Put That Stuff On!

We're wrapping up Stiletto Army's study of Ephesians! Stick around, there's something fun to tell you!

This is probably the most famous passage of Ephesians - the Armor of God. And rightly so! This passage us crammed with stuff that has literally saved my life!

When I was in a heap o' sin, this armor was what began to help me get out of the pit, change my thought life and eventually free me from that habitual sin. Take time to read 6:10-end of the book today.

I love the visuals we can picture in our minds. It's somewhat tangible and make so much sense that it is a very powerful tool against the enemy! Who, according to this passage, is exactly who we are fighting against!

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

This is no game. This is the real deal. Everything that tempts us, haunts us and wages war against our thought lives, families, finances, relationships, marriages, bodies, all of this is from our Enemy. We must be prepared at all times to fight!

Just to change it up a bit, let's run down the list backwards!

6:18 Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. I walk around the house talking to Him about whatever whenever. That's a great practice to get into with the Lord!

6:17 ...take the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. Well, we pretty much do that everyday here, but do you do it? The more you study the word of God, the more you have to wield!

6:17 Take the helmet of salvation. Know that you know that you know that you are loved and saved in Jesus. Don't let anyone try to take that from you!

6:16 Take up the Shield of Faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. My husband and I joke about how his shield of faith is like what you picture in the movies- huge and able to stop all kinds of arrows and spears. Where as my shield of faith is like Wonder Woman bracelets. tink! tink! It's getting bigger though!

6:15 Have you feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In other words, be ready to share Jesus!

6:14 Belt of Truth. What does a belt do? Hold everything together. You must know the Truth in order for you life to hold together!

6:14 Breastplate of Righteousness. Get that heart covered with the righteous blood of Jesus. Guard it. Keep it pure.

And finally, for your back, get some accountability. Know your weaknesses and make sure there are others around you who know them too so they can pray for you and guard you!

I have women in my life that know my weaknesses and how to pray for me when I need it most. You too must have those around you who know the weak places in your armor so you can be fortified with them. Your enemy wants to TAKE. YOU. DOWN. Don't give him the opportunity!

Back to 6:18 With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

We've got to pray for one another! I'll pray for you and you pray for me. Find people that you can have real, honest relationships with and get to praying for one another. Pray as Paul did...

...that whenever we open our mouths, words may be given us so that we will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel... Pray that we may declare it fearlessly, as we should.

Peace to you, my sisters!

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Thank you all for joining me through the book of Epesians! I've loved it all! I hope you have been encouraged and uplifted!

Now, for something else exciting! I've been asked to be the Bible Teacher Contributor for the month of October at A Second Cup from Internet Cafe Devotions! It will be linked up here and there both.

We'll be looking at the concept of the Vineyard; what it means to Christ and what it means to us as His followers! VERY EXCITED about studying this! I'm thinking I'll have to do some wine tasting to make sure I get the idea! ;)

We'll be starting October 6th!! So, y'all come back now, ya hear!

Don't Do That, but Do Do This (ha, I wrote do-do)

We're going to take a big chunk of Ephesians today and chew it right up! Paul is going to keep going on with what we should be getting rid of as followers of Christ. It's a pretty huge list and if we're not careful, we can make it into a list of To-Do's and find ourselves chained to the ugly monster called Legalism. That dude will put you right back into bondage and call it "following Christ."

I've met this monster and once I found that Jesus operates out grace, what Paul is about to list off didn't seem hard. I respond to Christ and these things come a bit more naturally because I've let His nature take over mine.

Grab your Bible and read Ephesians 4:25-5:20 when you have a chance. For now, I'll give you The List as best I can. I want you to see what Paul is getting at. I have a sneaking suspicion that the Ephesians were having trouble letting go of the old self and still maybe living it up!

Put off falsehood
Don't go to bed angry
Don't give the devil a foothold
Don't steal anymore, but work
Do something useful with your hands so you can share
Don't let unwholesome talk come out of your mouth
Don't grieve the Holy Spirit with all this
Get rid of bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, and malice
No sexual immorality
Or impurity
Or greed
No obscenity, foolish talk
Don't be partners with people who deceive with foolish words
Have nothing to do with fruitless deeds of darkness
Don't get drunk on wine

WHEW! That is a HUGE list of Don'ts! I'm certain I can go through that list (like yesterday) and give you examples of where I've missed the mark. I'm not sure what brawling is, but there could be a chance I've done it! :)

The point is is that Paul wants followers of Jesus to strive to be like Jesus! In 5:1 He sums it up by saying "Be imitators of God and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us..."

Aaaaand then he goes into another list of don'ts. Still, it comes down to what you and the Lord are dealing with. Above all these don'ts, there is One DO...

