One Guarantee

Not many things in life are guaranteed. We can lose our health, our job and even our precious family. When we close on a house, we do not expect to one day have to foreclose on it. When we walk away from the alter as "Mrs." we do not expect to one day walk out of the courthouse as "Miss". Life is tough and there are no sticking promises...but one.

Ephesians 1:13-14 tells us,
"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of His glory."

There is one guarantee that will NOT fail us! That is the inheritance our Heavenly Father has stored up for us. He has deposited Himself within us as a deposit to guarantee that inheritance. His Spirit is our seal within, but He has also given us an outward manifestation of His ownership over us.

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

When we display the fruit of the Spirit, we are presenting to the world an outward manifestation of His inward claim to us. This is a guarantee we can bank on.

Are we living like we KNOW this inheritance is coming our way? Are we a display of the fruit of the Spirit to those in our home, in our neighborhood, in our spheres of influence? Does the lost world around us know He has claimed us as His own and thus desire it for themselves?

Let's go make Him conspicuous in us today!

The Perfect "To Do" List

As a homeschooling mom...well, as a mom, I must say, it is certainly tough to face the day without a plan. You know, a "To Do" list. Of course, as most women know, our lists do not always have to be written down. We are always running several lists in our heads at any given moment. No wonder we know where Johnny's shoes are but can't remember where we put the keys...our lists are running together!

Praise God, He too has a plan...but He does not forget or run His perfect lists together! What an encouragement this truth was this morning as I read Ephesians 1:11-12:

"In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will. in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory."

Isn't that incredible? God has a perfect plan He is working out in conforming with His good and pleasing will. And that purpose includes me and you and those who believe to be for the praise of His glory! What a beautiful "To Do" list the Father holds in his holy hands. We can fully trust His plan today and praise Him in advance!

Thoughts of Time

Time.

It has such a profound effect on things...skin wrinkles in time, hair turns gray, children grow, plants wither...but hardly any of the effects of time are positive on their own.

Yet Ephesians 1:9-10 tells us, "And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment -- to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ."

In this verse the Lord is teaching us that when time reaches fulfillment, His fulfillment, His purposes are carried out. It brought to mind the incredible truth of Ecclesiates 3: 1...

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven."

God has a plan and a purpose in mind that will be worked out in His perfect timing. But not only that, "He makes everything beautiful in its time." (Ecc. 3:11) In God's timing for us, He fashions something beautiful, pleasing and complete. Time alone kills, withers and forgets...but our God redeems the time and uses it to beautify, enhance and perfect.

As I come to another birthday on the calender, this truth speaks louder than the mirror. Time passes quickly, too quickly...but our God is faithful to make us beautiful in the aging.

I pray Psalm 90 washes afresh over you today, as it did for me, as I allowed it to soak into my soul this morning...

"Lord, You have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.
Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting You are God.

You turn men back to dust, saying, "Return to dust, O sons of men."
For a thousand years in Your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.
You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning--
though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered.

We are consumed by Your anger and terrified by Your indignation. You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence.

All our days pass away under Your wrath; we finish our years with a moan.
The length of our days is seventy years-- or eighty, if we have the strength;
yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass and we fly away.

Who knows the power of Your anger?
For Your wrath is as great as the fear that is due You.
Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Relent, O Lord! How long will it be? Have compassion on Your servants.
Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailinf love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

make us glad for as many days as You have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble.

May Your deeds be shown to Your servants, Your splendor to their children.
May the favor of the Lord or God rest upon us;

establish the work of our hands for us--
yes, establish the work of our hands."

Sweet Forgiveness

I have recently been made freshly aware of the incredible cost of forgiveness. It does not come easily or lightly. My experience has given me a fresh understanding and gratefulness of the forgiveness I have in Christ.

"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding." (Ephesians 1:7-8)

Our forgiveness can be shallow, incomplete and with strings attached.
"I forgive you if you are really sorry,"
"I forgive you if you don't do it again."
"I forgive you if, if, if..."


Oh, but the forgiveness of God in Christ! It is FULL redemption, LAVISH redemption, and it is in accordance with the riches of His grace!

God's forgiveness is not without knowledge, either. Sometimes I think it is easier for us to offer forgiveness, because we don't know the full story...the heart condition, the motives, the thoughts. I can forgive when a friend asks and explains how it was a misunderstanding...what if I knew the FULL story? It was not a misunderstanding, but rather her motive was to hurt me. Then would we be just a willing to forgive?

