The Road Through Ephesus... Hope Ephesians 2:12

I am so excited to go home for Thanksgiving in a a few days!  I am beyond ready to see family and friends and the metro Detroit area.  It's really funny, because every time I drive home I am reminded how much of a Michigander I truly am.  When I cross the border into Michigan, never mind that I still have about 2.5-3 hours left to drive, I become giddy with excitement because of that welcome to Michigan sign.  It's wonderful.  Not that Indiana isn't nice, but there's just something about Michigan.  Probably because most of my family is there, but whatever the reason, I love it!

Anyways, let's jump back into Ephesians.  I am so excited for this time with you.  I have been fighting exhaustion for the past couple of days and this time of diving into the Word with you refreshes me so much.  So, here we go!

Ephesians 2:12

"In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope."

This verse seems to paint a pretty bleak picture doesn't it? But here's the good news: this was before we met Christ.  This was our previous state.  We were living without Christ and because of that we were living without hope in a world that so desperately needs hope to survive.  We didn't know the first thing about the promises of God and what they meant to us.  We didn't have a relationship with God.  We had no hope.

I think that's the part of this verse that keeps hitting me over the head right now.  We had no hope. We were living without God, going our own way, and because of that, we had no hope.  We were hopeless, until we met Jesus.  When we encountered Jesus and entered into a relationship with him, our whole lives were changed.  We had hope.  Suddenly, the world wasn't pushing us down and crushing the life out of us.  There was a ray of light, a life line, a hope and his name was Jesus.  I love that this verse directly relates us being without hope to us being without God.  Because Jesus didn't just bring hope, he IS hope.  He is our hope for the future and for now.  What a beautiful promise!

But do we live like Jesus is our hope?  Do our lives reflect that truth?  Can a person who doesn't know me see that I live a hopeful life, a life that radiates Jesus?  I think it is so easy for us to become hopeless and to not look any different than the world around us.  If you just watch the news for a few minutes, it's easy to become discouraged.  But that's where our hope in Jesus comes in.  Jesus didn't promise to make everything better here on earth, right here and now, but we do have his promise that there is hope for the future.  One day everything will be perfect again.  One day our hope will be realized and seen.  But for now, it takes faith in that hope.  It takes faith in Jesus.  That he will do what he has said he will do.

Let's keep our eyes focused on our hope this week.

The Road Through Ephesus...Affected Hearts Ephesians 2:11

I'm back.  FYI it's really hard to get back into the habit of writing and I really need to because it relieves so much stress to just sit and write about what God is teaching me. So I'll try to do better, and if I don't you all can yell at me on here so I'll come back and write.

So, I'm really glad that you have stuck with me even through this time.  Let's jump back in together.

Ephesians 2:11

"Don't forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called 'uncircumcised heathens' by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it only affected their bodies and not their hearts."

I don't know if you all have ever been outsiders before, but it's not a lot of fun.  Which is why I am so thankful that God's gift of salvation is for everyone now.  And while we're never to forget that we were outsiders once, I think that we can all learn something from the Jews.  They were so proud to be part of God's chosen people, yet that knowledge didn't affect their hearts.  It didn't affect the way they lived their lives.

As Christians, how often does the knowledge of what God has done for us make us proud of the fact we're Christians, but we don't allow anything about it to shape our lives?  Our lives should be affected by the work God is doing in our lives. Knowledge isn't enough.  Too often just knowledge can lead to major problems.  If you don't act on that knowledge, you are worse off than someone who doesn't have that same knowledge.

I haven't told a lot of people this, but my best friend and I are memorizing the book of James together.  I'm finished with chapter one, but can I tell you the biggest fear I had going into this?  Simply that I would memorize all these words, but that's as far as they would go.  I was afraid that I would not allow them to change my life and the way I acted.  It's still a big fear.  How is my life going to change because of what I memorize?  How will I let it affect my life?  Just knowing what God says is not enough, you have to do it  You have to obey.  I have to obey. Seriously, go read James 1:22-25 (Yes, I'm giving you homework :-)

This week, this month, for the rest of our lives, let's let our knowledge of God, his commandments, and his words change the way we live.  Let's let it affect our hearts.  Let's be different than the Jews. It's time to let go of the pride and allow God's life changing words to truly do that, to truly change our lives.

15 years...

15 years ago today was the day my journey with Jesus began. The last 15 years haven't all been the best of me following Jesus.  In fact, there were some times when I downright turned away.  But through everything, Jesus has been faithful, even when I haven't.  Words are not adequate to explain the joy I feel today as I reflect on the last 15 years.  I can't believe it's been that long, and yet it seems longer at times.

I would not be the woman I am today without the work Jesus has been doing and is doing in my life.

Thank you Jesus.  For saving me, leading me, loving me, molding me, pursuing me, changing me, convicting me, and knowing me. I love you.

The Road Through Ephesus...Masterpiece with a Purpose Ephesians 2:10

So I am sick once again.  Head colds are horrible!  But I was so excited when I read the next verse in Ephesians last night that I just had to post anyway.  So bear with me if this doesn't make a lot of sense, I am fighting the fog.

Let's just jump right in, my brain isn't understanding "small talk".

Ephesians 2:10

"For we are God's masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

Wow.  Read that verse and just let it soak into your heart.  You are God's masterpiece.  I wanted to look up that word to make sure I understood what it meant.  Here's the definition I found, "a person's greatest work..." (dictionary.com).  You are God's greatest creation.  The icing on the cake.  The grand finale. The pinnacle.  You are a masterpiece.  If that doesn't just thrill your heart, I don't know what will.  And then look at what follows: the reason we are God's masterpiece.  "He has created us anew in Christ Jesus,..."  We are no longer disfigured from sin; we are created new. We are now to look like Jesus.  When God looks at us he sees Jesus.  How amazing is that?

And then the reason we are made new: "so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."  Wow.  He created us with a purpose.  He had a plan way before time began that involved you.  To me, that literally screams his love for me.  The creator of the universe had a plan for me.  Not just for the human race but for ME.  I'm not a number on a list.  I'm not just "that girl with the dark brown hair and eyes".  I'm not just one in 6 billion.  I was thought of before time began.  God put together a plan for me and my life way before I was born.  I was created for a purpose: to do the will of the one who created me.

Do I live out this purpose?  Do you live out this purpose?  Is every day a day that we wake up and say, "What good things do you want me to do today Jesus?" How do you live out your purpose every day?  I know that all too often I forget that I have a purpose.  Instead, I fret and moan and complain about the situations in my life that I don't understand.  When what I should be doing is the good works that God has prepared and planned for me to do.  When what I should be doing is encouraging, uplifting, and serving.  It means that I have to take my eyes off myself and put them back on my savior.  What a challenge for all of us to truly live like this.  To live like we have a purpose every moment of every day.

Let's live like we have a purpose.

The Road Through Ephesus... Salvation Boasting Ephesians 2:9

I have a new computer!!  The repairs took so long that they decided to just give me a new one!  So hopefully now I'll get back in the habit of writing.  I have missed it, contrary to one might think by my lack of posts.  But anyways, I'm really excited to jump right back into this with you!  You have no  idea how much I love diving into Ephesians with you... it is sometimes the best part of my week... I get to spend some time with Jesus and all the lovely people out there who read this (who I don't even know, because apparently my blog is read internationally!  Who would of thunk?)

So, Ephesians.  Yay!  So excited!

Ephesians 2:9


"Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it."

I don't know about you, but this verse gives me so much hope.  I am so glad that my salvation is not dependent on what I do or don't do.  But how often do my actions reflect that truth?  Seriously, do I live my life like nothing I do can increase or decrease God's love for me?  Or do I still act like I can make God love me more?  Which in my head I know is rather ridiculous.  I mean, just look at this verse.  It lays out exactly what God thinks about that subject, yet, there are times, more often than not, that I do things to try and gain God's favor.  But you can't gain something you already have.

