10-13-16 Ephesians 1:13-14

When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. He is the down payment of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory.

Message of truth. Today truth seems relative. There is a "new truth" an "updated truth" always being hyped in our country and our churches. One thing I know about the Word of God- it is THE TRUTH and it does not change or go out of date. It is constant. That is the truth I hold on to. Not the popular truth or the convenient truth or the easy truth or the progressive truth or updated truth. No. I stand on the truth of God's unchanging Word!

Why do I stand on that truth? Because it the the GOSPEL OF MY SALVATION! This is the gospel that saved me from my own sin and death. This is the gospel that rescued me. I don't want to change ti to make it easier or more convenient. I want the truth that saved me because It is the only truth that has the power to save.

When did it save me? When I believed in Him!! I don't have to doubt my salvation. I don't have to wonder if I am saved. If I believe in Him (I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth) then I am saved. Period. Dot. Nothing to add. Nothing to wonder about. No need to question it. I am saved.

And when I believed then I was sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. He was promised to me and I received Him when I believed. He sealed salvation. It is sealed. Tight. I can't lost it. I have salvation.

He is the down payment for my inheritance. Jesus paid it. With His life. For me. I didn't have to come up with payment necessary for salvation- Jesus Paid It All! 

For the redemption of the possession. I am REDEEMED- paid in full. Bought back. I am now possessed by my Lord, not by Satan! I am God's own possession.

To the praise of His glory. 

Yet again, Lord, I am reminded to bring you praise!! Praise you, Lord. 

DAILY THANKS:

- Home that is warm in the cold

- Two paid for vehicles

- Love that endures all

- Wisdom and discernment for this season of life

DAILY PRAYER:

- Strength and renewed health

- Communication and Unity

- Wisdom and discerment

10-11-16 Ephesians 1:11-12

We have also received an inheritance in Him, predestined according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will, so that we who had already put our hope in the Messiah might bring praise to His glory.

Inheritance- our birthright because we are born again in Christ- we are His and we receive an inheritance in Him. This means a lot to me because I don't come from a family that has very much, so there is no inheritance to look forward to, but in Christ I have the greatest inheritance. More than anything that I could hope for on this earth. 

The next part of the verse is so encouraging.... predestined according to the purpose of the One who WORKS OUT EVERYTHING in agreement with the DECISION OF HIS WILL. I know that it will all work out just as God has said because He works out everything and He has already decided so he will make sure it works out in agreement with the decision of His Will.

Why does He do this? What is Paul saying we should do?

First, we should have already put our hope in the Messiah. We must put our hope in Him if we want the inheritance.

Then, we should being praise to His glory. Here again Paul is reminding us to PRAISE! He has done all of this so that we- our very lives- everything that we do- brings Him praise. Does everything I do bring Him praise? Am I pointing other to Christ in my day to day living? I am pointing others to Christ in the midst of struggles? Am I pointing others to Christ when I stumble and recover? In all things- my good and my bad- my ups and my downs- I need to live in a life in PRAISE TO HIM!

DAILY THANKS:

- A full night's sleep

- A warm house on a cold morning

- Chai tea with cinnamon creamer

- God's peace in my mind and heart

- Sciatic pain gone

- I have yoga tonight- which means I get some adult woman conversation with my long time friends

- Abducted girl was found safe

DAILY PRAYER:

- Nicole as she has her mastectomy today

- Her son to have peace in his heart and mind

- Wisdom to help company prosper and grow

- Carol to continue to kick cancer and enlarge her testimony

- New worship pastor and his wife as they get ready to transition

10-10-16 Ephesians 1:7-10

** As is obvious sometimes I miss my daily study of the Word. Instead of putting myself down for it, I just pick back up.**

We have redemption in Him through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure that He planned in Him for the administration of the days of fulfillment—to bring everything together in the Messiah, both things in heaven and things on earth in Him.

Where does my redemption come from? From my good works? No. From my heritage? No. My redemption is though His blood. Jesus' sacrifice of himself on my behalf. His blood- the pure, spotless lamb.

How are my trespasses forgiven? Again, through Christ's blood- not anything I can do to be forgiven.

Why? Why would Christ do this for me? Why would God send His only son to die for me? According to the riches of His grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. I can't understand why He did what He did? In my human mind, it makes no sense. I am so not worthy of it, but He has all wisdom and understanding. And from that wisdom and understanding  comes the grace that he LAVISHES- not just metes out- LAVISHES on us. On me.

His will is such a mystery. I can't fathom why He would do this for me, but He has made known how much He loves me and cares for me by showing me His will- which was for Christ to die for my sins. It was His good pleasure (I can just hear him saying "My Pleasure" when I say thank you) to do this for me- something He has planned out from the beginning of time. This ultimate sacrifice on my behalf- He already planned it out even before I needed it. He waited for the days of fulfillment and then willingly gave Himself. 

Why? To bring everything together in the Messiah, both things in heaven and on earth in Him.

Bring heaven to earth, O Lord. Bring the peace of heaven to this earth. Bring the love of heaven to this earth. Bring the joy of heaven to this earth. 

DAILY THANKS:

- New life- baby Brooklyn

- Relationship with my mother-in-law

- The opportunity to teach the Word to adult and youth alike

- Great discussion in parenting class

- Fridge full of food

- Kids home safely

DAILY PRAYER:

- No more migraines 

- Sciatic relief

- No more bug bites

- Peace in our nation

- Comfort for those who are mourning 

10-6-16 Ephesians 1:3-6

Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.  For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will, to the praise of His glorious grace that He favored us with in the Beloved.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow....

