We knew each other just well enough to say yes to do a book study together, but in reality, none of us were truly known. So, as the six of us sat around the table the first day, smiling nervously, we recognized we had set ourselves up for vulnerability. We had said ‘yes’ to aContinue reading "Hidden Identities: Known and Sharpened"
Hidden Identities: Known by Others
A friend recently said something so profound that I’ve been pondering it ever since. If we only, ever talk to God by ourselves, pretty soon our God will start to sound a lot like us. In other words, we need other believers in our lives – yes, to do life with but, even more so,Continue reading "Hidden Identities: Known by Others"
Hidden Identities: Known By God
I made the first trip by myself, full of anticipation of all that I would learn about the Holy Spirit, excited to be in a place with others as eager as myself. Then, I walked into the room.* All I had looked forward to vanished as fear settled over me. And the negative self-talk started,Continue reading "Hidden Identities: Known By God"
Hidden Identities: Knowing Self
I’m not ashamed to say I love the movie, Barbie. Beyond the creative context and perfect cast for such a unique story, each time I watch the movie, I’m struck anew with its depth. The plot leads Stereotypical Barbie and Ryan Gosling’s Ken on quite the quest, but it isn’t until the end of theContinue reading "Hidden Identities: Knowing Self"
Hidden Identities: His Name
How weird would it be to compare Clark Kent and Jesus Christ? In our quest to better know God so that we can better know ourselves, exploring this comparison might actually be helpful. I mean, other than the fact that Clark is a fictional character and not the Son of God, these two ‘men’ haveContinue reading "Hidden Identities: His Name"
Hidden Identities: Daughter
When I read the Divergent series, the setting captured my imagination – a city organized into five factions based on personalities and giftings. I can look back now and recognize that the main character, Tris, struggled with her identity. While she respected the selfless ways of her faction of birth, Abnegation, something inside her knewContinue reading "Hidden Identities: Daughter"
Hidden Identities: I Am
“Who am I?” It’s a question we ask ourselves throughout our lives. As children, the question hovers behind every choice presented to us so that by the time we’re teens, we’re choosing relationships and activities as if on a quest to better understand ourselves. I have a memory of one of my middle school teachersContinue reading "Hidden Identities: I Am"
Hidden Treasures: Our Sovereign Father
We embarked on this treasure hunt over three months ago and have been scouring the fields of God’s Word for gems about God’s nature ever since. We’ve desired to know Him better so that we can love and trust Him more. And as we’ve uncovered each attribute of our Father, our faith in Him hasContinue reading "Hidden Treasures: Our Sovereign Father"
Hidden Treasures: Holy Way Maker
My intrigue with Greek Mythology during my much younger years planted a seed of curiosity that led me to read more books and take more classes on the subject. Then later, as I dug deeper into God’s Word, I began to notice some common threads in humanity’s heartbeat. In every culture over all time, peopleContinue reading "Hidden Treasures: Holy Way Maker"
Hidden Treasures: Faithful and Eternal
When I turn on the TV to hear more words of criticism and accusation, when I change the channel to see more images of war torn countries, something in me rises. Not hope. Not love. Fear, and all its friends – anxiety, dread, worry, panic. When I flip to yet another channel and watch peopleContinue reading "Hidden Treasures: Faithful and Eternal"