Inny and Outies

January 4
While changing the diaper of one of our grandsons I exclaimed, "Oh, no, he has an outie!"  "I know," his mother replied, "my husband has tried to push it back in."  Researching this issue I came to find out only 10% of the population appears to have outies and it is just random chance which causes this to occur. Bless his belly button!  We will love him just the same.

Yesterday, flu like symptoms set in and I had an "inny" day and didn't venture "outie".  I'm stopping to pray right now for school children who have returned to class after the Christmas break and I am asking the Lord to find ways to pour his love upon those children who feel they are not apart of the "inny" group, but have been ousted by their peers.

From a Biblical perspective what is God wanting to teach us.  I've been studying about the life of James and there were some major in's and out's as the Jewish Christians were being taught by Paul (a Jew) to accept Gentile Christians.  Circumcision was a major point of dispute, along with some other "law" issues.  Read Ephesians 2:11-14, which end with this statement...

For He is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility.

For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcised has any value.
The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
Galatians 5:6

This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
There is no difference between Jew and Gentile.
 Romans 3:22

The phrase "In Christ" kept speaking to me and I began to look for more verses related to this "in group" which is available to us all.  

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:1  

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus,  who has become for us

wisdom from God-that is our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

1 Corinthians 1:30  

...know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Christ Jesus.

So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ

and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

Galatians 2:16

For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, 

which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.

Galatians 3:26

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God had called me heavenward 

in Christ Jesus.   Philippians 3:14

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, 

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18

Are you in Christ Jesus?  Is your life different because He is dwelling in you?  Read back over all the benefits of being IN fellowship with Him!  Maybe we should come up with a secret handshake. :)

Ah, not necessary for the Holy Spirit does a great job of making himself known in one another.