Friday, December 27, 2013

Working some wood part 2

In my last post I covered working on a "cigar box" type of guitar made from a cookie tin. This type of instrument can be made from virtually anything. In this post I am going to show you the painted tin, the tuners after I finished with them and the finished product.. enjoy.

The tuners are standard sealed guitar machine heads which I had purchased from an auction site. I purchased some hello kitty toys and carefully removed their heads and split them so that they would fit the tuner buttons inside. I then resealed them using a super glue.

 My original plan was to build my daughter a 6 string guitar; however, this build gave me problems at every turn. But the main issue being that more than 4 strings was causing bowing issues in the neck. I don't the proper tools to build a proper 6 string and that was a factor too. 

I put about 3 coats of black spray paint over a period of three days. I then used frog tape and cut the designs i needed as a stensil and sprayed on two coats of pink. i peeled the tape off while the second coat was still tacky so that it didnt stick and peel the black paint off as it had before. 
(remember problems all the way) 

I used an altoids mini lid as the bridge as i have with previous guitars which i also added a piece of wood under it to make it firm and screwed it to the body and neck. 

The red that is used in the bow is actually fingernail polish and it drew up the paint but ended up giving texture and looked pretty good as well. 

Next
I drilled the holes for the tuners and attached them. after puting on the strings 
(the middle 4 strings of standard guitar string pack.
)




Thursday, December 26, 2013

Working some wood

I hadn't posted any of this before, simply because there is a chance that my daughter would see and I didn't want to ruin her Christmas suprise.

I wanted to show this for my friend Shad. I don't have a computer and this is all done from my phone so editing is a bit iffy and can't post like I would if it were from a pc.. so here it goes... enjoy.

I started this project with a 2 x 1/2 in x 30ish in board the length all dempends on how long you want your finger board to be. I also have some 4 in x 1/2 in planks to use for head stock.

I use a plane to shave down the edges and put a partal rounding to the neck and finger board. I also cut a 45* cut to the end of the board and cut a piece of the 4 in plank at the same angle to made the head stock.

This I glue and add two 1 inch pieces of all thread to two pre drilled holes for extra support.

This is all sanded down by hand until smooth.

I then stained the entire board with homemade tea stain made (by soaking a large 1 quart size teabag in 1 cup of water for 2 weeks) which I appled about 7 coats.

I then appled another home made stain ( 1 1/2 cup cider vinegar 1 steel wool pad and 2 tablespoons coffee grounds soaked for 2 weeks) which turned the darker color which I used for the finger board.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Winter Blues

I used to love winter, back when I was younger. We used to make forts, hunt and did self sustained practice in it... mostly now that I think about it, it was the only time I was able to get away from the shop, perhaps that is why I have so many fond memories of it. The spring, summer and fall was our bussiest times of year and so I was stuck at the bait shop.. the family business.. all those days wasted to run the precious business that was my step dads dream... why was he not there if it was his dream?? Good question. I remember him being considered legally blind, yet in the span of a year and a half he completely took apart the motor of a ford ltd and put it back together. He spent a lot of time fishing as well.. testing out baits and we as a team was also known to gather baits such as crawfish, minnows and shad.. after the first year or so with him it was then me and my step brother..

Sigh.. I really don't dislike winter as much as I say I do.. I just can't handle the cold.. its painful on the arthritis and with the lack of a working thyroid I just can't get warm. I used to love hunting in the winter but seem to have lost the taste of the act.. I do love the eats that come from it though.

Anyways, looking back at my youth.. those days in the bait shop.. that is where I learned to cook.. shows like "the frugal gormet" " the cajun cook" "yen can cook" and others that I can't remember.. yeah my step dad was a good cook, but wasn't alllowed in the kitchen most of the time when he was cooking.. those were also the years that I was taught to become self suffcient and to survive in the woods on my own with only a knife... I eventually took over the business in 87 when my step dad died, I was 14. ...

I gotta go. Will try and post more later
~B~

Wednesday, December 04, 2013

Happiness

Wow! Its all I can say about what happened Tuesday night when I took my Cigar Box Guitars to table groups. I don't think I have ever seen some one so happy. One of our table members was so happy, he was more than happy, he was estatic to hold and play something that I built. Not just him but it seemed that at least 4 or 5 people from the other little groups came over to check them out and play with them.. it was rather awesome to see people get some enjoyment out of something that I built with my own hands.

I'm presently working on a few other builds right now, which I can't show at the moment because for some reason I can't get pics to load. But can tell you, its a thing of beauty, also working on some natural stains and will be producing some interesting colors for that.

I've still got another bible study I'm working on and will start getting it up soon as well.. 

Look below and see that I now have a way to keep this page funded, its amazon. Illinois is letting us have associate stores again and I jumped on it as soon as the email hit my mailbox.. in the next few weeks I will adjust things a bit better.

Until later
~B~

Sunday, November 24, 2013

New lesson plan

I will be starting a new lesson plan soon, I don't know if I'm going to share this one as I did with the previous one or not. I guess it will depend on how the first few read. If I share it, I will attempt to do it a bit diffrent, but would like for people to share their thoughts and feelings about it as well.

Thanks
~Brad~

Friday, November 22, 2013

An egg overeasy and 2 pieces of toast

An egg over easy with a side of toast and coffee is my breakfast every morning. Today I think of how I'm blessed, even though I am low income, I still have things such as this.. I still get to eat breakfast. Infact, I don't think I have ever had to go without food for myself or my family, ever.
Always God has seen to my needs as He promises (Matthew 6:31-33, Luke 12:22-24). Even durring times of disaster and while being homeless, we still had food in our bellies and a roof over our heads for protection, and clothing on our backs. Today is just a time for me to look back and see how life has blessed me and those around me. Thank you Lord for providing for me all my days and keeping me safe, I know I am not worthy but thank you anyways...

Mat. 6:31-33
31“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’
32These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.
33Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Luke 12:22-24
22Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear.
23For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing.
24Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Things are not always as diffrent as they may seem

The title for this week isn't quite as strange as it may seem. I know, I like to confuse you a little bit, right?

Tonight we were discussing things a little off topic at our group, and things seem to be that there's a little bit of similarities going on, amongst us all. Things that I thought at a time were diffrent only to me and me alone. Apparently not. This has been about the 3rd time this has come about. And my question is, do I use these times as a time to try and explain or witness about these events or do I just let it go and leave these people in the dark. I mean I'm already kind of looked at as being the odd member and I really don't want to make it seem like I'm poking fun or belittling them.

I know some of the things I say seems extra ordinary and made up and sometimes seems far fetched, but I assure you that even though I will sometimes joke about things, there are certain things I refuse to joke about.. and these things that we talked about tonight were some of those things..

Anyways talk at ya later
~B~

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Mathew west in concert

Mathew west with sidewalk phophets and jason castro..
This concert was awesome and hope to see these guys again.

11/13/13 stalkers and gawkers

Ever have those kind of people that seem to be so stuck on you that they get all run up on your business and get upset because of what they see, even if its just normal everyday type of deal??..

Well in the past few months I have actually been dealing with just that kind of deal.. you know frankly if you want to get under my skin and give me an irritation not unlike poison ivy, cause strife in my life.. remember now I've not been a Christian for very long and although I try, I do still occationally have the old me rear its ugly head. Quite frankly I really don't care for the old me, but that old me, "iggy" as he was called in my village was a real stand up guy that took care of issues and made said issues go away. Apparently that same person was a very scary dude.

