Attack

I have been on a spiritual high for a while now. 

I should have known an attack was coming.  I have been discovering so much in God's word and sharing it... that's when you should REALLY know the attacks are going to come.  Usually an attack comes, I see it, I speak against it, and confess my faith and truth over it... and there is relief.  This latest attack has come on strong... and I don't mean to give the enemy any credit as he IS DEFEATED and it is my duty to remind him so and be sure he stays in his place of defeat... even though he fights and fights to convince me otherwise.

I won't list the full force of this attack as it would give him too much credit.  But I will say it is emotional, physical, and spiritual and involves me, one of my daughter's and my marriage and some others close to me.  Not that my marriage is in jeopardy by any means, but the enemy attacks it often.  My marriage gives glory to the Lord and gives glory to obedience and the enemy HATES it.  And he is relentless.  He attacks it most by attacking my heart.  But he is defeated.  My daughter's very life gives glory to the Lord as does her healing and the enemy hates it.  And he is relentless.  But he is defeated.

I am tired. 

Today, I was bemoaning my tiredness to my husband and my sadness that there are not many people I can pray with about this or share it with.  Not too many people who "get" it.  I feel alone.  EVEN THOUGH I KNOW the Lord is with me and won't forsake me... the enemy wants me to feel alone and stop moving forward.  But the enemy is defeated.  Anyway, I was bemoaning how alone I felt, (which I should not be claiming but denouncing instead and speaking truth over it!), and God had two friends, reach out to me... about the very thing I was struggling with.  One emailed me and gave me back scripture from one of my past posts!  Thank you!  I'll take it back anytime!  And the other spoke words of encouragement and prayed scripture over me on the phone!  I'll take that anytime.  God is giving me the very living proof that I am not alone!  I am so very thankful for it.  I really needed it.

So I continue to stand on the truth against this attack.  I stand on the belief God is growing in me and the truth and power of His word and in the name of Jesus.  I continue to claim truth over my life and over my children.  Today, one of my children spoke truth back to me... praise the Lord!  I was telling her how I was hurting somewhere badly and she said, "Mommy, you need to say you are not hurting there in the name of Jesus and speak truth over it... and it will go away."  Praise you Lord for that affirmation!  I smiled.  I started claiming God's truth, "I am not hurting, I denounce this attack and I reject it in the name of Jesus.  I am healed by the wounds of Jesus and he took my sin and sickness to the cross and I claim that over me in the name of Jesus.  I am healed.  I am healed in the name of Jesus."  Five minutes later she asked me, "Are you still hurting?"  I started laughing as the pain had completely gone.  A pain that had me on the sofa much of the morning and almost doubled over at the grocery store... and it is still gone!  "No... it's gone," I replied in pure delight and thankfulness.  And we both laughed as she said, "See... that's what you do Mommy... the name of Jesus!"  I praise you Lord!  Out of the mouth of babes!  Oh the belief of a child... that God so treasures and admires!  This was the third time He reached out to me in such a tangible way today.

A few minutes ago, I saw a tube of toothpaste in my kid's bathroom that is just mangled.  I thought to myself, "Hey... that's what I feel like!"  There I was, standing all mangled on the bathroom counter top!  Squished on all sides, crumpled over, and not pretty... but still standing, still usable, still with a purpose, and still effective!  I am a tube of toothpaste!

I am anxious for this attack to be over.  I am anxious for rest.  I know it will come and in the meantime... I am diving into His word for truth, answers, help, guidance... and praying to feel His Spirit move upon me again soon!  And I'll wait... knowing He is here, carrying me, enjoying my hunger for Him, enjoying my heart to discover Him and to please Him, fighting for me if I can only stay surrendered to Him and His power, and ready to show me more!

This is why we count it as joy when we are tried and face trials!  Because when we go through it, and we learn more, and we see Him more, and He is given the chance to do more in us and with us... our faith and belief grows!  What the enemy throws at us to damage our belief... and destroy it... God uses as another opportunity to SHOW HIMSELF and we are drawn closer to Him and our faith grows!  Praise Him!!!!!!!

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."  James 1:2-4~

Edit:  Last night, as I was lying in bed, thinking about the day and praying, I was reminded that my Lord reached out to me through a card that arrived from a friend that afternoon.  Four... four hugs, four "I am here" signs, four "I love you" whispers, four types of encouraging words.  He also awoke me at 5 a.m. to be with Him and blessed me with the fullness of His presence and peace.  It doesn't get much better than that!  Thankfulness overflows today and I am renewed!  PRAISE HIM!  PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!
 

