Identity Crisis

 by Barbara Latta

We all carry ID cards

Do you know who you are? You know your name, your relatives, your career, where you live, and what you like to do. We all carry some form of identification to reveal our identity to others.

But is that an indication of who you really are? If you are a believer, you have an identity in your spirit exactly like Christ.

The dictionary gives four definitions of identity:

1. The state or fact of remaining the same one or ones.
2. The condition of being oneself or itself and not another.
3. Condition or character as to who a person or what a thing is.
4. The state or fact of being the same one as described.

“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your  mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8:11 NASB).

“That they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent me, and have loved them as You have loved Me” (John 17:23 NKJV).

“And you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power” (Colossians 2:10 NKJV).

These verses are only a few of many which give us the truth about who we are in Christ. When he dwells in us, we are like Him. When God looks at us, He sees Jesus. (II

Satan tempts us to question

Corinthians 5:17).

When the devil looks at us, he sees Jesus. “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them for greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world” (I John 4:4)

While our spirit is new and like Christ, our soul (mind, will, emotions) can only become like Him through renewing our minds in the word. This renewing will bring us to believe who we really are and our actions will come in line with what is in our spirit.

Without renewing our minds, we will question who we are because we are relying on our feelings. In the Garden of Eden, the devil tempted Adam and Eve with doubt about who they were and what God said (Genesis 3:1). God had made them perfect and they were in complete fellowship with Him. They were as much like God as they could possibly be. Yet they yielded to the thought that God was withholding something from them they didn’t have yet.

Satan did the same thing when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness. He whispered to Jesus, “If you are really the Son of God” (Matthew 4:3, 5). Jesus countered all these temptations with the Word of God.

The Bible is our identification card

Evil will do the same thing to us. If he can get us to question our identity, we will not walk in the fullness of the Spirit and we will be weak in our walk against worldly influences. We must do the same thing Jesus did. Counter those doubts with what God says about us.

The Bible is our spiritual identification card. We are as the definition stated, “the same one as described."

Join the conversation and share how you know who you are in Christ.

Healing Requires Forgiveness

by Barbara Latta

Last week our nation suffered another unimaginable crime. Hate walked into a church and killed innocent people while they were worshipping God. But these members of the body of Christ have extended the ultimate gift to the perpetrator of these violent acts.

Forgiveness in the name of Jesus.

This is the only answer to evil. We can debate, shout, and punish, but the only thing that wipes out the power of darkness is the love of God. Our human nature doesn’t want to extend this—we only want to hate in return.

But the Bible tells us to love our enemies and to pray for those that persecute us (Matthew 5:44). And it tells us the one we are really fighting against.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:13)

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While the people who commit these horrible crimes are still responsible for their actions, we need to remember the force influencing them. Our fight is with the devil and we fight him by showing the love of God to others, preaching the gospel, and forgiving.

Please pray for the families of those who lost loved ones, for the church that suffered this hurt, for the one who committed this crime, and for our nation to heal from these violent wounds. If we want to heal, we have to forgive.

Share your thoughts and prayers here.

The Perfect Father

by Barbara Latta

How we desire to be perfect parents. Women compare themselves to the Proverbs 31 woman and men want to be an example of our heavenly Father to their children.

Men want to be perfect fathers

As we strive to do better each time we make a mistake, we can find ourselves walking in guilt and condemnation because we haven’t measured up. But with each misstep comes forgiveness, comfort, and a handful of healing balm if we will humble ourselves before our Father in heaven.

Gravity and God

Wednesday's Wisdom

by Barbara Latta

God's governs all things

Sir Isaac Newton was one of three people Thomas Jefferson considered as the most influential in history. Newton was a physicist, mathematician and astronomer, yet he wrote more about the Bible than about science. He was a professor at Cambridge University in England and he trusted God for wisdom.

“For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6).

We can see evidence of the Lord’s wisdom at work in the life of this brilliant man.

Join the conversation and share your thoughts about how wisdom guides your life.

Can You Limit God?

by Barbara Latta

God is the ultimate, only supreme being of the universe. Nothing and no one can supersede His power.

So how can He be limited?

Ten Commandments and Congress

Wednesday's Wisdom

by Barbara Latta

God's Word is a rock leaders should stand on

From actor to Governor to President of the United States, Ronald Reagan left a legacy of leadership with long lasting effects. Promoting self-government of the people, encouraging less government spending and standing against tyranny, he is added to the list of American’s greatest presidents.

His statement during the inspiring speech at the Berlin Wall, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall,” is remembered as a catalyst to the liberation of East Germany.

His wit and wisdom leave us much to ponder. 

Join the conversation and share your thoughts.

Heroes of D-Day

Victory in Europe

On June 6, 1944 150,000 Allied troops invaded occupied France to free the country from the tyranny of the Nazi regime. Many years of planning brought a successful, but costly invasion. Among the thousands landing on the shores of Normandy were several Medal of Honor recipients.

Technician Fifth Grade, John J. Pinder, Jr., US Army, 16^th Infantry, 1^st Infantry Division

Technician Pinder landed several yards offshore under enemy fire which resulted in severe casualties among those on the landing craft. Pinder was carrying important communication equipment and waded through waist-deep water to bring the radio to shore. He was hit by enemy fire and severely wounded. 

The soldier never stopped, rather he continued toward shore fighting waves and loss of blood to get the vitally needed equipment set up. Three more times he went into the waves to salvage parts washed ashore when the soldiers landed. Refusing medical attention, Pinder set up the equipment and was hit again my machine gun fire. He was killed after the third hit. His courage and bravery inspired the other soldiers who served with him.

US Army Private Carolton W. Barrett, 18^th Infantry, 1^st Division

Private Barrett landed on the shore near St. Laurent-sur-Mer, wading through neck-deep water. Seeing fellow soldiers struggling in the surf, he returned time and again to save them from drowning. Under intense enemy fire, Private Barrett carried many casualties to an

Medal of Honor

evacuation boat. He also carried dispatches throughout the beaches and assisted the wounded. His courage and leadership inspired his fellow soldiers to keep fighting and not give up.

First Lieutenant Jimmie W. Monteith, Jr., US army 16^th Infantry

1^st Lt. Monteith moved up and down the beach after landing under intense enemy fire reorganizing the men for direction who were already onshore. Leading an assault across open terrain to the position of two tanks blinded by artillery fire, 1^st Lt. Monteith led the tanks through a minefield and into firing position. They subsequently destroyed several enemy positions. He then rejoined his company and led his men to capture an enemy position on a hill. After being surrounded by the enemy, Lt. Monteith was killed.

Normandy Invasion

These men are in the distinguished company of many other heroes who gave their all in the face of danger. Thousands will remain unnamed to all but their families and friends, but the sacrifice of our brave men in uniform ensured the defeat of the Third Reich and brought freedom to Europe.

May we never forget.