Ephesians 3 - Mystery of Christ

As I read this picture, I had to really stop and think about it.  Anytime we go through trials on this earth the Lord gives us free choice to allow the enemy a foothold or to allow the Holy Spirit to empower us so our faith can grow.  When our faith grows, we become more like Jesus.  As we allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through us we find a supernatural strength not known in the common man.  

I've heard people ask, "Why does the Lord do this to me?" or "Why doesn't the Lord stop this from happening to me?" or even "Why do bad things happen to good people?"  It all comes down to what the Lord thinks is best for us.  Going through tough stuff will enable us to draw closer to Him.  We may even realize we have to depend upon Him instead of ourselves.  Or perhaps we will reach out to Him instead of others.  No matter what we are going through, He is there for us.  He is there to love on us, direct us, speak to us…but we have to allow Him to be in our situation.  

"Well, the only thing left to do is pray."  Oh my, I can't even begin to imagine how many times I've heard that or even said it years ago.  Prayer needs to be the first thing we do in all circumstances.  It doesn't matter if it's a joyous occasion or a somber one.  We actually need to be in communication with the Lord at all times, not just when we need something.  When we are in a 24/7 life with the Lord, we will receive blessings upon blessings.  I love the words of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 3 as he wrote about the mystery of Christ.

3 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you,3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. 7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory. 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Verses sixteen through nineteen reveal to us the mystery.  When we allow Christ to dwell in our hearts, our faith will grow through the situations of life.  When our faith is such that we can stand firm during the situations of life, we will be empowered by the Holy Spirit.  It all comes down to the Lord loving us so much that the desire of His heart is to bless us.  

We don't have to fall every time tough things come are way.  What we have to do is dig in deeper to the Lord and allow Him to strengthen us.  It takes a 24/7 kind of life in order to stay strong in our faith.  When we give into self even for just a few hours and stray away from the Lord, the enemy gets a foothold.  

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for always being with me, through the good and the bad.  Thank You for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit that comes down upon me.  Woo hoo!  You are so awesome, Lord, in the ways You work in and through me.  Father, more of You and less of me is my prayer.  I don't need anything but You.  The desire of my heart is to be the desire of Your heart.  Father, wherever You direct my steps to today and whoever hears my words I pray they will know You are on the throne of my heart.  Thank You Lord for being My Empowerment.  Amen.

Various Scriptures - My First Born

Woo hoo!  Thank You Jesus!  Today is the day to celebrate the birth of my first born, Paul.  He had a tough time coming into this world and was blessed from the very first breathe.  He was the perfect baby with eating and sleeping being on his agenda.  As a toddler he was curious. When he went to school he was a great learner.  His personality was such that all his teachers loved him.  As he grew into a young man he became a fierce competitor.  When he met the love of his life, he started showing attributes of being a fine husband.  Then when Miss Bella came into his life the love of a Daddy showed through.  What a wonderful man he is.  

I love this saying.  I was young when I had Paul and had a lot to learn.  Paul taught me so much in how to love.  He taught me how to bend when I needed to bend.  He taught me how to love in a deeper way.  A few years ago he thanked me for teaching him that you don't always have to like someone but you do have to love them.  He told me he was grateful for those words because they taught him so much.  We never know the impact of what we are teaching our children will have on their lives.  

I started praying for Paul when I was just a little girl.  After I grew up I started praying for his wife and children.  Before Miss Bella was born I prayed for her and now pray for her future spouse and children.  Prayer is so important.  Paul travels a lot so there are prayers for safety.  He is the breadwinner of their family so there are prayers for provision.  He is a husband so there are prayers for him to be sensitive to Lizzy's needs.  He is a father so there are prayers for him to be loving to Miss Bella.  He is a believer so there are prayers for him to be listening for the Lord's direction.  

As I sit here writing and see the snow falling it reminds me of the very first day I became a Mommy.  After Paul came into this world the snow started coming down.  It was beautiful and I felt so blessed and so complete.  The snow was giving a blanket of beauty to the world.  Paul's birth gave me a blanket of beauty in my soul.  Oh how I miss his snuggles as he was growing up.  He would never leave the house without a hug and "I love you!"  Now when we talk on the phone he always says "I love you!" before hanging up and when we are together there's always hugs.  For those words and those hugs I am grateful.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for Paul…for his life…for his love for You.  Thank You Lord for giving me the privilege of being his Mommy.  Father, I pray these things over him...

1. Create in my son a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within him (Psalm 51:10).

2. May my son walk after You, God, and fear You and keep Your commandments and obey Your voice. May he serve You and hold fast to You (Deuteronomy 13:4).

3. May my son be strong and courageous and not fear or be in dread, for it is You, Lord, our God, who goes with him. You will never leave him or forsake him (Deuteronomy 31:6).

4. May my son walk before You, God, as King David walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that You have commanded him, and keeping Your statutes and rules (1 Kings 9:4).

5. Like Timothy, may my son be an example to believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity (1 Timothy 4:12).

Thank You Jesus for being Paul's Heavenly Father.  Amen. 

Psalm 136 - "This Is Not Where I Belong"; "His Love Endures Forever"

I woke up this morning thinking about all of the ways the Lord blesses me.  He is so good.  I am reminded of the song "His Love Endures Forever" that comes from Psalm 136.