Which is why this verse is both life giving and convicting.  It's why my heart beats a little faster when I read it. Because it's not that I don't have to do anything to earn salvation, it's that I can't.  I can never be good enough, spiritual enough, or righteous enough to earn anything.   Look at how Isaiah says it, "...When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags...." (Isaiah 64:6b).  My righteous deeds mean nothing.  They are still dirty in God's sight.  But that's the amazing part. That's why we need a Savior.  That's why we need Jesus. Because he makes us righteous and holy.

And we can't boast about it, because we had nothing to do with it.  All we can boast about is Jesus, and what Jesus did for us on the cross.  Which, if you ask me, is something pretty amazing to be telling people.

1 Corinthians 1:31

"Therefore, as the Scriptures say, "If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord."

So this week, let's boast about Jesus.  About his amazing grace.  About his extravagant love.  About the beauty of his redemption.  About the glory of the cross.  Jesus is the only one worthy to be boasted about.

The Road Through Ephesus... Saving Gift Ephesians 2:8

I love fall.  I love the colors, the coolness in the air, and the bonfires.  When the weather starts to turn a little cooler and I can wear my jeans and sweatshirts, I fall into an instant good mood.  Summer's funa and all, but nothing beats fall.  I realize that I haven't posted on the Ephesians portion of this blog for awhile now.  I still don't have my laptop back, and it just meant that I had to set up everything again when I finally got a loaner laptop (they had already had my computer for 4 weeks at that point... it'll be 6 this Saturday).  But, I am back, for now at least (this loaner seems to be rather tempermental at times).

So without further ado, let's jump back into Ephesisans 2!

Ephesisans 2:8

"God saved you by his grace when you believed.  And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God."

Allow this verse to penetrate the walls of your heart.  Let it resonate within you.  This is what our realtionship with God really all comes down to.  "God saved..."  Really you could stop the verse there and be done.  It pretty much sums everything up and it's a complete sentence.  Because that's really what's important here... "God saved..."  I love that this verse starts with what God does.  I love that it could technically end there too, but it doesn't.  God explains.  Because, let's face it, us humans can be down right dense at times.  Sometimes it takes reiteration of the point for it to sink in (and even then it can take us awhile to grasp it).  And since I love to look at synonoms to further understand, check this out:  God rescued, God delivered, God redeemed, God reclaimed, God restored, God bailed out, God liberated, God unshackeled, God salvaged, God saved...  Wow.  The picture that all those words together paints is breath-taking.  Do you see it?  Is your heart as enthralled as mine is? 

What makes my heart beat even faster is the who he did this for...  now add the next word of the verse onto all those synonoms for saved:  God resuced YOU,  God delivered YOU, God redeemed YOU, God reclaimed YOU, God restored YOU, God bailed out YOU, God liberated YOU, God unshackeled YOU, God salvaged YOU.  Doesn't that make your heart beat just a little bit faster with the knowledge of how much God loves you?

The last part of this verse makes me aboslutely giddy: "...it is a gift from God."  I don't know about you, but I love gifts.  Birthday gifts (which is happening soon), Christmas gifts, gifts for absolutely no particular reason... I love them all.  And I don't know about you, but usually I only give gifts to people I really care about.  If you're not that important to me, you usually don't get a gift (as always there are exceptions).  But think about God's gift in that light.  You are important to God, so he gave you this gift of salvation.  Wow.

But what are you doing with this gift he's given you?  What am I doing with this gift he's given me?  Am I living my life as if I have been given a precious and priceless treasure (which I have been)?  Or do I treat it like the kid who opens up underwear on Christmas morning?  Do we treasure this gift or do we let it sit in the top of our closets for years because we feel we have no use for it?

Sadly, too often, I think that I take this gift for granted.  I don't live like the gift I've been given is precious to me.  Too often I live my life on my terms without regard to the gift that God has given me.

What about you?  How are you living?  This week, together, let's live with a constant gratitude for the gift God has given.

Life...

I haven't had a computer for the past few weeks because it's been in for repairs.  It's still in for repairs, but they finally gave me a loaner after my dad called and yelled at them :-)  So when I finally get my computer back the repair shop will have had it longer than I did.  This is sad.  Very sad. 

My thoughts have been all jumbled up for the past few weeks.  I can't process without writing.  And it's way easier to type than to write by hand, though I have resorted to that a few times to keep from screaming.  So, now here I am.  Hands on the keyboard.  Processing emotions. Processing life.  Hanging on to my sanity.  I have missed this.  Tonight I just have the urge to write.  I feel like if I don't, I'll explode.  And I don't have time to do that since I have to work tomorrow.

Since I haven't had a computer for the last four weeks, this post might be totally and completely random.  Deal with it.

I went home this past weekend.  It was Heritage's Grand Opening service.  And it was amazing.  There are seriously no words to describe what God is doing through and in that church.  I miss it so much.  I think when I came back to Indiana, I left part of my heart in Michigan.  I wanted to minister there with everyone else and see what God is doing there.  I want to be a part of it in the day to dayness of it all.  So coming back to Indiana was hard.  But then, on my way home, I saw the coolest thing.  And it had God's fingerprints literally all over it.  I was driving along and had made it to about the Michigan Indiana border when it started raining a bit.  But then, I just glance over to my left and I see a rainbow.  I was so excited about that!  But as I continued driving the rainbow became stronger and stronger.  It was literally the brightest, most vibrant rainbow I have ever seen.  And then the second one appeared.  Yes, it was a double rainbow!  And you could at one point see the whole span of the first rainbow.  I have never seen anything like it.  It was God telling me that it was okay.  He understood where my heart wanted to be, but his promises were still good in Indiana and that's where he has placed me for now.  It was awesome.

Then I was about a half hour out from my Indiana home when I got a call from my aunt telling me that her friend's son wanted to know if I wanted to go to a college group with him to meet some people.  It would start about the time I would get back.  Now normally I would have said no, I needed some time to relax and recoup before work the next day.  Instead, before I really had time to process what I was doing, I said yes.  I hung up the phone wondering what I had just done.  I had gotten up early for church and had been driving for several hours, I really did not think I had the energy to go to this event, but now I was committed.  Well, I just have to tell you that I am so glad I did.   I met some really cool people who wanted to get to know me.  I felt like I fit with this group, like I belonged.  I felt like I had come home.  It was wonderful.  Even if I didn't get home until 11 and I think my hair still might smell like bonfire smoke.  It was worth it.

My great great aunt is in the hospital.  They've given her less than 24 hours to live at this point.  Her blood pressure is so low that they can't even get a reading on it when they tried to take it.  She's almost 92 years old and an amazing woman of faith.  Part of my heart is just breaking over this news.  Another part is happy that she won't be in any more pain, that she'll see her husband again, and that she'll see Jesus face to face.  But my heart hurts at the same time for the fact that we won't be seeing her for much longer.  I remember cooking with her up at her cottage.  I helped her and my great grandma (her sister) make fried chicken... and let me tell you, it was the best chicken I have ever had!

I'm working through emotions and what seems to be coming in the near future.  And then I'm working through the daily emotions I have.  Working with these high school students on a daily basis makes my heart break and rejoice all at the same time.  It breaks for what these kids are going through and that they don't know Jesus.  It rejoices over small victories: relationship building with them and good test grades.  I never thought I would say this, but I think these students have stolen my heart.  And that makes the pain and joy all the greater.

Sadly, I have to sign off for now, because my loaner computer is about to die.  But I promise it won't be this long again before I write again.

The Road Through Ephesus... Living Billboards Ephesians 2:7

It's really warm here today.  Like in the 90s warm. I much prefer it to be cooler than it currently it and am hoping that the temp drops a little for the rest of the week.  Anyways.  We are 5.6% done with the school year as of today.  There are days when I don't know if that is depressing or exciting.  But I'm going to try to look at it as a positive thing.

But enough about the weather and school... those are some pretty boring subjects.  Instead let's get started with some more Ephesians!!

Ephesians 2:7

"So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness towards us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus."