To top things off another issue arose, a gawker from another land that decided to follow me through my meanderings of social networks.. all I can say is wow! Dude, cyberspace can be a crazy place and when you mess with some one who used to get refered to as a "god of the internet," well let's just say that's the old me too, but gosh I know my around the web..

I have been trying to give all this up to the Lord. Its been tough to let it go and is part of why I havnt posted any more posts over the last few weeks...

Thanks again for reading
~B~

Wednesday, November 06, 2013

First 2 cigar box guitar builds

Sorry about the bad lighting in the picture.. these are the first two cigar box guitars that I have made. The first one was made from just junk that I found laying around or salvaged and I call it the "plinker" which is made from an old cookie tin, it has match stick frets and have made several improvements on it since I first built it. It is still one of my favorates to play.. the second one is made from a cohiba cigar box.. I have nicnamed it the "ghost" simply because it has a very haunting sound. I ported it to also be an electric but removed the electronics temporaraly to fix a rattle and the fact that from carving out a little of the wooden through neck it made it weak enough to bend. I have fixed this problem but still need to fix the head so the tuners fit more snugly. I love playin on the ghost as well... I have already composed a bit of music on it and will continue as time goes by. It may also be ready and up for sale in the next few weeks to make room for more builds..

~B~

Tuesday, November 05, 2013

YIC: D 30 of 30 Pray Without Ceasing

If you have a cell phone, then you have probably had a dropped call before. You're in the middle of a conversation and you're carrying on about your day, only to find out that no one is on the other end, listening. You start repeating the question, "Can you hear me now?" trying to get the conversation back.

Thankfully, God never drops your prayers. God cares about you deeply. He will always have the time to listen to what you have to say - even if it's something silly or small. If you're in Christ, then God hears you. Always.

This explains why the Bible tells us to pray "without ceasing". That is, to pray anytime, about anything, anywhere. In Christ, God is your Father, and you should talk to Him regularly, not because you have to, but because you get to.

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:17

How are we to pray?

What does it mean to pray without ceasing? What does it not mean?

Prayer

Thank God that you are able to pray anytime, anywhere, and about anything.

This devotion is excerpted from the Who Do You Think You Are? Study Guides with Daily Devotions resource by Pastor Mark Driscoll at Mars Hill Church. Get more devotionals and resources at www.marshill.com.

I Thessalonians 5:16-19 NKJV

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

19 Do not quench the Spirit.

Monday, November 04, 2013

YIC: D 29 OF 30 The Power At Work Within Us

Do you believe deep down in your gut that God can do more than you ask or imagine? What do your prayers reveal about your trust in God? Do you pray as big as your Father?

Not only is our all-powerful, crazy-generous God at work, He is "at work within us." And God's power working in us gives us hope.

In Ephesians, Paul modeled prayer that expects God to continue working in us by the power of the Holy Spirit. In light of God's power at work in us, we should pray expecting to be heard, if we pray within God's Will.

Read Ephesians 3:20-21

What is God able to do?

How is God able to accomplish this?

What do your prayers reveal that God is able to do?

Prayer

Ask God to enlarge your vision of Him and show you that He is able to do far more than you could ever think or imagine.

Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Sunday, November 03, 2013

YIC: D 28 of 30 Do You Really Believe Jesus Loves You?

Jesus loves you. How do you feel when you read that? Do you doubt it because you're suffering? Do you disbelieve it because there's great sin in your life? Do you dismiss it because you're so busy with life that you don't have time to think about it?

If so, then remember the prayer Paul prayed for the church, saying:

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

In praying this prayer, Paul didn't doubt that God loves His people, but He did doubt that they truly knew it, really believed it, and were experiencing it. Many Christians today know God loves them, but they know it like someone who takes a driver's education class but never drives a car.

Paul wanted the love of God, like a plant rooted deeply in nourishment and able to flourish, to be a deep root in people's souls. He wanted the church to know that God's love is wide enough to welcome anyone, long enough to stretch from the beginning to the end of time, deep enough to reach down to the worst of sinners, and high enough to transport us to God's heavenly kingdom.

Read Ephesians 3:17-19

Why did Paul pray for the church to be rooted and grounded in love?

Why would Paul want to pray such a prayer for Christians?

Prayer

Pray Ephesians 3:17-19 forans 3:17-19

Ephesians 3:17-19 NKJV

17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Saturday, November 02, 2013

YIC: D 27 of 30 The God Of All Comfort

A cancer survivor has an amazing ability to speak encouraging words to someone going through the same battle that she once did. Have you ever been encouraged by someone who has gone through the same thing you have? Have you ever been the encourager?

When we are afflicted and experience a difficult time, we are given an opportunity to comfort others with the same comfort we have received from God. This is one of the many reasons we experience affliction in our life: to comfort others.

God will take care of you in your time of need, and his comfort for you is intended to be passed on to others. In the words of the apostle Paul, "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Gal. 6:2).

Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

Why does God comfort us in our affliction?

Is there anyone in your life who is experiencing an affliction similar to one you have experienced? How can you comfort that person?

Prayer

Thank God for the grace you've experienced in suffering. Ask for His help in leading you to comfort those experiencing similar affliction.

II Corinthians 1:3-7 NKJV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.

Friday, November 01, 2013

Got a little behind and internet problems

I am sorry for getting behind in a few posts.. and then the last day or two I've also had problems getting online. So at least the scheduled part of blogger has at least posted my posts for me for once.. I will get back on today if the internet will let me so that I can comment my posts..

God Bless you all and thanks for reading my blog...
~B~

YIC: D 26 of 30

When was the last time you were discouraged? Was it when you performed poorly on an exam and got a bad grade? Did you make a mistake in a game that caused your team to lose?

All of us are discouraged at some point. There will be a time in your life that you will be discouraged, in school, sports, hobbies, and even your friendships. When it comes, you'll be tempted to give up and quit caring.

You'll even be discouraged in your pursuit of Jesus. There will be a time when you'¢ll be tempted to quit caring about living for Him.

When this happens, you'll feel guilty and ashamed, as if you're the only one who ever felt that way. You're not. Even Jesus Christ was tempted to give up.

Before enduring horrendous pain and suffering, Jesus was discouraged. He was tempted to not go through the agony of the cross. Thankfully Jesus didn't give up. He had you and me in mind. He knew that he had come to save his people from their sins (Matt. 1:21).

Even though following Jesus Christ doesn't mean that your life will be easy and pain free, trusting in Jesus, who suffered for you, will empower you to endure any level of suffering you experience.

Jesus didn't give up on you. He endured suffering to the point of losing His life for you. Since Jesus persevered and kept pushing through, in Christ we, too, can persevere and continue our pursuit of Jesus when we suffer.

Read Ephesians 3:1-13

How do Paul-s words to the Ephesians take on new meaning when you realize that Paul was most likely lying on a cold floor in the dark with an aching body from repeated beatings in prison? What do you believe is the secret to avoiding discouragement, bitterness, unbelief, and anger while suffering?

Prayer

Ask for God's grace to help you and your family to not lose heart in the middle of any suffering or affliction.

