Redemption, Changes and Identity

This past weekend, Josh and I began our journey with "Redemption Groups" at church.  RG's started out as something for men and women who have been abused or have/had various forms of addiction.  They realized that the structure was giving those sins "too much credit" and people would still heavily identify themselves as "abused" or "addicted" rather than "in Christ".  So they rewrote the curriculum and now it is for anyone who struggles with sin or has been sinned against, which is everyone.  Josh is in a group with 10 other guys and I am in a group with 10 other women.  We each have different pain in our life- but as we learned pain is pain, and sin is sin and we all need to be redeemed from it.  Each week we will go through a chapter in the book "Redemption: Freed by Jesus from the idols we worship and the wounds we carry"- and within that book walks through the book of Exodus.  The kick off weekend went well and we are excited/nervous to see how God will move.  It is known for being really intense- but a good intense!    

As Josh and I have been completely digging the latest Phillip Phillips CD, one of the songs has really stood out at this stage in life.  We have completely loved our time here in Seattle as we anticipate leaving our new home in May.  We will be in essence starting over again, but with a greater sense and confidence in who we are and the God we serve.  There are still a lot of unknowns, and while we are not necessarily scared- we will be making the best of whats to come.  

(chorus lyrics)

Hope is just a ray of what everyone should seealone is the street where you found mescared of what's behind youand scared of what's in frontlive with what you have nowand make the best of what's to come

This week at church we started a new series title "Who Do You Think You Are"- Finding your true identity in Christ.  The first sermon was full of amazing truth- and I encourage each of you to listen- because what is life if we don't know who we are in Christ?
Mars Hill Church