This is what is important.

My family and our Lord God who brought us all together.

I have spent the day in anger... more anger than I have felt in a long time.

Anger from an attack from the enemy that has left me "trying" to justify my words.

Anger that has kept me from even being able to approach the throne.

Anger caused by evil, darkness, greed, impurity.

I have repented of this anger and am praying it's hold on me to be broken in the name of Jesus Christ.

I do not answer to anyone except my Lord.  I do not fear the attacks of the enemy.  He has been defeated.

God spoke to me through a friend today.  A friend I have never met.  A friend who called a couple times

to check on me and reminded me that this is an attack of the enemy.  This is an attack against a company that helps people, an attack against me, and an attack against my blog.  "Do not stop blogging or shut it down, your blog ministers to people and that is exactly what the enemy wants," she sweetly reminded me.  It helped me snap out of it (anger) and get refocused.  Thank you C.D.

My husband took the family on a surprise trip to the beach this past weekend. The trip was made even better by the company of my sweet Campbell who took this beautiful picture.  The house we stayed at was offered to us as a gift by sweet friends at church.  The Lord gave us perfect weather and some great memories.  He also gave me the wisdom not to check my email the entire time! HA

I pray God restores my soul tonight and I lay this attack at His feet.  I denounce this attack from the enemy in the name of Jesus Christ.  And I praise God for what He has done and continues to do in this family!  He is our EVERYTHING.  To Him be all the Glory and Praise!

The Fullness of Faith

More reunion pics!

I am enjoying the gift of a perfect Fall morning today.  The windows are open throughout the house, there is a perfect crisp chill lingering in the air, and a gentle light breaking through the clouds!  When I took the girls to school this morning, there were scattered glowing pink clouds all over the sky.  I love to see God's beauty in creation each day... especially in the morning when the day is so fresh, new,

open to possibility, and waiting for me.  I love it when God tells me, "Good morning."

"Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness."  Lamentations 3:22,23~

I also love that each day gives me another opportunity... another chance... another try... to SEEK Him, to FIND Him, to BE with Him, to HEAR Him, to FEEL Him, to SERVE Him, to SHARE Him, to PRAISE Him, to GLORIFY Him, to ENJOY Him, to TRUST Him, to LEAN on Him, to RELY on Him, to FALL into Him, to DWELL on and in Him, to WALK in Him, to be USED by Him.

Wouldn't that be great.  Wouldn't that be great if it were that easy to just have the above each day!  Yes, yes it would.  And that is what we are made to do.  That is our purpose... that is the reason we are here.

But the challenge for me lies in "doing" all the above WHILE: trying to be patient with Abby through her challenges, her attempts to control and manipulate, her irrational behavior and squealing and whinning; trying to be patient with Marc through his current lack of emotional control and manipulation and trying to teach him it is not acceptable and to "grow" him through it (all the while trying not to pull out the small amount of hair I have); and trying to balance/prioritize/line up my "physical/worldly life" with everything God is showing me and my walk in my "spiritual life".  It's no easy task! :0)

I am finding that everything is changing.  The way I see things, people, situations is very different than the past.  The pain and sadness I feel about the above is greatly increased.  The way I relate to things, people, and situations is different.  My desires are different.  My interests are different.  My conversations are different.  My conviction to be different and set apart is growing in rapid fashion. 

One HUGE desire I have been given is to become a family of purpose!  I'll go into that more later... soon... but I am very excited about what God has shown me here and SUPER excited to share it with my children.  One part of this is going to be setting aside money each month to give to the Lord's kingdom work.  Then we will be purposeful in praying for that, learning about that, and sacrificing to give to that specific thing (for example World Vision, the Bible League, the local food pantry and such).  I can't wait.

OK.  Now onto verse 12 in Ephesians 3.  By the way, thank you for your comments, emails, and face book messages about this look at Ephesians.  I am so excited to share such a RICH passage with you and humbled, thrilled, and motivated that it is speaking to you!  That HE is speaking to you through it!