Ephesians 3:1-13 NKJV

1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—
2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,
3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,
4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),
5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:
6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,
7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

Purpose of the Mystery

8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;
10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.
13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Thursday, October 31, 2013

YIC: D 25 of 30 You Are Not Of This World

Being a Christian isn't easy. If you are a Christian, there will be times in your life that are hard. People will make fun of you, think less of you, or even verbally and physically assault you, just because you're a Christian. As a Christian, you should expect to experience some level of suffering in your life.

We worship a God who came to earth and was afflicted. Jesus experienced a great deal of suffering. He was wrongfully arrested, beaten, verbally assaulted, tortured, and made to carry the very wooden cross to which He would be nailed, to die for you and me.

Not only has Jesus suffered - so, too, have those who have faithfully served him throughout history. Even today, thousands of people around the world will die martyrs' deaths for their faith in Jesus Christ.

In spite of the pain and suffering these martyrs endured, they lived for Jesus, because Jesus lives.

Read John 15:18-21

Did the world love or hate Jesus?

Should we expect the world to love our beliefs and us?

Have you ever experienced any negative reactions from others because you identified yourself as a Christian? How did you respond?

Prayer

Thank Jesus that He suffered and died for your sin. Ask for God's grace to help you face affliction in your life for your faith in Jesus.

John 15:18-21 NKJV

18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

YIC: D 24 of 30 A Slave Trader Who Found New Hope

'I once was lost but now am found.' These are the words John Newton penned for "Amazing Grace."

During the earlier years of his life, Newton spent time in the slave trade. But one day, Newton realized that he was lost, without a savior and without hope.

God was gracious and merciful to him. Despite his deep sin, God saved Newton and gave him a new hope in life. It was a hope not based on how much money or stuff he had, but rather a hope found in Jesus - one that will never fade away.

Like Newton, apart from faith in Christ we have "no hope and [are] without God in the world" (Eph. 2:12).

Apart from Christ, you are farther from God than you feared. In Christ, you are nearer to God than you hoped. Through faith in the truth about who God is and who h\He's made you to be, you're reconciled to God in Christ.

Read 2 Corinthians 5:18-21

What did God do for us through Jesus?

What ministry did God give us? How do we fulfill this ministry?

How are you and your family doing with the ministry of reconciliation?

Are you not reconciled with anybody? If you are, pray about what a way to reconciliation would look like and ask the Holy Spirit what He'd have for you in those relationships.

Prayer

Thank God that He has reconciled you to Him. Ask for His help and power in fulfilling the ministry of reconciliation (see Acts 1:8).

II Corinthians 5:18-21 NKJV

18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Ephesians 2:12 NKJV

12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

Acts 1:8 NKJV

8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

YIC: D 23 of 30 A Clique Is The Opposite Of Unity

Preppies. Punks. Jocks. Geeks. These are just some of the groups, or cliques, with whom we identify or in which we place others.
Cliques are groups we look to for friendship, comfort, or even popularity. We believe that if we can make it into or even be accepted by a particular crowd, then life will be perfect. The problem is that cliques are made up of imperfect people. Inevitably, your clique will let you down.
The other problem with cliques is that once we're in one, we tend to look down on those outside of our group. One day, however, this will all change.
In heaven, there won't be cliques from which you're excluded. There won't even be separate groups to be a part of. The false hope of cliques will be destroyed. Everyone will be unified in Christ. While we can't live this out perfectly today, we should do our best to live in unity with those who are in Christ, whether they're like us or not.

Read Revelation 7:9-10

How many people will be in heaven?

Where will all the people in heaven come from?

What will unity look like?

Prayer:
Thank God that He has reconciled you and countless others to Himself. Ask for His help in seeing His work in your community and around the world among all people.

Revelation 7:9-10 NKJV
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Sunday, October 27, 2013

YIC : D 22 of 30 Oneness In Christ

Have you ever been in a large group but still felt lonely? People tend to hang out with people they know and who are like them. Even in large groups this is true, as we tend to hang out with our friends and avoid strangers.

If you've been in this situation and tried to talk with someone from another group, you probably experienced a feeling that you were breaking through an invisible barrier.

Not only will you experience these invisible walls with people; you'll also see physical walls built to separate people. In other parts of the world, people have built high walls, chain-link fences, and concrete structures to separate themselves from others.

One day these invisible and physical walls will be destroyed. Everyone God has reconciled to himself through Jesus Christ will live with one another in peace and harmony.

Read Galatians 3:23-39

Through faith in Christ, we are considered what? (We are considered children of God. To be a child of God is much more than having a family relationship. Being God's children means we are "…heirs" of God and enjoy all the benefits of his family.)

Is there any difference between people in Christ? (No. The invisible barriers that separate us are done away with and destroyed. We are all one in Christ Jesus.)

How should your oneness in Christ change the way you interact with others?

Prayer

Thank God that through faith in Christ you are considered His child, an heir of His promises. Ask for His help in living out your oneness in Christ with others.

Galatians 3:23-39 NKJV

23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

Sons and Heirs

26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Saturday, October 26, 2013

YIC: Day 21 of 30 Jesus, Our Older Brother

We all are in need of being saved from the quicksand of our sin.

Sandra McCracken, on her album Live Under Lights and Wires, tells a story of two young boys who play together near a river. Sadly, the two boys fall into some quicksand. When the rescue workers finally come, they only find the younger brother standing on top of the sand. When the boy is asked where his brother is, he says, "I'm standing on his shoulders." The older brother had sacrificed himself to save his younger brother.

Just like that younger brother, we all are in need of being saved from the quicksand of our sin. Fortunately, Jesus, our older brother, saves us.

Read Ephesians 2:1-10

Read through these verses and find ways that Paul contrasted our old nature of sinking in sin with our new nature in Christ.

OLD NATURE

NEW NATURE

Separated from Christ

United with Christ

Dead

Alive

Disobedient

Obedient

Ruled by spiritual evil

Sharing in Jesus' rule over spiritual evil

Objects of God's wrath

Objects of God's affection

Walking in sin

Walking in good works

Prayer

Thank God that you are a new creation in Christ. Consider taking this list, writing it down, and taping it to your mirror to remind you of your new identity in Christ.

Ephesians 2:1-10 NKJV

1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Friday, October 25, 2013

YIC: Day 19 of 30 Walk Toward God

We are to turn our backs to sin and our faces toward God.

Imagine walking for years in the same direction. How far do you think you would travel from home? Pretty far, right?

Spiritually, this is how life is for non-Christians. Every day they walk in the same direction, with their backs toward God and their faces toward sin and selfishness. This is what Paul called walking after "the course of this world." Their travels lead them farther and farther into darkness and death.

As Christians, we are to live lives of daily repentance. This means we are to turn our backs to sin and our faces toward God. We're to walk toward Jesus, day in and day out. In Christ we're saved from walking on this worldly road and turned to walk toward God.

Read Ephesians 2:2

What course do people walk apart from Christ? (They follow the course of this world.)

Whom do people follow apart from Christ? (The prince of the power of the air: this is another way of referring to Satan.)

Would you say that you're walking toward Jesus or toward the world?

Prayer

Thank God that by saving you and setting you on a path to follow Him, He has delivered you from the need to follow the world and Satan.