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.

4 to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
5 who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
6 who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
7 who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
8 the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
9 the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.

10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.
11 and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.
12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.

13 to him who divided the Red Sea[a] asunder
His love endures forever.
14 and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever.
15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.

16 to him who led his people through the wilderness;
His love endures forever.

17 to him who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.
18 and killed mighty kings—
His love endures forever.
19 Sihon king of the Amorites
His love endures forever.
20 and Og king of Bashan—
His love endures forever.
21 and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love endures forever.
22 an inheritance to his servant Israel.
His love endures forever.

23 He remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
24 and freed us from our enemies.
His love endures forever.
25 He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.

²⁶ Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.

He loves me.  Plain and simple.  That is why He blesses me.  He is my Heavenly Daddy.  That is why He takes care of me.  I am so thankful for the ways He richly blesses me...

• My husband who loves me no matter what
• My boys, their ladies and their children who give me such joy
• My Momma who has been an example to me of how to lean on the Lord 
• My family, both by blood and my church family, who love on me
• My health, twenty plus years of dealing with MS has been a blessing in so many ways
• My friends who are there to encourage me through tough times and celebrate with me through the joys of life
• My four-legged buddy who is so sensitive to my needs
• Opportunities to be His hands and feet to many people
• The way He speaks and I hear Him
• The doctrine of sanctification that has taught me how to live a life of total surrender

All of these blessings are because "…His love endures forever."  His love isn't just for a moment but "forever"…woo hoo!  I must admit I'm sooooo looking forward to being in heaven.  I get a little jealous when another one goes there.  "Take this world and give me Jesus…this is not where I belong."  

Dear Jesus,

You are so awesome in the ways You bless me.  I can't even being to think of all of them.  I pray for those today who feel like they aren't blessed.  I pray for those who are alone, those who are without basic needs, those who are addicted and turning to their addiction instead of You, those who are separated from family, those who are sick…oh my the list goes on and on.  Lord, there are so many who have lost a loved one and this is their first holiday without them.  Comfort them and enable them to think of the good memories they had with their loved one and to lean on You for strength.  Father, so many answers of prayers have happened over this past year.  I have so much to be thankful for.  I'm so grateful for the way I communicate with You each and every day.  I know it is because I pray for more of You and less of me.  Father, bless more believers with a surrendered life.  I pray for more people to fall in love with You.  I pray for more to surrender to You.  Lord, thank You for being My Blesser.  Amen.

Psalm 30 - "Blessings"

"Will it ever quit hurting so badly?"
"Can he hear me when I talk to him?"
"Why didn't I get here in time?"
"Does the pain go away?"
"Is it ok to cry?"

These are just some of the tough, tough questions that come at the time of the death of a loved one.  Even though it's been nineteen months since my Daddy went to be with Jesus I still have moments of bursting out in tears when I see his favorite candy.  It's difficult for me to walk into a hospital room with a man who looks like my Daddy.  But I'm so thankful that each and every time I minister to those going through the death of a loved one I am able to grieve a little bit more.  The grieving hasn't stopped but it has softened.  I still catch myself thinking that it's time for my Daddy to call me or thinking I want to call him.  Yes, I miss my Daddy but I am thankful for the way the Lord has healed my heart and continues to do so.  I am grateful that He has given me joy in the memories I have of my Daddy.  As I was talking with a family this morning, I told them the memories of that last phone call or that last visit may not seem like much today but they are a true blessing from the Lord.  He instrumented the timing of their loved one's death in the way He saw fit.  There is nothing anyone on this earth could have done to make it any different.  I am reminded of Psalm 30…

Psalm 30

1 I will exalt you, Lord,
    for you lifted me out of the depths
    and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
2 Lord my God, I called to you for help,
    and you healed me.
3 You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead;
    you spared me from going down to the pit.

4 Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people;
    praise his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
    but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
    but rejoicing comes in the morning.

6 When I felt secure, I said,
    “I will never be shaken.”
7 Lord, when you favored me,
    you made my royal mountain[c] stand firm;
but when you hid your face,
    I was dismayed.

8 To you, Lord, I called;
    to the Lord I cried for mercy:
9 “What is gained if I am silenced,
    if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
    Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
10 Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me;
    Lord, be my help.”

11 You turned my wailing into dancing;
    you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
    Lord my God, I will praise you forever.

I absolutely love verses eleven and twelve.  The Lord is the One that sees us through the death of a loved one.  He is the One who turns our "…wailing into dancing…" as we go through the grieving process.  He is the One who gives us joy through memories.  He is the One who hears our cries.  Sometimes those cries are deep from the freshness of our close while other times are cried are deep from the longing we have for our loved one.  

Dear Jesus,
I pray for those who are dealing with the loss of a loved one.  I pray You will comfort them no matter if it has been three hours since their loss or three years.  Lord, give them exactly what they need to get through this day.  Father, I pray for those who need to grieve, to grieve.  I pray for those who need to cry, to cry.  I pray for those who need to question You, to question You.  Lord, draw people closer to You through their pain.  Love on them in such a way that there is no doubt You are with them.  Father, thank You for being with me this morning and giving me Your words.  Father, I know the only way that happened was through me having more of You and less of me.  Lord, thank You for being My Healer.  Amen.