"in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith by Him." Eph. 3:12~

We are focusing on this one verse (although it will take us to MANY others).  The verse is part of the previous verse and is talking about Jesus Christ our Lord.  We have talked previously about how Christ is IN us after we believe and receive salvation through Him.  It is that very fact, the fact that Christ is IN us, that we can have BOLDNESS AND ACCESS to the throne of God.   "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."  Romans 4:16

This is such a privilege that we so often look over, take for granted, fail to use, fail to believe, fail to understand and grasp.  What if someone gave you the telephone number, the cell phone number, of the President of the United States and said, "Here it is, use it whenever you want, he'll always answer, he'll always listen, and he'll give you the desires of your heart."  Would you be excited?  Would you use it?  Would you use it often?  Would you share it?  Would you think about everything you could think of that you wanted to tell him, ask him, share with him?  Would you have an agenda?  Would you call him with the requests or concerns of others?  Or would you just toss it in the trash?

We have the access to the God of the universe.  THAT makes me stop in my tracks.  THAT excites me.  THAT humbles me.  THAT motivates me.  THAT makes me thankful.  THAT makes me bold.  THAT makes me careful.

But why can we relate to having the phone number of the President more than we can to having the ear and attention of the God of the universe?  Because we can't see Him.  Because we don't always hear Him.  Because we don't always believe... believe what He says He'll do, what we can do in Him, or that His presence is really with us.  Simply, because of "unbelief".

That brings us to another part of the verse... "with confidence through faith in Him."  There is the answer to our problem... FAITH.  But that seems so easy.  You may think, "I have faith".  I have learned and am continuing to learn that faith in salvation is only the beginning, the tip of the iceberg... and it is not enough.  It's not enough.  Yes.  I said that.  It's not enough.  It "may" be enough for salvation.  But it's not enough to live this life we are called to live.  So this takes us on a journey to look at "Faith".   

1.) What is faith?  "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."  Hebrews 11:1  Faith is confidence in the trustworthiness of God.  It is the conviction that what God says is true and that what He promises will happen.  It makes things hoped for as real as if we already had them.  Faith provides unshakable evidence that the unseen spiritual blessings of being Christ's child are absolutely certain and real.  It makes the "invisible" visible... it makes the "unseen" seen. (taken from Beliver's Bible Commentary)

Faith is the essence of the believer's walk in this world.  It is the core of everything we do, say, and believe.  "For we walk by faith, not by sight."  2 Corinthians 5:7  This is a big one.  To walk by faith and not by sight requires us to reject our five senses sometimes.  It requires us to TRUST bigtime!  It requires us to look at things, people, and situations with spiritual eyes and listen with spiritual ears and stay spiritually minded.  It requires constantly realigning ourselves with the Spirit... the Holy Spirit, who enables us to do this through His power.  It requires us to remain surrendered to the Holy Spirit, to the Lord God, and to Christ our Savior. 

2.) We have been justified by faith.  "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we also have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."  Romans 5:1,2  So as a result of our faith, we have peace with God and access into grace through Christ Jesus.  That means, because we accepted Jesus as our Savior (by faith... we can't see Him and we can't "see Him" save us), we have peace with God and access to His grace... the grace IN which we stand.

3.) Faith pleases the Lord!  "When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!"  Matthew 8:10~

"When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, "I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!"  Luke 7:9~

So what made Jesus marvel and who had such great faith?  Both passages are about the same situation and the same person.  It was the faith of a centurion officer that made Jesus marvel.  Can you imagine making Jesus marvel?  The officer had a servant, who was dear to him, dying.  He knew the Lord could heal him.  He believed the Lord could heal him.  He asked the Lord to heal him.  But there is more... much more.

The Lord says He will go and heal the servant.  Then this is where FAITH is stepped up a notch... many notches... and it is a screaming example for us to notice, meditate on, and immitate.  "And Jesus said, "I will come and heal him."  The centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof.  But only speak a word and my servant will be healed.  For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me.  And I say to this one, 'Go' and he goes; and to another 'Come' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this' and he does it."  "When Jesus heard it, He marveled..."  Matthew 8:7-10

Do you see it?  Do you see what made Jesus marvel?  Do you see what he called out to be the GREATEST faith He'd seen... even in Israel?  Do you see what caused exclamation points in the Bible!?  The centurion believed not only in Jesus, not only in who He was, not only in what He could do... but believed IN HIS AUTHORITY.  "But ONLY SPEAK A WORD and my servant WILL BE HEALED."  That is the faith that we should be striving for, praying for, longing for, and using in our lives!  WOW!  PRAISE HIM!

4.) Faith varies in amount.  "And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."  Luke 17:5  What a humble request.  What a powerful request.  What a wise request.  So simple... yet so deep.  But it shows us, without a doubt, that faith can vary in amount and we should be desiring for an increase in ours at all times. 