Ephesians 2:2 NKJV

2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone,

Renaming of the posts

I am shortening the names of the post so that its easier for me and you both.. I am shortening Your Identity in Christ to YIC and then the day number and the title.. I'm hoping its easier to read and know where we are.. Thanks for your patience
~B~

Sorry i got a little behind

Sorry about not having anything new the past few days.. its been a little hecktic and will get some more up in the next couple days..
Thanks for stayin with me and reading my blog
God Bless You,
~B~

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Your Identity In Christ: Jesus Is Better Than Self Help day 19 of 30

Jesus Is Better Than Self Help

The gospel is more than a message about God saving you from the penalty of your sin.

Self-improvement messages are nearly everywhere. We see them on television, in advertisements, on the internet, and in magazines, newspapers, and books. You will find multiple steps to living a better life or to making yourself more attractive, a superior athlete, the smartest student, and even rich.

With constant bombardment of self-improvement messages, we must be careful that we don't reduce our relationship with God through Christ to a series of steps to living the best Christian life possible. When we do this, we belittle God and turn Him into someone who helps us achieve what we want out of life.

How do we protect ourselves from adopting selfish methods in our relationship with God? Simple. We live in light of the gospel.

According to A. W. Pink in The Redeemer's Return, the gospel is more than a message about God saving you from the penalty of your sin. It is a message about God saving you from the penalty of your sin, the power of sin, and the presence of sin.

Throughout your life you are brought along by Jesus and lovingly empowered by the Holy Spirit to live for the glory of God and enjoy Him forever. So instead of formulating a new series of steps to take, look to Jesus. Preach the gospel to yourself every day as a way of placing your trust for your life in His hands, not your own.

Read Ephesians 2:1-10

How did Paul use the word saved in Ephesians 2:5, 8? (He wrote in the present perfect tense, which indicates an action that was already completed at the time of his writing. This means we have already been saved from something.)

From what have we been saved? (From Ephesians 2:1-3 we see that we've been saved from God's wrath.)

When talking about being saved, the Bible typically has two ideas in mind: (1) We are in danger and cannot rescue ourselves; and (2) Someone else rescued us. Be creative and think of ways you and your family could act out a rescue mission in your home that captures these two points.

Prayer

Thank God for his mercy and grace in rescuing you from the penalty of your sins through faith in Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:1-10 NKJV

1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

God is an Awesome and Supernatural God

I still do not and cannot understand how a lot of Christians do not honestly believe God is a supernatural being, point in fact, tell some one that He speaks to you directly and see how they look at you. Yet so many times in the bible it tells of God or an angel being sent to speak for God to some one... did this ever quit happening? I don't think it ever did, I think most people quit listening. But that's not all.. God has control over my life, I have noticed that when I don't let Him have control, I kinda spiral out of control rather quickly. I know I'm not perfect, I love that God still loves me. I love the fact that His son came to Earth and lived his life teaching and performing miricles to show us just how Great God is and that he gave himself as a sacrifice so that all that I have done is forgiven even before I was ever born..
No man can do that, but the son of God did. And he didn't do it for just me, he did it for you too.

Do you know Jesus? If not, I ask that you get to know him. If he can forgive 20 years spent in the occult, and 30+ years of hate, then he can forgive as well..

I don't expect to be completely healed, for I know that it is part of my journey and is part of who I am and has made me a better person and taught me to look at things diffrently.. but on the other side look at the things that God has healed me of...

I have had no signs of gout since june which flaired up for 6 hours because I took a benadryl and in january after a close call to death and the antibiotics moved the gout to my other foot. It lasted a week but with prayer it went away. My hoshimoto's is gone.. God took it away. Doctors have told me repeatedly I would be on medications all the rest of my life to treat them... guess what? God has healed it.. I don't take meds at all for either condition..

I can go on and on about things that have happened and is presently going on in my life with Jesus and God.. some of which sounds like made up stories but I asure you they are not. Some of those stories will come out in other entries at another time I am sure... until then,
God Bless you all..
~B~

Your Identity In Christ Day 18 of 30 The Red Sea Is Behind You

The Red Sea Is Behind You

Read Exodus 14:10-13

Imagine helicoptering into this Red Sea scene, dropping commando-style onto the scene for an interview with one of those terror-stricken Hebrews. The stark fear of being wiped out by their former slave-driving boss, Pharaoh, and his cronies aside, what emotion does your interviewee articulate? I'd put my money on fear, fear that they haven't escaped their old identities, their old slavery, and their old slave master.

Think about it. These people had known nothing but slavery for 400 years. Suddenly, the God whom they thought had forgotten about them completely comes on the scene to deal with Pharaoh's tyranny. Finally, after the chilling plague narratives, Pharaoh relents. At last! Camping and bonfires on the beach of the Red Sea, right?

But wait! There's more: Suddenly, in the throes of megalomania, Pharaoh changes his mind and chases after them. Now God's people are hemmed in at an impassible Red Sea without water wings. But just as they miraculously cross and the Egyptians are charging across after them, God closes the sea and swallows them up (v. 26-29).

They were this close. This Moses guy had a great plan and now this! Horrific images emblazoned on their minds from lifetimes of slavery come rushing back. The hope of deliverance was too good to be true and they're really just slaves after all. It's back to the old life.

Now that's fear.

Nothing can quite peg identity like fear - and its constant companion, shame - can. And that's the big question. Who are you, really? An ineffective employee? A failed father? A basket case? A pervert? Damaged goods? Shame words try to name you, own you, and weigh you down.

Know this: you've been lied to.

You are not your old nature, and Christ has removed it completely from you and in His perfect love, driven out fear. In Christ, you are His treasured possession. We were not meant to lug the weight of slavery around in the first place. Christ's burden is easy; His yoke is light. You're clothed in Christ's righteousness, and when God sees you, He doesn't see shame - He sees the perfection of Jesus.

As part of God's family, you are the beloved firstborn. Rather than receiving the just judgment of the Egyptians, He has ransomed you to be with Him. In His eyes, the chaos of the sea is behind you, and the enemy has been defeated. Just like the Israelites' enemies and their accusations were drowned in the Red Sea, the shaming, condemning words of your past life of slavery have been silenced in the death and resurrection of Christ.

Amen!

"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery" Galatians 5:1

By Pastor Matt Johnson

Exodus 14:10-13 NLT

10 And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord .
11 Then they said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt?
12 Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.”
13 And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord , which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.

Galatians 5:1 NKJV

1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Exodus 14:26-29 NKJV

26When all the Israelites had reached the other side, the Lord said to Moses, “Raise your hand over the sea again. Then the waters will rush back and cover the Egyptians and their chariots and charioteers.”
27So as the sun began to rise, Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the water rushed back into its usual place. The Egyptians tried to escape, but the Lord swept them into the sea.
28Then the waters returned and covered all the chariots and charioteers—the entire army of Pharaoh. Of all the Egyptians who had chased the Israelites into the sea, not a single one survived.
29But the people of Israel had walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, as the water stood up like a wall on both sides.

Monday, October 21, 2013

Billy proposes to Amy

This is a couple of friends of ours and we are trying to make it go viral... feel free to pass it along..

Billy Proposes to Amy @ resturant

Your Identity In Christ Day 17 of 30 Are You A Slave To Performace?

Are You A Slave To Performace?

Performance enslaves us to the opinions of others, making us unable to say no to anyone.