Love like Christ loved. I believe in that and through that, much of those don'ts tend to find their way out of our lives.

We are children of the light (5:8) and we are to find out what pleases the Lord (vs. 10). And we understand the Lord's will by the filling of the Spirit (vs. 17, 18).

I like the Do's of this text much better. Do love. Do find what pleases God. Do understand His will. Do be filled with the Spirit, and finally,

Speak to one another spiritually
Sing to the Lord!
and DO give thanks always.

I think Paul's call to the Do's is what I'll strive after rather than focus on all the Don'ts! The more I focus on all I shouldn't do tends to be the line I look at. Rather, I'll focus on the things of God and there is where the real fun happens!

What about you!?

Putting On New Clothes

We're in our final week of Ephesians and I've got to tell you, it's still one of my favorite books!

Grab your Bible and read Ephesians 4:17-24.

When I read through these passages the first part (17-19)not only has me nodding in agreement with the pictures it stirs up, but grieves my heart for those who do not know the love of Christ. Here are some highlights of those verses.

No longer live as the Gentiles do:

Don't live like them in the futility of their thinking.
They are darkened in their understanding
Separated from the life of God because of their ignorance
They are ignorant because of their hardened hearts
They have lost all sensitivity
They've given themselves over to sensuality and indulge in every kind of impurity
And they continue to lust for more

If that doesn't describe our world without Christ to a T, then nothing does. I'm sure if someone who didn't know Christ read this, they would be highly offended. Not everyone outside of Christ is all of these. However, not everyone in Christ is without all of these either. That's why Paul says that we are no longer to live this way.

I've thought useless thoughts. Wasted away time on things that didn't matter. I've been darkened in my understanding and felt separated from God because I had hardened my heart to something. I've lost sensitivity and just let the world come on into my heart and mind. I've given myself over to impurity and it only cause a lust for more.

What about you? Any of these a ringin' a bell?

So what do we do? Have no fear...PAUL is here! (corny, but that was fun to hear it in my mind)

Paul says that we came to know Christ in truth, implying that what the world offers is lies and falsehood. We came to him in truth when we heard of him and "...were taught, with regard to our former way of life, to put off your old self...and to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

Okay, Paul, easier said than done. Now what?

I think we have covered this before in Stiletto Army, but I always can use a good dose of remindin'!

If there is any way we are to keep from slipping back into any of those descriptions, we must be humbled to the work of the Holy Spirit and we must take action to set ourselves up for victory!

Here is it...uh-gain....

Do not conform any longer to the patter of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2

And Who is the only one who can transform us? You got it, the Spirit of Christ.

When I lived in a nasty habitual sin, I had to go to Christ daily, if not at some point, hourly to realign with His Spirit. I knew verses. I had people around me who knew my weakness. I was on my knees A LOT. Over time, through humility and discipline, that old self was killed! Oh, she tries to rear her ugly head at times, but I have a much stronger sword to knock her back down with. I no longer live like that. In that area, I have "put on the new self created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

I have other areas that we are working on, but, just like my jeans, sometimes to "put on" Christ, it takes me one leg at a time.

What are the areas in your life that you can identify that need the transforming power of Christ to come in and make it new?

You've Got It

I have a yummy cup of coffee, some piano music sweetly oozing out of my computer, kids are still asleep, husband is at work and I'm with you! I wouldn't trade my seat for anything right now!

We're moving along in Ephesians and we'll be wrapping it up by Friday. Then I'll have something fun to tell you! So, at least, come back by Friday!

Last week we ended with talking about how we have the opportunity to live a life that seeks peace with everyone. Paul most certainly is talking about in the church, but Jessica said this verse applied in her personal life as well, "I know Paul is talking to a church, but this is so applicable to my life at home--my husband, my kids, especially my in-laws! With the Holy Spirit, I'm making a renewed effort to be humble, gentle and patient." And that is certainly what our Father would want!

Continuing on in Ephesians 4, I first want to remind you how Paul ended that part about how we are to live a life worthy of the calling. In verse 4 he says, "There is one body and one Spirit...on Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

Using that as a springboard, Paul takes us to something that should inspire us all in Christ!

Verse 7,8

But to each of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.

There is a way to live a life worthy of the calling and be an effective part of keeping the unity of peace in the Spirit. It's in living out your life with the gifts of God on you. YOU have the unique opportunity to be used of God to serve the church, make a difference in your world around you, and be an incredible influence in your family.

Paul goes on in verse 11 and gives us a small, but not exhausted list of gifts God has given His people.

It was he who gave some to be apostle, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers...

