The Source of Your Identity

Dear Friend, 

I wanted to take a moment to simply remind you that if you are in Christ, you are a new creation and your identity in Him is what matters plain and simple!

No one's opinions defines you nor does your past!

"When we finally understand and are confident and secure in our identity in Christ, our past as well as the opinions of others regarding us will not shake or define us!" -Randolph Koch

To learn more about your identity in Christ, Dive into God's Word and abide in Christ and you will discover your true identity!

True security and identity will only be found in Him! He is truly the source of who you are!

For further encouragement from God's Word, Please check out this post and pass along the Truth of God's Word about who you are in Christ: http://www.ashepherdsheart.org/2012/03/who-you-are-in-christ.html

In Christ Alone,
Your brother and servant,

rlk

PS: Check out this new page on A Shepherd's Heart: 
http://www.ashepherdsheart.org/p/ministry-service-offerings.html which is a growing basic list of areas where I may be able to serve you!


#faith #hope #truth #wisdom #life #Jesus #identity #whoyouareinChrist#believe #christfollower #christian #Christianity #bible #scripture #Godsword#heart #mind #soul #strength #ashepherdsheart 

Endor and The God of Impossibilities!

Read: Isaiah 55:8-11, Matthew 19:26

As part of a family road trip vacation we had the opportunity to drive to northern California to see some of the giant Redwood Trees in part of the Jedediah Smith Redwoods which spans many miles. It was truly incredible!

We spent several hours enjoying hiking through a very small section of the forest. Everywhere stepped we were surrounded by massive trees. When I say massive, it's very true because some have grown to 37 feet wide and hundreds of feet tall and  have been there for hundreds of years too!

Humorously and maybe a bit nerdy-like, it almost reminded me or made me "feel" like I'd traveled to the "Planet Endor" in one of the Star Wars movies of my childhood...but, of course to my disappointment I had not. LOL...Ok, just kidding I'm not out of touch with reality but maybe just a little bit of my inner kid wished it was really Endor!...But I digress...

Seeking Wisdom and Discernment.

Read: 2 Corinthians 5:7, James 1:5, Matthew 10:16

As the old saying goes: "If it looks too good to be true...it probably is!"

In a day and age where fake news, rumors, false advertising and more seem to be rampant, we need wisdom and discernment from God all the more. This applies to every area of our lives!

On the surface, sometimes things and people can look good, honest, inviting, worthwhile or worthy of our time and attention. However, after you and I move past the surface we often find the that "not everything that glitters is gold" as they say or you grab the real or proverbial sugar container only to find that it was filled with salt instead. 

Wisdom and discernment are vital as things are not always as they seem and we need God's wisdom to separate the "salt" from "sugar"... They may look the same at first glance but they definitely are NOT the same!

If you don't believe me, replace the sugar in your favorite baked dessert recipe with the same amount of salt and see what results you get. :-)

Reject Perfection...Strive for Holiness Instead!

Read:  1 Peter 1:14-16, Hebrews 12:14, 2 Peter 3:18, 1 Corinthians 12:12, Romans 12:4

There is often a spirit of perfection that has influenced and infiltrated The Church today whether in the area of appearance, who is up front on a given Sunday (allowed to be there), in the area of worship etc.  

This may have also infiltrated our regular day-to-day existence at times as we try to achieve a standard that's not attainable.

Maybe you've experienced this too? 

Are You Listening to What God Says About You?

Read: Matthew 6:25-29, Psalm 139, Ephesians 2:8-10, Ephesians 1:13, 2 Corinthians 1:22, Romans 5:8-10

Have you found yourself struggling to forge a path or find yourself struggling with self worth issues? 

Let me ask you - when was the last time you cracked open or dusted off your Bible, God's Word and read all He has to say about you and your relationship with Him? To read about His everlasting and unconditional love for you? 

In the pages of scripture you will see more about who you are as well as see that God loves you, He sent His son to prove it and in turn Jesus sent His helper, The Holy Spirit to help you navigate life! You need to know who you are and be confident in you're worth. There's no need to continue to follow the crowd wandering through life trying to find out who you are. 

For instance...

You're Not A Waste Of Time!

You may feel like God is too busy for you or that you've lived so a horrible life that He thinks you're a waste of time. 

With The Lord, there's Never a lost cause or a waste of time. 

He's not like the imperfect human beings you experience in your life who are conditional in their love and care for you! 

He's full of grace, love and truth for you. He's, there for you and loves you unconditionally so why not abide in Him and seek Him with all that is within you (heart, mind, soul and strength) each day!? 

What are you waiting for? He's constantly trying to draw you to Himself so why not listen to Him?