How do people become great? Do they launch a business and make a lot of money? Do they start a band and play before thousands? Do they make a video that goes viral on YouTube?

Jesus said that our pursuit of greatness is through service, not performance. He modeled this with His own life, laying it down for our forgiveness.

Performance is doing things for other people's approval. Service is doing them for God's approval, knowing that He is watching. Performance enslaves us to the opinions of others, making us unable to say no to anyone. Service frees us to do what God wants, enabling us to say no to others as needed. Performance leads us to become perfectionists, wanting to do everything just right to get praise from others. Service allows us to do even simple tasks and know that we are praised by God for doing so.

Knowing that God appreciates us in Christ allows us to exchange our performance for service.

Read Mark 9:33-37

Did Jesus discipline his disciples for aspiring to greatness? (No. Jesus redirected their aspirations for greatness.)

How does someone obtain greatness in the kingdom of heaven? ("If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.")

Do you have tendency to perform or to serve? Have everyone in your family identity up to three ways they can serve.

Prayer

Pray for a deeper understanding of God's appreciation for you and your family to free you from the pressures of performing and to help you become more satisfied in serving.

Mark 9:33-37 NKJV

33 Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. 35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” 36 Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Today in class 10/20

I rather enjoy our new bible study class that we are going to in the mornings at Central.. Its mostly retirees and one of which is the librarian from the school I grew up in.. This is now the 3rd class that we have been approached to lead in now.. I'm thinking mostly its Sandi more due to her knowledgeable background.. I'm just the crazy supernatural believing christian.. Lol anyways, I thought I would share.. Have a blessed day, we have a full day ahead for us between visiting with friends today and a few concerts..
God Bless you
~B~

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Your Identity in Christ day 16 of 30

Ungodly Competition

Being in Christ liberates us from ungodly competition and helps us celebrate others and their successes.

T-ball can turn into a game more about the individual kids than about the team. If you don't believe it, just watch a game. When a player gets a hit, all the defenders in the area will jump on it instead of allowing the player in the right position to get it. Sometimes they'll even argue over who had the ball first. Why? Because they haven't learned teamwork yet.

Often, in our lives, we engage in the same unhealthy competitiveness - we're just better at hiding it.

Competitiveness is not sinful, but the reason we compete can be. Are you motivated to encourage yourself and other Christians to be more faithful and fruitful for God's glory than ever before? Or do you discourage others from seeking God's best in their lives because you're jealous of their success?

Ungodly competition in the Christian life is when we compete against others. Being in Christ liberates us from ungodly competition and helps us celebrate others and their successes.

Read Ephesians 1:15-16

Paul set a great example for us. He was someone who could celebrate what God was doing in someone else's life. Did Paul compare the Ephesian's work to his own? (No. Paul didn't compare their work to his own or even mention his many accomplishments.)

What did Paul do as a result of hearing about their faith? (He celebrated the evidence of God's grace in their lives by unceasingly giving thanks.)

Do you celebrate the success of others?

Is God convicting you about anyone with whom you wrongly compete? Repent, and start celebrating what God is doing in his or her life.

Prayer

Pray for others in a way that celebrates their successes.

Ephesians 1:15-16 NKJV

15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:

Your Identity In Christ Day 15 of 30 How Do You React To Rudeness?

How Do You React To Rudeness?

God sees everything you do. He knows the sacrifices you make and the work you do.

The next time you're in a lunch line, leaving a game or concert, or getting off the bus, take a moment to observe how people expect you to treat them, and how they treat others. People can be just plain rude. Everyone at one point or another seems to act as if they are more important and that what they're doing has more meaning than anything we do.

No one likes to be treated rudely. Yet we, too, can be rude at times. Have you ever been jealous when someone else won a big award, performed well in a game, or got the latest gadget? How did you act?

We can get frustrated and angry - and even rude -when we're not appreciated for what we do. From work, school, and chores, we can go through the day feeling unappreciated, as if nobody cares. If you've ever felt this way, there's good news for you. God sees everything you do. He knows the sacrifices you make and the work you do. With every good thing you do in Christ, He is appreciative.

Read Ephesians 1:15-16

What did Paul hear about the people of Ephesus? (He heard about their faith in Jesus and their love toward all the saints.)

Because of what he heard, what did Paul do? (He gave unceasing thanks for them and remembered them in his prayers.)

Talk about what you feel and think when someone is rude toward you. Identity up to three ways you can show appreciation to others.

Prayer

Have your family pray and give thanks for the people in their lives. Have them each identify at least one reason they are thankful for others.

Ephesians 1:15-16 NKJV

15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:

Friday, October 18, 2013

Your Identity In Christ Day 14 of 30 Our Blessings For God's Glory

Our Blessings For God's Glory

Our purpose in Christ is to worship God and enjoy him eternally.

Why does God bless us? So we can make a big deal about how great we are? Or does He bless us so that He will be made great?

The entire point of God's blessing is His glory. God blesses us with every spiritual blessing in Christ so that we may enjoy and glorify Him forever. This means that our purpose in Christ is to worship God and enjoy Him eternally.

Read Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14

According to verse 6, what is the purpose of God's blessings? (To bring praise for His glorious grace.)

What is the purpose of God's blessings as found in verses 12 and 14? (To elicit the praise of His glory.)

Discuss what it looks like to live a life of purpose in Christ for God's glory and your enjoyment.

Prayer

Pray through Ephesians 1:11-14.

Ephesians 1:6 NKJV

6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

Mark this reading as completed on YouVersion

Ephesians 1:11-14 NKJV

11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Your Identity In Christ Day 13 of 30 Loved And Adopted

Tomorrow is another long day for me because of exenuating circumstances... so I am posting early again.. there really is not much I can say on todays topic because I havnt had a bit of time to ponder it, I will attempt to do so in the morning or after work tomorrow nite...

Loved And Adopted

We are His children, and He is our Father.

Steve and Jan were nearing their destination. Their travels began in the Pacific Northwest in Seattle, Washington, and they were en route to China. This day marked the end of a year-and-a-half-long process for them. They were finally adopting their son - a young boy named Lu Hui.

As an adopted son, Lu Hui is a part of Steve and Jan's family. He enjoys all the benefits of a natural-born son, including the amazing love his parents share with him.

Just as Lu Hui was adopted into Steve and Jan's family, we are adopted into God's family in Christ. And just as Lu Hui experiences all the benefits of being a son, we, too, experience the benefits of being sons and daughters of God. We are His children, and He is our Father. We have brothers and sisters in Christ from every nation, tribe, and tongue.

Read Ephesians 1:5

What did God predestine us for? (Adoption.)

What are we adopted as? (We are adopted as God's children into His family.)

How is our adoption as God's children made possible? (Through Jesus Christ.)

How does it feel to be a part of your family? (Parents, relate this to being a part of God's family now that He has adopted you into it through Jesus Christ.)

Prayer

Thank God that you're able to call Him Father.

Ephesians 1:5 NKJV

5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

10-15 table groups recap

Not all of us were there tonight, but we did have a very good discussion around our table tonight. A lot came out. I find myself revealing more about myself to our table members every group about my past and how I feel and am dealing with it and my journey of Christianity.

