Category: Ephesians

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What Are You Going to Plant

What is it that you’re wanting to grow in your garden? At our house, we seem to focus on a “salsa garden”, that means that we grow was is needed to make a good salsa – cilantro, peppers, tomatoes and onions.

So it would only be natural that we would buy pepper, tomato and cilantro starts and that we would plant onion seeds of bulbs, right? You certainly wouldn’t expect to plant zucchini seeds and get onions or carrot seeds and get peppers. It just doesn’t work that way.

“ You cannot fool God, so don’t make a fool of yourself! You will harvest what you plant. 8 If you follow your selfish desires, you will harvest destruction, but if you follow the Spirit, you will harvest eternal life. ” Galatians 6:7-8 CEV

In life, if we plant seeds of criticism, anger, selfishness, resentment and strife we are going to see those same things grow up and produce a harvest in our lives. Isn’t it better to sow seeds of understanding, love, encouragement, kindness, and joy?  We might not understand exactly how the germination and growing process work but we can be certain of this, we will only harvest what we plant.

“Then Jesus said, “God’s kingdom is like a man who plants seed in the ground. 27 The seed begins to grow. It grows night and day. It doesn’t matter whether the man is sleeping or awake, the seed still grows. He doesn’t know how it happens. 28 Without any help the ground produces grain. First the plant grows, then the head, and then all the grain in the head. 29 When the grain is ready, the man cuts it. This is the harvest time.” Mark 4:26-29 ERV

This morning let’s plant seeds of faith. The important thing to remember about faith is that it’s not based on us but on God. Faith is simply believing that God is who He says He is and that He can do what He said He could do.

God gives us all “the measure of faith” at salvation. Some people don’t get a larger portion while others get a tiny bit. Paul says in Romans 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

Jesus had much to say about faith while he was here on earth. But I guess a good place to start is to know that “without faith it is impossible to please God.”  Hebrews 11:6 and that “faith works by love” Galatians 5:6 If we want a good crop of faith then we must fertilize it with love.

We get born again by our faith in the grace of God and that’s the same faith that we should apply to every other area of our lives. Our faith is in God’s grace. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2: 8-9

The Apostle Paul tells us that our daily walk with the Lord should be just like our salvation.

“ As you have put your trust in Christ Jesus the Lord to save you from the punishment of sin, now let Him lead you in every step. 7 Have your roots planted deep in Christ. Grow in Him. Get your strength from Him. Let Him make you strong in the faith as you have been taught. Your life should be full of thanks to Him.”  Colossians 2:6-7 NLV

The choice is ours, we can plant seeds of worry or seeds of faith. Worry is faith that the wrong things will happen but true faith is confidence that God is bringing about good things in our lives.

“Think about how the wildflowers grow. They don’t work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that even Solomon, the great and rich king, was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers. 28 If God makes what grows in the field so beautiful, what do you think he will do for you? That’s just grass—one day it’s alive, and the next day someone throws it into a fire. But God cares enough to make it beautiful. Surely he will do much more for you. Your faith is so small!

29 “So don’t always think about what you will eat or what you will drink. Don’t worry about it.” Luke 12:27-29 ERV

Plant these seeds and then watch your faith grow. It’s amazing! Start by trusting God will small things and as your “faith” seeds grow you will find you are trusting Him with the larger things of your life as well.

Remember the adage: Don’t spend time telling God how big your problem is; tell your problem how big your God is!

Good harvest!

 

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Let the Planting Begin

Now that the ground in our garden is prepared, it’s ready to receive seeds. We will be planting a variety of seeds and our garden with have a bountiful harvest.

I have a number of packets of seeds that I have found in Scripture and there may be others that you think of that I have overlooked. Remember it’s your garden and you choose what you would like to harvest. Here’s a few of the seeds that I would like you to consider; gentleness, peace, joy, love, self-control, faith, grace, humility, and discipline. Sounds like a pretty good variety to me.

This morning let’s start with gentleness or kindness.

Gentle, kind people are like Jesus – listening, reaching out, touching, being moved with compassion. They are willing to lay down their interest and well-being for that of those around them. Truly gentle people are willing to let you have the last piece of pie and not remind you of it later. They are content to sit and listen as a child or elderly person go on and on about their day without thinking of what else needs to be done. Truly kind people, like the boy scouts, help little old ladies across the street and rescue kittens out of trees.

