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A Mother’s Day Tribute

Shortly after graduating from high school (none of your business when) I met Shirley Ann Lesley at youth camp. From that day until today she is still the “most Proverbs 31 woman” I have ever known. She has made me a better man, a better whatever. My wife, my lover (better than ever), my best friend, my partner in ministry. I am blessed to have her in my life. Wife, mother, grandmother, friend —she excells in them all! Thanks Baby, doing life with you is a dream!

Identifying Your Identity!

Proverbs 4:23

Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.

The greatest wealth is knowing who you really are.

Whoever you can be, you must be.  Every person came with an Identity from God to be discovered in the process of living life.

Nothing is more critical to successful living than knowing who we are.

That which is within the heart of a person is by far the largest and most important part of their existence.

Proverbs 19:21: Many plans are in a man’s mind, but it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will prevail.

Proverbs 20:5:  The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.

Our “Identity” must come out of our deep inner self, from the reservoir of God’s truth, wisdom and knowledge.

Our “Identity” should never come from our circumstance, adversity, culture, status, position, past, sins or failures.

Our “Identity” is to be built over the course of our lifetime as we respond to the issues of our life.

Proverbs 4:21, 23:  Keep my words in the center of your heart.  Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the issues of life.

“Issues” means “to go forth, limits, boundaries.”

Your Identity will determine the boundaries, the limits, of your life.

What is your life full of?  When life squeezes you, what comes out?

Do you know the person God designed you to be?  Or, have you become the person the world around you has determined you to be?

Finding Your Significance

 Proverbs 23:7:  For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. As one who reckons, he says to you, eat and drink, yet his heart is not with you [but is grudging the cost].

Proverbs 4:23:  Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.

Proverbs 18:24:  The man of many friends [a friend of all the world] will prove himself a bad friend, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

A long time ago someone wrote a powerful statement about man and God–

 A person’s purpose is to know God, worship Him, enjoy Him, and serve Him forever.

Our most innate need is the need to be significant – to find purpose and meaning.

This calls for the pursuit of the God who is, rather than the God we want.

To be significant we must answer two questions –
          Who am I?  Why do I exist?

When you discover who you are in Christ, you will understand your purpose. 

When you are contributing to God’s agenda on earth, you become fulfilled. The essence of who you are is found in your identity.

Whoever you are in private determines your actions and decisions in public.

Every person has to deal with four identities:

1.           The person you want others to think you are.

2.           The person you think you are.

3.           The person you really are.

4.           The person God created you to be.

The first three of those identities are determined by the person individually.  The fourth is determined only as the person surrenders to the Lordship of Christ.

The process of becoming who God needs you to be includes: studying God’s Word, intimacy in prayer, and continually practicing righteousness.

The most secure and confident people on earth are those who know who they are in Christ.

The key to your future is found in your daily routine.

• With whom do you associate?
• What places do you frequent?
• What things occupy your time?
• What thoughts permeate your brain?
• What words fill your speech?

What you believe shapes your life.  Where you go determines your relationships. Your relationships affect your character.

One of life’s greatest treasures is a true friend.  Choose your friends carefully since a friend will either add to your life or take away from it.