Hold here. You might be thinking, "I'm not any of those!" Maybe not in the fullest sense of each word, but each of us can look at those who are coming up in the next generation and be teachers. You could simply be someone that lives a life that "teaches" as you live. You might be an evangelist simply because you were kind to the cashier at the store. You might be a prophet because you shared truth with a friend. Each of us may not have a full gift, but each of us can use them. Does that make sense?

There's other lists of gifts and I'll send you to them right here. But, the POINT is this:

We are given these....

to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

THAT is a mouthful of incredible hope!!

Let me unpack that a little bit.

You and I have been given gifts to serve each other with. I'm doing it right now. This is what I do at this season in life. It's not just on the internet we have a LifeGroup that my husband and I teach. I minister to so many people because they call, email, or approach me to ask about the Bible or my opinion on something spiritual. I'm not tooting my horn, I'm just sharing with you how these gifts can play out in each of our lives.

We use our gifts to encourage others so that they too can serve. And not just to serve and serve and serve, but to be built up in Christ so that we can reach unity! We use our gifts to get to that unity that Paul is telling us to strive for.

And finally, how we use our gifts will help others reach maturity in Christ. I'm sure we can all point to someone who poured into our lives in such a way that it drew us closer to Christ and we were changed and grew in Him. This is serving one another in love and faith. This is how we grow. We cannot all have all the gifts of the Spirit. I need you. You need others. We need each other to experience all the different characteristics of Christ so that we can all be filled to the fullest measure of Him.

It's a beautiful thing. Don't let the enemy tell you that you are not a valuable person in the Kingdom. We must rely on one another. You gifts are different than mine and in that we find comfort, grace, faith, strength, and the ability to mature one another.

And what will all this do? Here, let me let Paul tell you.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men and their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in live, as each part does its work.

That pretty much says it all. Ah, it's nice to sit back and let Paul use his gift!! Great way to wrap up today's post!

Think about how you can use your gifts to serve and build up others! I guarantee you'll be blessed!

Make Every Effort

I'm sure that those who read this blog are not all from the same church or even city, but we will see in Chapter 4 a call to all of us who say we follow Christ to be different than the "norm" of the world.

After Paul gives us such hope in our God, he brings it back down to real, raw, practical living.

As a prisoner for the Lord, the, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

Be completely humble (ouch)
and gentle (double ouch)
be patient (okay, now he's stepping on my toes)
bearing with one another in love (uhhhh)

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (every effort?) There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (I added some extra stuff. Ephesians 4:1-6)

Did you see all of that?! My goodness I haven't done very well at times. I remember when we were at a church a few years back and things got pretty rocky. There was plenty of others NOT making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. In fact, it was quite the opposite. My husband and I decided we were not going to be a part of that crowd. I'm not saying we were perfect, but I am saying we tried very hard not to be a part of those who stirred the waters and broke the unity.

Remarkably, even though he was on staff, we did not receive one phone call from anyone to "talk" about anything. I believe our faithfulness to God kept us "out of the loop." And that was a good thing. When JT ended up leaving to work at another church, we were loved right on out. They supported us and sent us with their blessing.

We must be people who realize that through humility, gentleness, patience, and a constant effort to keep unity we will make a difference not only in our churches, but in the world. We have to keep our sights set on ONE thing. Paul makes it very clear what that one thing is - Jesus.

Jesus.

Jesus.

Jesus.

This kind of attitude does not set us up to be walked on. If we follow Jesus we follow The Warrior! However, He will be the one to wield the sword of discipline, not us. I'm also not saying that if there are things in your church that are sinful that you should bow your head in the name of unity. No, there is a time for discipline in the church.

What I am saying is that there should always be a humility before God in anything. Good or bad. Any situation in your home, family, church, work, any situation should be brought to the Lord before we open our mouths. We have been urged by Paul to live a life worthy of the calling we have received.

We've been called to live for Christ. How are we doing? Is He the first person you go to for anything so that you can live it out in His love and attitude? I'm still trying to get that right! :)

Inside Out

Have you ever struggled with the idea that God is able to do something and it seems He just won't? I have often. Babies dying at birth. Friends and loved ones sick with cancer. Unforeseen financial fall-outs. Broken marriages. Addictions that just won't stop.

It seems that since God is GOD and quite capable to fix things why doesn't He?

Let's look at the last verse in Chapter 3.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

This verse has so often, and is most often, used when we are dreaming and praying about good and great things in life. We celebrate the idea that God is able to go beyond what our little minds can come up with. He can bring the lost to church, he can bring us fortune and unsuspected checks in the mail. He can open up ministry opportunity. He is able to do all those things and he does.

I like this verse. It makes me feel good for the good things.

But, what about the bad things. Is he still "able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine"?

