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“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

We often forget.  We see throughout history the Israelites and the church forgetting. We need to be reminded often of who God is in Scripture, church history and in our lives and churches. The names of God are important because these names are not just what God does, it is who He is.  I hope this will encourage you as you are reminded of how good, great, and awesome our God is. El Moshaah El means God and Moshaah means saves. He is the God who saves! Our God is a God of salvation,      and to  God , the Lord, belong deliverances from death. (Psalm 68:20) What it reminds me?  In this passage, it was a reminder how he would save the people from their enemies.  God rescues His people from trouble throughout the Bible.  The ultimate salvation occurred through Jesus saving us from sin through His death on the cross as well as defeating sin, death, Satan, and sickness.  I am thankful for a God who rescues and saves.

Introduction : How confident are you?   Confidence is defined by the American Heritage Dictionary as, “trust or reliance, feeling of assurance” It is usually easy to spot a person who is confident by what they say or do.   We can place confidence in ourselves, in others, or in things. On your notes page, I have listed several things we can place our confidence in.   Take about 30 seconds to circle those you place confidence in: self, spouse, friend, parent, child, job, school, sports, marriage, parenting, faithfulness, achievements, education, economy, politics. In our passage today, we learn about what Paul’s confidence was in. We will discuss three “look” phrases in the message today.    Look up (vs. 1a) ·          Finally, rejoice in the Lord. Paul begins Chapter 3 repeating one of his main themes: joy.   Remember our joy is not based on circumstances, but instead on who God is. Paul’s confidence was “...

For 2017, the phrase I am focusing on is "in Christ."  Each week, I will post 1 verse that includes the phrase "in Christ". I look forward to growing in understanding of what it means to be "in Christ." In Christ Jesus, then, I have  reason to be proud of  my work for God.  (Romans 15:17)

Here are some of my favorite tweets from the last few weeks.  This is one of the blessings of social media where we can hear the gospel from people all over the world. If you like the tweet, go and follow the person on Twitter.  Our Justification in Christ received by faith means "just as if I'd never sinned" and "just as if I'd always obeyed" @elysefitz Christians need pastors who will make known the Gospel week in and week out. @rjgrune Jesus did not come to simply be our role model. He came to be our Savior. And to be our Savior, He became our righteousness. @elysefitz   "I fear that many of us offer care that doesn’t cure bc our eyes are so focused on the problem that we miss the person." @PaulTripp via @jonathan_dodson

This is a repeat, but the song is amazing.  I thoroughly enjoyed Hawk Nelson talk about it on "Behind the Music" on K-Love.  These guys really understand theology and how understanding who we are will change what we do and say.

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” (Galatians 3:13)

Today I am posting over at 1 Corinthians 13 Parenting.  I am writing about what a broken pinkie reminded me.  Check it out  here

We often forget.  We see throughout history the Israelites and the church forgetting. We need to be reminded often of who God is in Scripture, church history and in our lives and churches. The names of God are important because these names are not just what God does, it is who He is.  I hope this will encourage you as you are reminded of how good, great, and awesome our God is. Yahweh Yahweh Yahweh is the Hebrew Name for God. It is "I AM". It is used over 6000 times in the Old Testament.  It was such a holy name that the Jews would not even say it.  Yahweh means I am. 14  God said to Moses, “ I am who I am .”  And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel,  ‘ I am  has sent me to you.’”  (Exodus 3:14) What it reminds me?  God has no beginning or an end.  There is no other god but Yahweh.  He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  And He is our God!

For 2017, the phrase I am focusing on is "in Christ."  Each week, I will post 1 verse that includes the phrase "in Christ". I look forward to growing in understanding of what it means to be "in Christ." For  as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,   5  so we,  though many,  are one body in Christ, and individually  members one of another. (Romans 12:4-5)

Here are some of my favorite tweets from the last few weeks.  This is one of the blessings of social media where we can hear the gospel from people all over the world. If you like the tweet, go and follow the person on Twitter. Recognizing how much you’ve been loved produces a love that you couldn’t manufacture. @rjgrune It's not that Christ magically appears in every passage but he never disappears from the greater context from which that passage is offered @ByronYawn Just one reason Christmas is such a big deal: every other religion says God is "out there." Christmas says that God has come right here. @mattpopovits Two Words for 2017: Law and Gospel @1C13P @BeckyDanielson1 @LoriWildenberg I am fully known yet deeply loved, warmly welcomed, completely forgiven, and eternally adopted through Christ's work alone. @elysefitz  

Here a new song playing on the radio by Jordan Feliz.  I love the message on our identity and how God sees us. 

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19  that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

As I was looking around my office before Christmas, I was blessed by several pieces of art that I have.  I thought it would be fun to share a few of them with you over the next few weeks.  Enjoy!  

