It's A Wrap

Blogging has been a little slack lately as we've been getting ready for our new arrival!  We're down to less than 2 weeks and I'm counting down so ready for her to be here!!  Over the next few weeks I plan on enjoying our last few days as a family of 3 and then embracing those first few as a family of four!  Blogging will definitely be on the back burner. So here's about 3 blog posts I've been meaning to write over the last week or so wrapped up into one big blog post (Btw-I'm pretty sure this breaks the rules of blogging but Sorry!)

31 Days to Clean:

I officially finished 31 Days Friday. And while I didn't do it as thoroughly as the 1st time I must say I'm feeling pretty accomplished!  The biggest struggle for me this time was cleaning out the closet!  Why is it when you first build your house your closets seem huge then they start shrinking??!  At first I found myself wishing we'd built bigger closets but as I started cleaning out and finding things we SO didn't need (like 9 button up solid white shirts) and others things still in shopping bags with tags still on it, I realized that if my closet was bigger then I'd just put more unnecessary "stuff" in there!  So instead I filled up 3 trash bags and a box with things we no longer needed!  Do you have any idea how nice it is to actually be able to see what clothes and shoes you have and find the ones you need?  I do now!!   I hope those of you doing this challenge along with me finished too or if not you're still hanging in there! Hey, it's OK if it takes a little more than 31 days!  Believe me it'll be worth it in the end!

Before Cleaning out Closet - picture really doesn't do it justice!

After cleaning out closet

Good Morning Girls:

GMG also wrapped up our session on Ephesians Friday. There are so many things I've learned from Paul while studying out Ephesians.  That's one thing I love about studying letters to the churches.  They cover so many things that are so relevant today!  Perhaps my biggest lesson I've learned is how we are all united through Jesus.  No matter who we are, what we look like on the outside, or where we've come from if we've accepted Christ as our Savior then we are a child of the King!  We are brothers and sisters in Christ!  Paul really tried to get this message across at a time when it was first coming to light that Jesus had died and rose again for "whosoever" not just the Jews! 

"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling. one Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father all in all, and through all and in you all." Ephesians 4:4-6.

Unfortunately, telling the truth landed Paul in prison just as I feel many of us in today's churches have imprisoned ourselves and limited God being able to work in us b/c of our narrow minds!  My eyes were opened to see what we have in common-Christ uniting us-instead of letting our differences separate us.  When we as a church can do that then so much more can be accomplished for Him! 

During our break, I plan on catching up on some reading. I hope to finish Francis Chan's book "Crazy Love" (which is FREE for Kindle right now!) and "Mission of Motherhood" by Sally Clarkson, studying the scriptures that go along with them.  The next GMG session will be from May 14-Aug 17 and will be on Proverbs 31 for some free downloadable resources check out the Good Morning Girls blog or follow them on FB.
Resolution Check-In:

So I'm about a week late on this one but here's how I did on my March Resolutions:

1. Finish nursery-Check!  Except for a few minor things nursery is complete!  Bedding is complete, everything is washed up and stocked up and we are ready for "Miss Sunshine".

2.   Finish 31 days to Clean-Check!  It's finished and I feel not only like the house is cleaner but more organized.  I've also had a great refresher on my role in our home. All of this once again just in time for "Miss Sunshine".

3.  Be Revived:  Mostly check!  I have definitely been revived. While there are still prayers I'm waiting to see answered we had a wonderful revival at my home church and I have been able to visit several others throughout the county and  see souls saved. I am a little disappointed in myself and say "mostly check" because while I did make a few phone calls or invite people I ran into I did not visit like I'd hoped. But I do feel truly revived and I'm looking forward to going to a few more that are still going on.

4. Sharecropping-  Check (thanks largely to my wonderful brother-in-law)! We have our lettuce, tomatoes and onion planted. Although I must admit all they really would let me do is watch while my brother-in-law did most of the work.  Now if we can just keep the rabbits out I'm looking forward to planting a few more things and enjoying a fresh salad this summer!  My BIL was also kind enough to come plant 3 apple trees at our house so I'm looking forward to enjoying those in the next few years!!

April Resolution:

Have a baby!!  That's pretty much it this month! I feel that's enough!!  Preparing for her arrival, then adjusting once she's here. I hope to make this time as stress free and simple for our family as I can!  I thought I'd feel more prepared with the second one and while I do on the basics there's also a whole different area of feeling unprepared!  So if anyone has any tips on making the transition from one child to two then I'm all ears (or eyes in this case)!!