The answer is yes, He is able. But he doesn't always do it that way. We know it. And He knows it. But, there is something in this verse we need to look at closely.

he does the immeasurably more..."according to his power that is at work within us."

Within us.

Inside.

The deep places.

It's not just or always circumstances that He's able to bring the immeasurable to.

Our prayer should be, although I admit it's not always my prayer because it requires something of me, it should be that God would do immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine according to his power that is at work WITHIN me. Wait, isn't that what the Bible says? That's my point. I get so caught up in what he is doing on the outside in my circumstances that I often forget that His power is made perfect inside this weak body.

For the years before Christ, God was doing the immeasurably more on the outside: fire licked bushes, parting seas, angels guarding the garden, frogs, gnats, darkness, famine, stopping the sun, an angel speaking to a virgin. With her, it all changed. She birthed the New Way for man.

God switched His focus. The immeasurable more would now come inside man. His power would now be most recognized on the faces of humanity. And why would He do this?

...to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen!

Glory. His glory. A changed heart is the strongest testimony to a Great God. Once again, this is our calling.

He might not do the things I so want Him to do. He doesn't. And it's not because He can't. He just doesn't. It's this broken creation that causes all this junk and pain, not Him. And just because He doesn't swoop in and save my day every day doesn't make Him less God. It should make me hang on tighter to the fact that He is God even in this broken place. It's always been this way.

Does God do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine in our outer circumstances. You betcha! I've seen it. Babies that were supposed to die have lived. People with cancer healed. Financial recovery. Healed marriages. Broken addictions. He is able and He does do it.

However, His goal for everything, for His followers, for His church is a changed heart, a transformed mind, a man or woman conformed to the likeness of His son. He knows what will draw us close. He knows our pain. He loves our joys. In all and through all He is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine.

He can do all of it outside or inside, but I've learned that much of what His heart is after....is mine.

Rooted in Deep

The idea of being planted is a concept in the Bible that inspires so much in our walk with Christ.

In Psalm 1:3, someone who is committed to the Lord is described as someone who is like a tree planted by streams of water. In Isaiah 61:3 those Jesus sets free are called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor. The very thing that will be ours for the taking when God creates the new heaven and new earth will be the tree of life with leaves that are for the healing of the nations. Israel is often described as God vineyard. Jesus referred to us as the branches of Himself, the vine. (okay, that right there would be a humdinger of a study...hmmm, my brain is working!)

It is then, not surprising to see Paul use the same kind of language in Ephesians.

Ephesians 3:17b-19

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power (there it is again) with all the saints (you and me) to grasp how

wide and long
high and deep

is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Holy. Smokes. That is some good eatin' right there.

We, when we come to meet Jesus, are firmly rooted and established in love. We don't get our spiritual ground from works, or how well we did in the Bible drill, or how cleaned up we can get. We are rooted, grounded, established, marked, fixed in L. O. V. E. There is no getting around it. You can't do enough right to get it, or be bad enough to lose it.

And there, right there where our feet are so entangled in the roots of love that we can't move out of it, there is where everything comes out. Those roots of love feed everything else we could ever want or imagine. Peace. Joy. Faith. Hope. Promise. Safety. Strength. Life.

Everything comes out of His love for us. And we can know this love that surpasses knowledge. Its doesn't make sense. We might not experience anything like it here on earth. It goes beyond knowledge down to the fleshy parts of who we are and it takes us to a place where we can be filled with God himself.

That kind of love wrapped around the feet of who you are will bring you to your knees so that you can be brought to a place of surrender and emptiness to be filled up with Him.

Did you catch that last part of the verse? ...that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Seriously. Let that sink in a minute.

I'll wait.

Read it again.

Oh Father, that we would be filled to the measure of all your fullness! Keep us rooted and established in love so that you are glorified, we are satisfied, and the kingdom magnified!

We love you Jesus and thank you for giving yourself so that we would have all of God. It's too much Lord. Too much. Thank you.

Power: It's a Good Thing

Happy Labor Day! I'm home with my family just hanging out! This will be a quick look at something that we'll take with us all week.

Ephesians 3:16-17a

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in you hearts through faith...

This seems to be theme around here at Stiletto Army: dwelling. You remember our chit chat about the Temple. Same stuff here. Paul prays that the people he loves and serves would be strengthened with power. Not peace. Not love. Not wisdom. Power. Why? Why power? So that Christ may dwell in their hearts. And in all this we will be strengthened in faith. Faith that He dwells. Faith in His dwelling and faith in live our lives with Him, for Him and by Him.

Think about that. It takes God's power in us to overcome us so that Jesus can live in us. It's a good thing. That power comes from the riches of Himself. Riches. Power. Strength. Sounds pretty Kingly. And all this given to us so that Jesus would rule in our hearts. He doesn't muscle Himself in. He doesn't shove us out of the way. He offers Himself over and over and yet gives us His everything.