I just wanted to share.. thanks for reading.
~B~

Your Identity in Christ day 12 of 30

You Are One Of God's Workers

How do you see yourself when you fail, when you completely blow it? Do you spend time thinking about all the ways you failed and that you are only as good as what you didn't do right? What does the enemy whisper in your ear when you've failed? Reminders of how you will never change, never grow? Reminders of the sin you have committed since you became a Christian?

For me, it's the latter again and again: reminders of the sin I have committed since I became a Christian. Even though I have repented of it, the enemy loves to whisper in my ear, tempting me to doubt my salvation, my forgiveness, and my freedom.

Paul has just given the Corinthian church a strong rebuke. He said to them only eight verses earlier that he "could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ." In other words, they are so much like the non-Christian world around them that he can't even speak to them like the people of God, but instead needs to talk to them in baby talk, because they are so immature.

How then could Paul tell these Corinthians that they are God's fellow workers, God's field, and God's building so shortly after? He can tell them this because their identity is not found in what they have done, but what God in Christ did for them. They can be God's fellow workers, field, and building because, as verse 6 says, "God gave the growth.'

God is working through you to build up His kingdom and will use you in whatever way He chooses to be made much of. So, the next time the enemy would seek to whisper lies in your ear, remind him that you have been bought with the blood of Christ and are one of God's workers, a part of His field, and a brick in His building. Jesus will not let the church He is building fail or fall.

By Pastor Ryan Williams

I Corinthians 3:9 NKJV

9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.

Your Identity in Christ day 11 of 30

Who Is Holy?

Jesus takes our sin and replaces it with his righteousness.

Whom do you think of as "holy"? A priest? A preacher? Someone who does a lot of good work?

Those people may be holy, but did you know that if you're in Christ, God considers you holy as well? Because of Jesus' work on the cross for us, we are "holy and blameless" before God. Jesus exchanged our sin for His holiness, and God now sees us as He sees Jesus, righteous and holy.

Jesus takes our sin and replaces it with his righteousness. Not only that, Jesus also gives us new desires to live a godly life and the strength to do so by the Holy Spirit. That doesn't mean we live without sin. But it does mean that we grow and better reflect the holiness of Jesus Christ each day.

In Christ we are considered holy by God and given the desire and ability to live holy lives devoted to Him.

Read Ephesians 1:4

Did God choose us, or did we choose Him? (God chose us.)

Why did God choose us? (God wanted us to be holy and blameless before Him.)

In what ways has God changed you and made you more holy because of Jesus' blessing?

How is God leading you to a life of greater holiness to reflect Jesus more?

Prayer

Take two chairs. Place them several feet apart. Have one family member sit on one chair. This chair represents the person's trust in his or her good deeds for salvation. Now have him or her switch to the other chair. This chair represents a trust in Jesus Christ for salvation. Ask: is it possible to sit in two chairs at once? (It's impossible to sit in both chairs at the same time. Similarly, it is impossible to trust in good works and Christ at the same time. We must rely on one or the other. This is what it means to personally trust in Jesus. Faith in Christ and reliance on our good works are mutually exclusive.)

Ephesians 1:4 NKJV

4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

Monday, October 14, 2013

My 2 cents on days 9 and 10

In my life I am new at being a Christian as in I have only truely been a Christian since 2010. These last few years have been all about my own personal spiritual journey. I know I am in no ways a perfect Christian, I am no way perfect, I back slide quite regularly. I used to be a real nasty guy that really didn't care about how anyone felt and loved to create strife and pain on a regular basis. I am not that person anymore, I really never want to be that person ever again; hoever, there are times that the person I used to be wants to come out. No matter how hard I try, sometimes the mean old nasty guy shows his ugly face and I end up hurting some one. It is those times that God's love show me that I am still forgiven. Don't get me wrong, there is always consequences for those actions, but it is God's love that is there to show me that I am still loved. God is great and wonderful and mighty and no matter all that I have done in the past, throught Jesus the son of God, I am saved through everlasting love.

For those that don't get it, God always wants us to have what we need.. it took me 20+ years to understand that.. it took me to have children of my own to tottally understand God's love for us all, His children... I know its difficult to understand but it is soooo easy to understand when you step back and just look at things from a diffrent perspective.
I know its a little bit more difficult when you have not had a good relationship with a father figure.. I had a great relationship with my dad, we talked every day, and when I didn't call him, he called me. I know I don't have a great relationship with my kids, frankly it kinda sucks, but I love them more than they will ever understand.

My point being, that is how God loves us, he loves us like our parents love us.. and how we love our children.. unconditionally absolutely unconditionally, even when they tell us they hate us, even when they tell us we are dumb or stupid or even when they say even worse things and try to hurt us.. we love them unconditionally...

Anyways that's my 2 cents on the last 2 days ... catch ya tomorrow

God Bless you all!
~B~

Your Identity in Christ day 10 of 30

You Can't Do Anything

You don't have to do good things for God to love you and bless you.

What makes God love us? Is it when we do good things for him? Some people think so. We can easily believe that if we pray, read the Bible, give a lot of money to the church, or live a good life, we'll make God love us and He will be good to us.

Thankfully, this isn't true. You don't have to do good things for God to love you and bless you. He has already blessed you in Christ.

God loves us even when we're sinners. In His love He saves us through Jesus and makes us new people in Christ. We must simply believe it and accept His gift of salvation. That's faith.

Read Ephesians 1:3

With what have we been blessed? (Every spiritual blessing. These spiritual blessings are from "the heavenly places", and they include our salvation.)

How are we to respond to God as a result of being blessed with every spiritual blessing? (God is to be blessed. This means we are to speak well of him by praising Him.)

We are to praise God for the spiritual blessings he gives us. Discuss how this is like thanking someone who has given us a great gift or done something nice for us.

Prayer

Have each family member thank God for his/her blessings in Christ.

Ephesians 1:3 NKJV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Your Identity in Christ: You Will Be Tempted day 9 of 30

You Will Be Tempted

Jesus himself faced temptations but refused to give in to them by remembering His identity and living out of it in the power of the Holy Spirit.

As a saint, you will be tempted to sin. But temptation and sin aren't the same. To be tempted is not a sin. Rather, temptation is an invitation to sin. As a saint, you'll be tempted to sin. When - not if - you are tempted, you are presented with an opportunity to either disobey God or worship God. Whether or not you sin all depends on how you respond. When you are tempted to sin, remember that you're a saint. Knowing your identity in Christ is the pool key to victory over sin. Jesus modeled this truth for us.

Jesus Himself faced temptations but refused to give in to them by remembering His identity and living out of it in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus' example is a powerful model for us today. In Christ we are new creations, empowered by the Holy Spirit to deny sin and to worship God.

Read 1 Corinthians 10:13

What does the Bible say about the temptations you face? (They're not uncommon to mankind.)

How is God faithful to you when you are tempted? (God will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but will provide for you a way of escape.)

Discuss times when you have been tempted to sin. What was your response?

Prayer

Pray for forgiveness, if anyone in your family has succumbed to temptation. Ask God to give you strength to endure temptation and to help you see the door of escape when tempted.

I Corinthians 10:13 NKJV

13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Saturday, October 12, 2013

I lost day 8

Opps I lost day 8... I'm sorry, I do have day 9 ready and will post it later tonight.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Never mind I found it and am posting it now.. its title is ... Are you a slave?

Your Identity Through Christ day 8 of 30

Are Your A Slave?