Realizing My Role In Marriage: R-E-S-P-E-C-T

This is one of those posts I really don't want to write but once again I said I'd be honest.  This blog is about me trying to live out my priorities-the good, the bad, and the ugly. So while I'm a little embarrassed here's some of the bad and the ugly!

For the last couple weeks I've been a rather bitter wife.  My husband has been working to provide for our family, coaching and then on weekends he usually is hunting or fishing.  He hasn't been home very much at all.  I'm 35 weeks pregnant and felt that instead he should be home catering to my every need!  Isn't that what husbands are supposed to do while you are pregnant?  Run out for every craving, rub your feet, wait on you hand and foot?

That's not what the Bible says and I've been convicted on that this week during our GMG study.  So many people turn to self-help books or counselors but whom better to listen to than the one who not only CREATED man and woman but the institution of marriage!  He's already laid out the "secret" to a successful marriage for us.  Somehow until this week I'd missed part of it.  I'd read and comprehended  most of it but hadn't really let the 33rd verse of Ephesians sink in and boy is it important!   He created us quite differently but then He told us exactly what the other one needs:

Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.  Ephesians 5:33

There's the secret - Women need to be loved and men need to be respected.  I hadn't felt loved (because of my selfish way of thinking) and so in return I hadn't been respecting my husband.

Our GMG post on Monday was a guest post by Dr. Emerson Eggerich.  He says,

"A husband is to obey the command to love even when a wife does not obey this command to respect, a wife is to obey the command to respect even when a husband does not obey this command to love."

Ouch!  That one hit home!!

Then Tuesday I read:  "Husbands love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it." Ephesians 5:25.

I went to a Bible Study not long ago and loved the way this scripture was brought out. Christ not only died for the church but he gave himself for it DAILY.  Making sacrifices for us so that not only do we have life but we have it more abundantly. While this says husbands you could easily exchange it for wives too. We should strive daily to make our spouse's life better!  It's easy to say we'd die for them but what about those everyday sacrifices we could make to put them first so that their life could be easier and more abundant?

By Tuesday night when my husband got home I was apologizing. No more griping, trying to make him feel guilty when in reality he was trying his best and doing all he could!   And truth be told I know that if I'd of shared any craving or  other want (not even need) to him he would've gotten or done it for me!  As he has many times!

We are often so stubborn (me especially) and don't want to humble ourselves and admit when we are wrong. However, I've learned that since we are one (Ephesians 5:31) when we love and respect each other then love and respect are usually returned. Of course it also works the other way, when we hurt each other then we are only hurting ourselves!

I love what Whitney says about love and respect and the "Vicious Cycle" in her post this week: 

"Much of our wedding day is a blur, but one thing I’ll never forget is our pastor friend speaking of the “vicious cycle” of love and respect that day.  Since then it has become a popular term that Tyler and I refer to often in our marriage.  It’s the “vicious cycle” that’s explained in Ephesians 5:  when I respect and submit to Tyler out of obedience to God, then it prompts him to respond in love.  And when he loves me as Christ loved the church, I want to respect and submit all the more.  And the cycle continues."

Can you relate? Where is your marriage in this cycle?  Do you need to "re-set" the cycle? 
Here are a couple other blogs on marriage I enjoyed this week:

Being Kind - Joy from Grace Full Mama

Hubby First Hospitality - Karen Ehman   

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Restored, Renewed and Revived

“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;  And that ye be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”  Ephesians 4:21-24

Re·viv·al [noun]– the act of restoring life

I mentioned in the previous post that Revival season is upon us in our church association.   I love Spring Revival because it’s so easy to look around us and see things being brought back to life, especially this year as it have been unseasonably warm in our area.  We can already see daffodils,  Bradford pears, and even some Dogwoods starting to bloom.  Life is coming back all around us!

It reminds me of our spiritual lives.  Ideally, we’d all love to be constantly fruitful – blooming with God’s love, peace, and joy all the time. But unfortunately we’re human and just like nature, we go through seasons in our spiritual life. 

When we are first saved, God takes out our stony heart and gives us a new one. (Eze.36:26) Our sins along with the person we used to be our buried and we become a new person.  Unfortunately, being this new person doesn’t just come naturally (or at least it doesn’t for me) from that point on.   

2 Corinthians 4:16 says “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”

Each day I must die out to sin and be renewed by Christ. 

If you look around at the trees during the winter-they’re dead and not much to look at. However, then comes spring, those warmer days when they’re getting the light and the sources of food they need. Then they start to bloom again. Even in our deadest days when we are far from our Light- God is still there.  Even though on the outside we may look and even feel dead and useless- God still has hope for us!  He still has a purpose for our lives! As long as we turn back to Him and get what we need spiritually then He’ll revive us. 