Ephesians 1:8 teaches us that God's forgiveness is lavished with all wisdom and understanding on us. God does not go into forgiving us without wisdom in the situationa nd complete understanding. He knows our hearts fully and yet extends grace. He understands us and our pain. He does not enter in blindly or just knowing one side of it. And YET He LAVISHES that grace and offers redemption through His own blood.

Can you and I go and do the same with those who have wronged us? Only by His grace and for His glory!

Growing In Godliness,

Mariel

What a Treasure!

"MOM! He took my FAAAVE-orite Star Wars ship!"


Ah, music to a mama's ears at 8:15 in the morning, huh? My firstborn was coming unglued at the prospect of his younger, more destructive, brother having 'taken' his most prized Lego Star Wars ship. After resolving the issue, I pondered it in light of the verse the Lord had given me to meditate on...


"to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the one He loves." (Ephesians 1:6)

What do you treasure? What earthly possession do you guard and not want to share? Just as my boys treasure their Star Wars toys, we have "toys" and treasures we can compare it to...

But the grace of God, now that is a priceless treasure! And it cost Him dearly to offer it to us (Hebrews 9:12). As much as my boys love their treasures, as much as I love mine, they will all pass away with this passing world...but the grace of God is an eternal treasure. So how much does He charge US for it? After all He paid and all it's worth?

Ephesisans 1:6 says He freely gave it to us...nothing we could do to earn it, gain it or buy it. We cannot be good enough, clean enough or righteous enough...it is His mercy and love to extend His grace to us...the destructive younger brothers! Let us not take it for granted and thus destroy the beautiful gift He has presented us.

We cannot lose the gift of grace in salvation since we did not earn it in the first place, but we sure can make it ineffective in our lives when we fail to allow it to change us. It is ineffective when we do not lovingly submit to our husband, who the Lord calls the head of our home; when we spend more time 'serving' at church than ministering to our lost neighbors; when we yell at our kids out of our own frustration and lack of self-discipline....

Let us be careful to treasure what He treasures and allow it to make us effective ministers of His love for the kingdom of God.

Growing In Godliness,
Mariel

Hand-Picked

When a woman who has tried for months to conceive a child (as I did with our second born), or even years, discovers she has a new life growing within her womb nothing can match her joy! Even those who conceive quickly (as with my firstborn) are elated with the promise of a baby...after they pick themselves up from fainting!

A child. A legacy. Nothing like it.

But what about the pure joy and great pleasure born in the hearts of mothers who choose a precious child to adopt into their heart and life? Now that is a child well-loved in deed!

Such is the incredible love of the Father...



"In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will" (Ephesians 1:5)


It was His own pleasure and will to choose- hand pick- every single believer for adoption into a family while we were still serving the father of lies.

A perfect, holy, all-knowing God looked into that orphanage of sinful souls and CHOOSE ME, He CHOOSE YOU and every believer who would trust in Christ Jesus for salvation! Why?!


While I played in my sinful life with a corrupt heart. While I wallowed in insecurities and selfishness. He looked into this soul and spoke LIFE, adoption, hope....


For the life of me, I cannot fathom a love like that! The closest I can get is looking at the children He blessed me with...I would choose them anyway! Our Father chooses US anyway! With open arms He rescues us from that orphanage of sin into a forever home of lavish love!

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (1 John 3:1)


Growing In Godliness,
Mariel

Chosen with Purpose

Before I did anything right,
Before I could accept or reject Him,
Before I denied Him,
Before I lived for Him,
Before I served Him,
Before I choose Him...

"For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight." (Ephesians 1:4)

While we were YET sinners, Christ died for us...for you and for me. His intent was not to prove He could save the worthy, but transform the unworthy. (not that ANY is worthy anyway!)

Paul, the writer of Ephesians, knew this full well. In Acts 9:13-16 we see the perfect intent of a purposeful God. "...this man is My chosen instrument..." the Lord said. This man? The one breathing murderous threats against the Lord's disciples? That is the one He choose intentionally? Now, that is a God with purpose and redemption and grace.

