3How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. 4Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. 5Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) 6He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.
--Ephesians 1:3-6 (The Message)
Celebration! I like those. They evoke memories of happy times. When I turned ten, my mother invited all my little girl friends over from the neighborhood. We played games; we ate cake and ice cream. I got tons of gifts and we gave out party favors. Everyone got a gift that day. A picture was taken of all us girls in our little party dresses lined up on the couch downstairs and it was submitted to the newspaper. My birthday was stamped on history. I’m sure if you look in the archives, (if they go back that far,) it’s there somewhere, indelibly marked in microfiche.
That day of my party, my adolescent brain couldn’t process that my friends were having just as great a time as I was. We played games and enjoyed each other. I remember that I felt loved and special.
In my Christian walk, I’ve had no trouble accepting God’s lavish gift-giving. But it’s been as if I had blinders on as to what the giver was feeling. God wants, desires, for us to enter into the celebration. And who is giving the gifts? His beloved Son. And what is He giving? Himself. How more lavish a present than life itself, which is what Jesus gave to me by His own hand? As the recipient of that gift, I certainly feel loved and special. But what was God feeling? He wants, desires, for me to enter into the celebration.
Celebration! God is throwing a birthday party this Christmas. And in His all-inclusive way, He is celebrating us, His guests, as well as His Son in the manger. We enter in giving Him the gift of our worship, and He hands us a gift that surpasses anything we could give Him. Eternal life in the presence of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ.
Wouldn’t it have been horrible if my mother had thrown me a party, and my little friends never showed up?
Heavenly Father, Thank You for throwing this party. I praise You for the lavish gift-giving, but more than that, I praise Your Son who is the one lavishing at His hand. Thank You for the gift of eternal life. Thank You, Abba, for celebrating me in honor of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Friday, December 23, 2005
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Adoption - Ephesians 1:5
3How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. 4Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. 5Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) 6He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.
--Ephesians 1:3-6 (The Message)
I’ve known parents who have adopted children. Some even have their own biological children as well. To talk to these parents has given me insight into their decision that has led to this special love. A love I cannot fathom.
The adoption process is long and arduous. Painful at times. The planning involved after making that first decision must be grueling as the parents sift through legal paperwork. Some choose who they think would be the perfect baby for their family, only to be rejected either by the agency or the birth mother. How heartbreaking it must be to hope a particular child will become your own, only to have her ripped from your heart. I cannot imagine the pain.
But then, when all the red tape cooperates and delivers their tiny package with a perfect bow, the joy must be amazing. To take that child into their home and raise him as their own, to integrate him into their lifestyle, requires a unique love. And most parents manage this seamlessly, sometimes to the point that if you didn’t know them well, you’d think that child had been in the family from day one.
Long, long ago, before even the world was a gleam in my Father’s eye, he decided to adopt me. He did this “according to His pleasure and will” as the NIV put it. By the time I came along, all pink and wrinkled, He’d already done the paperwork. The legal documents were signed, with one line left for my signature. God loved me so much, that He penned the document to require that I accept adoption into His family, much like our legal system today where an agency or the birth mother must okay the transaction.
What pain I could have caused Him if I had refused to sign. He already loved me, had plans for me, He was even preparing a house for me in anticipation of the day we’d be together forever. If I hadn’t “signed” that document, I would have ripped myself from His heart. I would have caused him unimaginable pain if I had refused his offer of adoption.
But I didn’t refuse. I became his child in October of 1973 through Jesus Christ. When I accepted the Savior, I signed on the dotted line. Then, God wrapped me in His arms, took me into His Kingdom, and said “Welcome home.”
I believe God wishes all to sign His document. But, obviously some will refuse, not realizing that it’s the best thing they can do for themselves. If they only realized the pleasure that God had in planning for their adoption, if they only knew the pain they caused by refusing, how then could then turn Him down?
Heavenly Father, Thank you for adopting me into Your kingdom. Thank you for integrating me into your family. Let me never forget how I came to be in Your home, and forgive me when I am sometimes ungrateful or resentful. In Jesus Name, Amen.
--Ephesians 1:3-6 (The Message)
I’ve known parents who have adopted children. Some even have their own biological children as well. To talk to these parents has given me insight into their decision that has led to this special love. A love I cannot fathom.
The adoption process is long and arduous. Painful at times. The planning involved after making that first decision must be grueling as the parents sift through legal paperwork. Some choose who they think would be the perfect baby for their family, only to be rejected either by the agency or the birth mother. How heartbreaking it must be to hope a particular child will become your own, only to have her ripped from your heart. I cannot imagine the pain.