O Lord, how I need this packet of seeds to be planted in my garden and to tend it carefully so it grows and matures. There are times I am truly kind and lay aside my own agenda, without forethought, for others but I have to honestly confess that many times, it is an act of will – knowing this is the right thing and not a natural reaction of God’s character flowing through me.

“A kind and gentle woman gains respect, but violent men gain only wealth. 17 People who are kind will be rewarded for their kindness, but cruel people will be rewarded with trouble.” Proverbs 11:16-17 ERV

“As a prisoner of the Lord, I beg you to live in a way that is worthy of the people God has chosen to be his own. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Patiently put up with each other and love each other. 3 Try your best to let God’s Spirit keep your hearts united. Do this by living at peace.” Ephesians 4:1-3 CEV

“God has chosen you and made you his holy people. He loves you. So your new life should be like this: Show mercy to others. Be kind, humble, gentle, and patient. 13 Don’t be angry with each other, but forgive each other. If you feel someone has wronged you, forgive them. Forgive others because the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:12-13 ERV

“A gentle answer makes anger disappear, but a rough answer makes it grow.” Proverbs 15:1 ERV

“Patience and gentle talk can convince a ruler and overcome any problem.” Proverbs 25:15 CEV

“Don’t quit your job simply because the boss is angry with you. If you remain calm and helpful, you can correct even great mistakes.” Ecclesiastes 10:4 ERV

“Accept my teaching. Learn from me. I am gentle and humble in spirit. And you will be able to get some rest.” Matthew 11:29 ERV

Now make sure that all those seeds are planted well in the soil of your heart. Water them, make sure they get plenty of “Son shine” and you’ll be bringing in a harvest in no time.

Be a gentle giant today – I’m praying for you!!

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How Does Your Garden Grow

Each year about this time I begin to plan my garden. No, it’s not a big garden, just a few rows but I love tending it and watching it grow.

 

I try to make it better than the previous year’s. Last year I decided to plant both vegetables and flowers in the same garden area. I loved the color of the flowers while I was waiting for the veggies to grow large enough for harvest.

This year I will revamp that a bit and place the flowers in the back row and keep the vegetable up front so they are easier to tend. Since it’s such a small patch there’s no need for a rototiller just a hoe and some good ol’ fashioned hand labor.

We had such a warm winter I was all but ready to get my vegetable starts in the ground and then the last week  turned off cold with frost nearly every morning so I must wait a bit longer. Don’t want the tender plants to get frost bite.

Isn’t that the way life  is for us. We want new experiences, new growth but we don’t want anything to harm the good that we desire to cultivate.  Some of the new growth needs to be pulled out because it will be detrimental to the good that we desire to see. Weeds of jealousy, anger, greed, gossip, bitterness and lying might spring up and have a beautiful flower but they are deadly and must be removed.

“Put out of your life all these things: bad feelings about other people, anger, temper, loud talk, bad talk which hurts other people, and bad feelings which hurt other people. 32 You must be kind to each other. Think of the other person. Forgive other people just as God forgave you because of Christ’s death on the cross.” Ephesians 4:31-32 NLV

Jesus taught his disciples that His Word should be treated like seed. Good seed. But if the ground, our hearts, aren’t prepared properly we won’t get the harvest that we desire.

“ The seeds that fell among the thornbushes are also people who hear the message. But they start worrying about the needs of this life and are fooled by the desire to get rich. So the message gets choked out, and they never produce anything. 23 The seeds that fell on good ground are the people who hear and understand the message. They produce as much as a hundred or sixty or thirty times what was planted.” Matthew 13:31-33 CEV

So the first thing we do in Gardening 101 is prepare the soil. Break up the dirt clods, remove the rocks, pull out the weeds, fertilize it and then give it a good soaking of water.

“If you plant goodness, you will harvest faithful love. Plow your ground, and you will harvest with the Lord. He will come, and he will make goodness fall on you like rain.” Hosea 10:12 ERV

Preparing the soil is dirty work but it is well worth the effort. Get ready for a bountiful harvest!

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Sign Here!

We’ve all done it – you know, ordered those items on line and then waited for the delivery source to bring them to your door. You know the waiting, you hear the truck arrive, the back door rolls up and here comes the delivery man up the front walk. They present you with the package and sometimes you even have to sign for it.

