After our Sunday Night Conversation about sexuality on Sunday night, one of our grade eleven students, Sloane, shared with me how difficult these topics are in school. Her English class had been assigned to write a few paragraphs about their identity, giving examples of different things they could talk about: gender, talents, hobbies, etc. Sloane was struggling to write the paper as assigned because she knew that her identity didn't come from any of those things. I asked her to share her finished paper with me and when I read it on Monday morning, I was blown away. She has graciously allowed me to share it with you as this week's email devotional.
Thank you for encouraging us all to find our identity in Jesus, Sloane! (We hope you get an A!)
Pastor Tracy
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The Factors That Shape My Identity
by Sloane Capson
Identity is not the world around us but is what we choose to let into our hearts. There are many worldly concepts we can choose to identify with, but only the ones we internalize can truly fabricate our lives. My identity has been shaped by my religion, by my relationship with Jesus, and by the beliefs my family has instilled in me.
My religion, the belief that Jesus is my Saviour, has shaped my identity by giving me a clear idea of how I should act. As a Christian, I believe that God is my Creator, and He is my Lord. I believe that the only reason for my existence is because it was God's will; this makes me a child of God. As God's daughter, I am commanded to live a life that represents Jesus's love. Living a life that represents Jesus's love means that not only my outward appearance should represent Him, but my heart should as well. This has formed my identity because it controls how I carry and represent myself. I try to be someone who is constantly connecting with and reaching out to others because God commands me to do so. I show all people around me the love God shows me because God commands me to. The way I treat others has been solely based on the love my Saviour has shown to me. I forgive those who have wronged me throughout my life because God forgave my sins first. God has fabricated my identity by showing me how to act as a godly woman.
The values my family has instilled in me have also shaped my identity by reinforcing what my religion tells me. I've grown up attending church every Sunday morning. This was because my mother and father knew that God had magnificent plans for my life. No matter how tired I was, no matter what else I wanted to do, my family made sure I was present every Sunday to participate in Sunday school. My parents have raised me to understand the value of God, and the church; to understand that my life should come from a foundation built upon God. This has formed my identity because I now believe God is the basis for all areas of my life. Without my mother and father's discipline and encouragement to seek God, I would be a lost and broken person. My parents' belief that God has a plan for me has now been branded on my soul. No matter what, I know God is controlling my life and holding the outcome of all scenarios in the palm of His hand. My parents teaching me the importance of a life based upon God has shaped my identity by strengthening the core aspects of my life.
My life and identity are a clear representation of the values my family has instilled in me, and of how Jesus tells me my life should look like. I could choose to represent my identity by my gender, by my struggles, and by what the devil says about me, but I refuse to let those things define who I am. My identity comes from where my heart is rooted. Only a heart planted in rich nourishing soil can produce quality fruit.
THIS SUNDAY
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1 @ 10am
(IN)SECURE
I Belong
Del Wells
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10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)