So I warned you it would not be everyday that I would write, but I have a little bit of time tonight before I read some more. This week has pretty much flown by. Classes seem so simple, yet there is so much preparation that needs to be done, and to be honest I have no idea how I end up getting it all done. Recently I've been annoyed with myself because I sleep in until 8 or 8:30, regardless of my alarm which goes off 6 times from 7 until 7:25. What is wrong with me? Well I know it doesn't help that I don't go to sleep until midnight or later, but hopefully tonight I won't be up too late. Last night I led our girls' small group on Galatians 2:15-21. I was awkward at first but near the end I just had to close my laptop and let the Spirit speak through me instead of relying on what I had written up all before.
My parents right now are in Fredericksburg, and I really wish I was there so I could see my best friend, but "I have learned to be content in all circumstances". They're heading down to Hilton Head Island, which I miss a lot. Last time I was there was 2006 with Abbie and we had gone on a bike ride and had so much fun. But enough for reminiscing, at least for now.
I think I've decided what I want to do here on this blog. I am going to go through Ephesians. Yes, it will take me a long time, but my goal is by the end of either next semester or this year (depending on my timeline for classes) to have memorized the entire book. Currently I have the first chapter finished, but I have not gone over it in a while so I may have forgotten some of it. Therefore, I am going to start at the very beginning. I'm going to actually do two verses today, so that I will have the same verse as date, at least until the 23rd of this month, meaning I will need to blog everyday, so that is my incentive.
Ephesians 1:1-2"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
This of course is a letter to the church in Ephesus, written by Paul. He establishes his authority of being an apostle of Jesus Christ, and not by his own will, but by that of God the Father. The greek word for apostle literally means "one sent", and Paul no doubt was sent by Jesus Christ when He appeared to Paul on his journey to Damascus, transforming his life completely. The saints in Ephesus were those who had heard the gospel and were faithful in the Lord. Their lives reflected the salvation they had received in Christ, which we will be able to see later in the book. Something I find so fascinating is that the people in Ephesus were Gentiles, or non-Jews, those of the "sinners". That's who I am. I am a Gentile since I am not born (to my knowledge) of Jewish descent. I cannot cease to praise the Lord for sending Paul to the Gentiles to preach the good news. Beforehand we were in trouble, because it was the Jews who were the chosen people, but in Paul's letter to the Galatians he states in 2:7 "But on the contrary when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter" (uncircumcised=Gentile, circumcised=Jew). I'll get to that at some point eventually, but He truly does work all things together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. Do we realize that God the Father daily gives us grace, that divine adequacy that we by no means could ever deserve, and therefore we can have that peace, or consciousness of that grace. Do I realize how much it cost Him? No. To be honest, I don't think I will ever fully comprehend the extent of His grace, probably because I don't always realize how bad off I and everyone else really are. I cannot help but embrace the grace that He has given, and rest in assurance knowing that He is enough, He is sufficient, He is all that is worth living for.
My heart so often is not in the right place, so I am hoping that really going through this book will set my focus on Christ daily. I need Him more than I can fathom. And like the footprints poem, in my hardest times, I may not even realize that He is actually the One carrying me. My true Love, the One who will never ever fail me. He will never break my heart, He will never say anything to destroy me; yes, He will bring to surface impurities and dirt, but it's because He loves me and wants me to become more like Him. He will send me through the fire, but He will never leave me nor forsake me. I have been hurt by others, but the way I have reacted, the way I am now is because of Him working in me and molding me into the woman that He wants to be. I need to daily die to myself that He might live through me. He has a plan for me, just like He had for Paul. What that is, I do not know, and if He told me I doubt that I would want to go through with it. So for now, I will just be faithful, as the saints in Ephesus were faithful. He'll let me know what I need to know, precisely when I need to know it. There is no need to rush through or try to manipulate situations for my sake.
So as I am writing this, I had an idea...just to post prayer requests to remind me to pray for things in my life, and also remember when I started praying for things to see how God moves, and how He will! If you have time do pray for me, you will always know what I am in need of prayer for, and as each is answered, I will move it into praises.
Praises:He has drawn me close to HimHis death and resurrection was more than enoughProvision of finances for this year at schoolContinued health
Prayer Requests:My parents need to sell their property in VirginiaMy sister's decision about collegeReligion paper and Culture of Spain presentation for next weekWisdom in time managementAbility to wake up with the Lord earlier than it has beenMy future husband, wherever he is, that he would be seeking the Lord with his whole heartDecision in whether or not to commit to sponsoring a child overseasDecision about what to do once I graduate
Perpetual:I would look more like Him dailyI would be a witness for HimI would use the talents that He's given me
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