Is it everything you expected? It isn’t broken, is it? It’s what you paid for and it’s yours!

Now consider this. You are going about your own business, maybe doing the laundry, cleaning or working out in the yard. You hear the delivery truck stop in front of your house. The driver opens the back of the truck, brings out a package and starts up your walk. You don’t remember ordering anything, maybe your husband did. What could it be? On the side of the box you see the “gift” tag. Now you’re intrigued.

The driver tells you that this box has a signature required and you must sign before he can leave it. You don’t recognize the store or the return address. It’s addressed to you…but from whom. Now let’s see what you do next. Do you go inside, put the box on a chair or table and just stare at it or do you open it, excited to see what’s inside and hopefully find out who sent it?

You open it, right? It’s the most beautiful gift you’ve ever seen! How could they know that it’s exactly what you wanted. You’ve never had anyone give you such an expensive gift. Oh my goodness!! You’re overcome with emotion. Tears stream down your face, words can’t express the gratitude. You are overwhelmed and now you pick up the phone and call the giver of this precious gift and say, “I’m sorry I can’t receive this. I don’t deserve it and I’ll be sending it back.” Really? No, not at all. You call and express your gratitude and love, or at least that’s what I would do.

Do you know that this is exactly what has been done for us by God? Let me show you.

“But God had so much loving-kindness. He loved us with such a great love. 5 Even when we were dead because of our sins, He made us alive by what Christ did for us. You have been saved from the punishment of sin by His loving-favor. 6 God raised us up from death when He raised up Christ Jesus. He has given us a place with Christ in the heavens. 7 He did this to show us through all the time to come the great riches of His loving-favor. He has shown us His kindness through Christ Jesus.

8 For by His loving-favor you have been saved from the punishment of sin through faith. It is not by anything you have done. It is a gift of God. 9 It is not given to you because you worked for it. If you could work for it, you would be proud. 10 We are His work. He has made us to belong to Christ Jesus so we can work for Him. He planned that we should do this.” Ephesians 2:4-10

God’s great grace, loving-kindness, gave us something we didn’t deserve. Something we won’t ever earn, something we will never be able to pay for. It’s a gift! It’s a gift of love that comes straight from the Father’s heart. The gift is new life, a relationship with God the Father, saved from the punishment of sin. Jesus took the punishment for us! Why? To show us through all the time to come that He loves us.

The most amazing gift was given freely to us, but it cost Jesus his all! Our part in receiving this wonderful gift –  just accept it.

“All have sinned and are not good enough to share God’s divine greatness. 24 They are made right with God by his grace. This is a free gift. They are made right with God by being made free from sin through Jesus Christ. 25-26 God gave Jesus as a way to forgive people’s sins through their faith in him. God can forgive them because the blood sacrifice of Jesus pays for their sins. God gave Jesus to show that he always does what is right and fair. He was right in the past when he was patient and did not punish people for their sins. And in our own time he still does what is right. God worked all this out in a way that allows him to judge people fairly and still make right any person who has faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:23-26 ERV

By this devotional I have delivered the gift. I can only hope that if this is the first time a delivery attempt has been made that you will take it. Say “thank you Father for this wonderful and precious gift. I receive it.”

Sign here!

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The Eternal Love of God

Have you ever had a hard time believing that you are loved? I have!

If that’s where you are today or where you have been I want to share some verses on God’s love with you. I know I have shared some of these before but we can never have too much love. Agree?

“Yes, I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not death, life, angels, or ruling spirits. I am sure that nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us or nothing below us—nothing in the whole created world—will ever be able to separate us from the love God has shown us in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 ERV

Do you see that – NOTHING! Nothing now or in the future can separate us from the God’s love. Absolutely nothing.

“We were weak and could not help ourselves. Then Christ came at the right time and gave His life for all sinners. 7 No one is willing to die for another person, but for a good man someone might be willing to die. 8 But God showed His love to us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8 NLV

You might think that the things in your past or even in your present make you unlovable but God sees more than our actions and our failures and He sees someone He loves. He has loved us at our worst and He loves us just the same at our best. His love is unconditional!

“Love does not give up. Love is kind. Love is not jealous. Love does not put itself up as being important. Love has no pride. 5 Love does not do the wrong thing. Love never thinks of itself. Love does not get angry. Love does not remember the suffering that comes from being hurt by someone. 6 Love is not happy with sin. Love is happy with the truth. 7 Love takes everything that comes without giving up. Love believes all things. Love hopes for all things. Love keeps on in all things.

