Found: Discover the Power of Your True Identity

By Lorie Hartshorn

What was lost in the garden is found in Jesus. Discover how to live loved, and live free, because that is who you really are!
Found will enable you to ...
● Discover your true identity and reclaim your life.
● Gain a clear perspective on how God sees you.
● Take hold of all that God wants to give you.
● Experience power and purpose in your everyday life.
● Believe that everything available to Jesus is also offered to you!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Word Alive Press
• Release date: Apr 30, 2024
• ISBN: 9781486623549

Book preview

Advance praise for Found

Finding our truest identity is one of the most pressing, critical conversations in this cultural moment, and Lorie Hartshorn is a trusted guide whose passionate vision and deep wisdom offer fresh hope for every single one of us.

—Ann Voskamp

New York Times best-selling author of

One Thousand Gifts and WayMaker

I highly recommend Lorie Hartshorn’s book, Found: Discover the Power of Your True Identity. It is a thought-provoking read that takes us back to the Garden of Eden to experience this amazing truth: we are made in the image of God. Using powerful stories and personal experiences, Lorie paints a vivid picture of the struggle and importance of identity. Through reflections at the end of each chapter, readers are encouraged to explore their true selves and find fulfillment in their unique identities. This book is an inspiring read for anyone looking to find the power of your true identity in God.

—Gordon Robertson

President, the Christian Broadcasting Network

Through compelling storytelling and biblical reflection, Lorie Hartshorn invites each of her readers into a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ. I can’t imagine anything better than this: to be welcomed into the arms of the One who has made us in His image and purposed our lives for great good. The hope of this book is contagious!

—Jen Pollock Michel

Author of A Habit Called Faith and In Good Time

I have the privilege of working alongside author, speaker, and TV host Lorie Hartshorn, and it is because of this experience that I can tell you honestly that she wants you to win in life. This book is an honest reflection of the deepest part of her journey. It is an invitation to explore what it means to secure your identity in the One who created you.

In a world that is often uncertain and unpredictable, Lorie reminds us that we can exchange anxiety and fear for confidence and hope because of what Jesus accomplished for us on the Cross. Her ability to articulate real-life stories (mine included), biblical truth, and practical reflection questions will urge you to step into the life and purpose that God has created you for.

This book is a healing balm for all who have had their identity shaken, confused, or broken. She speaks with authority carved from experience when challenging us to live loved, and live free, because that is who we really are!

—Bill Markham

Lead Pastor, Central Community Church

Co-host, The 700 Club Canada

Lorie invites us to rediscover who we really are in spite of our backstory or the story we may have told ourselves. This knowledge helps us to live fully, freely, and found.

—Suzanne Eller

Bestselling author and speaker

Co-host of the More Than Small Talk podcast

Host of the Prayer Starters podcast with the KLRC podcast network

As I was reading Lorie’s new book, Found, I kept asking myself, Who am I, really? Our society and world tell us what our identity must or should be. Before long, we drift.

However, Christians must come back to the truth that we are made in the image of God. Therefore we are image-bearers of Jesus Christ and our identity must be found in Jesus. To go through life and miss this truth would be a travesty on many levels. Thankfully, Lorie has written this book to draw us back to who we truly are, God’s image-bearers. A refreshing freedom comes from having your identity tethered to Jesus Christ.

In typical Lorie fashion, she teaches this principle using her life’s journey, and she does so most effectively. This is an enjoyable, compelling book. It will help you refocus, and in doing so I, as well as you, will become a better ambassador for Jesus Christ.

—Tom Atema

Co-founder, Heart for Lebanon

As I read Found by Lorie Hartshorn, I yearned for more of God’s work in my life. Through her story, Lorie places the purity, power, and authority of our faith into the simplicity of being beloved by God. Each chapter and shared story invites us to understand what Jesus has accomplished for us and how we can live free and alive by the Spirit of God. Reading Found will lead your heart to behold and grasp the provision of Jesus, setting you free from sin and fear and placing you securely in the truth of how God sees you. You are found!

—Adam Shepski

Director, Disciple a City

Occasionally, someone will cross your path who is like a spark of joy and light. This person will be someone who truly lives out what she believes, who chooses to face hard truths about herself with courage, and who stands strong against lies and wrong beliefs with boldness… all so that she can bear witness to the transforming power of God’s love in her life.

Well, that person is Lorie Hartshorn, and in her book, Found, you have the gift of experiencing her ministry as if she were right there with you, walking alongside you, encouraging you, helping you to see the truth of your identity and worth. Authentic, honest, and hopeful amid the messiness of life, Lorie’s words are a much-needed balm to our souls.

—Dr. Merry C. Lin

Psychologist, author, and co-host of the The Fully Lived Life podcast

As a Christian leader on a mission to empower the next generation in their true identity, Found carries a critical message of hope to a generation in crisis. Through this collection of testimonies and scripture emerges an essential rescue from the lies that threaten the effectiveness of believers everywhere. By marvelling afresh at the new nature we’ve been given through Christ and taking hold of the good news of the Gospel, we can prepare, through these pages, to bring light and restoration to a lost and darkened world. This book hit my head and my heart. I am inspired to go deeper, living in my true identity, and I feel equipped to do it!

—Kaitlyn Cey

Pastor and educator

Motivational speaker, author, and certified leadership coach

www.kaitlyncey.com

If you have ever asked questions like Who am I? or What am I supposed to do with my life? Lorie’s book will help you discover the answer. You won’t just find instructions but much-needed real-life examples. Through stories from Lorie and friends, you are sure to have lightbulb moments about your identity and purpose.