As I study these scriptures this week and prepare for Revival my desire is to truly be restored, renewed and revived:

Restored

“Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.”  Psalm 51:12

Sometimes I need to go back to where it all started.   Remember when you were first saved?   I do!  I remember the joy that came from being made new.  I remember rising from the altar and feeling total peace and contentment.  I remember feeling free from sin.   That joy didn’t just end the next day.  It’s still with me, even though at times I must ask God to restore it.  

Renewed

 

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”  Psalm 51:10. 

Sometimes we have to ask God to clean us up!  We must again lay aside the “old man” and His sinful ways.  ANYTHING that is coming between us and God must be cast to the side!  Things have been revealed to me even this week as I’ve studied and prayed for God to show me anything in my life that is a hindrance.  When we put aside these things and clean up our heart, then the right spirit will be renewed!  He can give us an even clearer purpose and desire to do His work!    

Revived  

“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”  Isaiah 57:15

 I love that the first part of this verse tells how big and powerful God dwelling in high and holy places.  Yet the end says that when we become humble and sincerely remorseful then He’s right there with us too!  And why is He there?   Because He’s ready and willing to revive us!  When we truly become humble and willing then He is ready give us back life.

 That’s my desire to be on “fire” for Him and about his business!  I want once again to be renewed in the spirit and put on the “new man:!

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One in Christ

This week our GMG group has started the fourth chapter of Ephesians and we are all over one of, if not the, main message Paul is trying to convey to the church. 

 

“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”  Ephesians 4:4-6.

One body

One Spirit

One hope

One Lord

One Faith

One Baptism

One God and Father

See a pattern?  Paul is telling them to lay aside their differences. Because of Christ they are now ALL one!    We can have peace and unity through Christ.  His blood made us ALL one! 

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28

“Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.”  Colossians 3:11

Christ himself even prayed for unity in the church:

 

"That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us:  that the world may believe that thou has sent me.”  John 17:21

So Christ died for it, Paul was thrown in prison for it but we still struggle to live in it.   We may blame it on others and the words they say or things they do.  But is it really them or is it us?  Paul gives us some guidelines and characteristics we should live by to help us live in unity:

 

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”  Ephesians 4:1-3

First of all he tells us to walk worthy of being a Christian. In other words walk like Christ.   Then he gives us some specific characteristics:  lowliness, meekness, longsuffering, and forbearance.  Here’s a little on what Matthew Henry says on each of these in his commentary:

Lowliness – The opposite of pride, humbleness.  “By pride comes contention, by humbleness comes love.”

Meekness – not provoking others, not easily provoked or offended; showing patience and humility, submissive

Long Suffering – patient bearing of injuries, without seeking revenge

Forbearing One Another  - Loving them despite their faults as Christ has loved and forgiven us

That’s a lot to live up to and look at our own lives before we start blaming someone else!  If we truly walked like Christ, had these characteristics and focused on what unites us not divides us then we’d find ourselves dwelling together in unity.  

If you’re attending a church regularly then I’m afraid to say that I can just about guarantee there will come a time when someone is going to say something that’s going to hurt your pride or offend you.  I know they have me before.   The difference comes with what we are going to do about it.  Our first instinct is to lash back, hold a grudge, or just pack up our bags and head to the house!  When really what Paul is telling us here is that it’s often our own selfish pride that causes the confusion and discord.  Chances are the person who said or did something did not mean to intentionally offend us but because of our own selfish pride we were easily provoked and took it that way. 

I hope the next time this happens to me I can evaluate my own life and respond as Christ would.  Focus on the things that unites us not divides us!  If necessary, give the other person grace, forgiveness, love and prayer just as Christ would.  We can accomplish SO much more when we are working together for Christ as one!  After all,

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”  Psalm 133:1

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Comprehending God's Love

"For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole fmaily in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God."  Ephesians 3:14-19

As we continue in Ephesians, I am more amazed with every verse at Paul’s love and concern for the church.  I love what he is praying here.  He’s asking God to let his fellow brothers and sisters truly comprehend God’s love.   A love that has no limits – it is unconditional, boundless, powerful, pure, sacrificial, and inseparable-just to describe it in a few words.  A love that Francis Chan describes as “crazy” and I’m quite sure that if we truly loved like Jesus in today’s world that’s exactly what we’d be called-crazy!  I wonder how many of us truly “get” it or even try to understand it?  I’ve wondered if I truly understand it. 

