God's Version of "Identity Theft"

I've been in an interesting place lately. So much of my "worth" through the years has been determined (at least in my own mind) by what I "do". I've been caught in that heart-killing lie, "You're only as worthy as your last performance". Guys understand this really well. When you're with a group of guys, the initial conversation usually goes something like this: "What's your name?" and "What do you DO?" We seem to be identified more by what we DO than who we ARE.

I've come to realize in the last 5 months that so much of my past identity had been wrapped up in my title, my position, where I go to work every day...you get the picture. Since God has moved me to this marvelous new place in my life, I don't have an office to go to or a title to put on the door. When someone asks me now what I do, I find I have a hard time putting words to it. God, in His loving kindness, is teaching me humility. He's stolen my old identity. And that's a GOOD thing!

In its place, He's giving me a NEW identity based in Him...alone

I've learned that, when God steals your identity, He gives you the opportunity to learn some great lessons that we need to learn if we are to live the abundant life. This new identity requires you to rely on the love and support of others more than on yourself. It also requires that you become transparent and vulnerable about your needs and hurts so that healing can come through community.

This new identity is very much a communal identity. We were created to be in community...there are no "Lone Rangers" in the Kingdom. I've learned that God has designed His Body in such a way that I need what everyone else brings to the party...I haven't been designed to do it all myself. And that's a very liberating discovery! I've learned that my job in the Kingdom is not about putting my own gifts on display (as in the performance-based mindset) in order to gain position. My job is to draw out the gifts of others. That is NOT to say that I WITHHOLD my gifts from the Kingdom...I just don't use them to exalt myself anymore. The job of "exaltation" belongs to God as we accept our identity in Him (see Matthew 23:11-12).

I'm learning to trust God...with me.

Welcome to Life in the River!

Welcome to Life in the River! This blog has been created to share thoughts and teachings about this Life we're discovering day by day.

Communication is so vital to living this life we've been given - communication between us and God, communication between us and those close to us, communication between us and people we come in contact with, etc.

The life that we live nowadays can be very isolating. We were created, however, to live in COMMUNITY. Hopefully, this blog will be a tool to combat the "alone-ness" we often feel in the midst of our day to day routines.

I will be posting thoughts and teachings from time to time. I want to encourage you to respond and share your own thoughts. Proverbs 27:17 tells us, "as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." It is my hope that this forum will be a means to sharpening each other toward spiritual growth and deeper community.

Let the "blogging" begin!

Marc