I don't know about you, but I love people examples.  I love people who I can look up to or who I can point out to others as someone they can look up to.  I love watching people live out their faith and knowing that they're looking a little bit like Jesus right then and there.  But even more that looking at other people as examples, I love being an example.  I love knowing that the way that I choose to love God and express that love for him may be pointing others a little closer to Jesus.  That's one of the reasons I think this verse is so cool.  God uses us as examples!  He has poured our an incredible wealth of grace and kindness and then uses us as examples for all future people to point out his extravagance.  We are walking billboards for the goodness of God.  Everything that God did for us in fusing us with Christ is an example of his goodness and mercy.

That is what is so cool about our stories.  Each one of us has a unique and personal story of our lives.  But the one thing that they should all have in common if we are followers of Christ, is that they should all point to God's mercy, grace, kindness, and redemption.  Our lives are to be examples of the goodness of our God.

But even as I type this, I have to wonder if my life is being an accurate "billboard" for God's grace towards us.  While I may have experienced it in my own life, an example or a "billboard" is meant to be shared.  It's not meant to be kept to yourself.  You can't be an example to anyone if you don't let people see what God has done in your life.  So that's the questions I keep coming back to.  Is my life a living example, a living billboard of God's grace and mercy, his kindness and mercy?

What about your life?  Do people look at you and see evidence of the goodness of God?  Or do you hide what God is doing in your life from the people around you?  

Let's be those living billboards.

The Road Through Ephesus... Fused Ephesians 2:6

I love Saturdays.  I love sleeping in and just taking some time to relax and be refreshed.  I hate when Saturdays become super busy with a million and one things to do and places to run to.  I much prefer a Saturday with friends and family where I can let down my guard, share my heart, laugh, live, and be known.  It's truly a glorious thing.  But enough about how much I love Saturdays, for if I keep talking about how much I love Saturdays I shell spend my entire Saturday trying to blog and never have a chance to relax.

So let's jump in!

Ephesians 2:6

"For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus."

Look at this verse.  Let it roll around in your mind for a few seconds, minutes, hours, days... After God himself gave us CPR, he seated us with Christ in heaven.  We are right next to him.  But perhaps even more cool than that is the next part of the verse: "...because we are united with Christ Jesus."  That part just gives me chills.  Seriously, I don't know that I have words to describe what that part of the verse does to my heart. And a big part of it has to do with one word: united.  I wanted to make sure I understood what this word meant so I looked it up on dictionary.com.  Here's a few of the definitions: made into or caused to act as a single entity, agreed, in harmony, to join, combine, or incorporate so as to form a single whole or unit, to be joined by or as if by adhesion.  And then perhaps my favorite synonym that pops us for the word unite: fuse.  


The thoughts those words conjure are breathtaking.  After God gave us mouth to mouth, we were united with Christ.  We were fused together.  We should act like a single entity.  We are joined by something stronger that super glue.  We are one with Christ.  That is what that word united means.  Our days of self are over.  From now on, we should think, act and be little Christ's.  We no longer continue with our own desires and thoughts, ambitions and plans.  We are fused.  Everything about us should scream to the world that we are united with Christ.  Everything about us should point to Jesus.


This has been one of my prayers this past week.  That as I live out my daily life among these high school students, my faith would be on my sleeve.  That everything I say and do would proclaim Jesus to these kids.  I want these kids to be able to tell from my life, my words, and the way I respond to others that I am fused to Christ.


What about you?  Can the world tell that you are bonded to Christ?  Do you wear your faith on your sleeve or is it something that people don't know for sure where you stand on?  Can people tell when they look at you that your life, your words, your actions, the way you respond to others are the same as what Jesus would do?  Because they should be able to do that.  For we are no longer free to pursue our own wills.  We were bought with a heavy price.  We are united with Christ.  We are one entity. And the world needs to see that.

The Road Through Ephesus... Dead Man Walking Ephesians 2:4-5

I didn't post again yesterday.  That makes me sad.  But the day really got away from me.  I got to go on a field trip yesterday and I got very wet.  Soaked actually.  We went rafting (don't worry I didn't go crazy, it wasn't white water rafting... just down a river and across a lake rafting, almost like canoeing (is that a word?) but with more people).  My raft liked to splash other rafts and so they splashed back.  Unfortunately, I was unarmed due to the fact that I was interpreting and just kept getting wet without being able to do anything back.  But while I was on this trip I realized something.  Oh, I guess I should tell you that I was also a chaperone for the trip.  So back to what I realized.  I realized that I actually kind of like high school students. Now, if you don't know me very well you might be going..."So, what's the big deal?"  The big deal is this.  When I was a high school student and the first couple of years of college, I really didn't like high school students.  They annoyed me.  But now, after yesterday, I can honestly say that these kids are really important to me.  And what I overhear in the classroom, in the hallways, and on the bus to the field trip, makes my heart break.  I spent a whole study hall period today just praying for these students that were in my raft and in the classes I go to.  I want them to know Jesus.  I want them to know how much they are worth in God's eyes.  I want them to experience his life changing power, his mercy, his grace, his forgiveness.  Just be praying for me and these kids this year.  I really want Jesus to take hold of these kids' lives and I'm really praying about what my part in that looks like.

After that really long introduction, what do you say we jump into Ephesians?  I know I really need to hear God's words tonight.

Ephesians 2:4-5

"But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!)"

I love the picture of the richness of God as it relates to the expression of his mercy and love.  Because of our sins, we were dead.  Our hearts had stopped beating.  We were stone cold.  But God, in his never-ending love and mercy, breathed life into us.  He took what seemed impossible and made it possible.  He bridged the gap between God and man and in doing so brought us back to life.  He literally did CPR on us when He raised Christ from the dead. What an awesome picture that is!!!

I also love the second part of that verse.  The only way to salvation is through God's grace.  If not for God's grace, salvation would not exist.  How powerful is that!  I am so thankful that I serve a God like that!  As I think about working with these high school students, the last part of the verse takes on even more meaning.  It's only God who can bring these kids to himself.  Can he choose to use me in that process?  Yes.  Does their salvation depend on or rest in me?  By no means.  God began this work and God will complete it.  He just chooses to use his children to further his kingdom.  God's passion and heart for these kids goes way further than mine or anyone else's.  His heart longs for them, desires them, and breaks for them.  Even now he is calling them.  I just can't wait to see how I get to be a part of that!

What about you?  What sticks out in this verse to you?  Is it the picture of being dead and being brought to life?  Or is it the way that it's only by God's grace that we are saved?  Or is it something else entirely?  Comment and let me know.  This is just what has been on my heart lately.  Now I want to hear yours.

The Road Through Ephesus...History Ephesians 2:3

So.  Yesterday I didn't post.  Sorry about that.  I was reading a good book and then I had some prep work that I needed to do for work today and sadly by the time I finished that, there was just enough time to spend some time with Jesus before I fell into bed (so what if I fell into bed a little before 10 pm... when you have to get up early, you're tired at 8:30 pm...).  The book I was reading is one of those books that has two books in one.  I finished the first one earlier and started the second one.  I'm taking a break from it now though, because I'm tired of crying (it's sad... one of the main characters dies).  So now I'm sitting here, talking to you.  And I am so ready to jump back into Ephesians!!  So let's just do it.

Ephesians 2:3

"All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature.  By our very nature we were subject to God's anger, just like everyone else."

The last few verses have all been talking about our past.  What we were like before Christ.  They have been talking about our history.  Now I don't know about you, but I love history.  I love to study it, learn about it, visit historical sights, dress up in time period appropriate clothing...if it has something to do with history, I probably enjoy doing it.  So this verse starts off talking about our history, how we used to live.  It shares that we used to live by following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. In other words, we were full out devoted to sin.  It doesn't matter if you think that you really weren't that bad of a person before you knew Christ, because without Christ,  your life was consumed fully by your sinful nature.  It was fully consumed by pride and self-centeredness.  We were just like everyone else.  God was angry at our sin.

