Firm Foundation with Bryan Hudson

The Masterpiece Mindset | Part 1, "Who Am 1? You are God's Masterpiece"

Your mind is like a canvas. You are like a painter who has the ability to shape your reality and lifestyle through decisions and actions. Christ has provided all the “colors” and “brushes” needed to paint a beautiful portrait of a purposeful life.

Resurrected Walk Called Newness of Life

Romans 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should WALK in newness of life.

From Cope to Hope | Part 5, "Mirror Mirror, What Do I See?"

Mark 12:30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Psalm 139:13-14, For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
Matt. 6:26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Matt 12:11 Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other.
How you see yourself determines, in large part, how you live and treat others. Jesus said, "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." We can't live or love in a significant way beyond our ability to recognize life and love within ourselves.
The concepts of self-image and self-esteem is something that Bible writers did not consider in the same way that we consider it today. The Bible does address self-value, personal responsibility, and understanding how and why God made us. Self-Image is how you see yourself. Self-esteem is your sense of value.
When we face challenges, it is our inner image that reacts or responds. Reactions come from that untrained or ill-trained part of us. Response comes from training and a positive self-image.

From Cope to Hope | Part 4, "Five Secrets to Happiness"

Nehemiah encouraged the people in his day, "This day is holy to our Lord.... for the joy of the LORD is your strength." (Neh. 8:10) Learn how to make every day "holy" (special) and let joy be your strength.

From Cope to Hope | Part 3, "No More Phobias & Fears. How to Use Your Faith"

Fear distracts and dominates the lives of too many people. The Bible says that "Fear has torment..."
We have no need to fear lack, and every reason to have faith, when God has promised to provide access to a limitless resource. Jesus said, "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom."
Fear is defined as "expectation of danger or harm." Faith attracts God's favor, blessings, and overcomes all fear!
Watch Video: “Fear vs. Anxiety” https://www.dropbox.com/s/009a9wzt2ghuu4h/FEAR%20VS%20ANXIETY.mov?dl=0
Watch Video: “No Fear, Sound Mind” https://www.dropbox.com/s/falbuza12kndr78/No%20Fear%20Sound%20Mind.mov?dl=0
Here is a story that in that illustrates how fear distracts and torments when faith could have resolved the problem:
Matthew 8:23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. 25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
Jesus asked His disciples (and us): "Why are you fearful?"
The disciples woke up (who are sound asleep during a storm!) Jesus to ask Him to do something they should have done. Jesus was resting in the boat after a long day of ministry. A sudden storm made the disciples afraid. They allowed their fear to interfere with their faith and forget that Jesus was on the boat with them! Because of this, Jesus called the disciples' faith “ little.” He expected much more from men who had been trained first hand.
When storms come, or big opportunities are presented, let your faith rise, not your fears.
Phobias and fears arise when a lifestyle and mindset of faith are absent. If we claim to be Christians and disciples, Jesus FULLY expects us to trust Him. When you feel like you have respond with fear, remember that the Miracle Worker is with you.
People are tormented by fear because of the absence of God, who is love, dwelling in them. Torment is the negative thought, the scenario, or the drama that plays out in our minds over and over again.
Perfect love, that is God’s perfect love that is in you, will cast out all fear. If there are things you need to do, but that you are afraid to do, God’s love and presence will remove all those fears. Rather than expecting something bad to happen, you expect something good to happen because your "Father” is right there with you!
There is a real emotion of fear generated by imminent danger that requires action. However, most fears are imagined and therefore not real and best summarized by the acrostic:
F-alse
E-evidence
A-ppearing
R-eal
For believers in Christ, there is an overarching reality to embrace summarized by this text:
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
 Hebrews 11:1, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

From Cope to Hope | Part 2, “Peace in the Middle of Your Storm: Resolving Conflicts”

Jesus promises peace. Life brings storms such as conflicts in relationships and in our circumstances. The peace that Christ brings to your life is stronger than the difficulties.

From Cope to Hope | Part 1, "Too Blessed to Be Stressed"

Life is full of challenges, difficulties and expectations. Stress is not easily explained and it cannot be ignored. Dealing effectively with stress will add years to your life and life to your years.

Vision for 2015 | Arise. Shine. Promote Hope!

Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. 2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. 3 The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.
Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

The Power Of God's Plan

Masterpiece: a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship. An artist's or craftsman's best piece of work.
A masterpiece does not happen by accident. It is not the result of something random. A masterpiece is the result of an inspired plan.
We usually relate a masterpiece to artwork or some other work of an artist, whether literary, or music or architecture. Basically, a masterpiece is anyone’s best work. Not “best” in relation to someone else’s work, but only in relation to your own work.
It has been said that the new birth is greatest miracle that we’ll ever experience. I agree. There is no underestimating the significance of the new birth, especially when you consider the plan of God behind it and the level of power and sacrifice required to make it happen.
Most importantly is the reality that, according to the Apostle Paul, believers in Christ are God’s masterpiece. Everyone has great value and dignity because every person is made in God’s image and likeness. However, the idea of being God’s “workmanship” and “masterpiece” is related to our re-creation or re-birth in Christ.
From the Garden of Eden, to Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, to Rahab’s hiding.
I marvel at the few manmade masterpieces I’ve seen in person such as some of the art of Michealanglo, the Hoover Dam, St. Paul’s Cathedral in London (1708). Cecil B. Demil’s “The Ten Commandments” is a masterpiece film. A masterpiece makes you say to yourself, “How did they do that?” People look at the pyramids and think that aliens or some superhumans must has built them because we can imagine people building it.
There is no underestimating what inspired people can do when they have an exceptional plan.
Masterpiece works come from a plan, a lot of work, and a lot of suffering to stay with the plan amid challenges.

Kingdom Best Practice

Definition of best: Of the highest quality, excellence, or standing: the best work; the best students. most advantageous, suitable, or desirable: the best way, most productive of good : offering or producing the greatest advantage, utility, or satisfaction
Definition of 'Best Practices: A set of guidelines, ethics or ideas that represent the most efficient or prudent course of action. Best practices are often set forth by an authority, such as a governing body or management, depending on the circumstances. While best practices generally dictate the recommended course of action, some situations require that such practices be followed.
All the important professions and careers in our society our guided by best practices. As believers in Christ, how much more should best practices guide our actions?
Kingdom best practices:
1. Following: Proverbs 16:20, Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
Praying: Philippians 4:6, Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
2. Caring: 1 Corinthians 12:24 But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
3. Serving: Galatians 5:13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.
4. Giving: Prov. 3:9 Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase
5. Honoring: Romans 12:9, Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord
6. Preaching: Luke 9:6, So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.
7. Humility: Philippians 2:2 Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.