8 Love never comes to an end.” I Corinthians 13:4-8 NLV

Love was and still is God’s plan. It’s who He is. Love isn’t a emotion that comes and goes. Love isn’t goose bumps and tingles. Love is God!

“The person who tells of Him in front of men and says that Jesus is the Son of God, God is living in that one and that one is living by the help of God. 16 We have come to know and believe the love God has for us. God is love. If you live in love, you live by the help of God and God lives in you.” I John 4:15-16 NLV

God desires to always be here for us, providing us with comfort and encouragement, He gives us hope. He isn’t out to condemn us!

“Our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father loves us. Through His loving-favor He gives us comfort and hope that lasts forever. 17 May He give your hearts comfort and strength to say and do every good thing.” II Thessalonians 2:16-17 NLV

When we accept His wonderful gift, Jesus Christ, as our Savior we receive a new life free of condemnation. We’ve talked about this in days past God chooses to forget our sins and put them as far as the east is from the west. We are forgiven.

“So now anyone who is in Christ Jesus is not judged guilty. 2 That is because in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit that brings life made you free. It made you free from the law that brings sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2 ERV

It is impossible to pen the words that can adequately express the love that God has for us. It is written in every book of the Bible – in fact, the Bible is God’s love letter to us. So I will end with a prayer that Apostle Paul recorded – it was his prayer us and it is my prayer for you.

“I pray that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. I pray that your life will be strong in love and be built on love. 18 And I pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide, how long, how high, and how deep that love is. 19 Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you.

20 With God’s power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of. “ Ephesians 3:17-20 ERV

God loves you and so do I!

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Sit – Stand – Walk – Jump – Run

Good Morning – Time for some aerobics to start your day!

Does that sound like fun? This morning we are going to exercise and the Scriptures are going to be our instruction. So let’s get started…

“Training your body helps you in some ways. But devotion to God helps you in every way. It brings you blessings in this life and in the future life too.” I Timothy 4:8 ERV

Our first exercise is sitting. Yes, it’s an exercise. Back straight, feet on the floor. Deep breath in, now exhale. And repeat. It’s important to have your lungs filled with oxygen, good posture, no slumping, shoulders back and open up that rib cage. Take a look at how profitable sitting was for these two men.

“As they went away from the city of Jericho, many people followed Him. 30 Two blind men were sitting by the side of the road. They called out when they heard that Jesus was going by. They said, “Lord, take pity on us, Son of David!” 31 Many people spoke sharp words to them. They told the blind men not to call out. But they called all the more, “Lord! Take pity on us, Son of David!” 32 Jesus stopped and called them. He asked, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 33 The blind men said to Jesus, “Lord, we want our eyes opened! 34 Jesus had loving-pity on them and put His hands on their eyes. At once they could see, and they followed Jesus.” Matthew 20:29-34 NLV

Sitting is important. Sitting in the right place is even more important. These aren’t the only ones who experienced miracles by sitting close to Jesus. The multitude on the hillside who came to hear Jesus teach had to sit down before they were fed by the 5 loaves and 2 fish. Mary sat at Jesus feet listening to his words and Jesus said it was a good thing.

After sitting it’s important that we stand. Standing is a strength building exercise.

“God is wonderful and glorious. I pray that his Spirit will make you become strong followers 17 and that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. Stand firm and be deeply rooted in his love. 18 I pray that you and all of God’s people will understand what is called wide or long or high or deep. 19 I want you to know all about Christ’s love, although it is too wonderful to be measured. Then your lives will be filled with all that God is.” Ephesians 3:16-19 CEV

When we stand we develop stamina, strength and a firm foundation. Strength! I can hear our instructor telling us – feet apart, backs straight, knees slightly bent – stand!

We’re halfway through this workout – next let’s get those arms pumping, knees raised high as we walk! Walk it out.

“As you have put your trust in Christ Jesus the Lord to save you from the punishment of sin, now let Him lead you in every step. (walk) 7 Have your roots planted deep in Christ. Grow in Him. Get your strength from Him. Let Him make you strong in the faith as you have been taught. Your life should be full of thanks to Him.” Colossians 2:6-7 NLV

This is true strength training. Do you see that in each of these verses?

