Category: Ephesians

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Able & Available

God, our heavenly Father, is able!

Able means He has the ability to do or complete the task set before Him. He is able to work on our behalf but He needs us to work with Him.

Because He is a loving Father he won’t force Himself on us and He won’t force us to take the benefits He has for us. But if we will allow Him to work in our lives we will see His ability working on our behalf.

“Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you.

20 With God’s power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of. 21 To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:19-21 ERV

When we know God’s love, His power can work within us to bring Him glory.

“18 Because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted, He is able to help and provide immediate assistance to those who are being tempted and exposed to suffering.” Hebrews 2:18 AMP

He is able to help us immediately when we are being tempted because He was also tempted and suffered.

“God is strong and can (is able to) keep you from falling. He can bring you before his glory without any wrong in you and give you great joy. 25 He is the only God, the one who saves us. To him be glory, greatness, power, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord for all time past, now, and forever. Amen.” Jude 24-25 CEV

God is able to keep us! He is able to save us!

“But Jesus will never die, and so he will be a priest forever! 25 He is forever able to save the people he leads to God, because he always lives to speak to God for them.” Hebrews 7:24-25 CEV

As I finished writing this a chorus filled my heart. It’s a song we sang twenty years ago.

“And here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God
You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me”

Father, I am available. You are able to work in me, through me and for me for Your honor and glory!

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Family Heritage

In the 1970’s and 80’s, it became popular to search out your family tree. People had always kept records in the family Bible but with the information age, via the internet, it became easier to find dates, places and events that shaped our history.

Now it’s easier than ever, with the help of sites like Ancestory.com and 23&Me, to dive deeper in our past and even discover unknown relatives.

I have to be truthful; although my mother-in-law did extensive study and research on Dave’s family it never peaked my interest. Yes, I was curious about his grandfather and some of the other family members but knowing the whole history just isn’t my thing.

However…there is one bit of family history that I find very intriguing.

“When Jesus began to preach, he was about 30 years old. Everyone thought he was the son of Joseph. But his family went back… David, 32 Jesse, Obed, Boaz, Salmon,… 34 Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, Terah, Nahor,…Shem, Noah, Lamech, 37 Methuselah, Enoch,…Seth. The family of Jesus went all the way back to Adam and then to God.” Luke 3:23-38 CEV

The world had a hard time accepting the words of Jesus because they considered Him to be the son of Joseph, a carpenter, but there was so much more. He truly was the Son of God!

How do people see us?

I’m the daughter of a construction worker and a bank teller. No great fame or fortune, just part of the working class. Not a scholar or one of the elite in society. That’s the way it looks from the outside.

But inside it’s entirely different.

“ Only those people who are led by God’s Spirit are his children. 15  God’s Spirit doesn’t make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father. 16 God’s Spirit makes us sure that we are his children. 17 His Spirit lets us know that together with Christ we will be given what God has promised. We will also share in the glory of Christ, because we have suffered with him.” Romans 8:14-17 CEV

“ Before the world was created, God had Christ choose us to live with him and to be his holy and innocent and loving people. 5 God was kind and decided that Christ would choose us to be God’s own adopted children. 6 God treated us with undeserved grace because of the Son he dearly loves, and so we should praise God.” Ephesians 1:4-6 CEV

We have been adopted. Chosen by God since before the creation of the world. Chosen to be His children!

When we have our identity in Christ, our family tree starts with God. We receive His character. Our DNA is His Divine Nature Attributes. We become His representation to the world.

“ Do as God does. After all, you are his dear children.” Ephesians 5:1 CEV

“ God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, 23 gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways.” Galatians 5:22-23 CEV

The Holy Spirit creates within us God’s character; after all, we are His dear children.

When we are adopted by God, we get a brand-new life and a new family heritage. Our family tree begins and ends with God, the Father.

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ALL

ALL – is an absolute – not some, not part – not by special selection but ALL.

“Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” Romans 3:22-24

The righteousness of God is for ALL and to ALL who will believe because there is no one who has his own righteousness because we have ALL sinned. Our salvation is not predicated on how good we our, our social standing, our financial statement, our academic degrees, political party or our natural citizenship. It is ONLY based on what Jesus did to bring salvation to ALL. Our part is to receive the gift.

More ALL verses to contemplate today.

” Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him (Christ) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” Colossians 2:8-10

All God’s fullness of power and deity are in Christ and when we are in Christ, we are complete in Him. He invests His fullness into our lives as well. That’s just too good to be true you might say. Read this:

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19

When we understand the love of God by experience, His true unconditional love, we will be filled with ALL God’s fulness! Amazing!!

Amazing grace in giving us freely this gift. Amazing Gospel, the nearly too good to be true news!!

The Apostle Paul prayed that we would know this fullness. He also gave us a few other absolute “ALL” verses.

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
20 Now unto God and our Father ” Philippians 4:19

And if you haven’t accepted God’s free gift of grace that brings salvation, all you have to do is accept it with a sincere heart because it’s available to ALL.

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” II Peter 3:9

God gave His Son for all of us. He has a purpose and a plan for each life. Be ALL you were created to be!

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My Dad

Bear with me this morning, please. I had to get a new computer and spent most of the afternoon yesterday keeping it loaded up with the things that are important to me. Still getting the feel for it this morning so I am recycling a blog I posted about 9 years ago…I hope you relate to it.

I have a few questions for you this morning. If I asked you to tell me about your dad how would you describe him? I imagine you could tell me about his character and you could give me physical description but what more could you tell me.

Do you know about his childhood, his dreams and ambitions? Is/was he a fisherman or hunter, cowboy or city man – Ford, Chevy or Dodge – techie or handyman – quiet or outgoing?

How well do you know him?

He had a great deal to do with shaping your life into the person you are today. If he was there all the time or absent from your life, he still had a big part in how you turned out.

In all of Jesus teaching He represented his Father. He said he came for one purpose – to do the will of His Father.

“Later, Jesus talked to the people again. He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never live in darkness. They will have the light that gives life.”

13 But the Pharisees said to Jesus, “When you talk about yourself, you are the only one to say that these things are true. So we cannot accept what you say.”

14 Jesus answered, “Yes, I am saying these things about myself. But people can believe what I say, because I know where I came from. And I know where I am going. But you don’t know where I came from or where I am going. 15 You judge me the way people judge other people. I don’t judge anyone. 16 But if I judge, my judging is true, because when I judge I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me. 17 Your own law says that when two witnesses say the same thing, you must accept what they say. 18 I am one of the witnesses who speaks about myself. And the Father who sent me is my other witness.”

19 The people asked, “Where is your father?”

Jesus answered, “You don’t know me or my Father. But if you knew me, you would know my Father too.” John 8:12-19 ERV

It’s important that we know the Father. The way we get to know Him better is by watching the Son. It’s important that we study Jesus and his life so that we can model our lives after his and in so doing we will also be reflecting the Father.

“Do as God does. After all, you are his dear children.” Ephesians 5:1 CEV

How has the Father shaped your life? Do you reflect His nature? We have been given the Father’s spiritual DNA, divine nature ability. So let me ask you now, tell me about your heavenly Father.

Getting to know Jesus, we get to know the Father.

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Make A Difference

That was my prayer this morning, “Lord, I want to make a difference. You must increase and I must decrease”.

“ Jesus must become more important, while I become less important.

31 God’s Son comes from heaven and is above all others. Everyone who comes from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all others. 32 He speaks about what he has seen and heard, and yet no one believes him. 33 But everyone who does believe him has shown that God is truthful. 34 The Son was sent to speak God’s message, and he has been given the full power of God’s Spirit.

35  The Father loves the Son and has given him everything. 36 Everyone who has faith in the Son has eternal life. But no one who rejects him will ever share in that life, and God will be angry with them forever.” John 3:30-36 CEV

These were the words of John the Baptizer. He had been asked if he was the Messiah. His answer was “He must increase and I must decrease”.

The Apostle Paul made a similar statement.

“ But Christ has shown me that what I once thought was valuable is worthless. 8 Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it all as garbage. All I want is Christ 9 and to know that I belong to him. I could not make myself acceptable to God by obeying the Law of Moses. God accepted me simply because of my faith in Christ. 10 All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him to life. I want to suffer and die as he did, 11 so that somehow I also may be raised to life.” Philippians 3:7-11 CEV

When I first started writing on Facebook over 15 years ago, it was my desire to show that God’s word is practical for everyday living. I want those who read this little blog to move past religion with its list of rules, do’s and don’ts, and enter into a loving relationship with Christ.