Blessings in Christ, 

rlk 

#saturday #foodforthought #ashepherdsheart #grace #truth #love #faith #hope #trust #wisdom #truth #life #Godisgood #GodLovesYou #Christianity #ChristFollower #Christian #encourage #encouragement #inspire #inspiration #inspirational #inspirationalquotes #quote #quotes 

Need your prayers!

Appreciate your prayers for my audio/video venture! Find more information about it here and please pray for me! Only asking for prayers here but this link has information about the projects I'm trying to do. Thanks! http://www.ashepherdsheart.org/p/online-store.html#!/Audio-Video-Venture/p/53206936/category=0

You Are Worthy! Part 2

Dear Friend,

I decide to post a second version with links to alternative placed to listen to the 1 minute audio. 

Also, for the hearing impaired, I'm posting the words below that are basically a transcript of the audio message with hopes you are encouraged by what is communicated! 

Know your worth! You are worthy and worth it! 

Please listen to this brief audio message. (1 minute in length)

Here: https://soundcloud.com/user-335546274/you-are-worthy 

or

Here: https://youtu.be/c8DXl3-78TQ

You Are Worthy!...

Let me tell you something that I suspect you haven't been told lately or maybe not at all. 

 

So, maybe you don't know it or believe it right now but you're highly valuable, very capable, of great worth and an awesome person! 

No matter who tries to hold you back from what you're supposed to be doing, no matter who tries to put you down, no matter your current circumstances, no matter the lies you start to believe about yourself, or others tell you about yourself (co-workers, friends, family, kids, neighbors, etc) or you tell yourself...you have to know your worth! 

Don't believe the lies or settle for other people's limited opinion of you! 

Know your worth for who you are and for all you are and all you are growing to become! This life is a journey and we're all a work in progress so remember these things in the good and bad times because you are worth it friend! 

You are worth it and worthy!

If you are encouraged by this message, Please share this with others! Encourage and help build them up! 

In Christ Alone,

rlk

You Are Worthy!

Know your worth! 


You are worthy and worth it! 

Please listen to this brief audio message (1 minute long) as follows:

You are worthy my friend!

In Christ Alone,

rlk

P.S. If you're viewing this post via e-Mail, you'll have to visit the post via ashepherdsheart.org in order to hear the message inserted in the post. 

Finding Your True Source of Joy

As people, we often search for joy in the wrong places. 

We fill our lives with activities and people that we think will be our source of joy but...then they fail us and we are left where we were before hand - with an empty joy that's dependent on shifting things and people instead. 

We also allow our circumstances as well as people try to steal our joy. 

Also, let's be real, our adversary the devil loves to try to steal our joy buy we need to Armor Up daily - in other words allow God's full armor to deflect the arrow the evil one slings at us. (see Ephesians 6:10-18)

It's been well said, like in the brief video above, that... one of the secrets to experiencing joy it to keep seeking God where we doubt He is. 

Experiencing Peace Now and Later

Read, Study and Pray through: John 14:27

I wonder sometimes if we think of peace incompletely. 

It seems we only reserve it for sometimes as if we can only have or experience it on a very limited basis. 

Or, maybe that we'll only be able to experience the peace of Jesus when He returns...because He is the Prince of Peace. So, it's only for the future and not for now?

What if we didn't reserve wishes of peace for only when someone dies?  Don't get me wrong, it's important to pay our respects and wish someone the normal may you "Rest In Peace".  But, what if we can rest in peace each day as we lay down to rest? 

Is this possible or is it too weighty to consider? 

Will the Real St. Patrick Please stand up?

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Even if you’re not a wee bit Irish, there is a lot we can learn from the life of St. Patrick. There are a lot of legends/myths about Him but it’s good to separate fact from fiction and today I’m posting a few links to articles about his life which you’ll find below. Also, if you ever have an opportunity to watch an hour long docudrama about his life that was narrated by Liam Neeson, I’d highly recommend it. I believe it was simply called, "Patrick". I'm sure you'll be able to locate it via your favorite search engine.

While I agree that St. Patrick's life is one to celebrate and it's OK to have some fun in celebrating, St. Patrick's Day is not about hitting the pubs, shamrocks and the "Luck of the Irish" like many make it. His life was far more significant to the faith community and in the history of Ireland in comparison to these temporal things. 

After a brief glimpse into the life of St. Patrick you'll see some great reminders and examples regarding God's grace. 

One of those lessons I see is that we need to allow God to use and direct our path no matter what the circumstances and no matter if what we're going through makes sense or not. God is more than able to take someone out of slavery, (like Patrick) or any dire situation and use them for His glory in proclaiming His message. 

St. Patrick wasn't even from Ireland but God used him there to bring His message to the Emerald Island and because of this - many came to a saving grace thanks to God!

Here’s a selection of articles for your edification:

http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/ChurchAndMinistry/ChurchHistory/colson_stpatrick.aspx 
http://www.joyfulheart.com/stpatrick/pat.htm
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/news/2004/stpatricks.html

Lastly, I wanted to leave you with an Old Irish Blessing:

"May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back."

