New Identity Magazine

Calling Him “Father”

Bethany Wagner — Mon, 28 Jan 2019 20:41:25 +0000

Scripture reminds us time and time again that we are God’s children and he is our Father. Psalm 103:13 tells us, “Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.” In 2 Corinthians 6:18, God promises, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters.” What does this mean for us, as we live out our lives, going to work…

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CHOOSING SPRING

Bethany Wagner — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 15:07:37 +0000

It was a sharp and cold yet bright winter day on my grandparents’ farm outside Salem, Oregon; a glorious Christmas morning. My grandpa’s dog Bo followed me as I walked down the driveway, past the barn, and turned onto the path leading to the orchard. My family had just said goodbye to my grandpa. His story on earth had ended. As I walked through the orchard, the apple, pear, plum…

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ADVENT: A SEASON OF WAITING & WONDERING

Bethany Wagner — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 18:40:09 +0000

Photo Credit: Thomas Rousing | Flickr (Creative Commons) Christmas is a season of many things, depending on whom you ask. A season of joy, of peace, of love. A season of family, reunions, rekindling relationships. A season of gifts, surprises, twinkling lights, and glittering trees. A season of busyness, financial strain, stress, even loneliness. To many Christians, Christmas is considered a…

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GOD OF THE EVERYDAY

Bethany Wagner — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 16:28:25 +0000

Photo Credit: Anais | Flickr (Creative Commons) This summer, I spent two months working for a Christian nonprofit on the coast of sunny South Florida. There, it was not hard to feel God’s presence. Every person I worked with had a close relationship with Jesus, setting strong examples of what it means to put God first. Every week we prayed for each other in the office, every other week we met…

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HEAD TO HEART

Bethany Wagner — Mon, 01 Aug 2016 17:20:52 +0000

Photo Credit: Chiara Cremaschi | Flickr (Creative Commons) Today, we have the opportunity to take in the Bible in many ways. We can read it in daily devotionals, listen to an audio reading on our commutes to work, tape verses to our bathroom mirrors, take detailed notes during sermons, and scroll through inspirational pictures and verses on Instagram. Yet even with the Bible—God’s own Word—at…

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PURPOSE IN PAIN

Bethany Wagner — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 23:09:05 +0000

Photo Credit: Brandon Warren | Flickr (Creative Commons) Bustling farmers markets, crowded local eateries, cozy coffee shops, and beautiful panoramas make up the quintessential Portland experience for many living in and visiting the city. But working twelve-hour nightshifts as a paramedic in Portland, Holly Kay sees a very different side of the city—and of humanity—than most people. And there…

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