Identity

Keith Ferrin / January 22, 2020

28 Proofs That God Can Use You

Have you ever looked at someone else’s resume and thought, There’s no way God can use me?

Comparing yourself (which is always a bad idea by the way) will have you completely focused on his brains, her skills, his looks, her ability, his connections, her opportunity, his luck…

When you compare your flaws to someone else’s strengths – at least the ones they’ll let you see – you will always come up thinking God can’t, won’t, or shouldn’t use you. But hear this clearly, my friend…

Your flaws are not your identity. Your flaws don’t define you. God does. He looks at you and says, “Yup. Just the way I like it.”

A while back, a pastor I know shared a list that starts to put all this in perspective a bit. I have added a few myself.

If God can use these people He can certainly use you and me.

After all…

Keith Ferrin / October 18, 2017

49 Identity Messages Your Kids Need to Know

Do your kids – or students, neighbors, nephews, nieces, or grandchildren – know who they are? Do you know who you are? Not know as in I-understand-this-in-my-brain, but know as in I-live-into-this-truth-more-each-day.

A while back I wrote a post about five simple ways to connect your kids with the Bible as school starts. (Feel free to give it a read. I’ll wait.) While our family has done all of these in some form, the “new one” that Kari and I have been implementing is taping a Bible verse right in the middle of the bathroom mirror for the kids to see when they wake up. [Read more…] about 49 Identity Messages Your Kids Need to Know

Keith Ferrin / February 15, 2017

Strong, Firm & Steadfast. Always.

Unless this is the first post on this blog you’ve ever read, you’ve likely heard me use the word “identity.” It is something I am passionate about, because it is foundational to every aspect of how we live. It’s also something every one of us struggles with.

When it comes to shaping our identity in the person and work of Jesus, I could think of no one better to share with you than my friend Michele Cushatt. She understands the “identity struggle” first hand. Without giving away her story (which you can read in her book Undone), Michele knows what it’s like to have faith in Jesus, lose her footing, and to wonder if she’d ever again be able to stand. She also know what it’s like to cry out to God for grace and discover the miracle of His Presence and His Purpose right here, right now.

Michele has been a friend for more than a decade. She also happens to be one of the most beautifully authentic people I know. And as you’re about to discover, she is a fabulous writer. [Read more…] about Strong, Firm & Steadfast. Always.

Keith Ferrin / September 7, 2016

5 Simple Ways to Connect Your Kids With the Bible As School Starts

Are your kids in school yet? Some of you started almost a month ago. (Sorry.) Our kids started yesterday.

NOTE: I have updated and re-posted this each of the last few years. This year, I have included a free PDF that takes these principles and put them into an applicable-all-year-round format so you can use it and share it anytime. I’ve also included a link to my eBook – 49 Identity Messages Your Kids Need to Know – that goes along with #1. I’d love to hear how you’re making the connection between your kids, the Bible, and school in the comments below. Enjoy!

If I had to choose one word to describe the first month of the school year it would be: HECTIC.

The pace is insane, isn’t it? Here’s a glimpse at life with the Ferrin Five:

Two kids in middle school.
A third in elementary school (with a different start/end time of course).
Three soccer teams.
A wife who teaches kindergarten.
My busiest travel season of the year.
Squeezed in between we all have to eat, clean, do laundry, etc., etc.

As I said…HECTIC. Where does the Bible fit into all this? Especially for our kids?! For me, I can get up early and grab some coffee, my Bible, and a corner of the couch. But I want my kids to connect with God and His Word as well. So…what can we do? [Read more…] about 5 Simple Ways to Connect Your Kids With the Bible As School Starts

Keith Ferrin / January 27, 2016

8 Identity Messages to Help You Live in Freedom

Do you know who you really are? Maybe a better question is: “Do you live from a place of knowing who you are?”

[featured-image single_newwindow=”true” alt=”Do you know WHO you are? There are 65 identity messages in Ephesians. Here are 8 that will help you live in freedom.”]

Sitting on the plane, I slowly read through Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. What normally takes 15-20 minutes took me over an hour. Every time I got to a verse, sentence, or phrase that spoke of identity, I jotted it down.

Little did I know the final count of “identity messages” in Ephesians would be 65!

Yes. Sixty-Five times Paul reminds the Ephesians – and us – of our identity in Christ. Both who we are in Christ and what we have been given through Christ. I am convinced that if we lived from a place of identity – rather than morality – everything would be different…and infinitely better.

If we live from a place of identity – rather than morality – everything will be different…and…

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Today, let’s look at eight. Not because these are the eight “big ones.” All 65 happen to be life-changingly-awesome. These are simply the eight God has me hunkered down on today. [Read more…] about 8 Identity Messages to Help You Live in Freedom

Keith Ferrin / February 25, 2015

The 3 Lies That Are Making You Feel Overwhelmed

The first woman had been in ministry for five months. The second was in her 20th year. Both were feeling the exact same way. Overwhelmed.

Are you feeling overwhelmed? If so, it's likely because you're believing one of these three lies. — Photo courtesy of Fototlia-©-carballo

I haven’t been able to get these two women out of my mind.

It’s probably because overwhelmed would be a good descriptor for most people I know (not just people in “ministry” or the guy writing this blog post).

Are you…

…an overwhelmed parent?

…an overwhelmed pastor?

…an overwhelmed teacher?

…an overwhelmed employee?

…an overwhelmed executive?

Feeling overwhelmed is not the exception these days. It’s the rule. (Heavy sigh.)

In the last week since these conversations took place, I’ve been pondering what leads to the overwhelmed-ness that seems to mark our lives.

The longer I ponder, the more clearly I see the direct correlation between how much I believe three lies and how overwhelmed I feel. (This is certainly not an exhaustive list. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.) [Read more…] about The 3 Lies That Are Making You Feel Overwhelmed