He simply asks the same of us.

How can you be strengthened in the Spirit to make even more room for His dwelling? Is there anything that the power of God needs to overcome in you to ensure that you are filled up all the way? (oops, I get ahead of myself! :)

Freedom and Confidence

I'm just going to settle a bit on one verse in Chapter 3 today, and then on Monday, we'll get to some kickin' amazing passages in the rest of Chapter 3. Go ahead, you can read them early. S'all good.

Here is it....

Verse 12

In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

I'm sure you know Paul is talking about Christ. *wink*

I know that there have been many times that I didn't approach God with either freedom nor confidence. I could have been wrapped up in a sin and figured He wasn't all that happy to see me. Or, I let good ol' insecurity keep me from feeling confident. Those two words, freedom and confidence, haven't always been easy for me when it came to God.

The problem was that I was trying to approach God based on my own fragile, broken, and sinful abilities. You know, trying to rely on my charm, good looks, and all the ways I "served" Him. It just doesn't work that way. It's the first part of the sentence that bring us the freedom and confidence.

In HIM and through FAITH.

It's in Jesus that we are ever free to go to God with any kind of confidence. I'll never be perfect enough to be confident before God. it's only through the fact that Christ's Spirit dwells in me that I have a shred of guts to even say, "Um, Lord?" It's because He loved me first. He called me first. He chose me first.

In that confidence and freedom we are met face to face with the same God who told Abraham to leave everything. The same God that talked to Moses in a flame-ified bush. The same God who shut the mouths of the lions and walked around the fire with those boys in Babylon.

This is something we are not to take lightly, but still can have the freedom to be who we are. It's such an overwhelming paradox...but it's truth. It's real. And it's been made available to us.

Do you feel that you have the freedom and confidence to approach God?

We Are One

I just love what we're about to look at today! This is one of my favorite topics and I'm sure you'll agree!

We're going to wrap up Chapter 2 today, so I hope you take the time to read the rest of it today.

I've always joked about being a Gentile girl who lives in the middle of a continent, but this year, the Lord changed my sentence. I now would say something like, "I'm a chosen child of Israel, who lives in the middle of a continent."

You see, Gentile in the New Testament was a former name for those who used to follow the world and not Christ. It was a pagan. Now a days, we consider any one who is not a Jew, a Gentile. Well, that's not entirely the case. According to Scripture, anyone who is a follower of Christ is now Israel.

Look at Chapter 2 verse 11

Therefore (therefore, since we are God's workmanship), remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men) -- remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise..

God has never had a problem establishing those outside of Israel as Israelites. And it's still true today.

Verse 13

But now, (there it is again!) in Christ Jesus you who once were far away (meaning Gentiles) have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace who has made the two (Israel and Gentiles) one and has destroyed the barrier (no foreigners), the dividing wall of hostility...His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two...

We are now Israel! We have been given rights as heirs of Abraham!

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and alien, but fellow citizen's with God's people and members of God's household...

Here's the throw back to what we studied last time...very cool

In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.

All of us are now the temple of God. Each of us as individuals make for Him a dwelling place in which God lives!

I believe I did nothing but let the Word teach us today, and that's alright by me!

I Like It When He's Cool (which is pretty much all the time)

I want you to take the time to read chapter 2:1-9 again on your own. Today, we are going to stop and look at verse 10.

The previous verses are ones that we hold dear to our hearts. We've been saved by His grace and we are truly thankful, no, crazy thankful.

Verse 10 then puts a twist on things. A chocolate/vanilla kind of twist.

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.

One of my greatest weaknesses for a long time was believing that I was left out of the things of God. I believed that I would be the girl in the choir of life that thought she could sing, but really someone just needed to tell her to stick with something else. I used to struggle with wondering if God was ever going to need me for anything. This verse would actually haunt me. It led me to a performance based relationship where I believed that if I did really good at something, He'd let me do other things.

As much as I wanted this verse to be beautiful and real in my life, it left me feeling, for lack of a better word...lonely.

It seemed for a long time that so many people around me were doing what they wanted and doing what they felt they were called to do while I was at home doing "nothing." I was duped beyond duped.

Until one night, when I was giving God an earful again about how He wasn't letting me do all the stuff I dreamed of doing, He gently said, "I never promised you those things."

"Uh, s'cuse me? These are my dreams! These are the things we've talked about for years! These are my gifts and talents and I need them."

He was right, aaas usual. He hadn't promised me any of those things. He had promised me plenty of other things, and this verse was one of them.