"May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields."

"And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand."

                                ~An Old Irish Blessing

Have an excellent day!

Many Blessing in Christ,

rlk

#stpatricksday #stpatrick #faith #hope #wisdom #life #liveforGod #freedom #Christian #ChristIsAll #ashepherdsheart

A Prayer for Wisdom for being slow to speak and quick to listen...

Heavenly Father, help us to have wisdom to know when to speak and when to wait to speak and simply listen. Help us also in times of debate or arguments to be careful to not respond with words of anger as words are really hard to take back. I also think of the old saying, "sticks and stones may break my bones but words may never hurt me."  although I understand the sentiment...this statement is really a lie because words spoken in anger, etc stick with us and it takes a long time to heal! You teach us that our words can be a blessing or a curse... They can bring life or death to the hearer so help us speak words of blessing and life or not at all. This isn't to pray or say we will never have to work things out but it is to circle back around to the need for us to be slow to speak and quick to listen.... So we can speak words of wisdom, life and blessing when it's time to speak...until then, let us learn to be good listeners. These things are not easy so we really need Your help! 

 In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

#truth #wisdom #life #listen #blessing

What do you value?

Here's a sobering reflection to kick your week off with...

What do you value most now? & What will you value at the end of your life?

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you seek out the answer to these questions.

Blessings,

rlk

The Spiritual Barometer of your life

Hello,

Here's a great and very practical reminder via a quote from James Gleason, the pastor of Sonrise Church in Hillsboro, Oregon and then a prayer for you from my heart to you, praying over our lives:

"The barometer of your future spiritual life is all about the things you actually participate in spiritually." -James Gleason  

In order to grow spiritually you and I have to actually put out the effort to do so through doing the right things such as reading/studying our Bibles, Giving of our time, talents, finances. Communicating with God through prayer.  Engaging in the family of Christ through corporate worship, fellowship and things like small groups or serve teams. There isn't a magic bullet to growth but all these things mentioned here and more contribute greatly to our spiritual growth and we should include them in our walk and journey with the Lord. Not in a legalistic way but as a practical way just like we nourish ourselves physically, we ought to be nourishing ourselves spiritually as well!  

There are many things we can devote ourselves to but let us be found devoting ourselves to the things that are lasting and truly impact eternity such as our spiritual growth!

My Prayer for you and I:
Lord, through the help of Your Holy Spirit please help us invest our time each day in doing the right things that will help us grow in wisdom, knowledge, grace, love, maturity and most of all - bring You glory. Help us to grow in every way possible. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Blessings in Christ,

rlk

#truth #wisdom #life

I Believe...

Here's something to reflect on today...

"I believe in the sun, even when it's not shining. I believe in love, even when I'm alone. I believe in God, even when He is silent." -Unknown

Always remember, even when God seems silent...He is still there and still at work!

Have a blessed day!

-rlk



#truth #life #hope

Truth About Free Will

Here's a BIG Truth to meditate on as you head into the work week actively seeking to live out your faith each day: 

"Free will doesn't mean doing whatever you want. It means having the Freedom to do what is right." -Unknown

How Do You Want To Live?

A song has been running around in my head for days now with the spiritual and practical implications of it in my own life and the lives of others. The song is "Live Like That" by Sidewalk Prophets.

So, for myself I'm just posting / sharing my thoughts "as is" as I process what's going on in this head of mine and maybe, just maybe it will help others to ponder these implications in their own lives. :-)

So I started pondering again... I wonder sometimes if I am making a difference in this life and in the lives of others as I seek to pour out my life to help encourage, build up and challenge others to be better than they used to be...to live up to their full ability...to know that they are valued and worth something? 

I'm striving to make a difference in the lives of my family, friends and community in general. I ask myself often, am I doing enough as a husband, dad, friend, employee, etc? Am I making any difference in every relationship and area of my life?

I want my life to matter for something because I believe I'm here to live my life for more than just myself and I hope that I'll live and leave a legacy that is one of honor. I hope at the end of my journey here that I can look back and say that I did make some difference whether in big or small ways!

How about you? Do you you want your life to matter for something more than just the daily grind? Do you realize your life matters?! I sure hope so because you do matter and believe it or not you can and do make an impact in the lives of others!

Furthermore, do you and I see the sacrifice others have made or are making today? Do we see someone living their lives well (not perfect) regardless of economic stature and think to ourselves..."I want to live like that!" Give life everything you have - don't settle for mediocrity! Live life like it matters because it does! Life is too short to not at least try to give it everything you've got!

Check out this song and then evaluate your life and how you want to strive to live!

Blessings,

rlk 

http://youtu.be/GfosSggwQS0