In Matthew, the disciples had been trying to cast out a demon and could not.  Jesus rebuked it and it came out.  "Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" So Jesus said to them, Because of your unbelief;..." Matthew 17:19, 20~  In other words, because of the lack of their faith.  The power was there but they failed to appropriate it.  They were right there, walking with, talking to, and seeing the Lord Jesus and ALL He was doing... and yet they still had unbelief.  Let that be a glaring warning to us that our unbelief affects our walk in this world.  It affects our heart, our mind, our deeds, our effort to fight the spiritual battle all around us, our prayers, our use of authority in us, our work for the kingdom, our witness, our testimony, our relationship with the Holy Spirit, our relationship with Jesus, our relationship with God!  2 Corinthians 10:15 speaks of faith increased as well.

Jesus goes on to talk to them about faith.  "So the Lord said, for assuredly, I say unto you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."  Matthew 17:20~    A mustard seed is the smallest of seeds.  Jesus is making a point.  We may think we have faith... but REALLY NOT BELIEVE IN IT.  Jesus is saying that if you have the tiniest amount... but it is REAL... there is POWER in that FAITH.   People are healed ALL OVER the New Testament because of their faith!  Jesus says it over and over and over... "because of your faith" when He healed someone!  It is the conduit for God's power!

"Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of the Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."  2 Thessalonians 1:11,12~  Faith and power go hand in hand.  There is no power without faith.  Without faith there is no power. 

 "We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly..."  2 Thess. 1:3~  The faith of the church at Thessalonica was growing "exceedingly".. However, they were encouraged in their faith by Paul in First Thessalonians.  He sent Timothy to help them.  "to establish and encourage you in concerning your faith," 1 Thess. 3:2~  "For what thanks we can render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?" 1 Thess. 3:9,10~  How beautiful to be given an example of the growth of faith in a church.  How?  Paul sent Timothy there in person to help them.  How?  Paul and Silvanius (and probably Timothy) were praying night and day that there faith would be perfected.  Paul says they were praying "exceedingly"  Then later in 2 Thess., he says their faith was growing "exceedingly"!  So sweet.  So powerful.  So insightful.  So encouraging.  So needed today!

5.) Where does faith come from?  "So faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God."  Romans 10:17~  The word of God is the written word of God.  Hearing does not just mean "hearing"... it means "to receive".  To hear the word of God, you have to be in the word of God, you have to believe the word of God, you have to be convicted by the word of God, and you are changed by the word of God.  And faith GROWS and GROWS and GROWS as your knowledge grows, as your life changes before you!

6.) Faith is tested.  "that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen... you love.  Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith--- the salvation of your souls."  1 Peter 1:7-9~   Our faith is contrasted to gold... a very precious metal.  Faith is said to be more precious than gold.  When gold is tested in fire, it does not perish, it withstands the heat.  Faith, when tested by fire, (trials) withstands when it is real, grounded, rooted faith.  By our faith, we rely on God, we call on God, we trust in God, we claim God's truth against our trials and situations, we use the authority to call on the power of God, AND GOD SHOWS UP!  And when we do these things, and when He shows up, and when the unseen becomes seen in our lives, when we stand against these things IN HIS POWER... FAITH GROWS AND GROWS. That trial becomes yet another opportunity for us to call on God, trust God, obey God, rest in God, claim God's truths, be used by Him and our faith GROWS AND GROWS AND GROWS!  That trial becomes yet another opportinuty for God to show up and DO HIS THING!  IF WE CALL ON HIM... IF WE TRUST IN HIM... IF WE OBEY HIM... IF WE SEEK HIM... IF WE BELIEVE IN HIM!   When your faith is tested... does it grow or fail?  Do you go into action, try to remain idle or do you just lie down defeated?

Do you see how all of this is tied together?  Do you see the PURE BEAUTY in all this and how it glorifies the Lord!  Do you see our part in this?  Our part is the FAITH... THEN GOD DOES THE REST.  But faith is not passive.  Faith is not stale.  Faith is active, living, and if it is not growing... it is dying.  When we have trials (attacks from the enemy who wants to destroy our faith because that is the conduit of the power of God) or when God tests our faith (to refine it, grow it, perfect it) we don't just sit back and say, "Oh... I have faith God will handle it," and do nothing!  NO WAY.  THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE ENEMY WANTS US TO DO... NOTHING!  That is not faith.  That is laziness and blindness and ignorance.  We put our faith into action with the word of God!  We pray, we claim God's truth over the situation, we put on the whole armor of God, we put our trust in Him, we call on Him, we surrender ourselves to Him, we are obedient to Him, we are convicted and repent, we seek Him and focus on Him!  Faith without action is dead!

