Today Perry and Shawna welcome Kandi Zeller to the team with a conversation on finding our identity in Jesus.  Kandi is the editor of the teen devotional Unlocked. 

First what does it mean to have our identity in Christ.  It’s actually exchanging all our messiness and junk and sin and trading it for all Jesus’ beauty and perfection.  It’s letting ourselves be defined by Jesus’ great love for us and letting go of being defined by our sin. 

Next as we let ourselves be defined by Jesus’ love for us, we find we have a family of all those who are loved by Jesus.  Our divisions fall away when we realize that we have one thing in common—the blood of Jesus that has cleansed us from all our sin! 

Then Kandi shares about her struggles with anxiety, migraines and other chronic pain.  But because her identity is in the resurrected Jesus she’s not defined by her afflictions.  Because one day all these afflictions will be gone as she and all who believe in Jesus will be free from them in our own resurrected, perfect, pain-free bodies!

Next, we find that being secure in Jesus love for us frees us to love people whose lives are really messed up and full of sin.  We get to love them and be a bridge for them into God’s family by loving as we have been loved! 

Finally, in Jesus, we will never be kicked out of God’s family when we mess up.  Kandi shares about how she used to beat herself up when she sinned.  She thought that’s what God wanted her to do.  Now she knows the joy of bringing her failures to a Father whose arms are always open wide.  Being rooted in Jesus’ love for us frees us to love as we have been loved!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today Perry and Shawna welcome Kandi Zeller to the team with a conversation on finding our identity in Jesus.  Kandi is the editor of the teen devotional Unlocked. 

First what does it mean to have our identity in Christ.  It’s actually exchanging all our messiness and junk and sin and trading it for all Jesus’ beauty and perfection.  It’s letting ourselves be defined by Jesus’ great love for us and letting go of being defined by our sin. 

Next as we let ourselves be defined by Jesus’ love for us, we find we have a family of all those who are loved by Jesus.  Our divisions fall away when we realize that we have one thing in common—the blood of Jesus that has cleansed us from all our sin! 

Then Kandi shares about her struggles with anxiety, migraines and other chronic pain.  But because her identity is in the resurrected Jesus she’s not defined by her afflictions.  Because one day all these afflictions will be gone as she and all who believe in Jesus will be free from them in our own resurrected, perfect, pain-free bodies!

Next, we find that being secure in Jesus love for us frees us to love people whose lives are really messed up and full of sin.  We get to love them and be a bridge for them into God’s family by loving as we have been loved! 

Finally, in Jesus, we will never be kicked out of God’s family when we mess up.  Kandi shares about how she used to beat herself up when she sinned.  She thought that’s what God wanted her to do.  Now she knows the joy of bringing her failures to a Father whose arms are always open wide.  Being rooted in Jesus’ love for us frees us to love as we have been loved!

Today on Perry and Shawna Mornings we launch into a week long conversation on finding our true identity. 

First we look at what our culture tells us about identity—it’s really about how you measure up:  You’re loved if you’re at the top and you’re not if you’re at the bottom.  Shawna uses Max Lucado’s children’s book “You Are Special,” to pin this lie to the mat.  Our identity comes from God as a gift:  We are created by God in his image and God loves us so much that he sent his Son to die for us! 

Then Perry shares how he longs to live as Tim Keller says: “In the freedom of self-forgetfulness.”  That is, not finding our identity in what we do good or bad, but rather finding it in Jesus’ extravagant love for us while were we still sinners to make us sons and daughters of God! 

And finally maybe you’re like us—the gap between who God says we are and who we really are in real time is so huge.  That can be so discouraging.  But’s there’s hope!  Jesus has planted his life in us who follow him.  And as we give up trying harder and then submit our natural desires to his power at work in us, the gap narrows, little by little over the long journey. 

We can rest in the promise that he who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion!   (Phil. 1:6).

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on Perry and Shawna Mornings we launch into a week long conversation on finding our true identity. 

First we look at what our culture tells us about identity—it’s really about how you measure up:  You’re loved if you’re at the top and you’re not if you’re at the bottom.  Shawna uses Max Lucado’s children’s book “You Are Special,” to pin this lie to the mat.  Our identity comes from God as a gift:  We are created by God in his image and God loves us so much that he sent his Son to die for us! 

Then Perry shares how he longs to live as Tim Keller says: “In the freedom of self-forgetfulness.”  That is, not finding our identity in what we do good or bad, but rather finding it in Jesus’ extravagant love for us while were we still sinners to make us sons and daughters of God! 

And finally maybe you’re like us—the gap between who God says we are and who we really are in real time is so huge.  That can be so discouraging.  But’s there’s hope!  Jesus has planted his life in us who follow him.  And as we give up trying harder and then submit our natural desires to his power at work in us, the gap narrows, little by little over the long journey. 

We can rest in the promise that he who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion!   (Phil. 1:6).

First we talk about how everyone needs a counselor. And the greatest counselor is the Spirit.  Shawna shares how the Spirit counseled her on her way to work this morning that he will finish the good work that he’s begun in her.  Perry shares that the Spirit counseled him last weekend with the liberating truth that he doesn’t have to go back and fix all the messes he’s made because his sin debt has been paid in full.  And Greg shares how a few days ago as he was giving his son’s friend a ride home with Greg was feeling like he wasn’t accomplishing anything, the Holy Spirit said to him:  You will never be more loved than you are right now. 

Then a conversation about how the only way we can grow as Jesus followers is by grace.  Perry shares how Jesus poured out his Spirit on him as a 15 year old, right in the middle of his moral failures.  It’s a powerful example of how all of our life in Jesus is grace.  And grace is the only way to grow.  Performing well and trying harder never works.  Grace transforms us. 

