Peace is a Person

For He Himself is our peace who has made both one, has broken down the middle wall of separation. Ephesians 2:14 NKJV

Be with me, stay with me, Jesus. There is no other way that my mind will be at ease.

Are you ready to pray?

praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:18-20 NKJV

Have you ever thought about what comes after the verses that describe the Armour of God (Eph 6:10-17)? Basically, Paul indicates that once you're fully protected, then you're ready to pray. Something inside me rises up when I think about that! This prayer business is powerful stuff to handle! I hope there's someone out there who's fully geared up and ready to pray for me to open my mouth and boldly make known the mystery of the gospel. Who knows what earth shattering activities might occur!

Speaking to one another in song

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God. Ephesians 5:18-21 NKJV

Last night as our Creative Ministries team got together to learn new songs and talk about writing our own, I was so encouraged as I looked around the room and imagined each person bringing forth their own song. Why not? I thought. Why not?! There's a song in all of us - what's yours?

Something new today

that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24 NKJV

Strong's concordance translates the word 'new' as 'unused, fresh, novel'. This speaks to me about the way God can daily breathe something fresh and novel into our character! I wonder what renewal will take place today as I put Him on...

Journey out of depression

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 3:11-16 NKJV

This passage always reminds me of my journey out of depression. What kept me locked into that headspace was a sense of mourning at the state of people's hearts, a desperation to see a massive change in society and yet continual reminders that humanity is so depraved. I saw it in myself; I saw it in the people I love and trust; I even saw it in my kids. But these verses told me and are still reminding me that God is making changes. That's all I need to know.

Endeavouring to keep the unity

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3 NKJV

This past week of sickness has knocked me out physically but these verses have really challenged me to keep my heart and mind fighting for the best attitude! Every time I wanted to just yell at someone, or something, or entertain my pity party, I felt a little nudge inside, saying, "bear with one another - endeavour to keep the unity!"

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!