Adam's single act of disobedience flung open the door for sin to enter into the world. Sin has now infected and affected everyone and everything.

God made everything out of nothing. He created the universe, the stars, the earth and everything in it. He even created our first two parents, Adam and Eve. Then, thinking about what He had created, God said that it was "very good"(Gen. 1:31). Unfortunately, things didn't stay that way for long.

Our first parents - in particular, Adam -rebelled against God and did what he was told not to do. Adam's single act of disobedience flung open the door for sin to enter into the world. Sin has now infected and affected everyone and everything.

Thankfully, that isn't the end of the story. Though we may be sinners in this life, that's not all we are. We are the image bearers of God, who are made saints in Christ.

Read 1 John 1:8; 3:9-10

How do we deceive ourselves? (By believing we have no sin.)

Can someone born again continue in the same sin as before? (No. Someone who is born of God does not make a practice of sinning. He or she will be convicted of it and be led to repent of it.)

Discuss the difference between having sin and being in sin. (A saint does sin. But when a Christian sins, he or she is convicted by the Holy Spirit and is led to repent. This is the difference between having sin and being in sin).

Discuss with your family whether there are sins they struggle with on a regular basis, and pray for one another to find freedom from sin in Jesus.

Prayer

Thank God that he has defeated the power of sin in your life. Ask for his help in having your identity be that of a saint, not a sinner.

I John 1:8 NKJV

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

I John 3:9-10 NKJV

9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

Genesis 1:31 NKJV

31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Accidents happen i guess

Well apparently I'm guessing the day 1 entry never made it to get published so I just now republished it.. anyways.. things happen and usually they happen for a reason.

My blog isn't just about scripture as I have been posting today by the way, it's just that is what I have been doing on here the past couple days.

In all honesty, I really couldn't tell you at this moment in time what my blog is truely about.. I used to use it when I was depressed or down. I think I have deleted a lot of those posts in the past. I decided to post these bible studies for 2 reasons though, first off I use the blogger ap on my phone to keep information for myself and just save things as drafts.. so as I was entering the info from my mail I had this feeling or voice or rather just a urge that others that doesn't know about this kind of study or who really havnt gotten to know Jesus or God, that they too could hear the word and learn along side me.. I know there are people who need encouragement, I am one of those very people at times. I haven't been a Christian very long myself, I am still learning. I do talk to an old friend of mine who is a minister, and we try to encourage each other.. I wish we lived closer than we do, but hey distance is there for a reason I guess. Ok so I'm guessing I've went on forever this time around and you're probably tired of reading what I have to say tonight.. so enjoy the next day of both of these bible studies and feel free to add a comment or something to let me know you were here..

God Bless you all
Thanks for reading...
~B~

Quest for God's Purpose day 8 of 27

Purpose Clue #5: Caring about something special is a part of my purpose.

You might like a lot of things, but God put something very special in your heart to care about. That special care can make your whole heart bring glory to God. You might care about animals that are sick, or people who are sad. You might care about fixing things that are broken or even inventing new things! Try to find out what your heart really cares about. When you think about your special care, pray about it and praise God that He put something special in your heart!

Tell Someone: What is something special God gave you to care about?

Psalms 103:1 NKJV

1 Bless the Lord , O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!

Psalms 103:10 -19 NKJV

10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
14 For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. 16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more.
17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children,
18 To such as keep His covenant, And to those who remember His commandments to do them.
19 The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.

Your Identity Through Christ day 7 of 30

The Saint In Black

Though many in the church of Ephesus would have been drunks, gossips, or just downright mean people, Paul didn't choose to identify them that way.

Johnny Cash is a monument of the music industry. He is considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Though he was a successful musician, Cash wrecked his first marriage and struggled at points in his life with drugs and alcohol. In spite of his sins, Johnny Cash was a saint. Why? Because he was in Christ.

When reading the different letters of the New Testament, we tend to either read the greetings at the beginning quickly or just skip over them altogether, as if they're not important. If we treated Paul's greeting in Ephesians this way, we would miss something really important. Paul referred to everyone in the church as 'saints . . . in Christ Jesus' (Eph. 1:1).

Though many in the church of Ephesus would have been drunks, gossips, or just downright mean people, Paul didn't choose to identify them that way. He knew that if we're "in Christ Jesus", then we're saints. This is why he chose to greet the church in this way.

Read Romans 7:13-25 NLT

Why did Paul not understand his own actions? (He found that he did the very things he hated, and he didn't always have the power to do what was right.)

To whom did Paul look for help in not sinning? (He looked to Jesus Christ to set him free from his prison of sin.)

In Christ, Paul was a saint. Yet in Christ, Paul struggled with sin and doing what was right. In Christ, Johnny Cash was a saint. And yet, in Christ, Johnny Cash also struggled with sin and doing what was right. What can you learn from their experience? (In Christ we can still struggle with sin, but Jesus Christ - not being good -will deliver us from its punishment and power.)

Prayer

Thank Jesus Christ that he redeemed you from the penalty and power of sin.

Romans 7:13-25
13But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes.
14So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin.
15I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.
16But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good.
17So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
18And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.
19I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.
20But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
21I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.
22I love God’s law with all my heart.
23But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.
24Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?
25Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

Ephesians 1:1-2 NLT

1This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.
2May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Your Identity in Christ day 6 of 30

The Metamorphosis

We, too, are changed into new creatures through faith in Christ.

Butterflies are beautiful creatures. From the design on their wings to all the colors they display, they are spectacular. Before any butterfly can be a magnificent creature, however, it must begin its life as a caterpillar, which is quite ugly.

Caterpillars transform into butterflies through a process called metamorphosis. Their old nature passes away, and they turn into a completely new creature. Just as caterpillars are changed into butterflies, we, too, are changed into new creatures through faith in Christ. We transform from ugly sinners to beautiful saints.

Read 2 Corinthians 5:16-17

What does it mean to "regard no one according to the flesh"? (It means that we don't think of someone from the world's point of view, but rather, from Christ's point of view.)

What are we "in Christ"? (We are new creations with new identity rooted in him.)

What has passed away "in Christ"? (Our old identity apart from Christ.)

Prayer

Have everyone in your family memorize 2 Corinthians 5:16-17.

II Corinthians 5:16-17 NKJV

16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Quest for God's Purpose day 7 of 27

No reading today! Write three things you are good at.

Quest for God's purpose day 5 of 30

Purpose Clue #3: I keep my eyes open for clues to my purpose!

Put God’s word in your heart and in your mind. When it is there, you will remember to look for ways you can help others and make them think about God. Play a game to help you put this week’s memory verse in your heart and mind.

Bible Verse Search Game 1. Write the memory verse on 5 pieces of paper. 2. Crumple the memory verses up into balls. 3. Ask someone to hide the balls around your house. 4. See how fast you can find all five copies of the memory verse!

Can you say the whole verse without any help yet?

Psalms 115:1 NKJV

1 Not unto us, O Lord , not unto us, But to Your name give glory, Because of Your mercy, Because of Your truth.
10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord ; He is their help and their shield.
11 You who fear the Lord , trust in the Lord ; He is their help and their shield.
12 The Lord has been mindful of us; He will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron.
13 He will bless those who fear the Lord , Both small and great.
14 May the Lord give you increase more and more, You and your children.
15 May you be blessed by the Lord , Who made heaven and earth.
16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord ’s; But the earth He has given to the children of men.
17 The dead do not praise the Lord , Nor any who go down into silence.
18 But we will bless the Lord From this time forth and forevermore. Praise the Lord !

