Sunday, April 24, 2011

ABC Scripture Challenge {Word #9}, Identity

Challenge Word #9: Identity

How do people “know” you? Are you known as the woman that always wears the right clothes, make-up, and hairstyles? Are you known for the amount of education you have? Or are you known for the amazing scrapbook pages and cards you create and the number of times you have been published? Or maybe you are known for having a foul mouth, driving recklessly, or always yelling at your kids? What would your closest friends and family say? Would they identify you as knowing, loving, and living for the Lord or would they identify you in some other way?

If you have accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you are called to clothe yourself in Christ. Galatians 3:26-27 says “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” He is not concerned about the gorgeous clothes you may wear or your make-up or latest hairstyle. He is concerned about your heart and that your identity is in Him. Romans 13:14 says “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”

When our identity is in Christ, we gain so much such as—eternal life, joy, peace, strength, His love to share with others, wisdom, contentment, safety, hope, perseverance, and not to mention we glorify Him! Romans 5:1-8 says “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

And if our identity is in Christ then who can be against us? Romans 8:31 says “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” How amazing is that? Christ died so that we would be saved and that our identity would be in Him. What a glorious truth!

For my page today, I used the fun Prima papers from the ODBD store and the new ODBD Scripture Collection 6 was perfect! There were so many scriptures that could apply to those whose identity is in Christ. I chose to use 3 stamps from this set—

Nehemiah 8:10b. . . for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

John 15:12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

Psalm 84:11For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.


Papers: Prima Reflections, Paper Trey Ink cs
Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs Scripture Collection 6
Stamp Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink broken china mixed with faded jeans
Embellishments: Memory Box double ticket die, May Arts scalloped trim, Lily Bee chipboard button stickers, Basic Grey Piper chipboard alpha, sewing machine

As you share your pages, please be sure to use Keyword ABCSCRC11 when posting your creations in any online galleries. Also, please leave a link to your creation here using Inlinkz! To see all of our previous lessons, please visit this post here. I pray that as you celebrate Our Risen Lord today that you will remember that our identity is to be in Him and nothing else. Blessing, and have a joyous Easter!



Photobucket

5 comments:

Pam said...

thank you Patter for your insight on who we are! I was with my niece on Thursday who is 25 I am 50! she invited me out for a girls night, her treat! we had a very special time :) at one point our conversation turned to who we are...I am very thankful that we had the opportunity to share with each other, gave me a chance to voice outloud where I am...here where she is...I am very thankful that we are both daughters of the king, forgiven and loved! Thank you for your challage to write it down...I appreciate you and the work that you do!
Blessings!

Anonymous said...

Just a quick note to let you know that a link to this post will be placed on CraftCrave today [25 Apr 01:00am GMT]. Thanks, Maria

Anne-Marie said...

Thank you Patter for this devotion and your artwork is beautiful. I like do like the papers you have used.

Your question about how do those around us see us really spoke to me. God has been trying to teach me lately something I keep ignoring... be a better witness ... read His word more... pray more.....

Thanks for being such a blessing to us all.

Anonymous said...

Praise God for these scriptures so illuminated by your colors and choices. Don't you love how God's first identity in scripture is "Creator?" And since we're made in His image, that lets us be creative too. Hallelujah!!!! Finding my identity in Christ and not in what I can accomplish, Jennifer in Ohio

Nancy said...

Thank you Patter! This was really wonderful! A challenge since there was no Scripture with the word "identity" in it! lol But so wonderful! Your page is really beautiful, as always!...Nancy :o)

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