“ I pray that God will open your minds to see his truth. Then you will know the hope that he has chosen us to have. You will know that the blessings God has promised his holy people are rich and glorious. 19 And you will know that God’s power is very great for us who believe.” Ephesians 1:18-19 ERV

Not perfect but growing each day in the knowledge of what the Lord has done for us and who He has made us to be. We are joint heirs with Christ and we are called to make a difference.

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Suit Up

There’s a reason why I was so emphatic in my comments yesterday about never, ever compromising on the Word of God.

A recent sermon reminded me of a teaching I have done many times from Ephesians, chapter 6.

We are commanded to put on the whole armor of God so that we will be able to stand in the face of our spiritual enemies and emerge victoriously. Each piece of the armor is tied to God’s word and His promises.

“ To end my letter I tell you, be strong in the Lord and in his great power. 11 Wear the full armor of God. Wear God’s armor so that you can fight against the devil’s clever tricks. 12 Our fight is not against people on earth. We are fighting against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness. We are fighting against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly places. 13 That is why you need to get God’s full armor. Then on the day of evil, you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing.

14 So stand strong with the belt of truth tied around your waist, and on your chest wear the protection of right living. 15 On your feet wear the Good News of peace to help you stand strong. 16 And also use the shield of faith with which you can stop all the burning arrows that come from the Evil One. 17 Accept God’s salvation as your helmet. And take the sword of the Spirit—that sword is the teaching of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times. Pray with all kinds of prayers, and ask for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready. Never give up. Always pray for all of God’s people.

19 Also pray for me—that when I speak, God will give me words so that I can tell the secret truth about the Good News without fear.” Ephesians 6:10-19 ERV

Let’s break down the armor: Belt of truth – “ Your word is the truth. So let this truth make them completely yours.” John 17:17 CEV

Breastplate of righteousness – “Christ never sinned but God put our sin on Him. Then we are made right with God because of what Christ has done for us.” II Corinthians 5:21

Footwear – The Gospel which means good news – “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:15 NKJV

Shield of Faith – “ So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 NKJV

Helmet of Salvation – “ For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13 NKJV

Sword of Spirit – “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two–edged sword…” Hebrews 4:12 NKJV

If we are without God’s word, we are without armor. Suit up – the victory is ours in Christ Jesus!

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New Life

Do you remember what it was like to be an expecting parent?

You picked out everything you felt that little one would need. There were diapers, onesies, bottles and blankets, you designed the nursery with crib, changing table, toys and baby monitor. A whole host of details to make this new little one a part of your family – loved and protected.

Do you know that our heavenly Father did no less than this in preparing for our arrival? Yesterday I was reading the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus in John 3 – you must be born again. Now look at the question that Nicodemus asked Jesus.

“Nicodemus asked, “How is all this possible?”…16 Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world. He did not send him to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him.” John 3:9-17 ERV

From the time of Adam’s fall in the garden, the Father began planning for our arrival with great expectation. He sent His Son to bring spiritual rebirth to all of those in the earth.

He planned what we would wear.

“Don’t lie to each other. You have taken off those old clothes—the person you once were and the bad things you did then. 10 Now you are wearing a new life, a life that is new every day. You are growing in your understanding of the one who made you. You are becoming more and more like him. ” Colossians 3:9-10 ERV

“Wear the full armor of God. Wear God’s armor so that you can fight against the devil’s clever tricks.” Ephesians 6:11 ERV

He also planned what we should eat and drink.

“Then Jesus said, ‘I am the bread that gives life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry. No one who believes in me will ever be thirsty.'” John 6:35 ERV

“Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. 14 But anyone who drinks the water I give will never be thirsty again. The water I give people will be like a spring flowing inside them. It will bring them eternal life.”

15 The woman said to Jesus, “Sir, give me this water. Then I will never be thirsty again and won’t have to come back here to get more water.” John 4:13-15 ERV

And then He planned for all of life’s other necessities as well.

“Don’t worry and say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 That’s what those people who don’t know God are always thinking about. Don’t worry, because your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things. 33 What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need.” Matthew 6:31-33 ERV

The Father has meticulously planned for our every need. His plan is perfect. Our responsibility is to trust Him and make relationship with Him our top priority. He is the giver of life!