He had things prepared for me and He had them prepared a long time ago. HE had things prepared, not me. And until I released my ownership on my dreams I would remain disappointed, disillusioned,and dissatisfied.

What He promises us far outweighs what we think we deserve. He has given us gifts beyond measure and if we let Him call the shots, we'll find ourselves Appointed, Illuminated and Satisfied. (how'd ya like me turning those words into positives!)

Guess what... what I'm doing right here right now, yeah, one of those dreams.

He's pretty cool.

As For You

Whew! I'm telling you, writing something from the Word seriously takes time! I never want to come to these posts and just slam something down. So, if you got here earlier and I wasn't here yet, just know I was making sure that I took time to take time. Make sense?

Okay, we're in the book of Ephesians if you are new here and we're about to go to chapter two.

Buuuut, we're not going to get very far (you're not surprised, but you'll like it)

Chapter 2, verse (would you believe) ONE, and part of two

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live...

What strikes me about this verse is the first three words, "As for you..."

There is something tender about that. We could take it like Paul spun around and pointed his finger with one hand on his hip like we were in trouble for forgetting something, but I don't think it's the case. I think it's the predecessor to all the encouragement he's about to dump on his readers.

As for you...

You who were once lost and are now found.

As for you...

Blessed of God and chosen by Him

As for you...

Forgiven one of Christ and redeemed from all sins

As for you...

You who are lavished upon

As for you...

Holy and pleasing to God

As for you...

Sealed in the Spirit

As for you...

You were dead in your transgressions and sin, in which you used to live.

Paul goes on to describe in more detail what that looked like when we followed the ways of the world in the rest of 2 and verse 3. You can read that and get a good idea of where Paul is taking his readers.

Verse 4 is where he adds the beautiful word "But"

But because of his great love for us, God who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions -- it is by grace that you have been saved.

"But," it's such a great word in the Bible. There's another one I'm fond in Romans 3:21. Again, Paul is going on about how everyone is sinful and unrighteous and there is nothing we can do to fix that on our own. Then he throws in a "but!" A BIG but

But now a righteousness from God, apart from the law, has been made known...

There is no other way to go from being a worldly, sinful person, to an "As for you..." person. It all comes from God! We know that, but sometimes I still live like I have to be the one to make it right. We can't forget that we who are sealed in the Spirit are set apart in the group labeled "as for you." He directs His attention, affection, and purpose to those of us who have joined the "as for you" ranks. Those are ranks we want to be in. That's the Army we want to march with, Stilettos and all.

There, we find strength, purpose, joy, stamina, safety, power, blessings. If you are a follower of Jesus, you have joined the "as for you's."

We'll talk more about what that group has coming to them and what's expected from them tomorrow!

As for you, go read Ephesians!

My Coveralls Need a Better Name on the Pocket

What a great minute I have right now! My mom stole my girls to take them swimming for an hour so I'm going to type, type, type! Baby is asleep, house is quiet, and I'm up for some Bible Study!

I want to direct your attention to the last few verses of Chapter Uno. We left off yesterday settled into the fantastic idea that God has given us His power! The same power that raised Christ from the dead.

I purposefully stopped at that part of verse 20 and didn't finish it because I wanted to use it to catapult us into today's finish.

Here is the verse in it's entirety.

That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead...

STOP

That's where we ended, gazing at that wonder all by itself. He used His POWER to raise Jesus from the dead. Not because it was hard, but because it was a display of His glory! Same for us. He uses His power in us to display His glory in us.

CONTINUE

...which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at this right hand in the heavenly realms...

STOP

Picture that in your mind. Jesus is now seated at the right hand of God. That is a position of authority, finality, power, and strength. Paul is setting us up for what he is about to point out concerning the authority of Christ.

God raised him up and seated Him

...far above all rule and authority, power and dominion and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

I want you to see that line that I made bold because it's THE one we're going to bring home and let soak down into the fabric of our beings.

Every title that can be given.

Think about how many titles there are. From President to Janitor. From Teacher to Mom. Pastor. Governor. Professor. Technician. Journalist. Nurse. Manager. Teller. Consultant.

We could list and list and list all sorts of titles. Christ is over every one of those. He has rule and authority, power and dominion. He is FAR above them and untouchable when it comes to the ability to rule others.

What about other titles. Titles that aren't found on documents and plaques. Titles that are hidden in hearts and souls. Here's a few I've had on the pocket of my coveralls from time to time.

Liar

Cheater

Procrastinator

Lazy

Worrier

Busybody

Angry

Shameful

Unimportant

Each one of these titles is under His authority and rule as well. If that's the case, then He has the right to take away that title and give me a different one. If He is the ultimate Boss Man, then He has the right, the rule, the authority to strip me of either my self-imposed title or one given me by man or the enemy, and give me a new one.