7.) Faith in what...?  Faith in God.  Faith in God's word.  Faith in God's power.  Faith in God's Son.  Faith in the name of God's Son (faith in the name is a WHOLE other post! Acts 3:16)... Faith in the name of Jesus Christ.  Faith in God's word.  Faith in God's Holy Spirit.  Faith in who we are as believers.   

Because of all of this... through this, we can approach the throne of God with boldness and confidence.  It is a beautiful treasure and precious privilege.  I stand amazed. 

We are back from the family reunion in VA.  I will try and get another Ephesians post up tomorrow!

Yesterday was a MAJOR cleaning day and I did something pretty cool in the kitchen.  I'll share that too!

We have a friend who hosted a 13 year old from Latvia getting ready to go to Latvia in December and bring her home for good.  Wow.  I am amazed and inspired.  She still needs more money.  If you want to help her, please email me at allfromhim@bellsouth.net.

We have other friends, a couple from our church, who just sent in their application to host a sibling group of THREE this winter and are thinking they will be adopting them!  PRAISE the LORD!  Wow.  I am inspired.  They are already being attacked by the enemy through friends and family who are not being supportive.  This is a very painful hurt.  Please pray for them.  I am heart broken but focused.

I have another friend who is about to go to the Congo to get her son!  Wow.  I am thrilled.

I have another friend waiting to get her referal from Ethiopia!  I am anxious.  I am excited.

We were asked questions by a family member at the reunion who wanted to know about the hosting program and adoption.  Wow.  I am hopeful.  I am excited.

Wow.  Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Hidden Treasure

In response to my questions I started the last post with, I want to share this: 

As a believer...

You are loved:   1 John 4:9-11
You are adopted:   Ephesians 1:5
You are accepted:   Ephesians 1:6
You are a child of God:   John 1:12
You are a joint heir with Jesus, sharing His inheritance with Him!   Romans 8:17, Ephesians 3:6
You are united with God and One Spirit with Him:   1 Corithians 6:17
You are a temple of God, His Spirit AND His life live inside you!   1 Corinthians 6:19
You are a member of Christ's body:   1 Corithians 12:27
You are a saint:   1 Corinthians 1:2, Ephesians 1:1
You are redeemed and forgiven:   Colossians 1:13,14
You are delivered from the power of darkness!   Colossians 1:13
You are a new creation because you are in Christ!   2 Corinthians 5:17
You are God's co-worker through belief and faith in Christ's name!   Mark 16:17, John 16:23,24, John 14:13-14
You have DIRECT ACCESS TO GOD!   Ephesians 2:18, Ephesians 4:16

And we are told/commanded/taught/reminded/warned: "Do not be conformed to this world, but BE TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Romans 12:2 

Please reread "who you are" again.  Please take time to look up the scriptures to SEE that God has said this about you AND that it is true.  Is this how we feel about ourselves each day?  Is this what we talk about when we gather as family and friends?  Is this what we strive for?  Is this what fuels us?  Is this what occupies our thoughts and time?  Is this what we praise and thank Him for?  Is this what we work for... to find "promotion" in?  Is this what makes us feel whole at the beginning and end of the day!?

And you have to know this:  As I share this with you... I am "resharing" it with myself!  The enemy tries to lie to me and take away my JOY in knowing WHO I REALLY AM!  He tries to "steal my joy" by telling me lies and distracting me away from the above truths!  He tells me I am "just a maid, just a house wife," and I can "choose" to accept those lies or I can denounce them and stay focused on the truth!  John 8: 31, 32  Speaking truth against the enemy, Satan, the devil, makes him run!  James 4:7

All of this ties into Ephesians 3!  "... that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ through the gospel... " (verse 6)  "and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery... to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the prinicipalities and powers in the heavenly places,"  (verses 9 and 10)

How many times do we just read over things and move on?  Often.  God's word is alive. (Hebrews 4:12) God's word is active.  God's word speaks to us.  God's Holy Spirit reveals mystery and knowledge from God's word to the one seeking it. (1 Corithians 2:10-13)  God's word is what builds our faith... grows it... secures it... empowers it.  (Romans 10:17, Micah 3:8)  God's word is the Holy Spirit.  (Ephesians 6:17)

This scripture says we are "fellow heirs."  That should stop us in our tracks!  What does it mean to be a fellow heir with Christ!?  What does it mean to be "partakers of the promise in Christ?"  Who is a fellow co-worker?  Who is a fellow brother at church?  It's the one you do something with... the one you work with and the one you worship with... you are in it together!  So we are heirs with Christ!  What is Christ an heir to...?