But what I love about history, is that you can take the past and learn from it.  It teaches you.  When you came to Christ, you didn't amputate your history.  Your history will always be your history.  But the amazing thing about history is that it's useful (I know, I know, some of you students would argue with me on that point).  History explains why things happen.  You want to know why the Middle East is in such an uproar and Israel is in the middle of it all?  Look at history.  You want to understand why the Cuban Missile Crisis occurred? Check out history.

Your personal history is useful too.  It's a constant reminder that you don't want to go back to the way you were before Christ.  But it's also a constant reminder of how far God has brought you.  God never wastes your history.  You may think that it's full of brokenness, sin, and disappointments, but God will use it.  He will use it in your own life.  He will use it in the lives of the people around you.  He will use it.  Because while you can't outrun your history, you are not defined by it.  You are not who you where.  You were bought with a high price.  You are worth something.  You are chosen by the Creator of the Universe and he knows your name!  You have immense value and nothing you have done in your past can change that, but maybe your past (and present) could help change someone's future by bringing them a little closer to Jesus.

We all need reminders of who God is and where his mercy has brought us.  Because his mercy has changed us. I want to leave you with the words to one of my favorite songs by Point of Grace. It's called Heal The Wound.  Here are the lyrics:

I used to wish that I could rewrite history
I used to dream that each mistake could be erased
Then I could just pretend
I never knew me back then

I used to pray that You would take this shame away
Hide all the evidence of who I've been
But it's the memory of
The place You brought me from
That keeps me on my knees
And even though I'm free

Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart
And heal the wound but leave the scar

I have not lived a life that boasts of anything
I don't take pride in what I bring
But I'll build an altar with
The rubble that You've found me in
And every stone will sing
Of what You can redeem

Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart
And heal the wound but leave the scar

Don't let me forget
Everything You've done for me
Don't let me forget
The beauty in the suffering

Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart
And heal the wound but leave the scar

The Road Through Ephesus... Different Ephesians 2:2

I realize it has been quite some time since I posted on Ephesians.  All I can say is life has been crazy and I needed a break from writing and deadlines.  Between VBS, moving, and starting a new job, I became exhausted and in need of time to myself.  But now I'm back.  Hoping to get back into the routine of writing.  I hope you'll stick with me as we continue to dive into Ephesians... So let's jump.

Ephesians 2:2

"You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil-- the commander of the powers in the unseen world.  He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God."

Just let that sink in for a moment.  Before, we were just like the rest of the world.  We obeyed the devil and refused to obey God. I hope that you caught that before we were just like the rest of the world.  We used to be like them but now, because of the work Jesus did on the cross.  Because of the reconciliation that can occur between God and man, followers of Jesus are supposed to be different. 


We shouldn't continue to act like or think like the rest of the world.  We should not be living in sin.  We should be different, changed, transformed.  Check out the way Paul states this in his book to the Romans: 


Romans 12:2


"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."


People should be able to look at the way we act and the activities we participate in and know we're different.  They should be able to see living, breathing, imitations of Christ walking around among them.  Sadly, too often we all tend to look a little like to world.  I know that there are times when I look at myself and wonder what's so different about me compared to the rest of the world.  Because I know Jesus, I should be different.  But often my actions and life don't reflect that.


What about you?  Are you still refusing to obey God and obeying the devil in some part of your life?  Can people look at you and tell that there is something different about you, or do they look at you and think, "Oh, she's a Christian?!?  She doesn't act any different than I do.  Why should I be a Christian?"  Is the way you live your life different than the way the rest of the world lives their's?

Let's be different.  Let's be the oddball, the anti conformist, and the peculiar ones.  Because if we aren't different, how will the world see that they need Jesus?

Update on Life...

I haven't written in a while but I wanted to give you all a little update on life in general. This will not be a continuation of the Ephesians blog (hopefully that will start back up again soon), but rather an up date of what God has been doing in my life lately.

As much as I would like to start this big long back story, I think I'll first state the simple fact that I have moved to Indiana. Now, you may be asking yourself, "Why did she move to Indiana?" Well let me tell you.

It all started almost three weeks ago on the Wednesday of VBS week (July 27). Well, I guess it really started the day before. My aunt and uncle called to let me know about a job opportunity in Warsaw Indiana as a Sign Language Interpreter in the local high school. I wasn't home (I was actually at work) so my mom had them email me the ad. I looked at the ad and realized that I qualified for the position and decided to apply for the job, thinking there is no way on God's green earth that I will get this job. I have no experience and I just graduated. But oh, how God works.

Wednesday I applied for the job. The application was online and took around an hour to fill out and get a cover letter together. 40 minutes later I had a call for an interview. Because I couldn't get down to Warsaw as quickly as they needed to interview me, they decided to interview me over skype. The interview was then scheduled for 8 am that Friday (July 30).

The interview happened. It wasn't anything spectacular and I really wasn't sure how it went or if I really even wanted the job if I was offered it. I was completely and utterly confused and spent the next little while in tears (when I'm stressed or confused, I cry). By Sunday I had come to the conclusion that I really did not want to live in Warsaw Indiana. Though part of me was still very confused. I really wanted God's direction. That night I went to Lighthouse at Woodside and the message was specifically for me. The songs were each directed directly at my heart. The funny thing was, the lead guitar player and the one leading worship had a finger in a splint so he had had to change all the songs they were going to do to songs that didn't use that finger in any chords. God is really cool like that. By the end of the service I knew that I was going to Indiana (if I was offered the job).

Monday was okay. Tuesday things started to go a little down hill. I really just kept praying for peace and the thing I kept hearing God say to my heart was this: "Don't worry, pray. Take your eyes off yourself and put them on me. Then you will have peace. Put your eyes on me." Unfortunately, I didn't quite heed that and instead kept worrying about it. So the next few days were rough emotionally. By Thursday I was doing better about keeping my eyes on God. Which was a good thing since that evening I received the job offer. After crying over the phone to family and friends, I accepted the job on Friday.

Long story short, I moved down here this past Sunday and just finished my first day at a public high school.

I'm sorry if some of this doesn't make sense. I went to post it originally and blogger crashed on me and didn't save the full post in my drafts.

The Road Through Ephesus... Alive Ephesians 2:1

Wow. Ephesians chapter 2. In some ways I thought we would never get here. In others I feel like we just started this journey. I'm curious to hear from you... what have you learned as you continually dive into Ephesians? I hope you're diving in for yourself and not just relying on what I have to say.

Okay, so let's jump right into chapter 2.

Ephesians 2:1

"Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins."

At first read there doesn't seem to be much good news in this verse. Our disobedience and many sins have caused our death. But here's the good news. This verse is talking about our past. This verse is talking about us without Christ. The verse says that "Once [we] were dead..." That implies that now we're alive! Our death was caused by our disobedience and sin. Our death was one that separated us from God.

Now we are alive. Our life is in Christ. Our life was bought by Christ's death. He died so that we no longer had to live a life of death and separation from God. We have life in Christ.

Mark 10:45

"For even the Son of Man came... to give his life as a ransom for many."

Jesus came to save our lives. To buy us out of death. To purchase our freedom. To ransom us from captivity. Our former state of death has, through Christ, been transformed into life.

I like how Colossians 2:13 says it: "You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins."

God has made us alive! What are you doing to live like it? How are you living this life you have been given? Or are you still living like you're dead, caught in the trappings of sin and disobedience? Let's walk away from acting like zombies and start living the new life we've been given in Christ.

The Road Through Ephesus... Representatives Ephesians 1:23

It's been a while since I've written. I took my normal crazy two days off and on the second on those two days I started getting sick. I your run of the mill cold, but when I get a cold, I can't think. My brain, along with my nose, gets stuffy. So it's taken me almost a week to finish chapter 1. But here we are, the last verse of Ephesians 1. It's hard to believe, but don't worry, we still have 5 more chapters and over 100 verses left! Let's jump in!

Today I'm quoting from the Message because I love the wording.