Growing up this is what we sang at the end of every service at the little Methodist church. It holds an important truth. Whether I am praying, teaching, talking with a friend, starting my day, ending my day, whatever it is..... I should start with praise. Not only does it get my heart and head in the right place, it acknowledges all God has done for me and for those around me.

Paul gives us a great example of that in Ephesians. After he greets, he immediately goes into praising God and acknowledging what He has done for him. 

Praise God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is who he is praising- God the Father

who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.

Think about that- we are blessed in Christ. That means if we have accepted Christ as our Savior, we are in Christ and we receive what Christ receives. What does Christ receive? EVERY spiritual blessing in the heavens. Every single one. Not just some, but ALL. And we receive that too because we are IN CHRIST!

For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, 

God CHOSE us....this is an amazing truth. The women's conference I attend every year at our church in San Antonio is called CHOSEN- and it is a truth I needed to hear many years ago that God chose me. I am not a Christian by accident. Before the foundation of the world- that means before I was even a twinkle in anyone's eye- I was already chosen by God, How special am I?? 

to be holy and blameless in His sight.

I in my own am not holy and blameless, but because Christ died for me and took my sin upon himself, God sees me as holy and blameless- just as He sees Jesus. That is a load off of me. I don't have to work hard enough and be good enough. I am enough in Christ!

In love He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself according to His favor and will,

Again, before time even began, He had already picked me out and claimed me for Himself. To be adopted. That is a such a powerful word to me. Adoption has always been my heart's cry from the time I was a young woman, and Dave and I are always preparing our hearts and our family for adoption when God's time comes for that. God had already planned on adopting me before I was even born- what joy and anticipation! 

to the praise of His glorious grace that He favored us with in the Beloved.

Paul makes so clear in this passage that it is all because of God's great grace that we are chosen and we should praise God for that. 

Praise God from whom all blessing flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

DAILY THANKS:

- Thankful for productive days free from pain

- Thankful for free clothes from a friend

- Thankful for beautiful, fall morning

- Thankful for a job I love

- Thankful for cinnamon rolls

DAILY PRAYER:

- Friends who suffer from chronic illness

- Healing in the kids who have been fighting sickness

- That God's LOVE and GRACE will be clear to loved ones

- Growth and healing in preemie babies

- For all those in the path of hurricane Matthew

10-5-16 Ephesians 1:1-2

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will:
To the faithful saints in Christ Jesus at Ephesus.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.



This seems just like an ordinary opening to a letter, but I am always fascinated by how people greet each other, and Paul always had something to say in his greetings.

First, I see that Pail is identifying himself in Christ. He is aware that he belongs to Christ.

Second, he is aware of what his calling is. He is an apostle. He isn't trying to be something he wasn't called to be, instead he is sure of what he is meant to do.

Third, I see that he is aware of where his authority comes from. He says that he is an apostle by God's Will. Not because he deserved it or earned it, but it was by God's Will. That speaks volumes to me as I learn to constantly view "my" giftings, talents, ministry as the Lord's not my own.

Then he moves on to the people he is talking to. He calls them faithful. Full of faith. They haven't turned away from the faith or hidden it. This is an admonishment to me to make sure I live in a way that when people speak of me, I am considered faithful.

Next he says grace to you. Grace- a manifestation of favor, mercy. He is speaking blessings over them.

And peace. There are many definitions of peace, but the one speaking to me in this passage are cessation of or freedom from any strife or dissension. Since I know that Ephesians was written to the church and is about unity in the church, then that is the definition that rings true to me as I read this intro.

Lastly, where does the grace and peace come from? From God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul couldn't give it. The Ephesians couldn't make it happen. Grace and peace comes from the Lord, so we need to pray and listen to Him in order to receive the grace and peace He is offering.

DAILY THANKS:
- Thankful for a sweet husband who is willing to go get me caffeine when I have a migraine coming on
- Thankful for long conversations with a longtime friend after yoga class
- Thankful for God's healing and restoration in my marriage
- Thankful for independent children
- Thankful that my independent children still like to snuggle
- Thankful to work from home
- Thankful for the opportunity to pray with others
- Thankful that God is giving me such a love for His women
- Thankful for the opportunity to teach and mentor those women

DAILY PRAYER:
- No more migraines
- Healing of walking pneumonia, bronchitis, and other respiratory ailments
- Healing of broken marriages
- Freedom from addiction for all kinds of addiction
- Healing for my friends with cancer- Carol, Nicole, Gramma, and so many others
- Peace for those in the midst of transitions

It's My Journal I Can Blog If I Want To

For most of my adult life, I have felt like a constant failure at daily journaling what I am studying in the Word. Mostly because I have tendonitis in my right hand which makes writing more than a couple sentences in my journal kinda painful. I had just resigned myself to never really being able to study Scripture in that way. This was discouraging to me because I have heard it taught a thousand times that the best way to remember something is to physically write it down. No shortcuts. To really study the Bible, you had to write it out by hand.
Then, this morning in the shower (where my best thinking is done), it hit me! I can journal by typing. I know it isn't the same, but for me it is what I can do and it is so much better to do what I can do than to not journal at all. I am praying that this practice will help me be more consistent in my study of the Word and journaling.
In an effort to not overload my computer with daily journal entries, I decided to make a separate blog where I will keep my entries. There may be times that I share a day's thoughts and readings publically, but most likely these will be kept for my own use- as I prepare my teachings and need encouragement and admonition in my daily life.
So, here it goes......