Here are a few of the new names on my pockets!

Free
Beautiful
Fun
Talented
Giver
Teacher
Mentor
Gracious
Strong
Redeemed
Chosen
Forgiven
Renewed
Blessed
Joyful
Loving
Peaceful
Bold
Real
Truthful
Loved
Favorite

This is no joke. I feel every one of these from the Lord. He has the ability to, not only be Lord and ruler of all Titles in the physical world, but every unseen title and name I have ever had over myself that is not from Him.

He rules. He says we are His and He means it. He died to ensure that we would know it. And now, He sits in heaven as the Ultimate Authority of all of it.

There is one more thing He will do when we finally see Him face to face. One more title exchange

To him who overcomes, I will ...give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it. Revelation 2:17

One more title. One NEW name. That is a title worth waiting for!

More to Know

We're going to keep peeking into what Paul prayed for the people of Ephesus and take it on as a prayer for ourselves. Yesterday, we look at the prayer to Know Him. Above all and before all is the prayer that we will Know God Better! (caps make it more poignant)

There are plenty of other things Paul wants his reader to know.

Verse 18: He prays the they (read, we) will have their hearts enlightened to know the hope to which God has called them...

to know the riches of God glorious inheritance in the saints

and to know God's incomparably great power for us who believe.

Here's where this gets dad-gum amazing!

That power Paul is referring to is described as the working of His mighty strength that God exerted in Jesus when He raised Him from the dead! That power is at work IN US and FOR US and THROUGH US! I cannot get over this truth when I really let it set in for a minute.

The power the rolled away the stone.
The power that raised Jesus up.
The power that conquered death.
The power that defeated sin.
The power that touched Mary and told her to go tell everyone He was alive.
The power that caused Him to open His eyes, sit up, and walk out of death's jaws.

That is the same power has been given to us in Christ.

Is there anything, ANYTHING in your life that sits above that kind of power? Do you ever doubt God to be big enough? Do you ever feel like something is more than you can handle? Do you ever feel over-powered? Do you have anything that can be more powerful than that kind of power we just read about?

There is nothing that can touch that kind of power good...or bad.

No depression.
No insecurity.
No pride.
No perfect family.
No independence.
No boss.
Nothing is more powerful than the love it took to raise Christ from the dead.

His power is what gives us life through His Holy Spirit. His power is what is made perfect in our weakness. His power is what lives and moves in us to cause us to follow Him. His power is what transforms our minds in Christ Jesus. His power is what over comes the enemy. His power is what brings you peace. His power is what keeps our chests moving in and out to live. His power is what keeps our earth from collapsing on itself. His power is what draws us in and holds us close.

And it is His power that sets Him up as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

The is no greater power....and it is ours. It is the working of His mighty and marvelous strength.

And it is good.

Knowing Him

I hope you enjoyed reading Ephesians chapter 1 yesterday, cuz I'm certain you ALL DID!

Now, flippity-flip your Bible open back to Ephesians and let's take out some munchies today!

I'm sticking with Chapter 1, but it's the last half and even though I'd like to, we just can't get to the end today. There's TOO much to talk about to cram it into one post.

This portion is Paul telling his readers what he prays for them. It's beautiful and powerful to boot! It's something I have prayed for myself and for others I love.

We're going to focus on some key things that will be certain to empower you and that coming off of what we talked about yesterday, you know, that be BECOME like Christ.

Right out of the hat we read what Paul prays for the Believers. There's an urgency in his voice for them to really "get it!" It's almost like he couldn't describe it well enough so he used as many wonderful words as he could get out!

The first thing he prays for is that God would give the people the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that they may know Him better.

Not so they could know his will. Not so that they could know what ministry to be a part of or if they should start one. Not so that they will have the answers they need for the stubborn child or difficult person. He didn't ask they have wisdom for the church committee or for the planning of the service. He asked that God would give them wisdom and revelation through His Spirit so that they would know Him better.

It's what Jesus said the Spirit would do.

"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all t hings and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ...He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you" John 14:26, 16:14.

Through the Holy Spirit is where you will be able to know the Lord. Know Him. Not just about Him or about His Word, but really know Him. And it's through wisdom and revelation by the Spirit. It isn't always in black and white pages of the Bible. Anyone can know the words, but it is by His Spirit that the Word becomes Life in us! He speaks to us "...in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words." (1 Cor. 2:13)

Make this a prayer of your own that God would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know Him better. Isn't that what we all want? Isn't that what catapults and empowers everything else? Pray this in your life. Surrender to the work of the Spirit so that you may know God better. That is a prayer He will answer quicker than you can pray it!

We'll see tomorrow what else he prayed for. You might find yourself on yo knees prayin' over yo-self!

