Part of who we are and our identity comes from our family. Whether we like it or not our family has a lot to do with how we see ourselves. For some that does sit real well with you because you come from a very disfunctional family. However in the kingdom of God our father is good and only wants the best for and from His children. He has provided us with what we need through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to be the sons and daughter of God and to be part of the family that impact the world in which it exist.

There are a few things we as family members need to realize in the physical and spiritual worlds. First He is our Father and wants us to call Him Father. Also there are somethings our Father expects. We may think they are beyond us to achieve but He has empowered us through His Holy Spirit to do it and to be His children. Being part of the family is not just what you give but also what you get as being a part. Being part of the family give us Purpose, Power and Passion. These and much more are who we are.

The theory of evolution puts man on the same level as the animal kingdom, making us no different than they are. The value of a human according to evolution is the same as a frog, cat, dog or monkey. However, biblical creation teaches us that God created man in His image. He formed man from the dust of the earth in His image, not physical appearance, but in the fact that we are a triune being just as He is; Spirit, Soul and Body. God the Holy Spirit, God the Father, and God the Son; Jesus Christ the personification of God. Thus placing mankind on a whole different level than the animals and giving us a divine value.

Adam did not become a "living soul" until God breathed the "breath of life" into him . The word "breath" here is translated from the Hebrew word "nesh-aw-maw" which means "spirit". The difference between man and the animal kingdom is the very spirit of God was given to us and not to the animals. This means that we as his creation, formed in His image can and should have an intimate relationship with Him.

His very breath is in us. Each breath we take comes from our Father God and it is He who gives us value and identity. Our identity is not found in our appearance, accomplishments or ambitions. It is found in the very breath that He has breathed into us, His Spirit; the intangible part of man that was created to exist for eternity with Him and in Him.

The theory of evolution puts man on the same level as the animal kingdom, making us no different than they are. The value of a human according to evolution is the same as a frog, cat, dog or monkey. However, biblical creation teaches us that God created man in His image. He formed man from the dust of the earth in His image, not physical appearance, but in the fact that we are a triune being just as He is; Spirit, Soul and Body. God the Holy Spirit, God the Father, and God the Son; Jesus Christ the personification of God. Thus placing mankind on a whole different level than the animals and giving us a divine value.

Adam did not become a "living soul" until God breathed the "breath of life" into him . The word "breath" here is translated from the Hebrew word "nesh-aw-maw" which means "spirit". The difference between man and the animal kingdom is the very spirit of God was given to us and not to the animals. This means that we as his creation, formed in His image can and should have an intimate relationship with Him.

His very breath is in us. Each breath we take comes from our Father God and it is He who gives us value and identity. Our identity is not found in our appearance, accomplishments or ambitions. It is found in the very breath that He has breathed into us, His Spirit; the intangible part of man that was created to exist for eternity with Him and in Him.

Who am I? What am I here for? What's the meaning of life? Huge questions that mankind has been asking since his creation. Many have attempted to answer them with little to no success. Others have claimed to have the answers but can never give answers to people's satisfaction.

God has made us in His image thus giving us value and meaning. No, church or religion does not give us that value or meaning but an intimate relationship with God does. But how do we get that relationship and maintain it? That's what this series is all about.

God's love for us reveals His value for us in the fact that He did the unthinkable to restore us to right relationship with Him. He, sacrifice His only Son for us. The ransom that had to be paid was far beyond our ability to pay thus Jesus Christ. Today we will dip our toe in the huge ocean of finding our identity in Christ and eventually we will dive head first into that ocean with no reluctance because of who He is and who He is in us.

Who am I? What am I here for? What's the meaning of life? Huge questions that mankind has been asking since his creation. Many have attempted to answer them with little to no success. Others have claimed to have the answers but can never give answers to people's satisfaction.

God has made us in His image thus giving us value and meaning. No, church or religion does not give us that value or meaning but an intimate relationship with God does. But how do we get that relationship and maintain it? That's what this series is all about.

God's love for us reveals His value for us in the fact that He did the unthinkable to restore us to right relationship with Him. He, sacrifice His only Son for us. The ransom that had to be paid was far beyond our ability to pay thus Jesus Christ. Today we will dip our toe in the huge ocean of finding our identity in Christ and eventually we will dive head first into that ocean with no reluctance because of who He is and who He is in us.