We often forget.  We see throughout history the Israelites and the church forgetting. We need to be reminded often of who God is in Scripture, church history and in our lives and churches. The names of God are important because these names are not just what God does, it is who He is.  I hope this will encourage you as you are reminded of how good, great, and awesome our God is. Yahweh Tsuri Yahweh is the Hebrew Name for God. It is "I AM". It is used over 6000 times in the Old Testament.  It was such a holy name that the Jews would not even say it.  Tsuri means rock. To you, O  Lord , I call;  my rock, (Psalm 28:1) What it reminds me?  Our God is solid as a rock.  Rocks are used as foundations so we rest in God as our foundation.  Rocks are strong so we can trust God is strong for us. Rocks are firm so when life is out of control, we can trust God to be a firm foundation for us.

For 2017, the phrase I am focusing on is "in Christ."  Each week, I will post 1 verse that includes the phrase "in Christ". I look forward to growing in understanding of what it means to be "in Christ." I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— (Romans 9:1)

Today is my sister's birthday.  If you are in Yates Center, go and wish her a great birthday. Happy Birthday, Abbie!

I sent R.J. some questions about his new book, Reading Romans.   Book releases tomorrow and there is a link to purchase below. Here are his responses: What is it about Martin Luther that intrigues you? Why focus on him? Martin Luther is a theologian that changed the history of the Christian Church. In a day and age when people couldn’t read the Bible in their own language, they thought grace had to be earned, and certain work was considered more sacred than other work. Luther unlocked something that had been lost. In our own day and age, grace is routinely overlooked as the message of the Church. Instead it gets replaced with a message of “do more, try harder.” God’s scandalous grace while not being earned by indulgences is often treated as though we earn it.  If you had to list the top 3 things about God or faith that Luther helps you understand, what would they be? The top 3 things that Luther has helped me understand have been the distinc...

Here are some of my favorite tweets from the last few weeks.  This is one of the blessings of social media where we can hear the gospel from people all over the world. If you like the tweet, go and follow the person on Twitter.  Shame attacks our worth and value. Our response? Look to God, the only One who can assign worth and value. @simplegospelpod Jesus was born as a human and came into the world to save people from sin and to be our King. #thegospelprojectkids In the church, I'm not a policeman to the people but instead I'm a paramedic. @byronyawn via @_ministryminded Embracing God's love isn't done with our heads but with our hearts. It's not about understanding instead simply receiving. @holleygerth The primary message of the Church is a message of grace, hope, and love. @rjgrune  

Today's song on the radio is based on Ezekiel 37 by Lauren Daigle. It is a great reminder how it is God who works in and through us.

As I was looking around my office before Christmas, I was blessed by several pieces of art that I have.  I thought it would be fun to share a few of them with you over the next few weeks.  Enjoy!  

“ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)

We often forget.  We see throughout history the Israelites and the church forgetting. We need to be reminded often of who God is in Scripture, church history and in our lives and churches. The names of God are important because these names are not just what God does, it is who He is.  I hope this will encourage you as you are reminded of how good, great, and awesome our God is. El Shaddai El Shaddai means almighty or most powerful. When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, (Genesis 17:1) What it reminds me?  Nothing is impossible for God.  Abraham was told he was going to have a child in his old age.  Throughout Scripture, what seems impossible, God does because He is all powerful.  Today if you are facing a difficulty in your home, at work, at church, with your health, in relationships, remember that God is almighty and nothing it too...

I am ending my Favorite Book Friday posts with 3 fiction books that I have enjoyed.  I don't read a lot of fiction, but evidently those I enjoy are about spiritual warfare.

For 2017, the phrase I am focusing on is "in Christ."  Each week, I will post 1 verse that includes the phrase "in Christ". I look forward to growing in understanding of what it means to be "in Christ." 38  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39  nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

This is a now a regular feature on the blog.  Usually on Mondays, I get caught up on my favorite podcasts and this usually results in a lot of tweeting on that day.  However, if you are at work and not checking Twitter during that time, you might miss some of the great truth being shared by others.  So, I am sharing some of best tweets from the previous week which include great wisdom and truth. and the heart of the Gospel is not what we do for God, but what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. @mockingbirdnyc When we gather (for worship), are we gathering as watchers or as beholders? @jaredcwilson Law and Gospel must be kept apart not only in sermons, but above all they must be distinguished within a person's own heart. #Lect3 @CFW_Quotes When the work of Christ for us becomes extracted from the person of Christ w/in us, is it any wonder there is a chasm between our heads & hearts? @WilbourneWisdom  

As we begin 2017, be reminded that grace wins every time.  This is a repeat, but it's a good reminder for us today.

As I was looking around my office before Christmas, I was blessed by several pieces of art that I have.  I thought it would be fun to share a few of them with you over the next few weeks.  Enjoy!  

“ Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” (Romans 8:1)