He did not only choose Paul with such intent, but He has chosen every believer with perfect intention and with lavish grace "to be holy and blameless in His sight." (Ephesians 1:4)

Nothing is hidden from His omnipotence...not the attitude of my thoughts, the intent of my heart, the anger, bitterness or lack of love. He sees every motive and every inclination of our heart. And yet He calls us to holiness and blamelessness?! Is that even possible?

Psalm 19:13 teaches us that blamelessness is when sin does not have ruling power over us. It is when we do not plot out sin...though we may react with sin at times. Are you and I bringing our heart daily before Him in order to cleanse us of wickedness and walk into our day with pure motives?

And what about holiness? Are we living as those separated from ordinary for His good purposes without living as snobs? How in the world do we do that?

One glance at the One on His knee with a washcloth tied to His waist. He lovingly washes the dust and sores on the foot of the betrayer before Him. He knows Who He is and Where is He headed, so with love and humility He can wash the filth of those around Him...even the betrayer. (see John 13:1-5)

What about you and I? Can we lovingly and patiently wipe noses, cook dinner, humbly minister to our neighbor, be an ear for a lost co-worker or a comfort for one who has hurt us? Can we live holy and blameless...even in the intentions of our hearts...knowing we have been intentionally chosen by our Savior BEFORE the dust had been washed from our own souls?



Growing In
Godliness,
Mariel

A Breath of Covering

Have you ever looked around at your life and realized you were smack in the middle of a storm? Or three? I have recently started, what seems, my departure out of a season of storms...though I am still wringing out my hair from the last downpour. And though I see much of it was there to prepare me for new things the Lord has for me, it was trying all the same.

Throughout this season of testing and trial, I have found comfort in one assurance...my God is for me and He loves me dearly.

I was reminded of the depth of this truth as I read Ephesians 1:3 this morning...
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ."

This verse loses much meaning and beauty in English...let's peek under ground and look at a word root repeated three times in the Greek.

The words translated "praise", "blessed", and "blessing" all originate from the same word, eulogeo, meaning to speak well of. The word translated "praise" in the NIV literally means worthy of praise. And "blessed" is speaking of a bounty conferred as a gift.

Now the "heavenly realms" can be such a 'Bible word' that we read over it and never ponder what it's saying. The Greek meaning is the place of spiritual conflict.

Do you realize what this is saying in Ephesians 1:3? It is so incredible, it has nearly stolen my heart as my favorite verse...

It literally means that in the places of spiritual conflict, where my enemy is listening and watching, the God who is worthy of all praise speaks good things over me and has breathed every bounty of goodness over me in Christ.

Is that profound or what? (If not, you didn't read it slow enough!)

Reminds me of one afternoon in college as I was walking in the pouring rain (typical eastern Carolina style) a nice guy came in step with me and covered me with his over-sized umbrella as I crossed the busy intersection headed to my dorm. He then waved and went on his way as I headed up the stairs towards my building, but I have never forgotten his sweet gesture. In the same way, our Heavenly Father spreds out His umbrella of love over us during our seasons of trial...even in the very places of spiritual conflict where the storms originate. Praise Him!


Growing In Godliness,
Mariel

We Are Fam-ily!!

I recently heard a precious sister in Christ remark about how mean Christian women can be. It was certainly not profound, as most of us who have spent much time in church or in women's ministry know. It is sad, though.

When I heard her say this, I was so grieved as to how the Father must feel.

Now, I must say, I am very blessed to serve an incredible spectrum of ladies through interdenominational Bible study. They love fiercely. Cry easily. Share their hearts and their lives with passion. And they love Jesus above all else. So I am certainly not cynical.

But as a mama who can get pretty ill over sibling rivalry of my own young'uns, I can relate to the Father's grief. When my boys argue, tempers rise and the selfish shield goes up..."Mama, he hit me." "No I didn't, I was pushing you!" "I want my turn." "I don't care!"

It's enough to raise my blood pressure just typing it!

As I came to Ephesians 1:2, Paul snuck a small unassuming word into a profound statement. The word could have been lost, had the Lord not struck the 'Mama Chord' in my me, highlighting the word as never before. See if you notice it...

"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

Did you catch it? That tiny word "our" which sheds such fresh light on "Father"....Paul does not say "my Father" or "your Father", but rather OUR Father. What a sense of family this covered his letter in. He was speaking to brothers and sisters in the faith...not just other believers.