For one, Jesus, after he was crucified and resurrected, is seated at the right hand of God.  Mark 16:19, Romans 8:34
2.) Christ is an heir over all things and all things have been put under his feet: Hebrews 1:2 & Ephesians 1: 22
3.) He is head over all things to the church: Ephesians 1: 22
4.) He obtained a more excellent name than any other name: Hebrews 1:4 & Philippians 2:9
5.) At the name of Jesus every knee will bow: Philippians 2:10

How are we then fellow heirs to all this?  We look back to Ephesians 2. 

"1.) And you (believers) HE made alive (God made us alive), who were dead in trespasses and sins, (spiritually dead, seperated from God )in which you once walked according to the course of this world (worldly concerns, wordly goals, wordly identities, worldly pleasures), according to the prince of the power of the air, (Satan) the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience... we were "just as others" (verse 3)

"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, (full of sin) made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised up up together(with Christ), and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (we are seated with Christ)..."

So we are alive with Him, raised up with Him, and seated with Him, in the spiritual world.  Remember, there is a spiritual world all around us that our human eyes can not see.  (Ephesians 6: 12)  We can forget we are in it.  We can forget we are heirs with Christ in it!  We can forget to walk in it, pray in it, worship in it, LIVE IN IT! 

And you know what else...?  This is the part that thrills me beyond capacity!  We also inherited the NAME OF JESUS AND THE AUTHORITY TO USE IT!  This is when the "fellow" takes on all new meaning!  This is when "new creature" takes on all new meaning!  This is when "Life IN CHRIST" takes on all new meaning!  This is when Christianity takes on all new meaning!

Matthew 28:18  "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them IN THE NAME of the FATHER and OF THE SON and OF THE HOLY SPIRIT... And surely I am WITH YOU ALWAYS, to the very end of the age."   The disciples were told to USE THE NAME... and there is AUTHORITY in the NAME.  By the disciples USING THE NAME... In this passage, God's power SAVES THE ONE ON WHICH IT IS USED!

Mark 16:17  "And these signs will accompany those WHO BELIEVE: IN MY NAME they will cast out demons, they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."  Those who believe are again given the authority to USE THE NAME OF JESUS and HE will do mighty things through that!

Acts 3:6 "The Peter said, Silver and gold have I none: But SUCH AS I HAVE I GIVE THEE: IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH rise up and walk."  What did Peter have?  Not spiritual power.. not healing power... HE HAD THE NAME... HE HAD AUTHORITY TO USE THE NAME and IN THAT NAME IS POWER AND HEALING through CHRIST!  He also had the FAITH and BELIEF in the name.  He didn't just throw it around. He BELIEVED IN THE NAME AND THE ONE WHO IT BELONGED TO!

Where is Christ?  He is seated at the right hand and He dwells inside the believer.  Remember, put your spiritual eyes on and let your physical eyes die.  Christ is IN US!  Remember, we have been born again... into the spiritual world... God's world, Christ's world!  2 Corinthians 5:16, 17  1 Corithians 2:12

Galatians 3:27  "For as many of you have been baptized INTO CHRIST have PUT ON CHRIST."

I leave you with these promises today... statements... declarations... TRUTH.

John 16:23, 24  "And in that day (after Christ's death and resurrection) ye shall ask me nothing.  Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsover ye (believers) shall ASK THE FATHER IN MY NAME, HE will give it you.  Hitherto(before) have ye asked nothing IN MY NAME:(because Christ was here physically on earth, they were not using His name yet!) ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." 
This is asking the Father IN THE NAME OF JESUS... prayer.

John 14:13-14  "And whatsoever ye shall ask IN MY NAME, that will I DO, that the FATHER MAY BE GLORIFIED in the Son.  If ye shall ask anything IN MY NAME, I will do it."  This is "asking in the name" or "using the name".

Ephesians 3:20 "Now to Him (God) who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,(Christ) to Him be the glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

These powerful statements, these powerful truths, these powerful treasures are changing my life... they are "tranforming me by renewing my mind"... it's becoming a spiritual mind and less of a natural mind.  That is the key... the hidden treasure... we are spiritual beings, walking in a spiritual world, fellow heirs with a spiritual savior, standing against spiritual battles against a spiritual enemy, doing spiritual works and living by the power of the Spirit.