Ephesians 1:23

"The church is Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence."

We are Christ's body. Do you see that? We represent Christ. We are the way he speaks and acts. We are his hands. His feet. His voice. We are his physical representatives here on earth. We are his comforting arms. His helping hands. His soothing voice. Isn't that amazing?!? We have such an awesome responsibility. We are called to be little Christs. Pictures of his love, justice, and kindness. We need to become replicas of him, so people can't tell the difference between us. By our acting like Christ, people should be pointed to Christ.

But that's not where the verse ends. No, it continues saying, "...by which he fills everything with his presence." Christ chooses to use us. We are the vessels he chooses to use to further his presence. We are the ones that he chooses to use to bring others to him. How cool is that?

Our task is not easy. It's not effortless. We are called to become like Christ. To imitate him in all we do. Do your actions reflect that truth? I know all too often mine don't. All to often, I become more concerned about myself, more preoccupied with my comfort, and more distracted by my fear, then I do about the things of God. It sounds cliche, but how about asking, "What would Jesus do?" or maybe, "How would Jesus react?". Perhaps the best question, the one that we all can ask ourselves everyday is, "How can I look a little more like Jesus today?". And no, I don't mean walking around in robes and sandals. I'm not talking about the literal sense. But rather, how is your character, your actions and reactions, your daily life, looking more like Jesus today?

Let's look like Jesus.

The Road Through Ephesus... Authority Ephesians 1:22

I never thought I would be excited by mid 80s temps, but I have to say I am very much looking forward to it :-) It has to be better than temperatures that feel like the 100s. But enough chit chat, do you realize we're almost done with the first chapter?!?! Only two more verses and we're finished with the first chapter! I can't believe how much I've learned so far, and I hope it's the same with you. So let's dive in to today's verse!

Ephesians 1:22

"God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church."

As much as I enjoy being a leader at times, I have to admit that I am very thankful that I am not ultimately in charge. That would be overwhelming and disastrous. Instead everything is under the authority of Christ. I love that! And it's not just some things. It's everything. People, places, things, the physical realm, the spiritual realm, all things are under Christ's authority. That can be both a comforting and frightening thought, can't it? Frightening because it means that every single person will have to answer for what he or she has done. Comforting because it means that we're not in control, we're don't have to have all the answers.

Perhaps the best part of this verse is the last part. It's the why. Why did God put everything under Christ's control? Do you see the last part of that verse?!? It's for our benefit. For the church's benefit. Christ's authority is not a rigid dictatorship. Rather it's a an authority of love. It's an authority for our benefit. For the benefit of his people.

As thankful as I am that I'm not in charge, it can sometimes be hard to give up what control I think I have. Yet, nothing is truly under my control. And everything is under Christ's control.

So here's to surrendering to Christ's authority. Are you with me?

The Road Through Ephesus... Leading Ephesians 1:21

I am so very thankful for air conditioning. There is a definite reason I am from the north. I like warm, breezy, balmy days and nights with just a hint of a chill. It's probably the reason fall is my favorite season. I love sweaters ans sweatshirts and jeans... but alas, I digress. This is what happens when it's almost 100 degrees outside. I lose focus quickly :-) So before I continue on this rabbit trail why don't we jump in?

Ephesians 1:21

"Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else-- not only in this world but also in the world to come."

I am so thankful that I know who's really in charge. With all the turmoil, the natural disasters and man-made ones, the sickness, and just plain evil in the world, I am so thankful that the human leaders we see around us are not the leaders that have the final authority. More and more I'm coming to realize that only God has any real power. And frankly, that's amazing. Only Christ has the power to heal, to forgive, to bring life. Only Christ and his power.

Does this mean that human leaders have no purpose? By no means! Leaders are needed. Perhaps even more so, Godly leaders are needed. For all the leaders in this life will answer to the ultimate leader, the ultimate authority, the ultimate power, Jesus Christ.

There's a bit of a leader in all of us. In highschool, I wouldn't have said that. I didn't believe that I was a leader. I didn't want to lead. And then something happened. I was put in situations where I had to lead. And I did. More and more, I'm starting to see myself as a leader. It's not easy. There are days I would rather give the job to someone else. But still, I've been called to lead. You've been called to lead. Maybe not in the same capacities as I have, but you are still called to lead. Whether you are leading a ministry, a family, a group of friends, or on the job, you are a leader. But guess what?!?! The pressure is off! Because you are still under someone else's leadership. You still have someone to answer to, someone to gain wisdom and guidance from, someone to turn to when you are completely overwhelmed by the leadership task set before you. You still have Jesus in authority of you, leading you. Wow.

And it's not only in this world that Jesus has the final ultimate authority, but also in the next. Wow. What a comfort! It's not up to you! You have the charge to follow Jesus, your leader, as you lead others. You have the charge to be the most like Jesus in your leading as you can be. And if you are ultimately letting Jesus lead you, then you will be the kind of leader he wants you to be.

Let's lead. Let's follow the ultimate leader: Jesus Christ.

The Road Through Ephesus... The Power of Christ Ephesians 1:19-20

Sorry for the long hiatus. Two weeks ago we did VBS down in Detroit and I was usually going right from work to home and then leaving again for VBS... it was a crazy, exhausting week, but a wonderful one as well. There were just not enough hours in the day to blog as well. And then the Saturday after the VBS finished I left for Orlando to visit my best friend who's doing an internship down there this summer. I didn't have internet access while down there so I couldn't keep up with blogging again. By the time I got home, it was the holiday weekend and I needed to recuperate from my vacation. But here I am once again. Are you as ready to jump into this as I am?!?!

Ephesians 1:19-20

"I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power ² that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms."

This is amazing to me. Paul is praying that people will understand the incredible greatness of God's power. Do you or I truly understand the incredible greatness of God's power? Do we truly comprehend it? Does this truth even begin to penetrate our thick skulls? Because it's not just that God's power is incredibly great, it's also that it's for us who believe him. That incredible greatness of God's power is meant for us. It is meant to work in our lives. God's power is in US. Does that just blow your mind?!? Because if it doesn't consider how awesome that power is with the next part of the verse: "This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead..."

Do you see it? The power that is in you is the power that raised Christ from the dead. The power that is in you took death and made life. The power that is in you conquered death forever. That's how awesome God's power is. And the best part is it's in you. That same power can transform your life and bring your deadened heart back to life.

It reminds me of this verse in Philippians 4:13 "For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." That strength that comes from Christ is the same strength that raised Christ from the dead. That strength is in you.

Wow. It causes me to wonder if I live like I have God's strength in me. Do I live like I have the life-changing power of Christ in me? The power that can raise the dead back to life? What about you? Do you live in that power? Do you live like God has given you the power?

Let's live it.

The Road Through Ephesus... Shine Ephesians 1:18

Today has been a long day. I got sent home early from work because I wasn't feeling well and now I have a doctor's appointment in the morning. Seriously not how I wanted to spend my day. But now on to some good news.

Ephesians 1:18

"I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called-- his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance."

I love this word picture. Paul says that he is praying that the Ephesians hearts will be flooded with light. I think I love this most because of this: John 8:12 "Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, 'I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." Paul was praying that the Ephesians would be filled with Jesus. And I know a thing or two about floods... we've had several in the last few years in our house. It's a lot of water. To even think that Paul is praying for Jesus to fill the Ephesians that much is mind boggling. I love it!!

And Paul is praying this so that they might understand the hope that Jesus brings. The only true hope there is. He wants the Ephesian church to fully comprehend the hope, power, and love that Jesus offers. The hope that Jesus gives each one of us when we come to him. It's a beautiful picture isn't it??

Check out the last part of that verse: "-- his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance." I know we've talked about his before, but just in case you didn't get it the first time: God thinks you're valuable. You are his rich and glorious inheritance. Remember that. Live it. And share it. Let others know their value to God. Let others see the Light that has flooded your heart. Let the Light that is within you shine.