Do you and I have that same sense of family in the Body of Christ? Are we quick to love on, serve and protect one another as quickly as we would our own flesh and blood? As believers in Christ Jesus, we are bound by a tighter flesh and richer blood than any family line...the very flesh and blood of Christ Jesus Himself.

Let us confess our own failure to love one another deeply and seek to pour out the love He has poured out in our hearts (Romans 5:5) on the family of God.




Growing In Godliness,

By His Will...

If you have walked with the Lord any length of time (even 5 minutes), you have certainly come face to face with the reality of your own inadequacies. The Lord may have blessed you with gifts and talents that you even use for His glory; and yet, you know the depth of your own heart...and it's short falls and failures.

This is the thought withwhich I came to Ephesians 1:1 where Paul pens the insightful words, "Paul, and apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God."

Stunning. I must've stared at that sentence a clear 10 minutes, awed by the sheer grace of a God who called a man like Paul an apostle BY HIS WILL, by His own pleasure!

The Greek word translated "will" here is the word thelema meaning will, desire, inclination, choice and determination; it speaks of an inclination of pleasure; a want or desire which pleases or creates joy.

Incredible. The Holy Creator of all things looks at a wretch like Saul, the murderer of the believers and finds pleasure in saving him, choosing him for His good plan. (see Acts 9)

Even more astounding...He was just as pleased to do it for one who shook her dust fist and swore He did not exist. One who categorized Him as fantasy and a lie. One who laughed in the face of those who believed. And yet...He found pleasure to rescue her from her own destruction. By the power of His Word and the lavish grace of His heart, He rescued me. And yet, I fail Him...over and over.

But just as Paul calls those in his letter to the Ephesians "faithful saints in Christ Jesus" (see Ephesians 1:1), my Father looks to me and pours out the same grace withwhich He saved me and calls me His faithful saint.

Astounding. Is there grace so lavish... Mercy so enveloping... Love so intoxicatingly healing...as the ravenous love of our Savior? Soak in it and be healed and refreshed...YOU ARE LOVED.


Growing in Godliness,

What a Masterpiece!

"What have you done today that only a Christian would do?" ~Corrie Ten Boom


Folding laundry, washing dishes, wiping the counter for the fortieth time....tying shoes, making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and listening to a six-year old read a Clifford book do not sound like very noble activities. Yet Ephesians 2:10 teaches us

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

As my Bible study ladies and I have been meditating on that passage this week, I have pondered the good "deeds" I do as a wife and mother. Corrie Ten Boom's quote is a great reminder, but can be a stretch for me some days. Being a mother is a noble calling in itself, no doubt. But the daily, mundane tasks can certainly leave one feeling a bit forgotten...unimportant. Do you find yourself in the same shuffle...whether you are a mother, a wife, or an employee? Unfortunately we then tend to search for fulfillment elsewhere...TV, in another person, food, too much time on the computer...

Thankfully our Savior (who has not only chosen to save our souls but also our day!) has provided a remedy. He reminds us we are HIS workmanship. The original word used here is the Greek word "poima" which means masterpiece, poem and work of art. That means YOU! Those who are created in Christ Jesus as followers of the Lord Jesus, are a masterpiece of the Creator God.

But just as a priceless masterpiece hanging in a museum points to the creativity of its artist, you and I were created to point to our Creator's creativity through good works which He prepared for us even before we were born! He has a plan for HOW you and I are to display Him to others. The original word translated 'good' is the Greek word 'agathos' meaning benevolent, profitable, useful. Beginning in our own homes, familes and spheres of influence we are to serve with works that are benevolent, profitable and useful to those around us.

'Agathos' underscores the beneficial properties of something and represents something as being advantageous to another, promoting his welfare. Who are you and I promoting? Though we are continually reminded by this world and by our own selfish flesh to promote self...we are called to decrease as we cause Christ to increase. The choices we make each day...our attitude and our activities are to promote Christ alone.

As we fold clothes, wash dishes and read with a child we can promote Christ with joyfulness and thankfulness for His MANY blessings; we can serve our families without complaining and arguing. We can seek to promote Christ as He calls us to use our gifts in our spheres of influence without looking for applause and approval of man, but responding to a Father's call to promote His Son so the lost might be found and Christ might be glorified in all we do. THEN we will be living out those good works HE planned in advance for us to do and looking like true works of art!