“And who do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?” —Jesus, Mark 8.36
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” —Jesus, John 10.10
Blank Slate
Painful Graffiti
I wish you’d never been born…
Why can’t you be more like…
You’re just like your…
You deserve everything that happened to you…
You’re nothing…
Conditional Love
I am loved as long as I…
Hide my true self…
Do a good job…
Keep the peace…
Make
Do my devotions…
Keep the family secret…
Abandoned building
“wear exhaustion as a status symbol and think productivity is self-worth.” – Dr. Brene Brown
What is my fundamental identity in God?
I am
by God.
“So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.” —Genesis 1.27
We are to see ourselves and others first as
“For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” —Psalm 139.13-14
I am
by God.
“The younger son left the house and was far from home. However, the elder son stayed in the house, but was far from home. The Father wants them both home. But both needed to turn back. One from his self-debasing disobedience. The other from his self-righteous obedience. God just wants us home.” —Richard Villodas Jr.
Identity is not a status to
“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know His master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” —Jesus, John 15.15
I am
by God.
“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your ADOPTION to sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘ABBA, Father.’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s CHILDREN.” – Romans 8.15-16
“But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become CHILDREN of GOD, that is, to those who believe in [adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name—” —John 1.12
C.O.G.P.O.W.
Child of God, Person of Worth