—Stephanie Morales-Beaulieu

Author of Anything But Ordinary

Founder and lead teacher of Bite-Size Bible Study

Speaker at Everyday Truth Ministries Inc.

In a generation facing a detrimental identity crisis, Lorie paves a thoughtful journey of questions that catalyse honest reflection. As she takes us on an expedition through scripture, we are reminded that each of us is part of a divine design. Amid a very noisy world with many ideas surrounding identity, Lorie has created a clarifying map that will lead to the discovery of the power of your true identity. Grab a cup of tea, and your journal, then call up a friend or two and share the journey together. I highly recommend it!

—Anne Miranda

Speaker and author

Co-founder of Leverage, a network of women in leadership

Co-host of Coast to Coast Conversations on See, Hear, Love

Former Pastor of Women’s Ministries, Village Church Canada

National Ministries Director, Canadian Church Leaders Network

Lorie has written a deeply insightful book that gently guides the reader through a journey of discovering their true identity in God. By engaging with compassion, story, and key insights from the Bible, Lorie leverages not only her experience as a gifted teacher and storyteller but, more importantly, as a woman who has taken this journey personally and has spent a lifetime helping others experience the fullness of life. This is an essential read for anyone who knows something is missing and wants to find it.

—Angie Peters

President and CEO, Yonge Street Mission

Lorie’s book is an insightful and encouraging resource that allows readers to engage with the powerful truth of our identity in Christ. Through inspiring storytelling, real-life experiences, and reliable theological teaching, Lorie explains how redemption and purpose are discovered through a deeper relationship with Jesus and understanding our power as children of God. Going beyond the familiar, she gives practical advice on how to apply this knowledge to our lives. She empowers those who have experienced it and newcomers alike to discover these truths anew.

Each page invites us to explore a more profound understanding as we experience the redemptive grace of Jesus. This book is sure to leave readers with a newfound realization of their destiny found in the promises of God.

—Emily James

Pastor, author, and founder of Multipliers Leadership

I truly enjoyed reading Found, by Lorie Hartshorn. It is a warmly written book that is conversational in nature. It encourages the reader to truly value who they are and their identity in Christ. The stories shared in each chapter provide raw and honest examples of the challenges many of us face.

Lorie helps guide us in our thoughts with questions at the end of each chapter, allowing us to focus on our relationship with God. So many of us value our lives by standards that are not important to God, and this book reminds us of the truths found in a life that is surrendered to His love and purpose.

—Andrew Burditt

President, The Christian Broadcasting Associate, Inc.

There are so many aspects of life that influence our identity. Even well-meaning interactions can lead to devastating effects. Lorie’s collection of life accounts beautifully reminds us that we are free to evolve past those limitations and tackle life’s greatest challenges when our focus is on our God who is always working for our good.

—Ruth Thorogood

Contemporary Artist, thorogoodabstract.art

Who am I? is a question as old as time. We can spend our whole lives in search of identity and meaning. Lorie leads readers to examine this question in a new way, asking, whose am I?. By weaving real-life stories of people who have been lost and found, and rich scripture and insight, Lorie has created a beautiful tool to be used and shared by anyone longing to be seen, known and loved.

—Ellen Graf-Martin

President & Chief Marketing Strategist of

Graf-Martin Communications

FOUND: Discover the Power of Your True Identity

Copyright © 2023 by Lorie Hartshorn

All rights reserved. Neither this publication nor any part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

 Unless otherwise indicated, all scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™ Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (MSG) are taken from The Message, copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.

Print ISBN: 978-1-4866-2353-2

eBook ISBN: 978-1-4866-2354-9

Word Alive Press

119 De Baets Street, Winnipeg, MB R2J 3R9

www.wordalivepress.ca

Cataloguing in Publication may be obtained through Library and Archives Canada

This book is dedicated to my children and grandchildren.

May you live in your true identity as dearly loved

children of God—because that is who you are.

Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the Lord.

—Psalm 107:43, NLT

Acknowledgements

Dean, thank you for your constant love and support. Your desire to see this message released has kept me going. I love how you live out of your true identity.

To my family, you are my favourite people and greatest teachers. Thank you for your unconditional love as I continue to grow and seek to live out of my true identity. Thank you for your support as I share my/our story, all to the glory of God.

Thank you, Lorna Dueck, for calling this book out of me and for your incredible support during the writing process. You are a mentor and godly example.

To my many prayer partners and dear friends, thank you for cheering me on and believing in this message. Your prayers have given life. May you experience great joy as we release this book together. Thank you to the Hot Tub Prayer Sisters (Donna, LeeAnne, Brenda, Beth, and Dot), Our Connect Group family, Soul Sisters Group (Merry, Gillian, Elizabeth, Angie, Linda, and Wendy), Leverage Leadership Women (Nicole, Sylvia, and Emily), as well as Robin and Jervis… the list could go on. I’m truly grateful.

Thank you also to my Tyndale Seminary professors, for the opportunity to learn and grow. This book was birthed from completing my master’s degree in theological studies. As well, thank you for the honour of receiving a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2022.

To Curtis, your life and teaching exemplify the truths in this book. You have become one of my greatest teachers.

To Trevor and Katrina Roberts, thank you for your creativity and design of the Found video series. Your heart to release this message gave me wings.

To our video team and hosts, Brenda and Neil, thank you for