Now on to jumping. It’s important that we avoid jumping! I hear some of you cheering at that. No jumping. Most of us jump more than we think – we jump to wrong conclusions and sometimes we repeated through out the day. No jumping!

“They will not be afraid of bad news. They are confident because they trust in the Lord. 8 They remain confident and without fear, so they defeat their enemies.” Psalms 112:7-8 CEV

Finally it’s time to get in our morning run. If you’re like me running was never my way of exercising but done God’s way I will be obedient and run.

“I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize. 13 My friends, I don’t feel that I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead. 14 I run toward the goal, so that I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize that God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done. 15 All of us who are mature should think in this same way. And if any of you think differently, God will make it clear to you.” Philippians 3:12-15 CEV

Don’t give up – don’t quit – keep running and you’ll be rewarded.

Are you ready for the cool-down? I am. Take a deep breathe, arms raised toward heaven.

“Be quiet and know that I am God. I will be honored among the nations. I will be honored in the earth.” Psalms 46:10 NLV

Great job! Now go out into your day knowing that you have the spiritual strength you need.

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The Architect’s Design

Have you ever been in an area where new commercial buildings are being constructed? It’s interesting how they print the signage that shows you what’s coming complete with sidewalks, flowers, trees and fountains. These images are called renderings.

I remember when our children were little and there was some construction going on in downtown Scottsdale. We had been driving past this one building for months. On this particular day the kids were so excited. “Look Momma, it’s finished!” The equipment was gone, and it looked like businesses could start moving in. Construction was done but the building wasn’t finished.

Since I was a home-schooling mom we were able to stop long enough to look at the image on the sign and I was able to ask the kids to point out the differences between the building and the image. It didn’t take them long for them to tell me there were no trees, no flowers, no grass, the fountain had no water. No, it wasn’t “finished”.

That was the day these verses came alive to me and I put them on cards.

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” Hebrews 12:2-3

“We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. He endured the shame of being nailed to a cross, because he knew that later on he would be glad he did. Now he is seated at the right sideof God’s throne! 3 So keep your mind on Jesus, who put up with many insults from sinners. Then you won’t get discouraged and give up.” Hebrews 12:2-3 CEV

I came to see Jesus as the architect of faith. He is the one who designed faith, he put that design down on paper (the Bible) and it is He who is overseeing the project of faith through to completion. Faith is trusting in and relying on what God’s word says; it is the conviction of their reality.

In my life, I am the building that is under construction. Each day the process continues; some days I can become discouraged by the lack of progress but if I keep my eyes on Jesus and how he is working in my life, if I see how he endured the ridicule and hardships then I can keep going until the construction is complete.

Here on earth we have some contractors that skimp on the design, run out of money before the project is complete or abandon the project entirely. God isn’t like that. He’s well-financed and has the patience to see us through to completion.

“My brothers and sisters, you will have many kinds of trouble. But this gives you a reason to be very happy. 3 You know that when your faith is tested, you learn to be patient in suffering. 4 If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be.” James 1:2-4 ERV

Now there are some words we don’t like to hear: trouble, patience, suffering. But that’s exactly why we look to Jesus. He put up with trouble – the religious leaders set out to trip him up and destroy his ministry on a daily basis. He suffered ridicule from his own family and was even betrayed by those closest to him. But his patience (persistence) brought Him through to the victory. When we follow His example our end result will be good – we’ll be mature and we’ll look like what God designed us to be!

Are we complete yet? No! Some of us are further along in the construction process than others. That should be an encouragement! Keep looking at Jesus; he’ll make sure that we look like the rendering, we are his workmanship.

“God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That’s why he sent Christ to make us what we are.” Ephesians 2:10 CEV

It won’t be long now before you see that the trees and flowers are planted and you’re complete!

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Hard to Believe

As we start this journey of really believing that the verses in the Bible are written to us and for us it’s imperative that we first truly recognize that God loves us and He will not do anything to harm us and bring us shame.

Over the next few days the verses I share with you are going to be “love” focused. God’s love for us is unconditional! That means, plain and simple, that there isn’t anything that we can do to cause God to love us less and we can’t work to get Him to love us more.

God loves us because He IS love!