But then, when all the red tape cooperates and delivers their tiny package with a perfect bow, the joy must be amazing. To take that child into their home and raise him as their own, to integrate him into their lifestyle, requires a unique love. And most parents manage this seamlessly, sometimes to the point that if you didn’t know them well, you’d think that child had been in the family from day one.
Long, long ago, before even the world was a gleam in my Father’s eye, he decided to adopt me. He did this “according to His pleasure and will” as the NIV put it. By the time I came along, all pink and wrinkled, He’d already done the paperwork. The legal documents were signed, with one line left for my signature. God loved me so much, that He penned the document to require that I accept adoption into His family, much like our legal system today where an agency or the birth mother must okay the transaction.
What pain I could have caused Him if I had refused to sign. He already loved me, had plans for me, He was even preparing a house for me in anticipation of the day we’d be together forever. If I hadn’t “signed” that document, I would have ripped myself from His heart. I would have caused him unimaginable pain if I had refused his offer of adoption.
But I didn’t refuse. I became his child in October of 1973 through Jesus Christ. When I accepted the Savior, I signed on the dotted line. Then, God wrapped me in His arms, took me into His Kingdom, and said “Welcome home.”
I believe God wishes all to sign His document. But, obviously some will refuse, not realizing that it’s the best thing they can do for themselves. If they only realized the pleasure that God had in planning for their adoption, if they only knew the pain they caused by refusing, how then could then turn Him down?
Heavenly Father, Thank you for adopting me into Your kingdom. Thank you for integrating me into your family. Let me never forget how I came to be in Your home, and forgive me when I am sometimes ungrateful or resentful. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Friday, December 09, 2005
The Focus Of His Love - Ephesians 1:4
3How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. 4Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. 5Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) 6He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.
--Ephesians 1:3-6 (The Message)
You know how long I’ve loved my husband? I didn’t know it then, but I fell in love with him when I called his house one day and his mother said he was in the garage looking at a baby bird in a nest. I’d known him several months at that point, considered him a good friend. We hung out after choir at church, sometimes talking for hours. But when I learned what a truly gentle person he was, that was the seed that planted a growing love in my heart.
His story is different from mine. He’ll tell you that he fell in love with me when he saw me in the choir. In fact, that’s why he joined. He loved me long before I knew I loved him. He waited patiently for me to be done with the worldly attentions I was getting as a seventeen-year-old almost grown woman. He endured hours of conversation concerning my teen angst over the latest boyfriend. He bided his time, while serving as my anchor in a crazy world.
You know how long I’ve loved God? Almost as long as I’ve loved my husband. But, just as in that case, He loved me long before I made the commitment. Well, okay. There’s no way I could have loved Him when He first loved me. I wasn’t even around then! The earth wasn’t even here. There was nothing but void. And yet, there was God. And He was thinking about me. And he was thinking about you.
I’ve been very blessed in my life. My parents were loving people who concentrated on their children. I formed deep relationships with best friends. My husband chose me before I knew he existed. And my Lord settled on me as the focus of His love. Some people, maybe you, missed out on those first three. But when you consider that God created a whole world just for you, that He loved you enough to scientifically create just the right atmosphere for you to be able to breathe and live—to thrive—all the other pales in comparison.
What does God want in return? Again, He’s only thinking of me. He wants me to be made whole and holy by his love. The New International Version (NIV) says it like this: “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” Am I holy and blameless? Well, no. Are you? You can’t be because “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”—Romans 3:23. That began with the very first two human beings on the earth, Adam and Eve. But, because God focused on me, and actually chose me to be holy and blameless, He sent His Son to stand in for me, to die so I wouldn’t have to, so I—so you—can live eternally in His presence. “God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin.”—Romans 3:25*. And in God’s infinite wisdom, “God sets things right. He also makes it possible for us to live in his rightness.”—Romans 3:26b*.
Heavenly Father, It’s almost too much to think about. How can You love me so much that You would create a world where I could thrive. And when I sin and fall short, You’ve provided me with a way out. Why did You choose me as a focus of Your love? I guess I’ll find that out someday. But for now, I’ll enjoy Your attention and do my best to focus my love on You. Thank You, Lord, for even helping me with that. In Jesus Name, Amen.
*From The Message
--Ephesians 1:3-6 (The Message)
You know how long I’ve loved my husband? I didn’t know it then, but I fell in love with him when I called his house one day and his mother said he was in the garage looking at a baby bird in a nest. I’d known him several months at that point, considered him a good friend. We hung out after choir at church, sometimes talking for hours. But when I learned what a truly gentle person he was, that was the seed that planted a growing love in my heart.
His story is different from mine. He’ll tell you that he fell in love with me when he saw me in the choir. In fact, that’s why he joined. He loved me long before I knew I loved him. He waited patiently for me to be done with the worldly attentions I was getting as a seventeen-year-old almost grown woman. He endured hours of conversation concerning my teen angst over the latest boyfriend. He bided his time, while serving as my anchor in a crazy world.
