can anyone do this befor 12 midnight week 1 task 3

Chapter 1:

1) Most people would respond to the question “Who am I?” with their name, their place of family origination, their family identity, their work identity, and their social identity (Nichols 2017, 25). In other words, they would respond to the question with their place that they occupy in this world in relation to others.

2) Negative messages that afflict individuals are that they view themselves as a loser, as a person of disgust, or as a failure (Nichols 2017, 11-12). They view their life as a treadmill and they carry hurts that never seem to dissipate (Nichols 2017, 12). The issue that plagued me more than the others was the hurt that I once carried. Notice that I phrased that statement in the past tense, as Jesus Christ has now attended to my hurts through the cross and I bear them no more.

3) The changes that seem most attractive to me is the confidence that I have in God and in his purpose for me no matter what direction my life takes (Nichols 2017, 13). Also, I marvel at the abilities that God has given me to go to school, to learn to play a musical instrument, and to work part-time for local government despite my physical limitations that has come into my life through sickness (ibid.). If there was one area in which I still struggle, it would be continuing a life of unconditional forgiveness toward those who have caused emotional distress in my life (Nichols 2017, 14). I say the word, “if,” because by God’s grace, I live in the light of His presence, not in the darkness of an unforgiving spirit.

4) I am the new creation of Jesus Christ wherein he builds me up, he strengthens me, and he establishes me by his grace; I am not the old creature that I used to be, but the new creation of God in me to do the good works that he has appointed for me through and by the ordination of God Himself (Eph 2:10, KJV). I hope my paraphrase of Ephesians 2:10 conveys the fact that I do see myself as a masterpiece of God’s creation.

5) I hope the biggest difference that this book makes in my life is that I want to use what God has done in me and for me as a springboard of possibilities and hope of what God can do for others.

Chapter 2:

1) The commercials that promise to make one happier, envied, beautiful, and rich are underlying promises to the consumer simply because the consumer chooses to use those advertised products (Nichols 2017, 25). The reason the producers attempt to allure with their products is that they know the consumer is unhappy and unfulfilled (Nichols 2017, 26). The consumer believes the promise in order to gain the picture of what is portrayed before them on the silver screen and is indicative of their discontentment with life (Nichols 2017, 27-28).

2) Comparison ruins our hearts because we are not seeking God’s wisdom (2 Cor 10:12, KJV). It is God in Jesus Christ who gives a person self-worth (Eph 2:10, KJV). Personally, my tendency is to compare the abilities that others have; however, I have to remind myself that it is God who gives those abilities and then be content with what He has given me (2 Cor 10:13, KJV). The ability to do better is also a gift from God and one for which I am grateful. When I am not doing better than others, I am thankful that there is someone who can get the job done when I cannot.

3) When Satan reminds a person of their past failures, which is a form of accusation, it results in fear and despair (Nichols 2017, 30). When Satan tempts a person through this world’s advertising, it is an attempt to lure them away from the pursuit of God (Nichols 2017, 31). When Satan distorts truth to lure a person into sin, he is attempting to deceive (ibid.). Personally, I am tempted to believe that I do not have skills and abilities, but when I look to God in his Word, I see that he has blessed me marvelously with many gifts, many of which are without price, such as the gift of sight, the gift of hearing, the gift of mobility, and so on.

4) It is our human nature to resist God, that is, we like the old stew of that which we are familiar (Nichols 2017, 32). The myth that I believe most often is that I have a lack of time to spend with God in the Word; however, my time must be prioritized in such a way to keep the study of God’s Word first. In another realm, I resist God’s grace when I eat more than what I need, though I know that His grace is sufficient and present to consistently make wise eating choices (2 Cor 12:9, KJV).

5) All my sins are forgiven through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross (Nichols 2017, 40). Once that transaction was made for me personally, Christ has been at work in my life tearing out that which does not conform to God’s image and replacing it with the image of Christ in me (Rom 8:29, KJV).

Chapter 3:

1) I have been through good times and bad and have never doubted that God loved me and that he cared for my soul. Once I became a child of God, God has gifted me with the sense that I belong to Christ; hence, I need to walk with Him and follow Him through the mountains and valleys of life (Ps 23:2, 4, KJV).

2) Christ has forgiven me (Col 3:13, KJV) and Jesus considers me his friend (John 15:14, KJV) are two personally meaningful statements from the scripture (Nichols 2017, 46). Two statements of meaningful spiritual possession through Christ are that I have beauty that is founded in Christ and that I have wisdom unlimited for the asking (Nichols 2017, 48). These are a comfort in that I can go in the boldness of Christ, knowing that he supplies for me what is needed for the task at hand.

3) The gift of God is hard to believe at first because we think that we are good, that is, that we really do not need God’s gift of grace. Personally, God had to reveal to me that I was not good, that is, not as his law demands, and that I needed and still need his continuing grace every moment that I live. I overcome by continuing in God’s word day and night because without God in Jesus Christ, I can do nothing (John 15:5, KJV).

4) This realization gives me hope in my future that I will co-rule with Christ upon the earth (Nichols 2017, 49).

5) God has used difficulties and conflicts in my life to chip away the part of me that was un-Christ-like; I had to be willing to go through the sculpting process (Nichols 2017, 55). The road has not been easy to be sure, but my resources had to be removed so that I could be supplied by God’s provision (Nichols 2017, 55-56).