“ But God had so much loving-kindness. He loved us with such a great love. 5 Even when we were dead because of our sins, He made us alive by what Christ did for us. You have been saved from the punishment of sin by His loving-favor. 6 God raised us up from death when He raised up Christ Jesus. He has given us a place with Christ in the heavens. 7 He did this to show us through all the time to come the great riches of His loving-favor. He has shown us His kindness through Christ Jesus.

8 For by His loving-favor you have been saved from the punishment of sin through faith. It is not by anything you have done. It is a gift of God. 9 It is not given to you because you worked for it. If you could work for it, you would be proud.” Ephesians 2:4-9 NLV

God’s love and forgiveness is a gift.

With Christmas just passed, did any of you celebrate with a small child? When the presents were distributed did any one of those children open a gift and then look at the adult that provided and say, “You know I really haven’t been that good lately. I don’t deserve such a wonderful gift. You were too generous. I just can’t accept this.”? No!  I doubt that any of you heard such a conversation.

Then why do we not freely receive the gift of God’s love? Why do we feel that we must do something to earn it or feel that God no longer loves us when we do something that is disappointing?

When God says he loves us, he cannot lie! If He did, he would no longer be perfect and so He would no longer be God.

“Christ died for us at a time when we were helpless and sinful. 7 No one is really willing to die for an honest person, though someone might be willing to die for a truly good person. 8 But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful.

9 But there is more! Now that God has accepted us because Christ sacrificed his life’s blood, we will also be kept safe from God’s anger. 10 Even when we were God’s enemies, he made peace with us, because his Son died for us. Yet something even greater than friendship is ours. Now that we are at peace with God, we will be saved by his Son’s life. 11 And in addition to everything else, we are happy because God sent our Lord Jesus Christ to make peace with us.” Romans 5:6-11 CEV

You’ve heard the word “gospel”. Do you know what it means? It means “the nearly too good to be true message”.  This message, that Jesus was willing to die for us and that God is no longer angry with us and welcomes us into relationship with Him is just that – nearly too good to be true.

So whether you choose the verses from Ephesians 2 or the ones from Romans 5, or maybe you’ll choose both, to write down, let them sink it, deep into your heart so that you will truly know how much God loves you.

Believe it – it’s true!

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The Gift of Potential

Have you ever noticed how God seems to take the unqualified, the uneducated, the common and uses them to accomplish great things? He took Noah, as an old man and made him into a master ship maker. David was just a boy watching sheep and he became a giant slayer. Moses had a speech impediment and he spoke before the pharaoh and delivered the Israelites from Egypt. Peter was a fisherman and he became one of the foundational pillars of Christianity.

“My dear friends, remember what you were when God chose you. The people of this world didn’t think that many of you were wise. Only a few of you were in places of power, and not many of you came from important families. 27 But God chose the foolish things of this world to put the wise to shame. He chose the weak things of this world to put the powerful to shame.

28 What the world thinks is worthless, useless, and nothing at all is what God has used to destroy what the world considers important. 29 God did all this to keep anyone from bragging to him. 30 You are God’s children. He sent Christ Jesus to save us and to make us wise, acceptable, and holy.” I Corinthians 1:26-30 CEV

When our kids were little we taught them a song. Had it on cassette tape and would play it over and again while we traveled up and down the road. It was a song that reinforced the potential that we’ve been given by God.

“I am a promise,
I am a possibility
I am a promise with a capital “P”;
I can be anything, anything God wants me to be…

You are a promise!
You are a possibility!
You are a promise with a capital “P”!
You are a great big bundle of potentiality!…

So keep on list’ning, you’ll hear God’s voice,
And keep on tryin’, He’ll help you make the right choices —
You’re a promise to be anything He wants you to be!
I’m a promise to be anything God wants me to be!
You’re a promise to be anything, anything He wants you to be!”

We taught our kids that God has designed each one of us perfectly and that He has a plan and a purpose for our lives. That is so true! But it’s not just a concept that we wanted our kids to embrace, it’s one that we must never forget! At times, we are overwhelmed by what we see around us and amazed that God still has so much in store for us, we just have to listen and follow His plan.

I will continue to pursue the course and plan that God has for me. It’s a gift that is designed specifically for me. Something that might be similar to what He has designed for someone else but this plan has my name on it; it has been custom-built just for me by the Father and I won’t give up until I know that I have accomplished all He has in mind.