That's all for today.  I know it is a lot.  Did you see that in verse 10 of Ephesians 3, "the manifold wisdom of God" is being made known to the "rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms."  The angels are watching us live this out... and learning the "manifold wisdom of God"!  I couldn't help but mention that! 1 Corinthians 11:10 also mentions the angels... present at worship... learning our place and role... and the role of grace.  WOW!

Here is another one of my New Favorite Books:  If you want to know more about the above... I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU BUY IT!!!!!!!

I want to say again, this is what God is revealing to me... through His word and by books that bring all those scriptures together... written by people walking in this truth and transformed by it.  The two books I have mentioned are BASED ON SCRIPTURE and SCRIPTURE IS EVERYWHERE in them.  I check everything against the Word of God.  I research it even more.  I am by no means an expert... I am just sharing the amazing words that are changing my life.  I am being obedient to share it. How could I NOT!  But my views are yours to do with what you want... what God leads you to do.  I challenge you to study the scriptures and pray over them.  Stop between commas and ask the questions... then find the answers... they are in the WORD OF GOD.  I promise you... you will be changed... your prayer life will change... your view of the world and what's in it will change... your life will change, lives around you will change... you will be transformed!

Clothes... clothes... clothes

When I logged onto the computer today to check my email, I saw an article that made me laugh out loud and then shake my head.  It was an article promising photos of stars who were "recycling" their looks.  I wondered if they were trying to bring back a "look" they had done years before... or trying out clothes from earlier decades... but no... they were simply "caught" wearing the same clothes more than once!  Really....?  Wearing clothes more than once!  Are you kidding me!?  THAT is cause for an article to grace the front page of my homepage online?  How dare they wear something more than once!  SERIOUSLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????????????????????????????????

After laughing out loud and shaking my head... I was saddened.  This is yet, another way, the enemy "slips" into the minds of impressionable, insecure, and lost little girls... as well as many women.  It's the way the fashion industry brain washes many into thinking they need new clothes every year.  It's the very reason they are CONSTANTLY changing the width of pants legs, the height of the waistline, the "in color" and the "out color".  And sadly, MANY fall for it and billions of dollars is wasted year after year and so are billions upon billions of pieces of clothing. 

I had already "challenged myself" to really exam what I buy this year.  With growing children, you can't help but buy entire wardrobes each season!  But mine come from the consignment store, Target (on sale mostly) or Children's Place (also on sale and WITH a coupon!).  But my question this year, for myself, is do I "need it".  And my challenge is not to buy anything else for myself this year... except socks... my heel and toes came through 90% of them last year!

Some of you are asking for the next part of Ephesians... it's coming! :0)

Who are you?

What kind of car do you drive?  Where do you live?  Is your house small and modest or large and luxurious?  What kind of clothes do you wear?  Are they name brand?  Are they the latest style?  Are they from a thrift store?  What do your kids wear?  Do they wear name brand clothes?  Where do you work?  What do you do?  How much money do you make?  How big is your diamond?

As you answered these questions... what were you thinking?  Ponder that... what you were thinking?
Now answer me this... does any of the above matter?  Ponder your answer.  And answer me this... Who are you in the spiritual world?  Ponder that answer?  And lastly... how does your spiritual world line up with your physical world?

In Ephesians 3, Paul is writing a letter to the church at Ephesus.  He is writing to a group of believers.  They are already Christians.  It is important to remember that fact.

Paul describes himself in verse one as a "prisoner of Christ Jesus".  He does not say, "prisoner for Christ".  Being a "prisoner for Christ" would have eluded to some sort of defeat.  However, even in light of the fact that Paul was mobbed, beaten, conspired against, ship wrecked and jailed many times, he describes himself as a "prisoner of Christ" and that eludes to priviledge and victory... not sadness and defeat! 

When you are a prisoner "of" someone, you belong to them and are controlled by them.  We have a choice.  We can either be prisoners of Satan or prisoners of Christ.  One brings death and one brings life.  One brings bondage and one brings freedom.  One brings darkness and one brings light.  One brings destruction and one brings power and promise.

As believers, ones who have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior, we are to become prisoners of Christ.  We are to die to ourselves, be buried with Him, and be raised with Him into new life.  Our new life is to not look like our old life... Our new life is to reflect the life and works of Christ.  "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to my Father."  John 14:12  Romans 6: 15+ describes changing from a slave of sin to a slave of God.  Romans 6: 8-11 talks about having died with Christ and being made alive to God.  There are many more references to this "dying to self, dying with Christ". 