The Road Through Ephesus... Praying Ephesians 1:16b-17

So the gloominess has broken for now and the sun is shining brightly with beautiful white clouds drifting in the sky. In other words, it's gorgeous outside. Though the breeze is a bit strong, I am always thankful for one :-) So let's jump right in, shall we?

Ephesians 1:16b-17

"I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you may grow in your knowledge of God."

Prayer. It's so powerful. Yet, as humans, I don't think we can ever fully understand it. Maybe that's why I love that we find so many examples of what to pray for and how to pray in the Scriptures. So let's take a look at how Paul prays for the Ephesian church and how we should pray for the people in our lives.

Look at the first phrase: "I pray for you constantly..." Do you see the word "constantly"? Check out some of these definitions for the word constantly: not changing or varying, unceasing, faithful, continual, persistent, unswerving, steadfast (from dictionary.com). Does that describe your prayer life for the people in your life? Do they know that they can depend on you for persistent, faithful, continual prayers on their behalf? Do you know people that you can trust to pray that way for you? How amazing would it be if every Christian prayed this way? If we were unceasing in our prayers? Wow.

The next part of the verse shows that Paul knows exactly who he is praying to. He asks "God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ..." He knows exactly who he is approaching with his requests. He believed God was who he said he was. Do we approach God believing that he will answer our prayers or do we approach with an attitude of indifference?

I love what Paul prays for the Ephesian church. He prays for spiritual wisdom and insight for them. Isn't that what we really all need? Wisdom in the ways of God and insight for living them out? Perhaps what I love even more than what he prays for the Ephesian church is why he prays those things for the Ephesian church: "so that you may grow in your knowledge of God." I think I like it even better the way the NIV says it though, "so that you may know him better." In case you didn't realize it, the him spoken of here is God. Paul is praying for the Ephesian church to know God better. Honestly, this is how I want all of my friends to pray for me now. I want them to pray for spiritual wisdom and insight so that I might know God better.

Let's pray that way for each other, shall we?

The Road Through Ephesus...Loving People Ephesians 1:15-16a

I am so thankful for the many people in my life who challenge me to grow in my faith and become more like Jesus. I am sure most of them don't even know who they are, but I am so thankful for them! That's kind of what today's verse is about. Today we're looking at Ephesians 1:15 and 16a and tomorrow we'll look at 16b and 17. Those three verses make up a total of 2 sentences, so I'm breaking them apart according to sentence breaks rather than verse breaks because it's easier on me :-)

So here's today's verse and a half :-)

Ephesians 1:15-16a

"Ever since I first heard about your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God's people everywhere, ¹⁶ I have not stopped thanking God for you."

I love that Paul had only heard about the Ephesians strong faith and love for God's people! Isn't that amazing?!?! That's how I want to be known. I want people to be talking about me because of me strong faith and love for God's people. I think that's an incredible reputation to have. And it's one I desire because it means I look like Jesus. We've already looked at what an amazing reputation the Ephesians had in the world at the time of Paul's writing. It's something he mentions in the very first verse of the letter. Yet, here he adds something else that the Ephesian church was known for: their love for God's people.

If you would have told me three years ago, that I would fall in love with people and how God is working in them and through them, I would have thought you were out of your mind. I was not a people person. I would have much rather spent an evening alone with a good book every night of the week than go somewhere to spend quality time with people. Then God started changing my heart. I began to have a heart for people. I love them. I still love a good book and an evening to myself, but I also love hearing people's stories, seeing how God is working in their lives, and watching them grow in their faith. Can people say that about you? Do you honestly have a God given passion for people? Do people who meet you come away from that encounter thinking that you really love people? That's what I want. Because Jesus loved people. People are messy. Relationships are not easy. But Jesus loves people and he loves you and me, so we should love people too.

I love the last part of this verse too. Paul was "always" thanking God for the people the Ephesian church had become. Do other people "always" thank God for the man or woman of Christ you are becoming? Do you thank God for the people around you and the men and women of God they are becoming? Let's thank God for the work he is accomplishing in you and me and the people around us.

The Road Through Ephesus... Guaranteed Ephesians 1:14

It's gloomy outside. It hasn't really rained much, but it sure looks like it's going to downpour anytime now. It's also really humid outside. Everything feels sticky and gross. I can't wait until the humidity lessens! But that's enough of the bad news. How about some Good News??

Ephesians 1:14

"The Spirit is God's guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him."

I really like things in life that are for sure. Unfortunately, most of life is uncertain. There aren't too many guarantees in life. Perhaps that is why I like this verse. Because, with God, there are certainties, there are guarantees. The Holy Spirit that lives in you once you have accepted Christ is God's guarantee that we really do belong to him and that the inheritance that he has promised us (eternity with him) really will happen.

I'm glad he did this. You see, when we accept Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit to live in us. God has given us the Holy Spirit to be our helper, to be Christ within us. Every Christian has the Holy Spirit in them. This means that every Christian has the guarantee from God that they have been purchased and that they will receive their inheritance. So when we face doubts about our salvation or whether or not God actually heard us when we called on him, we can rest on this: that God has guaranteed, by sending the Holy Spirit, your salvation and your inheritance.

Why did he do this? The answer is rather simple. He did this so that he would be glorified and praised by us. This is why he gives us a guarantee. So that we will praise him. He loves to hear the praises of his children. So today, praise and bring glory to God for what he has done by saving you and for his promise that it will happen. No if, ands, or buts. It will happen.

The Road Through Ephesus...Identified Ephesians 1:13

Wow. Life is insanely crazy. Yesterday I was at a wedding for two amazing people. I seriously cannot wait to see what God is going to do through their marriage. It will be beautiful! Oh, and I forgot to tell you all that our basement flooded last weekend. So we've been working on that all week trying to get it cleaned up. What a mess!

Anyways, let's move on to the important stuff.

Ephesians 1:13

"And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago."

This verse makes me so glad for prepositions and clauses. It might sound funny to you, but bear with me a moment. Without those prepositions, information is scarce. Yes, there are complete thoughts, but those thoughts are made so much richer and fleshed out by the prepositional phrases.

The first part of the verse that I want to look at isn't a prepositional phrase, but it does give more information. It gives the definition of the word truth. Too often in the world today we hear that there is no such thing as absolute truth. Well, God's word declares otherwise. So what is the truth? The truth in this verse is simply this: "the Good News that God saves you." It's truth. God saves you. What an awesome truth that is!! The truth is the Gospel (the Good News) which says that God saves you. Aren't you glad Paul added this bit of information in?!?

So the next part starts, "And when you believed...". That's great and all, but I am really glad that there's a prepositional phrase after that, because it's not just anything that you have believed. What you believed is this, you believed "in Christ". You didn't believe in just anything, you believed in the only one who can save you, the only one who can offer you forgiveness of your sins, the only one who can make you right with God. That's who you believed in.

The next part makes my heart sing. "He identified you..." Wait, what does he identify me as? He identifies me "as his own". How amazing is that?!?!? You are his! And it doesn't end there! Nope, look at how he identifies you: "by giving you the Holy Spirit..." The NIV says that he has put his seal on you and that his seal is the Holy Spirit. That's how God identifies his people. By those who have the Holy Spirit in them. He gives us this gift of the Holy Spirit (which is a pretty cool gift in my opinion) and it's not a gift that he decided to give spur of the moment. No, it's one that he promised long ago. He's been preparing to give it to you for an eternity. If you haven't accepted Jesus, he's still waiting to give it to you. The offer is there, given with open arms. Don't make him wait any longer.

The Road Through Ephesus...Our Purpose Ephesians 1:12

Day 12. Wow, I can't believe we're at day 12 already. I know it might not seem like a lot to some of you, but I think that each day I do this is a little bit of a miracle. I get bored pretty easy, so to stick with something for very long can be a challenge and a miracle if I actually do it. So here we go!

Ephesians 1:12

"God's purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God."

