What do you allow to define you?

A friend of mine gave me a book called, "Defined", Who God says you are. The authors are Stephen and Alex Kendrick with Lawrence Kimbrough. I cried though the entire movie. I promise I won't ruin it for you, but you have got to go see this one. Generations are being born not knowing who they are, and just as bad; not knowing who their Father is. Their biological parents drop like flies due to the rising opioid crisis, just to name one killer of our young. Left in the wake of this, are children being raised by grandparents. However, it is not just their job, it's ours too. We must live our faith out loud to a deaf generation that needs to hear their heavenly Father's voice for the first time, so they can run their own race.

I for one have a love for running. I have learned through this sport we all have to run our own race. I can't try to beat anyone but me. I can't run for anyone. I must run for me. I can't do right, be right, talk right--for anyone else but me. And "Me" has to do it for something bigger than just my want too's. I need God my Father to talk in my ear and tell me, "I can do this". To tell me, "I'm good enough." To tell me, "I matter." I need to hear all these things out loud. 

I didn't have parents that supported all I did. They didn't come watch my games, or parades, or see me cheer. I am sure they loved me and believed in me, but kids need to see it and hear it.

We didn't have cross country running as a sport, or any running sports for that matter. But me, I loved to run and I was good at it. When I was in my thirties, with no coach I could still do a 4:56 mile. One day, someone came to watch me run. They cheered for me as I turned toward the finish line. That was a turning point in my life. Someone cared. Someone was in the stands for me. Someone told me I could do it. Someone believed in me. So, I heard what they said. They got my attention. They ask me hard questions. They made me think about who God says I am, and suggested I read my Bible. I have never stopped reading.

ACTION STEP: Read Ephesians, just the first two chapters and write down everything God says you are. Once you have that down, go cheer someone else on. Knowing your Father makes all the difference in life. It did mine.

Dedicated to Dr. Rebeccca Polis who has always been in my stands and never ceases to pray for me. She knows her true identity and has given her life to introduce others to their Father.
Thanks for defining for me, who Father says I am.