This is great news!  Our culture wants us to think being a prisoner or slave of anything is bad... our culture rebels and rebels and rebels against authority.  But hello... being a prisoner of : the Creator and God of the universe... the God that "is love"... the God that desires to bless us... ("Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who HAS BLESSED US with EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING in the the heavenly places IN CHRIST..." Ephesians 1:3) the God that is MIGHTY TO SAVE and goes before us (Isaiah 63:1) The God who LOVED us SO MUCH... that even while we were sinners, gave his only son as a sacrifice FOR US SO THAT we could KNOW HIM, RECEIVE HIM, DWELL WITH HIM, and have EVERLASTING LIFE. (Romans 5:8-11)  I'll be a prisoner of that God... I'll be a prisoner of His Son that died for me and rose again and came to dwell and live in me!  I'll do what He tells me to do!

Paul goes on to talk about a mystery.  He then explains what that is in verse 6.  "that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel..."  Before Christ, God embraced only His chosen people, the Israelites, and they were Jews.  The Old Testament does prophesy and tell about God's grace being available for the Gentiles too.  However that "mystery" was not really made known until after Christ came, Christ was rejected by God's chosen people, and grace was offered to the Gentiles which made them equal in the body of Christ to Israel, God's chosen people. 

In the Old Testament, the Israelites were celebrating feasts and Holy Days set up and declared by God.  ALL THOSE holy feasts point to the Messiah... to Christ Jesus.  So as the Israelites were doing the things God told them to do in the feasts... as God's chosen people... it was all a physical representation of Christ's life, death, resurrection and REIGN here on earth... that made God's promises available to the Gentiles as well!

"Celebrating Jesus in the Biblical Feasts," by Dr. Richard Booker 

This book is amazing.  I want to buy one for every believer I know.  It opened my eyes to SO much about:  

1.) How the Old Testament totally is interwoven with the New Testament 

2.) How the biblical feasts are "holy days" created by God, with specific dates and for VERY specific reason

3.) How Christ and the disciples celebrated these feasts in the New Testament

4.) How every major event during these feasts in the Old Testament has a correlating major event happen with Christ in the New Testament ON THE SAME DATE ( not the same year obviously) (this builds your faith to new heights!)

5.) While Christ was being proclaimed the Messiah, arrested, tried, sacrificed, in the tomb, and resurrected... the Jews were celebrating the VERY feasts that pointed to Him on those VERY days... and were missing it 

6.) How there is one feast (the last one, Feast of Tabernacles) that has not yet been fulfilled...

but will be when Christ returns

7.) How celebrating those feasts as believers today enriches our knowledge of our "roots", our Savior, our God, and our faith as we see His Holy word come to be in every little tiny detail!

8.) Celebrating those feasts (and the one that hasn't been fulfilled yet) prepares us for the last one... the second coming of the Lord!  And remember... ALL the events in the Old Testament happened with Christ on those SAME dates in the New Testament!  I want to be celebrating the Holy Feast of Tabernacles when Christ returns to fulfill it!!!!!!!!!!!!!  PRAISE HIM!  And get this... If ALL THE FEASTS that have been fulfilled in the New Testament were done so during the corresponding feast in the Old Testament... doesn't that give MIGHTY example and evidence that the last one will do the same!  We will not know the day or the hour.  He comes like a thief in the night.  But we'll know the season... and it is the season of the Feast of Tabernacles!  Scriptures tell us over and over to "watch". 

Doesn't that just ignite your passion and love for His word!  Doesn't that just ignite your desire to dive into His word and learn it and obey it!  PRAISE HIM.... ALMIGHTY GOD!

I recommend HIGHLY you get the book and BE BLESSED with knowledge of your God, your Father and your Savior!

That's all for today.  I HAVE to clean the floors, a shower would be nice... since we are hanging with friends tonight, and I am sure I can find some clothes to fold!

My prayer and claim is that you can realize and become grounded in who you are as a believer and silence the lies of the enemy.  NONE of the first answers to the first questions MATTER!  It is the enemy who wants you to think they matter... and to focus on them... and to strive towards them... to look to them... to find your identity in them!

I'll talk more about who we are as believers in my next post from verse 6... but today we have realized we are prisoners of Christ... prisoners of the Son of God... prisoners of God.  And we had a small glimpse at WHO God is and how much He loves us!  And we know that THAT is a GREAT THING!