Ephesians 2- Part 2

-
Image
Study and learn. Be changed.  Ephesians 2 Made Alive in Christ 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not
Post a Comment

Carving us to look like Jeus...

-
I learned fairly early that God creating us to look like Jesus is often painful.    I had a lot of lies to undo..and time takes TIME.    Fairly early in my Christian walk, I acted like a spiritual 2 year old, I was often so hurt by the hurt God allowed that I didn’t want to talk to Him, I would pout... but where did that really leave me? On my own,  I had no truth, no real truth apart from God.....that can take away the despair.  Anyone can mask pain with over eating, over drinking, over spending, over sleeping, etc. There is no lasting comfort apart from God. I had to remember the truth… God required such intense suffering of His own perfect son..whom He loved... to accomplish a holy purpose,  and He had a purpose for me in the pain he allowed in my life... Of course the Bible tells what that purpose  is.... to make us look like Christ.

Look at this. A carver created a duck out of a block of wood.  How did he do that?  The carver said,  "It is easy...I just took off everything  that didn't look like a duck".    That is what God is doing with us. He is taking everything off of us that doesn't look like Jesus. It is painful and ...it is scary, but it is less scary when we truly believe we have a Loving Father..holding our hand in the dark and ........when we believe it  really isn't darkness to Him.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why does God call us sheep?

-
Image
Before you jump to the conclusion that I am saying Christian are "brainless" sheep, read this post completely.  If you still aren't sure, read this post:  Are Christians brainless? Why does He call us SHEEP? ( The Bible makes reference to sheep no less than 220 times).   A few of the more notable passages that come to mind are the 23 rd Psalm, Isa. 53:6 and John 10.  There are many references to His People being sheep. So why not something more powerful, like a ram or horse? Why not something more graceful and valued, like a prized bird? Well, God chose to use the word sheep to identify His followers, as we are "His sheep." Our shepherd, Jesus, is leading the way, so let's look at the facts about sheep-the  nature of  sheep.  Let's look at the facts about sheep- *Sheep aren’t intelligent . Sheep are not known to be smart or cunning animals when it comes to safety; rather, they are susceptible and tend to wander away from the prote
Read more

Lessons learned the first 50 years

-
Image
I hit a milestone. I turned 50 years old. I am thankful that I don't feel 50.   I am thankful for things God has taught me throughout those 50 years. .  I have learned that God loves mercy and when I feel a sense that justice needs to happen over mercy, all I need to do is remember that I am thankful for when God gives me mercy instead of a just punishment.   (Micah 6:8 8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.) ( Luke 6: 36  Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. ) I have learned that hurt people end up hurting people.   When I am able to see that I didn't hurt them but I am bearing the results of that persons hurt inflicted by other people, it helps me forgive whatever hurt they pushed onto me and move on.  (Romans 12 : 18  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. )  I have learned that anyone who thinks they have God
Read more

Rayman Rabbids Cake- 1/2 Birthday celebration

-
Image
At a certain age... I suppose 18 or so... half-birthdays are no longer as important to you as when you are young.  Right now, the kids love having their 1/2 birthdays celebrated.  We don't do much. We tell them "Happy half-birthday!"... and they are allowed to choose what we have for dinner (within reason... no  super expensive choices .. like crab legs or sushi).  And, they do get to have a  cake.   John-Michael is 8 1/2 today. I haven't had any of my children ask for a character-cake in quite some time...until last night.  We were out very late watching the laser light show at Stone Mountain Park.  A few hours before... John-Michael springs on me that he wants a Rayman Rabbids cake for his half-birthday.  Now, I have church in the morning and knew I wouldn't get home before midnight last night... not much time to figure our how to make that kind of cake.  So, like most things...I just went for it.   I bought Twinkies ...pretty sure the first Twinkies ,,,. th
Read more