He has placed His power within me and it’s my prerogative to release that power or thwart it. Like the electrical switch in my kitchen – I can turn the light on or work in the dark. But when I allow God’s power to work the results are far above anything I could ask for. I see it this way, the Lord is the power source and my potential is the light bulb. It can be small and insignificant like a night light or it can be as brilliant as a flood light. But whatever the wattage, it’s His power that causes the illumination.

“ God once said, “Let light shine out of the darkness!”[a] And this is the same God who made his light shine in our hearts to let us know that his own divine greatness is seen in the face of Christ. 7 We have this treasure from God, but we are only like clay jars that hold the treasure. This is to show that the amazing power we have is from God, not from us.” II Corinthians 4:6-7 ERV

Open the gift of your God given potential today!

“So I bow in prayer before the Father. 15 Every family in heaven and on earth gets its true name from him. 16 I ask the Father with his great glory to give you the power to be strong in your spirits. He will give you that strength through his Spirit. 17 I pray that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. I pray that your life will be strong in love and be built on love. 18 And I pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide, how long, how high, and how deep that love is. 19 Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you.
20 With God’s power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of. 21 To him be glory in the church and in IChrist Jesus for all time, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:14-21 CEV

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The Gift in the Plain Wrapping

Have you ever bought a gift, the perfect gift, and had to keep it hidden away in the closet or under the bed so that it wouldn’t be found until just the right time? This has been THE most special, spectacular gift ever. You may have even started dropping hints like “you are absolutely going to love the gift I got for you”. The excitement was building! You could hardly wait, the anticipation of giving this wonderful present filled your every thought! But because the gift was so special you knew it didn’t need fancy bows or brightly colored paper, simple and plain was the best – it wouldn’t detract from the gift.

If that has ever been your experience then you know just some of the joy and anticipation that God the Father was feeling on that night when He sent the angels to the fields outside of Bethlehem to herald the news, His gift had arrived!

“That night in the fields near Bethlehem some shepherds were guarding their sheep. 9 All at once an angel came down to them from the Lord, and the brightness of the Lord’s glory flashed around them. The shepherds were frightened. 10 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy. 11 This very day in King David’s hometown a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. 12 You will know who he is, because you will find him dressed in baby clothes and lying on a bed of hay.” Luke 2:8-12 CEV

Enter Jesus, the best gift ever!

“God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.” John 3:16 CEV

God had been waiting to give this gift, wrapped in the body of a human baby, since way back in the Garden of Eden. God had enjoyed his relationship with Adam and Eve and would walk and talk with them each day until they sinned and broke that bond. From that time forward God the Father began working on a plan that would restore that relationship.

“Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new. 18 God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others.

19 What we mean is that God was in Christ, offering peace and forgiveness to the people of this world. And he has given us the work of sharing his message about peace. 20 We were sent to speak for Christ, and God is begging you to listen to our message. We speak for Christ and sincerely ask you to make peace with God. 21 Christ never sinned! But God treated him as a sinner, so that Christ could make us acceptable to God.” II Corinthians 5:17-21 CEV

Jesus restored us to the position that we had before Adam sinned. In Christ we are a NEW CREATION – a new creature – like the one that God created in the Garden. Jesus restored us to our place of being created in God’s likeness.

“But God is rich in mercy, and he loved us very much. 5 We were spiritually dead because of all we had done against him. But he gave us new life together with Christ. (You have been saved by God’s grace.) 6 Yes, it is because we are a part of Christ Jesus that God raised us from death and seated us together with him in the heavenly places. 7 God did this so that his kindness to us who belong to Christ Jesus would clearly show for all time to come the amazing richness of his grace.
8 I mean that you have been saved by grace because you believed. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God. 9 You are not saved by the things you have done, so there is nothing to boast about. 10 God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us new people so that we would spend our lives doing the good things he had already planned for us to do.” Ephesians 2:4-10 ERV

In Christ we have been made new. It’s not something we work to earn but something we receive freely by grace. Just as Adam, created man, was God’s idea and he did nothing to deserve or even request his creation, it was God’s plan; so is salvation and the restoration of man to a living and loving relationship with the Father God.

So since it’s Christmas, I give you permission to open the best gift you have ever received, the One that came wrapped in muslin cloth and was placed on a bed of hay in a manger – the gift of salvation, of renewed life and relationship with the Father. Open it now and share it with others!

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