekend-sex-trafficking-raids-fbi-says?lite
While a bust like this is all well and good, it is easy to overlook the intensive work now involved with caring for these rescued teens, the youngest of which is just 13 years old! Many of these teens have no real family to speak of and will be assigned by the courts to group homes and rehabilitation centers. It is very important to remember that just because a person has been freed does not mean that they will intuitively know how to live like a free person. These girls have suffered terrible abuse, exploitation, manipulation and neglect. Many struggle with drug addiction, mental disorder, personality disorder, physical sickness and spiritual anguish as a result of their enslavement. They now face a difficult journey of recovery, rehab and redemption.
Through ongoing activism in the fight against human trafficking, I have come to know a highly effective intervention center that is trying valiantly to increase their intake capacity in the wake of this most recent sting. So here is my challenge. I am going to lead with a $20 donation to StreetLight USA
$10 is the original 10 spot I received at church and the additional $10 is on behalf of the Campbell family. I have well over 600 Facebook friends. If everyone donates a 10 spot to StreetLight USA we will raise over $6000 in a virtual flash. If you want to be a part of this 10 Spot Challenge, click “like” and then immediately go to streetlightusa.org and donate. Spread the word and let’s see if we can pay this original $10 forward in a major way.