I think Paul did, as much as this mortal body can anyway. Here he was imprisoned yet saying “Don’t worry about me.  Don’t become discouraged because of what’s happened to me.”  Instead of praying for himself or drowning in self pity he was praying for the “inner man” of his fellow brothers and sisters.    It’s too much for this selfish outer man to understand.  In verse 19 Paul says “it passeth knowledge.”  It doesn’t make sense to this outer flesh.  That’s where the Holy Spirit comes in. 

So why would Paul even be praying for them to comprehend God’s love?  I think he wanted his brothers and sisters in Christ to understand God’s love so that they could show His love.   If we’re a Christian, that pure, unconditional love is in us because God is in us.  We’re filled with it but do we allow it work in us and to show forth in our lives?  Loving each other isn’t simply a request from God it’s a commandment. 

“This I my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”  John 15:12 (emphasis added).

  That’s some serious love and when we begin to even slightly comprehend that love then we can understand the love we should show to one another.   Still not convinced he literally means love like Jesus? 

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”  1 John 3:16

Love involves sacrifice.  Love involves action.  One of my personal favorite verses on love is:

“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”  1 John 3:18.  

  In some ways I think God slowly reveals it to us – as much as we can handle at one time.   For example, has someone ever tried to teach you something just by telling you and you think you get it.  However, once you really start practicing and doing it on your own then you start to fully comprehend it.  I’ve always learned more by doing than hearing.  I think that’s how God’s love is.  We can read our Bibles all day and even memorize it; however, the more we experience and exercise his love and trust in Him then the more he fills us with a greater understanding of His love.

It’s not always easy to love others, just to be honest, some try to make it difficult.  But have you ever stopped to think that’s the ones that may just need God’s love the most?  How about those times you neglected to put God first until something came up then you hit your knees?  Did God say “Sorry you’ve not put me first even after I’ve told you time and time again-even after I’ve already helped you out of this same circumstance?”  No, he didn’t.  Instead, God was still there right where you left him and once you were back in his grace you felt even more loved and closer to Him.   Maybe that’s why Paul understood God’s love better than others.  God’s love had reached him when he was about as low as someone could get.   When you don’t feel others are being “fair” to you or treating you like you want to be treated then that’s when God’s love can shine the brightest.  Do you we get that?

What if you loved like Jesus in your relationships?  What if …

Ø  We loved our spouses like Christ loved us? 

Ø  We loved our brothers and sisters in Christ like He loves us? 

Ø  We loved our children like God loves us?

Ø  We didn’t wear our feelings on our sleeves or “puff up” when things didn’t go our way but instead expected and willingly gave more than we received from our relationships. 

Ø  We didn’t judge or criticize but prayed more for the “inner being”.  

Ø  Instead of giving up on each other, we gave more of ourselves.   

What if we really started to comprehend God’s love and to do what the Bible says-show it!! 

 Novel idea huh?

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A Bolder Witness

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.  Be not though therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner:  but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." 1 Tim. 1:7-9

As I've been studying the beginning of Ephesians 3 this week this scripture, also written by Paul, has been on my heart.  Paul was called by God to deliver an unpopular, politically incorrect message.  A message that as he said had once been a mystery but had been revealed to him through the Spirit.  (Eph. 3:4-5)  The message was "That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel." Ephesians 3:6

The Jews certainly did not want to hear this!  They had referred to the Gentiles as "dogs" and certainly didn't see them as their "fellowheirs".  Even though it wasn't easy for them to hear, did that keep Paul from spreading God's truth?  No-not even when he was thrown into prison for it!  Instead he continued  proclaiming the message from prison!  Why? 

"Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.  Therefore, I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." 2 Timothy 2:9-10

How I long to be a bolder witness as Paul was!  There are SO many things accepted by today's society that are wrong!  Why?  Because my Bible and the Spirit tells me so!  But do I stand up and speak the truth or do I just shy away from it to avoid "hurting someone's feelings" or for fear of what they'll think about me?  It's my prayer that next time I'm faced with this I'll be a little more like Paul!  Instead of fear, I'll have the spirit of power, love and sound mind and not be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord!

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Amazing Grace: My Story

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)  Ephesians 2:4-5

This week in Ephesians I have been taken back to a time when I was 7 years old.  A time when even though I was a sinner God still loved me and showed me mercy and grace.  A time when (as my Daddy says) it became personal to me.  God was no longer just  Abraham, David and PaPaw's God-but through Christ he became MY God! 