God is a God of new things.  He is always doing something great and new.  Sometimes we miss it because we are not moving forward but living in the past.  Remembering the “good ole’ days” and looking back are for those who have no vision for the future.  Can we learn from yesterday? Absolutely.  We had better learn from yesterday.  If we don’t we will squander the experiences, trials and victories God has blessed us with.  But learn from them is what we do, not live in them.   God is always moving forward and so should we.

The lepers that sat at the gate of the city in the Prophet Elisha’s day learned great lessons about looking back and longing for what “was” back then and we must learn those lessons as well.  Instead of wallowing in self-pity and self-loathing seek the reason to move forward because you can always find a reason not to move forward.  They also realized that God was already working on their behalf when they got to the camp of their enemy and God had already routed them and blessed the leper with the spoils of the camp before they ever arrived.  They learned a valuable and life-giving lesson we all need to adhere to.  They learned that God’s blessings on and in our life are not solely for us.  Never make the assumption that what God gives you is for your own consumption but to be a conduit that His blessing can flow through.  When we learn these lessons, and apply them to our lives we will then move forward with no reasons to look back.

God is a God of new things.  He is always doing something great and new.  Sometimes we miss it because we are not moving forward but living in the past.  Remembering the “good ole’ days” and looking back are for those who have no vision for the future.  Can we learn from yesterday? Absolutely.  We had better learn from yesterday.  If we don’t we will squander the experiences, trials and victories God has blessed us with.  But learn from them is what we do, not live in them.   God is always moving forward and so should we.

The lepers that sat at the gate of the city in the Prophet Elisha’s day learned great lessons about looking back and longing for what “was” back then and we must learn those lessons as well.  Instead of wallowing in self-pity and self-loathing seek the reason to move forward because you can always find a reason not to move forward.  They also realized that God was already working on their behalf when they got to the camp of their enemy and God had already routed them and blessed the leper with the spoils of the camp before they ever arrived.  They learned a valuable and life-giving lesson we all need to adhere to.  They learned that God’s blessings on and in our life are not solely for us.  Never make the assumption that what God gives you is for your own consumption but to be a conduit that His blessing can flow through.  When we learn these lessons, and apply them to our lives we will then move forward with no reasons to look back.

When we are young we have the whole world before us but as we age our yesterdays become more than our tomorrows and we are tempted to look back to days gone by for comfort and security. The older we get the less likely we are to change. We have a tendency to live in yesteryear.

However, that is not what God wants us to do. God is everlasting to everlasting, the first and the last, the alpha and omega. Time is irrelevant to Him but it is not to us. God has provided us with all that we need to move forward and not look back. They are more people than Lot's wife who are pillars of salt because they looked back longing for what used to be.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life, no matter if your are 5, 15,55 or 75. Live life to it's fullest just like Jesus said for us to. "... that you might have life and life more abundantly." Don't look back.

When we are young we have the whole world before us but as we age our yesterdays become more than our tomorrows and we are tempted to look back to days gone by for comfort and security. The older we get the less likely we are to change. We have a tendency to live in yesteryear.

However, that is not what God wants us to do. God is everlasting to everlasting, the first and the last, the alpha and omega. Time is irrelevant to Him but it is not to us. God has provided us with all that we need to move forward and not look back. They are more people than Lot's wife who are pillars of salt because they looked back longing for what used to be.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life, no matter if your are 5, 15,55 or 75. Live life to it's fullest just like Jesus said for us to. "... that you might have life and life more abundantly." Don't look back.

Ever since Christianity began it has been opposed. People, Governments, Kings and Dictators have tried to stop it from growing. But Christianity is more than a movement; it is love from the creator that can never be stopped. It is more than meetings, worship "environments", or organizations.

Christianity is and has always been built on the love that comes from our Father that we in turn as His children give to those around us and thus changing our world in the process. The unstoppable gift is not something we can purchase or get in a store or online. It first must transform you and you will not be able to help yourself and you will just give it away and thus the gift keeps on giving.

It is His love that is relentless in pursuing us, overtaking us and transforming us into the men and women He knows we can be.  Our friend and miracle of God James Moore tells us his story of how God’s unstoppable love never gave up on him when everyone and he, himself gave up on him.

May the unstoppable love of God that always finds you overwhelm you and bring you peace during this amazing time of the year.