Category Archives: Ephesians

Christian Living, Ephesians

For Help

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This is a Word for us. Words for us to read, meditate on until they change the way we think. You see. As soon as our thoughts change, our lives change!

Ephesians 6: 10 Finally, build up your strength in union with the Lord and by means of his mighty power. 11 Put on all the armor that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against the Devil’s evil tricks. 12 For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age. 13 So put on God’s armor now! Then when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist the enemy’s attacks; and after fighting to the end, you will still hold your ground.

14 So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate, 15 and as your shoes the readiness to announce the Good News of peace. 16 At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One. 17 And accept salvation as a helmet, and the word of God as the sword which the Spirit gives you. 18 Do all this in prayer, asking for God’s help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God’s people.  source

As we continue to pray for the people of Las Vegas, these verses will help.

Abba, we know Your heart is broken over this and we know this was not Your will; it was the will of our enemy but he will not have the triumph; You will be glorified in this and people will be comforted and hearts will be turned to You in love and surrender. We thank You that this evil will not be overlooked and You will have Your way. I pray the companion of the shooter will be located and appropriate measures will be accomplished. In the meantime, we bring the people harmed by this even though we do not know the names of those injured and those grieving those who have died. We trust You to be there, offering hope and comfort and redemption to the hurting. And we pray for healing of the broken in body and soul. Thank You for allowing us to pray. Thank You for what You are doing even in this moment. Amen in JESUS Holy and Mighty Name.

Chazaq! 

Ephesians, Holy Soap Box

Just Saying

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I invested a few minutes looking at some pictures of early elementary school students. Clearly the colors of their skin did not matter to them. So, I am pitching this out for consideration.

Why teach them otherwise? Why expose and indoctrinate them with violent attempts to sanitize America’s history? The very act of sanitizing history introduces hatred. Why not tell them the truth; the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Why not learn the truth ourselves? Why not do valid research and learn just how many people groups have been slaves and who are still slaves? And while we are researching let’s not limit it to slavery, let’s look at the coming to America; who came and why, what they found, the sins they committed, the good they did. Let’s be honest, let’s be human about it and seek The Creator to understand it all; and added to this, let us not forget the framing of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Through it all, let us use the old documents to tell the real story, not the opinions of some 20th and 21st century authors whose aim it is to re-write history.

We cannot undo what has been done but we can learn from the past and we can do better today and tomorrow.

To continue stirring and spreading this present hatred will not change the past but it will destroy the future.

We can help. We can stop posting unwholesome, non-edifying, strife-building stories, videos, pictures on Facebook, Instagram, snap-chat, etc. etc.  

IF IT WILL NOT HELP US APPRECIATE EACH OTHER, DON’T POST IT.

Ephesians 4:29 (AMPC) 29 Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God’s favor) to those who hear it. source

Chazaq! 

Ephesians, Romans

Always and Never

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This is a word someone needs today. I surely did!

Often I could respond on Social Media, particularly Facebook, with a snappy, TRUTHFUL comment but I don’t. Before my fingers can type it out my soul has said: ‘it would not be taken as kind’ and ‘it would not help’; ‘and besides that it would only inflame them’.

Ephesians 4:29  (TLV) 29 Let no harmful word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for building others up according to the need, so that it gives grace to those who hear it. source 

I’m better at this in print that face to face. But I am learning! Well, that sounds like some kind of bragging, doesn’t it? Perhaps. 

Do you sometime hold your tongue at just the right time? Do you sometime hold your fingers from the keys at just the right time too?  Yes?

Then allow yourself some honest evaluation of yourself!
Let yourself be encouraged that you do not always say the wrong thing. That you do not always cut others with your words.  That you don’t always do the wrong thing. If we let ourselves be encouraged by the good decisions we have made, the good words we have spoken, the good actions we have taken – we just might do right more often! 

Here’s a verse admittedly taken out of context but it makes my point I think.

Romans 12:3 (CEB) 3 Because of the grace that God gave me, I can say to each one of you: don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought to think. Instead, be reasonable since God has measured out a portion of faith to each one of you. source

It is crucial that we are HONEST with ourselves. It is crucial that we see ourselves as we really are – the bad and the good. Admit our sins and admit our obedience with humble gratitude, knowing that every good thing in us comes from Our Savior. It’s the only way we can be REAL. It’s the only way we can make a good difference in our spheres.

So! Let us be honest about ourselves and others. Those words Always and Never.  Mostly likely only GOD can wear those in truth. 

Chazaq! 

1 John, Ephesians, From the Quietness of the War Room, Gospel of Mark, Isaiah, Praying the Scripture

The 5th

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Mark 11:31 (KJV) 31 And they reasoned with themselves,  . . .  source

And that’s where they went wrong —-

Allow me to give you a little background.  In this chapter, it was Jesus’ final week in Jerusalem prior to His Crucifixion. The people celebrated His triumphant entry into the City; the Scribes and Chief Priests questioned Him, trying to find fault in Him.  When we arrive at verse 31 they have asked Him a question and He has wisely responded with a question. 

Hence, they reasoned among themselves and determined they would be unable to answer His question. They took the 5th we might say.

It is the same for us, as long as we take the 5th refusing to incriminate or shall we say refusing to own our incrimination, we will never know the truth. Nor shall we be enabled to answer GOD’s call when He says:

18 “Come now, let us reason together,” says Adonai. “Though your sins be like scarlet, they will be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they will become like wool. Isaiah 1:18 (TLV)  source. 

I John 1: 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (KJV)  source

I John 1: 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (KJV)  source 

The owning of our sin, I suppose, is the hardest of all things in this life to do.  But if we want fellowship with the GOD of CREATION, we will.

 I John 1: 3 What we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so you may have fellowship with us. Indeed, our fellowship is with the Father and His Son, Yeshua the Messiah. (TLV)  source 

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you [us] with inner strength through his Spirit. bracketed mine Ephesians 3:16 (NLT) source

Post Script:  Let us not go wrong as did they reasoning among themselves —- Let us learn to make the Scriptures our plumb line for reasoning a response to the many questions of our day.  

Kathie