6) God brings us to the end of our own rope, so to speak, to root out our self-confidence (Nichols 2017, 56). Unless God performs this operation, we will never fully and confidently rely on him (ibid.). Brokenness is a means by which grace is imparted to an individual wherein the person must look up to God in dependence (ibid.); whereas, depression is a despondency wherein all hope is gone. The depressed person does not even see God as a means of hope and grace; he feels that no one cares (Nichols 2017, 56, 61).

Chapter 4:

1) I have watched an artist paint a scene. The background of the artwork is the relief against which the main subject is viewed and interpreted and is the rendition of the artist himself (ibid., 61). The background of a painting is constructed first so that one gets a sense of confidence and hope in the one doing the painting, that is, in the context of our lives, God shows himself strong and able so that we learn to trust him (ibid.).

2) The metaphor of changing clothes is an apt description of choices that the Christian makes to put away the old manner of life lived without Christ, piece by piece, and put on the likeness of Christ, obedience by obedience (John 14:15, KJV; Nichols 2017, 65). This metaphor is in keeping with repentance because repentance is the turning away from sin and idolatry and turning toward God (Acts 26:20, KJV). The changing of apparel demonstrates personal choices and a cooperation with the Spirit to move toward the change that God has ordained for us in becoming Christ-like (Nichols 2017, 65).

3) Speaking constructively and forgiving offenses (Eph 4:29-32, KJV) are two aspects of Christian living that I can immediately apply to myself (Nichols 2017, 66). Remembering that in my old self I spoke destructively and refused to forgive offenses that resulted in inward bitterness has caused in me a desire to walk in the light of Christ. I do not wish for the pain and bitterness of my former days without Christ; I now have a desire to speak constructively and have a desire to love my neighbor rather than harbor an unforgiving spirit.

4) It is easy not to get angry, but it is hard to be forgiving. To forgive others is necessary for God to forgive me (Matt 6:14-15, KJV). I can implement forgiveness right away because God’s abundant grace gives me both the desire and the ability to forgive others. The implication of this gift of grace is that I will not carry sadness, guilt, and bitterness in my soul for the sin of an unforgiving spirit (Nichols 2017, 71).

5) I have typically forgiven too late, that is, I have let bitterness snare my soul (ibid.). The bitterness then colored my perception of those who were close to me and I became unloving to those for whom I cared deeply. As a result, relationships were not maintained in love, as God has commanded (Eph 5:2, KJV).

6) Yes, there was a specific person that came to my mind, but in Christ I have forgiven that one. I love that one as a dear one in Christ, partnering with that one in ministry.

7) Persistence and patience are needed as we apply the principles of grace-living. We are faced with choices every day to live in God’s love; to forsake God’s love is unthinkable due to the great forgiveness that he has given to me (Matt 18:32-33; Col 3:13, KJV; Nichols 2017, 74).

Chapter 5:

1) It is encouraging for me to know that God’s plan for me not only has a beginning, but it also has an ending (Nichols 2017, 80). When that end comes, the work that Christ has done in me will be glorious, complete and wholly beautiful (Nichols 2017, 81).

2) Living in the light of God’s future restoration of all things gives one hope, joy, and peace, as the ups and downs of life now are more bearable as we hold this precious promise close (Nichols 2017, 82).

3) My new identity in Christ produces a feeling of acceptance by God; it produces a sense that my life is important to God; it also produces a sense of confidence in God who has made me competent to handle the decisions of life (Nichols 2017, 84-85).

4) Ambidextrous faith is the ability by God’s grace to accept both pleasures and afflictions, knowing that both are part of God’s design for us as he shapes us for his plan and purpose (Nichols 2017, 87). I would rate my ability to accept both pleasures and afflictions from the hand of God and my ability to trust in him as a number ten. The reason I can make that statement is that the Lord has brought me through many situations in life and he has been faithful through them all; God has shown himself to be totally dependable and true; therefore, I have learned to trust him completely (ibid.).

5) Worship focuses our attention upon the greatness, the glory, and the majesty of God; it gets our attention and focus off our individual selves (Nichols 2017, 87-88). Our natural tendency is to worship self. Therefore, worship reframes our thinking about ourselves and forms a framework of the person of God. I can worship God as I spend time every day in the Word of God, in prayer to him, and in corporate prayer, praise, and preaching with other believers in Jesus Christ.

6) One important principle that I have learned from this book is to be willing to do more than what is required or expected of me (Nichols 2017, 68). This attitude truly draws attention to my new identity in Christ Jesus (ibid.). I have been implementing this identity principle in my job and I expect this attitude to carry over in ministry work as well. Another principle that I have recently implemented is the practice of self-discipline through my use of time, through time spent with the Lord, through my eating choices and weight maintenance, and through faithfulness in ministry opportunities (Nichols 2017, 70). Living well in self-discipline changes how I perceive myself, as I am able by God’s grace to be obedient in the little things of life, which fruit brings joy.

7) My life and testimony reflect God’s image in the joy that he gives, in the peace that I have experienced through life’s difficulties, and in the love that I am able to express to an individual regardless of the hurt or damage that they have caused me.

Nichols, Ken. Masterpiece: Seeing Yourself as God’s Work of Art Changes Everything! Lynchburg, VA: Liberty University Press, 2017.

Scripture references are from the King James Version.

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