This Month at PAYH: Monthly Newsletter, September 2022

Identity Theft

By Dr. Jeff Padgett

Satan loves to steal our identity. He knows if he can attain our identity and cause us to have a distorted view of ourselves, he has us in a weakened position. Here are some ways he attempts this and how we can be overcomers:

Point 1: A LIE BELIEVED AS TRUTH WILL AFFECT YOU AS IF IT WERE TRUE. The enemy has destroyed more lives and more relationships and more churches by only giving one side of the story—His!

• Problem: John 8:44b, “He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”
• Solution: John 8:32, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

Point 2: YOUR STRENGTH IS LIMITED. GOD’S STRENGTH IS UNLIMITED.

Lie: I HAVE TO BE STRONG

Isaiah 40:30-31, “Even youths (Greek for supreme athletes; the best of the best) grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who wait on the LORD will renew their strength. They will mount up on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.”

Truth: I HAVE TO BE WEAK.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10, “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses…For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Delight is from the Greek word Eudokeo—think well of, to delight, to embrace

WHAT WEAKNESS DO YOU NEED TO EMBRACE?

2 Corinthians 12:9, “…My 1grace is 2 sufficient for you, for My 3power is made 4perfect in 5weakness.”

The corresponding numbers reflect the meaning in the original Greek:

1 Charis (ca-reese) – unmerited favor, divine influence upon a heart.

2 Arkeo – eliminating a barrier, sufficient, exactly enough.

3 Dunamis – explosive, miraculous power.

4 Teleitai – completely fulfilled.

5 Astheneia – disease, infirmity, brokenness.

So the verse can read like this: God’s divine influence is exactly enough to meet your every need. For his explosive miraculous power is made completely perfect in you when you are broken before Him.

Don’t give Satan the satisfaction of stealing what does not belong to him. If you are a child of God, your identity is in Jesus Christ.

Volunteer Spotlight

For the month of September, we would like to recognize a special member of the PAYH family. Sam McCaw has been a MAJOR contributor to us for the past 17 years. He has been an active participant in traveling with the team on the Bike Ride for 15 years, serving in the areas of driving, setting up and dismantling the break stations for the young men, assisting in preparing food, and in many additional categories.

Sam has a heart to serve, and he puts his everything into his efforts. He has contributed to all of our events in some form or another over the years. Thank you Sam for being a treasure to the young men at PAYH. We love and appreciate you!

Congratulations Myles!

We are delighted to highlight our newest graduate from PAYH, Myles Dickson. The difference from when Myles came to us vs. now is truly astounding. He has shown improvement by leaps and bounds in education, physically, mentally and socially. Myles was also chosen to be a participant in the last bike ride. This young man said it was one of the greatest challenges he has faced in his life, and he even surprised himself with how much he was able to push through the tough times on the route. Upon graduation, he will continue his education to become a certified welder. We are so proud of you! Keep moving forward!

Tuesday, September 20th, begins National Rehabilitation Week. For this week, we want to remember why we are here – to help young men on their journey to a better life. Through God and those in our community, this is possible. “For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:37