Your Identity in Christ day 5 of 30

Stay Put!

Apart from faith that is rooted in Jesus, we are each like a spiritually dead tree that produces yucky fruit.

A tree can tell you a lot about the Christian life.

A healthy fruit tree will grow and bear fruit. But not just any fruit. A hale and hearty tree will bear fruit that you can pick and enjoy eating. A diseased tree, on the other hand, is quite different. It's likely that it won't grow any fruit. If it does bear fruit, it will taste disgusting. Unlike a healthy tree, a diseased tree can never grow good fruit.

Just as the fruit we harvest grows based on what the tree is, the fruit we produce in our lives grows based on who we are. Apart from faith that is rooted in Jesus, we are each like a spiritually dead tree that produces yucky fruit, what we call sin (see Matt. 7:15-20).

If you are in Christ, then you are a new creation, and over time you will produce good fruit, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:16-24). These are known as the "fruit of the Spirit". How do we get them?

We abide in Christ.

Oftentimes Christians go to Jesus for forgiveness of sin so they can go to heaven, but they leave the gospel behind when it comes to living daily life. Yet Jesus says we must abide in Him (John 15:4). What does that mean? It means that we stay put! That we are fed by Him daily and that we flourish as we remain in Christ.

Read John 15:4-5

Our good works are not produced by our own efforts apart from Jesus. They are produced by God's work in you by abiding. Do you seek God's help in living for Him -are you abiding in Him - or do you try to do it on your own?

Prayer

Thank God that in Christ you are a new creation. Ask for his graceful empowerment to live for and enjoy him forever.

John 15:4-5 NKJV

4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Matthew 7:15-20 NKJV

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Galatians 5:16-24 NKJV

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Wednesday, October 09, 2013

A Quest for God's Purpose day 4 of 27

Day 4 of 27

No reading today. Ask God who you can help with what you are good at.

Changes and mess ups...

Earlier today I was working on here and was trying to make things a bit more ledgeable and kinda messed things up a little bit.. including my system set up to diquss .. I really liked how that worked because it would email me info daily as to stats and when people replied.. any ways I'm working to make things work a bit better, but kinda limited doing all this from my phone.. anyways..  I will continue even if my disquss part isn't working right now..

I hope you enjoy the new look.

Your Identity in Christ day 4 of 30

Is Your Life A Testimony Or Biography?

Testimonies are very different from biographies. A testimony is about Jesus.

Who's your hero? Have you read his or her biography? We love stories about heroes who accomplished amazing things, don't we?

In every biography the hero rescues him-or herself, or someone else, from a terrible fate. As we read such tales of heroism, we look for sources of hope and examples of courage, dedication, sacrifice, and triumph. Biographies are great, but testimonies are even better.

Testimonies are very different from biographies. A testimony is about Jesus -His life, His accomplishments, and His determination in an individual's life. In a testimony, Jesus is the hero who rescues us from the terrible fate of sin, death, hell, and the just wrath of God.

What's your testimony? How has Jesus rescued you?

Read Revelation 12:10-11

What are the two ways the accuser, Satan, is conquered? (By the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.)

How do you defeat Satan in your life? (By testifying about the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ on our behalf for the penalty of our sins.)

This would be a good time to have each member of the family share a testimony.

Prayer

Thank God for being the hero in your life and rescuing you from Satan, sin, and death.

Revelation 12:10-11 NKJV

10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

Tuesday, October 08, 2013

Your Identity in Christ day 3 of 30

Are You Defined By What You Want?

To live for what we long for is like being a small boat on the raging sea - we are always being tossed about.

What do you long for? To be popular? To get your driver's license? A new gaming system? What we long for can give us a false hope that tomorrow will be better than today.

To live for what we long for is like being a small boat on the raging sea - we are always being tossed about. If our plans go well, we feel great and hopeful, as if nothing could ever go wrong. When things go bad in our plan, we feel terrible and hopeless, as if nothing is ever going to work out.

Who you are is not based on what you long for. Your identity is based on what Jesus Christ has done for you. Look to him and to what he has already done for you, and find your satisfaction in him.

Read James 4:13-17

What are your plans for the future? What does James say about making plans and talking about them? (See James 4:14.)

Discuss with a group or your family if there are situations and plans that they are expecting to work out in a certain way. Ask them what they would think and how they would feel if things didn't work out the way they expected.

Prayer

Pray that God will direct your longings in line with his longings for your life.

James 4:13-17 NKJV

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”;
14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”
16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Quest for God's Purpose day 3 of 27

Purpose Clue #2: Something I am good at is part of my purpose.

God can use what you are good at to glorify Himself in amazing ways. Think about Bezalel. God made Bezalel a great artist. Bezalel used his art skills to work with artists to make beautiful decorations, furniture, robes, and fragrances. These artworks were placed in God's special tent called the tabernacle. When people visited the tabernacle, the beautiful decorations, furniture, robes, and fragrances made them think about how wonderful and mighty God is. What Bezalel was good at was part of his purpose to bring glory to God.

Watch: Bible Theater: Exodus - Moses Leads the People/ Building the Tabernacle

Tell Someone: What skills do you have that will make others think about God?

Exodus 31:1-11 NKJV

1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 3 And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, 4 to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, 5 in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship.

6 “And I, indeed I, have appointed with him Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and I have put wisdom in the hearts of all the gifted artisans, that they may make all that I have commanded you: 7 the tabernacle of meeting, the ark of the Testimony and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furniture of the tabernacle— 8 the table and its utensils, the pure gold lampstand with all its utensils, the altar of incense, 9 the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the laver and its base—10 the garments of ministry, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, to minister as priests, 11 and the anointing oil and sweet incense for the holy place. According to all that I have commanded you they shall do.”

Quest for God's Purpose day 2 of 27

Day 2 of 27

No reading today! Ask God what He made you good at.

Your Identy in Christ - 2 of 30

Do You Find Your Identity In Your Job?

Your duties do not define you as a person. You are defined by who you are in Christ. Life is filled with duties, starting with chores when we are young, then homework in school, job requirements in the workforce, ministry obligations in the church, relational duties in marriage, and parental and grand-parental responsibilities in our families. Our duties are endless. Often they are noble, but when they become the source of our identity, they can destroy our souls.

At the end of the day, you are not what you do. Your duties do not define you as a person. You are defined by who you are in Christ.

Read Ephesians 2:8-10; 4:24

By what and through whom are we saved? (By grace through faith in Jesus.)

Why is salvation considered a gift? (We cannot work for it. It is given to us by God, through Jesus.)

What type of work is prepared for us? Who prepared this work, and why did he prepare it? (Good works are prepared for us, and it is God who has prepared them, so that we may walk in them and be blessed. God's good works beat any earthly duty that we could ever worship.)

On which duties do you base your identity? Discuss.

Prayer

On the cross, Jesus defeated every idol in your life, including those duties that you pay too much attention. Pray that God will help you see your idols and then turn from them in repentance to God. Ask him to help you remember that your identity is who you are in Christ, not what you do.

Ephesians 2:8-10
8God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
9Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
10For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Ephesians 4:24
24Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.