I'm thankful that I can look back 24 years later and still be amazed!  There are so many things we get excited about and want to share with others.  God's grace should definitely be one...so here's my experience of grace...

My parents always took me to church as a little girl.  If the church doors were open then we were there!  I'm thankful for the church I went (and still go to) where the truth and the whole truth was (is) preached, including hell. I'd never done anything incredibly bad yet by nature I was a sinner (Ephesians 1:3) and just as guilty as anyone else.  Soon conviction set up and I was terrified of dying and going to hell.  I can remember asking my Daddy to wait until I went to sleep before he did.  One night he even took me outside and we walked around the house as he showed me there was nothing to be afraid of outside.  However, it wasn't what was on the outside I was afraid of it was what I DIDN'T have on the inside!  I was living dead.

Then on Sunday, January 17, 1988, we were having a wonderful service with testifying and then the church was singing a song and fellow shipping.  I remember looking around and wishing I had that joy and peace all of them were talking and singing about! 

Our pastor came to me and honestly I don't even remember what he did or said-I know what he DIDN'T do-he didn't drag me to the altar, tell me what to pray or just to sign a card.  All I really remember is him coming to me and then I went to the altar on my own free will.  I don't even remember the exact prayer I prayed but I do remember the feeling when I came up from the altar.  It's impossible to put it into words.  You'll never know until it happens to you-until it becomes personal to you.  But just to name a few-free, peaceful, joyful, loved, and accepted!  I had received God's amazing GIFT of salvation. 

Paul also says in Romans:

For he that is dead is freed from sin.  Now if we be dead with Christ we believe that we shall also live with him; Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.  For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.  Romans 6:7-10

I who was once dead to sin became alive in Christ!  How about you? Has it became personal to you?  Do you have an experience with death and then God's grace to share?

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Prayer for our Fellow Christians

Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. Ephesians 1:15

What's really stuck out to me this week in our GMG Ephesians study is praying for my fellow Christians.  I love that Paul says here "AFTER I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ" (emphasis added).  How many times do I pray for those that are sin sick and lost but forget my fellow Christians that are battling Satan all day?  Do I pray for someone until they accept Christ as their Savior but then maybe not so much after that?  Guilty.

Paul of all people knew how difficult living a life for Christ could be.  He knew all about the temptations and persecution. After all, he was writing this from prison!  He knew it wasn't going to be an easy road for these new Christians so what was his solution?  Even while imprisoned, he ceased not to give thanks and pray for them.

So many times someone will come to me with a problem and even ask me to pray and what's my response?  "Well, the least I can do is pray for you."  The least I can do? On down in the next few verses Paul reminds the Christians once again of their spiritual riches and the "exceeding greatness of his power."

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his might power.   Ephesians 1:19

What power there is in Christ through prayer!  There is NO greater thing we can do for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ than to lift them up in prayer.  Then allow God's "exceeding great power" to work!

I have truly been challenged this week to pray for my fellow Christians!  I hope you will be too!!

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Adopted and Accepted

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.  Ephesians 1:5-6

We started our Good Morning Girls study of Ephesians this week and boy have we just jumped right in there!  What's really stuck out to me so far are the words "adopted and accepted".  I'm so thankful that I've been adopted by the King of Kings!  "The beloved" Paul's referring to at the end of verse 6 is Christ.  I am accepted not because of my righteousness but because of His sacrifice and grace!
With that adoption and acceptance came SO many benefits!  One of our deacons testified Sunday that Jesus was first his Savior but He's also SO much more.  I'm thankful his blessings didn't end upon salvation.  In fact, it was only the beginning.  Let me back up to the 3rd verse of Ephesians 1: 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Did you get that?  When it comes to spiritual blessings we don't receive just one but "ALL spiritual blessings".  When He adopts us and accepts us He continues daily to give us His love, grace, joy, peace, strength and so much more!

So many today are looking for acceptance in all the WRONG places.  I love what John MacArthur said on these scriptures:

You know, I think people today are looking for a sense of self worth. I think they're looking for a sense of value, for a sense of self acceptance. They want to be somebody that matters. They want to have identity. And, man, this is the answer.

Jesus is the answer.  Anything else will only be a temporary fix.  Until you've completely given your life to him you can't begin to truly live, to feel accepted, and to be blessed with "all spiritual blessings".  Twenty-four years ago my adoption was finalized. I've failed him many times but He's NEVER failed me!  How sweet it is to be adopted and accepted by the King of Kings!

Are you studying Ephesians along with us?  I'd love to hear your thoughts so far!


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