Becoming Him

There's a little bit of sompin' sompin' that's been rolling around in my mind for a few days now. It's something that maybe we all know, but might not be something that we operate out of.


I was praying about some things concerning my weaknesses (again) and I believe the Lord told me something that might, no, will encourage all of us.

Yesterday I mentioned it...becoming. Becoming like Christ isn't something that we just do. The word in and of itself has action to it, progression, time. Many times I have looked at my life and wished that areas were more like Christ. Then somewhere in my lapse of memory I figured I was the one to get me to that spot. You know, "BE" like Christ. A Nike sort of aggression to just magically turn myself into a mini-Jesus.

Sadly, those Nike's wore out quickly and I found myself sprawled out on the court with scuffed knees and elbows, still looking like myself.

Anyone?

What I think we must all understand and realize is that Jesus in not only asking us to become like Him, but He is the one making it possible. Each area that is weak and unattractive and so un-Christ like is not a place that ignores until we get it right.

There is no picture He points to and says, "Be like that on your own." However, I have tried.

Tried to be nicer.
Tried to be more organized.
Tried to be happier.
Tried to have more mercy.
Tried to control my quick fuse.
Tried to not be envious.

Try
Try
Try

But let's look at Ephesians for a minute and see if we can't start this book off with letting ourselves off the hook.

Now, hold the horses for a minute. There is real value in being attentive to our own weaknesses. It's important that we take real steps to train our minds and bodies to go after the things of Christ. But, the real transformation come only through surrender to the work of the Spirit.

I want us all to know that God is in the transformation. He's in the middle of all our weaknesses helping us look at them at all angles and gently reminding us these are areas. They do not define who we are.

Take a look-see at WHO you are (even with your weaknesses)

You are chosen - 1:4
Adopted - 1:5
Holy and blameless - 1:4
Redeemed - 1:7
Forgiven - 1:7
Lavished upon - 1:8
Made known mysteries - 1:9
Included - 1:13
Marked with the Holy Spirit - 1:13

That's just the FIRST chapter!

If we let our weaknesses define who we are rather than let Christ say who we are, we will bow to them rather than Him. We will bow to their power, their influence, their habitual interference.

But, shift your mind to the things of God and your view of yourself will change. You are all this in Christ... wiiiiith some weaknesses. He is in the business of making all things new. You are a new creation in Him. You just have some residue of an old self clinging on.

Take time to read Ephesians Chapter 1 a few times tonight between Olympic events and ingest the richness of Who you are in Him!

New Week New Study!

Have you ever felt like God was sitting there tapping His foot and looking at His watch waiting for you to get things right? You know, waiting for you to be all those things the Bible wants you to be?

Man, I have.

But, what we will find as we study EPHESIANS that what God IS doing is getting down in the work with you so that you BECOME so many wonderful things, mainly, you become more and more like His Son.

SO THAT,

You may be a testimony to the greatness of God in this world.

How's that for an introduction!?

I'll give you some bits and pieces of Ephesians before we get started so that you can know where we are headed and what to look forward to.

Over the next few days, (you know I've learned not to put a time frame on these because I never stick with it) but, in these next days here's some of the things we'll discover, talk about, and get all excited over...

Ephesians has an eternal vision set plainly before the Believer, but has an uncanny way of teaching us to keep our attention fixed on the practical ways of life in Christ.

There is a heavy message of Authority:

Christ's Authority
-over us
-over all things
-over the enemy

Our Authority
-in Christ
-over our sin
-against the enemy

Ephesians expresses a calling to the church as a whole, which is obviously made up as individuals to each become like Christ and to express to all authorities the mystery of Jesus.

There is an incredible hope-filled way to maturity in Jesus laid out in this book.

This book instills hope, power, strength, encouragement, and even pride in who are are in Christ.

This powerful book will make you want to RISE UP as it elevates the Believer in Jesus!

Take time to read through the book tonight. Look for themes and things that you find encouraging. Be in prayer as we open this book together and pull out riches!! It's packed full of so much stuff that we're going to eat it up like a bowl of chocolate ice cream without the fat!

A simple walk through the rich book of Ephesians might be just what you're looking for! Read through these for a refreshing look at one of the shortest, yet sweetest books in God's Word.

Ephesians

WEEK 1

Introduction

Becoming Him

Knowing Him

More to Know

My Coveralls Need a Better Name on the Pocket

WEEK 2

As for You

I Like it When He's Cool

We Are One

Freedom and Confindence

Power: It's a Good Thing

WEEK 3

Rooted In Deep

Inside Out

Make Every Effort

You've Got It

Putting on New Clothes

WEEK 4

Don't Do That, but Do Do This

Put That Stuff On!