When people look at your life what do they see? Do they see a person who's life brings praise and glory to God? Or do they see a person who brings praise and glory to him or herself? Look at this verse. God's purpose is that those who trust in Christ bring praise and glory to him.

That's why you and I were created. God has a purpose for us in this life. We are not useless pieces of junk. We were created with a purpose in mind. Our purpose is to bring praise and honor to God. We do this by the way we live our lives. By how we treat others. By how we act when no one is watching. By how we act when everyone is watching. By how we love. By how we react. By how we spend our time.

Our lives should bring praise and glory to God. Praise and glory are acts of worship. Our lives should be worship in the way that we live. Check out this verse from the Message:

Romans 12:1

"So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life-- your sleeping, eating going-to-work, and walking-around life-- and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him."

And again:

1 Corinthians 10:31

"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

Everything in your life should be done for God as an act of worship. This is our purpose in life.

The Road Through Ephesus... Everything Works Out Ephesians 1:11

And so it continues. We have made it to the eleventh verse in chapter one. After today there will be only 144 verses to go. Are you ready to get started?

Ephesians 1:11

"Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan."

So not only does God have a plan, but there's more. You see that word "Furthermore"? It means there's more coming, something in addition. So we are not only chosen before time began, not only bought at an immeasurable price, but we have also received an inheritance from God. You have an inheritance from the CREATOR of the Universe. You are cherished. You are not an estranged child. You are not the black sheep of the family. You are adopted and as such receive all the rights and benefits of a blood connection including receiving an inheritance. Yep, God thinks you're pretty special.

This verse repeats a lot of what we've already talked about. It's a good thing too. Many times I feel like I need a reminder of what has already been said. So easily I forget how passionate God is about me. How much he loves me. How he chose me. How he is in control of Everything. And then Paul reiterates himself and I find myself brought to my knees once again in awe of, well, pretty much EVERYTHING!

Do you see that last part of the verse? "...he makes everything work out according to his plan." God promises that everything will work out. He doesn't promise that it will work out the way that we think it should, but rather that it will work out according to his plan. And the Bible very clearly states in Isaiah 55:8 "'My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,' says the Lord. 'And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.'" Our thoughts and plans are nothing like God's thoughts and plans. God's are so far beyond our imagination that we cannot even begin to understand and comprehend them. Even when it doesn't seem like his plans are working out, remember the promise, "...he makes everything work out according to his plan."

And he does this because we are united with Christ. Because once we are in a relationship with him, we are his. The offer stands for those who believe and accept Jesus. He will work out everything according to his plan and purposes. And we already know what his plan is: his plan is to reconcile as many people to him as possible through Jesus Christ. He will do whatever it takes to make his plan happen. But know this: in the end, everything works out.

The Road Through Ephesus...More Plans Ephesians 1:10

The craziness of life ensues. My amazing cousin's graduation party was on Saturday and the celebrating spilled into Sunday as well. But I am back and ready to continue this journey with you!!

So let's jump right in!

Ephesians 1:10

"And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ-- in heaven and on earth."

I love plans. I love making them and I love having them. I enjoy structure. A little spontaneity every once in a while is nice, but I really love well thought out and organized plans. Yes, I may be slightly type A, but plans are wonderful. So needless to say, it makes me very happy that God has a plan. And he's even letting us in on the plan... how cool is that?!?!

So what's the plan? The first thing mentioned is the timing of the plan. Everyone knows that in planning timing is of the utmost importance. If you're planning a party, you can't really plan much of anything until you have a date and time. I love that it doesn't give a specific time. It just says at the right time. And it's not when you or I think the right time is, it's when God thinks it's the right time. Check out this verse:

2 Peter 3:9

"The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent."

God's timing is impeccable. It was at just the right time that he stopped Abraham from sacrificing Issac. It was the perfect timing for Jesus to be born and die. God is not slow. He is being patient, waiting for people to turn to him.

And it's at that time that everything will be put under Christ's authority. Whether you submit willingly or not, you will answer to Christ, you will be under his authority. He will be in charge. This verse in Ephesians reminds me of these verses in Philippians:

Philippians 2:10-11

"that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Every knee. Every tongue. Willing and unwilling will all bow and proclaim Jesus as Lord, as boss. However, for many it will be too late. If that is the first time you knee is bowing and your tongue confessing, you will be separated from Jesus forever. Oh, he will still be in control and will still be your boss, but you will miss the benefit of being in a relationship with him, of being a child of God.

But there is still hope. As long as you have breath on this earth, there is hope. Choose to bow your knee now, to confess now, before it's no longer your choice. Choose Jesus.

The Road Through Ephesus... The Plan Ephesians 1:9

Sorry about not posting again. I left the house yesterday at 8:45 AM and didn't get home until 11:30 PM and then I had to work again this morning. Yesterday was full of work and hanging with my best friend who is leaving me for 10 weeks this summer. Excited for her, but very sad for me!

Anyways, here is the verse for today.

Ephesians 1:9

"God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure."

I debated for awhile about whether to do this verse with the next one or by itself since the next verse explains what God's mysterious plan is. But I decided to blog about just the one verse today, but I'll let you in on a little secret... the plan is pretty good... actually it's downright amazing, but you'll find that out for yourself tomorrow :-)

One of my favorite parts of this verse is the first part... "God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan..." God isn't keeping his plan regarding Jesus a secret. It's for everyone. He's telling everyone what his plan is, his plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. Without giving too much away for tomorrow's post, his plan is Jesus. Plain and simple. It's not only regarding Christ, it is Christ. The best part is that the plan is available for everyone. No one is excluded.

In light of what the plan is, take a look at these verses.

Isaiah 47:10

"Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish."

Jeremiah 29:11

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord. 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

Do you see that?? His plan is to give you a hope and a future. His plan is Jesus.

The Road Through Ephesus...Tidal Waves Ephesians 1:8

So, due to some computer difficulties yesterday and a headache, you all didn't get a post. Sorry about that. Unfortunately, I don't have control over when the computer decides to crash (yes, I am sure that it has a mind of its own. It only crashes when it knows I have something I need to do on it). But you really don't want to hear about my computer woes, so instead here is the verse for today.

Ephesians 1:8

"He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding."

I love that word "showered". I don't know about you, but I love a good shower. I hate when the water pressure is low or the water used is soft water. I love a good strong pressure that will get the shampoo out of my hair in a reasonable amount of time. It's one of the few things I don't like about going on vacation. Everywhere we go, the water has very little pressure. Do you know how long it takes me to wash my hair in instances like that? (Not that this will in any way keep me from vacation.) That's what I think about when I see the word showered in this verse. It's not a little bit of water with very little pressure. No, it's a tidal wave of God's kindness, wisdom, and understanding washing over us. It's enough to knock us off our feet. Wow.

Now look at the second part of the verse "... along with all wisdom and understanding." Do you see it? God doesn't promise us a little bit of wisdom and understanding, but all of it. James 1:5 says this:

"If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking."

God will give you the wisdom and understanding that you ask for. He is not holding out. He is offering it to you. But understand, wisdom and understanding, do not equal knowledge. God never promises you will know everything. But he does promise you wisdom. Overwhelming wisdom is yours. Just ask.

The Road Through Ephesus... Purchased Ephesians 1:7

So I really hope you are having an amazing holiday weekend and that you have thanked all the veterans in your life. If you think about it, the verse today fits with the whole idea of Memorial Day. And I didn't even plan it that way... isn't God cool when he shows off like that??

Here's the verse.

Ephesians 1:7

"He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins."

Wow. Reading and mediating on this verse makes me so thankful for God's kindness and grace lived out through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. But here's the thought I really want to focus on: "...he purchased our freedom...". And I've had to pause and think this out and it keeps making my heart beat a little faster. So bear with me a moment.

