If only...

that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. Ephesians 3:17-20 NKJV

If only we could comprehend what this means! What a difference that would make!

Why I carry hope

that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:7 NKJV

When life's circumstances cause me to cry out 'Why?' I'm inevitably drawn back to this truth and know that His Grace and His Kindness will shine through.

Paul believed, Jesus believed, what about me?

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:17-23 NKJV

So our God, who is so incredibly powerful and above all has not only given us personal access to all of this but has chosen to cram His fullness into our churches! No matter how far from this reality we might appear to be, let's always fight for it - Jesus is fighting for it and that's why I will never give up hope!

Peace in His Purposes

having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:5-6 NKJV

I was keen to plough my way through Ephesians this week but then the kids got sick, hubby busted his leg muscle and I've spent an entire night at the hospital with our youngest... and I found myself drawn back to these verses over and over for comfort. Paul says God works out of His good pleasure (what we experience as good?) and for the glory of His Grace (this would include what we experience as bad). He's gone to all the trouble of adopting us into His purposes and for His purposes; I worry a lot less when I remember that His purposes are the best place to be!

Ending a week in Galations

For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. Galatians 6:8 NKJV

I guess this is what this blog is all about - sowing into the Spirit...imagine what could come of it...

Some of that thanks

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22,23 NKJV

Can you imagine being so soaked with God's Spirit that this fruit just falls right off you constantly? Ill have some of that thanks!

The battle to be

Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?...Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Galatians 3:5,24 NKJV

Each day I battle not to do right but to hear right - His Word, His Truth, His Voice - and be in the right place - His Presence, Perspective, and Peace

They glorified God in me

And they glorified God in me. Galatians 1:24 NKJV

Paul, persecutor turned preacher, then they glorified God in him! What testimony of His glory is God writing in your life?