daddy4ms

You Can Change by Tim Chester has been on my bookshelf for a few years.  I started it this year and I am sorry that I didn't start it sooner.  This book is so good!  Chester's book cover states "God's Transforming Power for Our Sinful Behavior and Negative Emotions"  Go buy the book.   But for now, here are several great quotes: We're not changed by systems or rules. We need a Redeemer to set us free, and we have a great Redeemer in Jesus...What this book tries to do is connect the truth about God with our Monday-morning struggles. The message of this book is that change takes place in our lives as we turn to see the glory of God in Jesus. We "see" the glory of Christ as we "hear" the gospel of Christ. Moral effort, fear of judgment, and sets of rules can't bring lasting change. But amazing things happen when we "turn to the Lord." What the law does do is show us we can't change ourselves or make ourselve...

For the rest of 2018, I will be sharing books I recommend because they are some of my favorites.  New Book Friday will resume in January. Enjoy!

Over the last four months, I have been reading several books.  And over the last few weeks, I finished three of those books: Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray Rejoicing in Christ by Mike Reeves You Are Free by Rebekah Lyons Here are some quotes from each: justification is the act of God's free grace...We do not justify ourselves...Justification is not any religious exercise...Justify is to declare to be righteous. justification must be one that will take care of past sin as well as provide for the future...Only a perfect righteousness can provide the basis for a complete, perfect and irreversible justification. Adoption is concerned with the fatherhood of God in relation to men. Sanctification is specifically the work of this indwelling and directing Holy Spirit...we do not sanctify ourselves. It is God who sanctifies. Specifically it is the Holy Spirit who is the agent of sanctification. Nothing is more central or basis than union and communion wi...

For the rest of 2018, I will be sharing books I recommend because they are some of my favorites.  New Book Friday will resume in January. Enjoy!

Today, my message at Hesston MB was based on Ephesians 1:7-10. Here are my notes: Introduction:   A question that often starts a conversation when people first meet is, where are you from? Talk with the person beside you and discuss why we ask this. We think this helps us know better who the person is. I have placed a map of where I am from. You will notice that I include multiple locations.   Why?   Because each of these places I am from, has shaped who I am. So, I have titled the message this morning “Live From, Not For” and that is based on a quote I share often with my kids and others, “Live from your identity in Christ, not for it today.” Background: Paul writes this to the church in Ephesus. Before Paul tells us what we should do as followers, he reminds us who we are. Ephesians 1-3 focus on our position in Christ while Ephesians 4-6 focus on our practice as those in Christ. We are told who we are in Christ no matter what we think, what others think, or wha...

I finished reading Why the Reformation Still Matters by Michael Reeves and Tim Chester a few weeks ago.  There is a previous blog post with quotes from first 5 chapters of the book.  Today's post includes quotes from Chapters 6-11. For them (the Reformers) there was an important difference between union and communion. Communion with Christ--meaning the actual enjoyment of Christ--is something that fluctuates in believers...Union is the foundation of communion...union with Christ is a fixed and therefore stable thing, the solid foundation on which we can know lasting joy. (117) our sin cannot be removed from our hearts simply by our trying harder or scrubbing ourselves clean: the Spirit must transform us through the gospel. That is how the new life of the Spirit begins, and this is how it grows...The gospel, then, cannot be treated simply as a message for unbelievers, as the doorway into the Christian life; in order for Christians to grow they must be kept in the sunshine...

Christmas has come and gone.  So, every year after Christmas I share new books that I received as gifts.  I love to read and appreciate the gift of books.  So, here is today's New Book Friday:

For 2017, I chose the phrase "in Christ" to focus on.  I am about to wrap up this look at union with Christ, but I have a few more weeks to go to finish in 2018. Each week, I will post verse(s) that includes the phrase "in Christ". I look forward to growing in understanding of what it means to be "in Christ." 16  having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17  For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:16-17) 10  And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11  To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 12  By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in ...

For 2017, I chose the phrase "in Christ" to focus on.  I am about to wrap up this look at union with Christ, but I have a few more weeks to go to finish in 2018. Each week, I will post verse(s) that includes the phrase "in Christ". I look forward to growing in understanding of what it means to be "in Christ." 13  But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14  For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. (Hebrews 3:13-14)

For 2017, I chose the phrase "in Christ" to focus on.  I am about to wrap up this look at union with Christ, but I have a few more weeks to go to finish in 2018. Each week, I will post verse(s) that includes the phrase "in Christ". I look forward to growing in understanding of what it means to be "in Christ." 8  Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, 9  yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus— 10  I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. 11  (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) 12  I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. 13  I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14  but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order ...

For 2017, I chose the phrase "in Christ" to focus on.  I am about to wrap up this look at union with Christ, but I have a few more weeks to go to finish in 2018. Each week, I will post verse(s) that includes the phrase "in Christ". I look forward to growing in understanding of what it means to be "in Christ." 11  my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12  Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13  while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14  But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whomyou learned it 15  and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16  All Scripture is br...

For 2017, the phrase I am focusing on is "in Christ."  Each week, I will post verse(s) that includes the phrase "in Christ". I look forward to growing in understanding of what it means to be "in Christ." 2  You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2  and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 3  Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4  No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5  An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6  It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7  Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. 8  Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9  for which I am ...

For 2017, the phrase I am focusing on is "in Christ."  Each week, I will post verse(s) that includes the phrase "in Christ". I look forward to growing in understanding of what it means to be "in Christ." 1  Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus, 2  To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3  I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4  As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5  I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6  For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7  for God gave us a spir...

For 2017, the phrase I am focusing on is "in Christ."  Each week, I will post verse(s) that includes the phrase "in Christ". I look forward to growing in understanding of what it means to be "in Christ." 13  And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. 14  For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. (1 Thessalonians 2:13-14)

For 2017, the phrase I am focusing on is "in Christ."  Each week, I will post verse(s) that includes the phrase "in Christ". I look forward to growing in understanding of what it means to be "in Christ." 24  Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25  of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26  the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27  To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28  Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29  For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully work...