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Ask for Wisdom

I was doing a search on wisdom and what I found was very interesting. Really it was!

I thought it might have been used for Adam naming the animals or Noah building the ark but no.

Wisdom is first used in Exodus chapters 28 – 36 when the Lord showed Moses how to make the Tabernacle. It talks about all the workers who were assigned the tasks of building. The Bible said that they were all filled with a spirit of wisdom.


Then it goes on to show that Joshua was filled with wisdom and Solomon was the wisest of all men.

God has promised to give wisdom to anyone who asks.

As you are looking at your day, your occupation, your marriage, your kids… Let God fill you with His wisdom and it will definitely make a much favorable outcome.


” I have chosen Bezalel from the Judah tribe to make the sacred tent and its furnishings. 3-5 Not only have I filled him with my Spirit, but I have given him wisdom and made him a skilled craftsman who can create objects of art with gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood.” Exodus 31:2-4 ERV


“So I never stop being grateful for you, as I mention you in my prayers. 17 I ask the glorious Father and God of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you his Spirit. The Spirit will make you wise and let you understand what it means to know God. 18 My prayer is that light will flood your hearts and that you will understand the hope that was given to you when God chose you. Then you will discover the glorious blessings that will be yours together with all of God’s people.” Ephesians 1:16-18 ERV


“If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking. 6 But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm.” James 1:5-6 ERV


If you need wisdom today – ask and you will receive it.

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Peaceful Moments

This morning finds me aboard our son’s boat gently resting in Santa Cruz Harbor. Such a peaceful sleep.

I’ve only been up a short time, the coffee’s still brewing but already a couple of boats have left the harbor and are headed to open water. They must be fishermen. The gulls are just now starting their morning chorus.

“All creation, come praise the name of the Lord.Praise his name alone.The glory of God is greater than heaven and earth.” Psalm 148:13 CEV

On the flight over I was reading the memories of a dear friend of mine. He passed away just a year ago. He was a collector of things that reminded him of his childhood and early life. I helped him acquired items for his collection for twenty years.

In reading I learned the reason behind much of his collecting – it was a love for life and the places it had taken him and the people he had met.

As I turned the pages there were photographs of many of the items I had purchased for him. I paused thoughtfully and remembered acquiring them and how pleased he was.

I was drifting off to sleep last night when the Lord interrupted my nostalgic thoughts with His point of view.

“Before the world was created, God had Christ choose us to live with him and to be his holy and innocent and loving people. God was kind and decided that Christ would choose us to be God’s own adopted children. God treated us with undeserved grace because of the Son he dearly loves, and so we should praise God. Christ sacrificed his life’s blood to set us free, which means our sins are now forgiven. Christ did this because of God’s gift of undeserved grace to us. God has great wisdom and understanding,” Ephesians 1:4-8 CEV

God, the Father, is a collector. A collector of people. From before the foundation of the world He had a plan to collect the lost just because He loves us. And then He sent Christ Jesus to purchase us for Him, with His blood.

WOW! What a memoir.

Dawn is breaking and I think I will have my coffee and spent time in prayer for all those who are in Christ and for those who still need to be added to the family!

Have a day filled with the Father’s love!

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Freely – By Grace

I want to expand a little further on justification, just as if I never sinned, that we were talking about yesterday. This is such an amazing part of God’s unconditional love and forgiveness, it is a tangible act of God’s goodness.

“ For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.” Romans 3:23-24 NLT

Imagine if you will, a wrapped gift sitting on a table. The gift tag says “For You”. Would you open it? Would you believe that you are the one it’s addressed too?

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17 NKJV

We have been invited to open the box. The free gift is ours! It was purchased, at a very high cost, and given in love.

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

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 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.” Ephesians 2:7-10 NLT

We can’t brag about how good we’ve been and how worthy we are to receive such a gift. But, what we can brag about is the love and the grace of our heavenly Father. This gift is His plan and His design, bringing us into right relationship with Him.

This wonderful gift is personal but inclusive for all.

“ He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.” I John 2:2 NLT

“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” Romans 5:1-2 NLT

This free and lavish gift is for our daily lives and our eternal salvation. The gift is ours. We have been justified – freely, by His grace!

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