Next we talk about how the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth, including showing us our wounds and healing us.  Perry shares about the wound of shame that began in his heart as a boy of 8.  It’s his journey from shame to knowing himself as Abba’s beloved child.  And finally the only way to grow is by humbling ourselves.  Greg shares about when he was removed from ministry in bible college because of his pride but how through that humbling God used him to be part of a revival at his school a few months later.  If this encourages you please share! 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today our friend Greg Dempster of Christ Life Ministries (www.christlifeusa.org) joins Perry and Shawna to talk about the life-changing power of Jesus that is activated by the Holy Spirit! 

First we talk about how everyone needs a counselor. And the greatest counselor is the Spirit.  Shawna shares how the Spirit counseled her on her way to work this morning that he will finish the good work that he’s begun in her.  Perry shares that the Spirit counseled him last weekend with the liberating truth that he doesn’t have to go back and fix all the messes he’s made because his sin debt has been paid in full.  And Greg shares how a few days ago as he was giving his son’s friend a ride home with Greg was feeling like he wasn’t accomplishing anything, the Holy Spirit said to him:  You will never be more loved than you are right now. 

Then a conversation about how the only way we can grow as Jesus followers is by grace.  Perry shares how Jesus poured out his Spirit on him as a 15 year old, right in the middle of his moral failures.  It’s a powerful example of how all of our life in Jesus is grace.  And grace is the only way to grow.  Performing well and trying harder never works.  Grace transforms us. 

Next we talk about how the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth, including showing us our wounds and healing us.  Perry shares about the wound of shame that began in his heart as a boy of 8.  It’s his journey from shame to knowing himself as Abba’s beloved child.  And finally the only way to grow is by humbling ourselves.  Greg shares about when he was removed from ministry in bible college because of his pride but how through that humbling God used him to be part of a revival at his school a few months later.  If this encourages you please share! 

Our world has been turned upside down, we want to return to normal, yet we sit in the unknown and that can cause massive anxiety!  Today Perry and Shawna welcome author Becky Harling to the show to talk about her new devotional:  Psalms for the Anxious Heart (www.moodypublishers.com).  In our conversation you’ll find that the Psalms are the vaccine for our anxious hearts.  First, the Psalms show us that we don’t to muster up enough faith:  We can just fall on the One who is faithful. 

Then, they also encourage us to be good with the waiting because God is working in the now of the unknown.  Next, the Psalms also give us permission to express any and every emotion that we have.  Because that’s what the Psalmists do!  Including the emotion of feeling cut off from God.  Then, the Psalms show us that God is our refuge.  And finally the Psalms don’t condemn us for our feeble faith, but remind us of God’s unshakeable love for our trembling hearts.  See what I mean?  The vaccine for anxiety!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our world has been turned upside down, we want to return to normal, yet we sit in the unknown and that can cause massive anxiety!  Today Perry and Shawna welcome author Becky Harling to the show to talk about her new devotional:  Psalms for the Anxious Heart (www.moodypublishers.com).  In our conversation you’ll find that the Psalms are the vaccine for our anxious hearts.  First, the Psalms show us that we don’t to muster up enough faith:  We can just fall on the One who is faithful. 

Then, they also encourage us to be good with the waiting because God is working in the now of the unknown.  Next, the Psalms also give us permission to express any and every emotion that we have.  Because that’s what the Psalmists do!  Including the emotion of feeling cut off from God.  Then, the Psalms show us that God is our refuge.  And finally the Psalms don’t condemn us for our feeble faith, but remind us of God’s unshakeable love for our trembling hearts.  See what I mean?  The vaccine for anxiety!

Today Perry and Shawna continue to explore the beautiful gift of the Spirit of Christ in us.  First we hear Brandon’s story, who as a boy was lonely, picked on and withdrawn.  But when he was eleven he gave his life over to Jesus.  The Holy Spirit transformed him into a boy who now loved on those who ate lunch alone and were outcast like he used to be.  Then a conversation about Pentecost—the first Pentecost was the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai.  The raw presence of God came down to give his people his instructions on tablets of stone.  On the Pentecost after Jesus’ resurrection, the raw presence of God came down and this time he put his words into his people through the Holy Spirit.  And that means that Christ is in us powering us to show our world how good he is and to boldy speak the good news of God’s grace. 

Next Perry and Shawna riff on Romans 8:12-13:  You have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.  This is the staggering truth that we who are in Christ have the power to kill our sin!  And finally, the Holy Spirit gives us everything we need for our journey to the New Jerusalem:  He reminds we are Abba’s children, he helps us understand God’s word, he helps us pray, he prays for us, and he powers us to please God.  If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?— Jesus (Luke 11:13).  Come Holy Spirit!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today Perry and Shawna continue to explore the beautiful gift of the Spirit of Christ in us.  First we hear Brandon’s story, who as a boy was lonely, picked on and withdrawn.  But when he was eleven he gave his life over to Jesus.  The Holy Spirit transformed him into a boy who now loved on those who ate lunch alone and were outcast like he used to be.  Then a conversation about Pentecost—the first Pentecost was the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai.  The raw presence of God came down to give his people his instructions on tablets of stone.  On the Pentecost after Jesus’ resurrection, the raw presence of God came down and this time he put his words into his people through the Holy Spirit.  And that means that Christ is in us powering us to show our world how good he is and to boldy speak the good news of God’s grace. 

Next Perry and Shawna riff on Romans 8:12-13:  You have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.  This is the staggering truth that we who are in Christ have the power to kill our sin!  And finally, the Holy Spirit gives us everything we need for our journey to the New Jerusalem:  He reminds we are Abba’s children, he helps us understand God’s word, he helps us pray, he prays for us, and he powers us to please God.  If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?— Jesus (Luke 11:13).  Come Holy Spirit!