Friend, you and your freedom were purchased. And neither came cheap. You are not some inexpensive trinket at the dollar store that has little value, little worth. You are a Tiffany's Diamond, an Armani suit, a Rolls Royce. Friend, you are expensive. You have worth. You are valuable. So when God purchased you, he didn't pay for you with some inexpensive token of his kindness and grace. No, he paid for you with the blood of his Son. His only Son. His Beloved Son. Do you see your worth in the eyes of your creator? Do you understand your value in light of what he paid for you? You are so precious to him!

I love that it says that God is rich in kindness and grace. I don't know about you, but I'm really thankful that he could afford to pay that kind of price. But I'm even more thankful that he chose to pay that price.

Just as our freedom as Americans didn't come cheap, neither does our freedom in Christ. For both blood was shed as a means to bring us freedom. Freedom is cheap and neither are you. Look at your worth the way your creator does. Begin to comprehend the price he paid for you. Know that you serve a God whose riches in kindness and grace bought you and brought you from chains and into freedom.

So this week, rejoice in your freedom. Both as an American and as a Christian. And understand your worth. You are incredibly valuable in the eyes of your Savior. Don't be mislead. You were worth the blood of God's one and only beloved Son.

The Road Through Ephesus... Where's your praise? Ephesians 1:6

Sorry for the short hiatus. Friday I was so exhausted and we were preparing for a catering job that took place all day on Saturday. I should probably give you the heads up that through the middle of July every weekend looks very similar so I will probably only be posting 5 days instead of 7 for the sake of sleep.

Anyways, my brain still isn't completely functioning, so if you read this and it makes no sense whatsoever, my apologies, but I did warn you :-)

So today we pick up where we left off:

Ephesians 1:6

"So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to dear Son."

God has poured his grace on us. And think about it. He didn't do it just once and leave it at that. God pouring his grace on us is a continuous occurrence. Every day, every moment, every nano second, he is pouring his grace on us. That's an incredible thought!

The beginning of this verse depicts what our response to the pouring out of grace should be. Our response should be praise. Is your daily response praise? Are you giving God what he deserves every moment of every day? I know that I don't. But think about how much our lives and the lives of people around us would be changed if we lived that way. Constantly giving God the praise that he is due.

Think about it.

The Road Through Ephesus... Wanted Ephesians 1:5

I almost didn't write tonight. I'm really tired and need to go to bed, but instead I'm sitting here at the computer because I have to dive into this verse. I love this verse! (OK so I love the whole book, deal with it).

Are you ready? Here you go:

Ephesians 1:5

"God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure."

So yesterday we talked about how God decided way before Genesis 1:1 to love us and that he had chosen us for a purpose. But he didn't just love us and choose us and leave us to fend for himself. No, he adopted us into his own family. By the way, I love the emphasis here. Do you see it? In that sentence the word "own" isn't really necessary. The sentence would still get the point across by saying "his family". In fact, putting that "own" in there is a little redundant. But I like it. I like it because it emphasizes that we belong to God's family. Now my family is pretty amazing, but nothing even comes close to belonging to God's family.

Then there's the whole implications of being adopted. Did you know that adoptive parents can't disown their adopted children? But this blog can only be so long and I really want to talk about something else.

That last part of the verse always gets me. Every time I read it, my heart beats a little faster. Here, read that last part again: "This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure." Do you see it? He doesn't love us, choose us, or adopt us because he has to. He does all of that because he wants to. He desires to love us and demonstrate that love. He desires us.

And not only that, but it gives him immense pleasure to do that. Understand? You make God happy. You don't have to do anything. You bring him joy. You put a smile on his face. You make him laugh (pretty cool picture, huh?).

So understand this: You are loved, you are chosen, you are desired by God, and you make him supremely happy. Now it's up to us to live like it. God paid a great price to adopt us. He surrendered his only son to demonstrate his love for us. Don't forget that. It will change how you live.

The Road Through Ephesus... Loved and Chosen Ephesians 1:4

Can I tell you a secret? I've been waiting for three days to write about this next verse (and the verse after, but that will have to wait until tomorrow). Seriously, every time I read this verse my heart gets excited and I fall a little deeper in love with Jesus. So if you're wondering what today's verse is (which you really shouldn't be since I am going in order and yesterday was 1:3 so that makes today 1:4), here it is:

Ephesians 1:4

"Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes."

Just let that roll over you for a minute. Do you see how loved you are? Do you understand how passionate God is for you? But, alas, I am getting ahead of myself.

Let's start with that first phrase, "Even before he made the world,...". Before Genesis 1:1, before he spoke the world in motion, before this round ball was put into orbit, (look at the next part) God loved us. He hadn't even created us yet and he loved us. He hadn't created our ancestors or the place we would live but his heart was filled with love for us. Do you get that? The Creator of the Universe, God Almighty, LOVES you! It's not a new love. It's a love that has been burning forever.

And not only did he love us before he created the world, but he chose us. He picked you. He picked me. He knew what we would be, what we would do, how we would turn our backs on him, and he still chose us. He wanted us before we ever wanted him. Before we could ever want him. And he didn't just chose us randomly, he chose us with a purpose. So that when we are in Christ we are holy and without fault, blameless, in his eyes. He chose us for a relationship with his son, before his son even died for us. He knew what would happen.

God's plan for our redemption was put in motion before he created anything. That's how much he loves us.

Do you get it? Most of the time I don't. It takes this verse and others like it to remind me how much I'm loved. Too often I forget how God has expressed his love for me.

Let's live out the love that God has shown us.

The Road Through Ephesus... Spiritual Blessings Ephesians 1:3

Day three of insanity...I'm so loving every moment I get to write. Just FYI, I'm not really writing for you, I'm writing for me. I am getting so much out of diving into Ephesians verse by verse!

So here's the verse for today:

Ephesians 1:3

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ."

The first thing I noticed is that God gets all the praise in this verse. Not divided praise or half-hearted praise but all praise. Which causes me to ask myself the question, do I give God all the praise or only part of it? He deserves all of it. He died so that I might spend eternity with him. He loves me unconditionally without limits. Yet so often I forget that and give others the praise that only God deserves. How about you? Does God get all your praise?

But I think perhaps the part of the verse that makes my heart jump comes next: "who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ." God has given us spiritual blessings. What are spiritual blessings? Salvation, grace, mercy, love. God has blessed us with all of these and more. He doesn't give us just part of the spiritual blessings that exist, but rather every spiritual blessing. Every single one! And why does God gift us with these spiritual blessings? Because we are united with Christ. We belong to him. Because of his blood covering our sins we are united with him and because we are united with him we receive these blessings.

What spiritual blessings are you most thankful for?? What does a life full of blessings look like lived out?

The Road Through Ephesus... Freedom and Favor Ephesians 1:2

I wasn't so sure what I would write about this verse so I decided to look up the words grace and peace. But before we start I want to share the verse with you. Today I'm quoting from the message because I just love the way it's said.

Ephesians 1:2

"I great you with the grace and peace poured into our lives by God our Father and our Master, Jesus Christ."

So, grace and peace. Most Christians know what these words mean, but do they truly understand them? One of the definitions I found of grace is God's favor or help. Paul is saying that the Ephesian church has God's favor and help, not in just a small quantity but as the message paraphrase says "poured into our lives".

Not only that, but when I looked up the definition for the word peace, one idea that kept coming up was that peace is freedom. When you are truly free, you are truly at peace. And again, we don't get just a small portion of freedom, but rather it is poured into our lives by God.

Think about it. God has literally poured help and freedom into our lives. He is standing, waiting for us to ask for his help, the same help, the same grace that he has already poured into our lives. He is offering us freedom from all that holds us captive. Every sinful thought, every sinful action that keeps us captive, and he has literally covered us in his freedom.

Paul was reminding the Ephesian church who they were. That they were free in Christ, that they had God's help and favor in their lives. In reminding the Ephesians who they were in Christ, Paul reminds us that we who know Jesus and live in him have his grace (favor and help) and peace (freedom) in our lives.

So let's live like it. Let's live like we have God's favor, help and freedom in our lives. And let's show those same qualities in our actions to the people around us. So, be full of God's grace and peace, because he's already poured it into your life.