You know how long I’ve loved God? Almost as long as I’ve loved my husband. But, just as in that case, He loved me long before I made the commitment. Well, okay. There’s no way I could have loved Him when He first loved me. I wasn’t even around then! The earth wasn’t even here. There was nothing but void. And yet, there was God. And He was thinking about me. And he was thinking about you.
I’ve been very blessed in my life. My parents were loving people who concentrated on their children. I formed deep relationships with best friends. My husband chose me before I knew he existed. And my Lord settled on me as the focus of His love. Some people, maybe you, missed out on those first three. But when you consider that God created a whole world just for you, that He loved you enough to scientifically create just the right atmosphere for you to be able to breathe and live—to thrive—all the other pales in comparison.
What does God want in return? Again, He’s only thinking of me. He wants me to be made whole and holy by his love. The New International Version (NIV) says it like this: “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” Am I holy and blameless? Well, no. Are you? You can’t be because “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”—Romans 3:23. That began with the very first two human beings on the earth, Adam and Eve. But, because God focused on me, and actually chose me to be holy and blameless, He sent His Son to stand in for me, to die so I wouldn’t have to, so I—so you—can live eternally in His presence. “God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin.”—Romans 3:25*. And in God’s infinite wisdom, “God sets things right. He also makes it possible for us to live in his rightness.”—Romans 3:26b*.
Heavenly Father, It’s almost too much to think about. How can You love me so much that You would create a world where I could thrive. And when I sin and fall short, You’ve provided me with a way out. Why did You choose me as a focus of Your love? I guess I’ll find that out someday. But for now, I’ll enjoy Your attention and do my best to focus my love on You. Thank You, Lord, for even helping me with that. In Jesus Name, Amen.
*From The Message
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
High Places of Blessing ~ Ephesians 3b
3How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. 4Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. 5Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) 6He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.
--Ephesians 1:3-6 (The Message)
My Heavenly Father loves me. He loves me enough to share His son, my Master, Jesus Christ. If He loved me enough for that, why wouldn’t He offer to me the same things He gives His Son.
God takes me to the high places of blessing. Whatever could that mean? Does that mean I’ll have all the physical things I’ll ever need? A nice house? Good health? What did it mean for Jesus?
Wait a minute! Jesus died! He suffered a horrible death. He came from heaven, lived a short time on earth, suffered and died. That doesn’t sound like high places of blessings!
According to John 3:16, God gave His Son so that I would not have to perish, but have eternal life. Hmm. I know I’ll die someday, unless the Lord returns before then. So, this is a spiritual type of perishing. An eternity without God to the point of suffering from the loss of His presence. Therefore, if eternal life is spiritual, the high places of blessing must be spiritual, too.
I love the thought of soaring toward heaven hanging onto my Father’s arm. Much like Lois Lane, who clung to Superman while he showed her his world. And like Lois, if I hang on, I’ll not be affected by the elements, but remain safe and warm. I’m more like Lois than I dare to admit. There she is, pressed against her only safety, reveling in his loving gaze, nothing can happen to her as long as she holds on. And what does she do? She tests her boundaries. How far can she slip away from him without falling. She finds, as long as she’s making some kind of contact—even fingertip to fingertip—that she herself remains superhuman and can defy gravity. But she goes too far. She lets go, thinking she now possesses his ability to fly. Nope. She plummets to earth, screaming in terror, her gauzy ball gown tangling around her body like a shroud.
I’m going to leave Lois there for a minute and contemplate what all that means for me. God has given me this incredible gift. He’s allowed me into His world. As long as I remain in contact with Him, cling to Him, I can enjoy the safety of His presence. If I test my boundaries, and let go to fly on my own, I’ll plummet toward the world. I’m not strong enough to suspend myself in the high places. So gravity takes over and the world pulls me back, back into its limitations, away from my Father’s outreached hand.
So, if I let go, does that mean I’m lost forever, doomed to smack into the hard ground never to see my God again?
When we last saw Lois, she was plummeting toward the earth. I’m sure she felt lost, alone, separated from the safety of Superman’s presence. The way she’s screaming certainly suggests that. But in a heartbeat, she’s rescued, gathered once more in the Man of Steele’s arms, suspended in space. Time stands still.
God won’t let me plummet. Even if I let go, even if I rebelliously sin, even if I choose to remain separated from Him, He rescues me before I smack the hard ground. He gathers me in His strong arms, looks lovingly into my eyes, forgives me, and once again takes me to the high places of blessing.
What does that mean? Is it physical blessing? No. The rest of that verse says it plainly. These are high places of blessing…in Him. In His presence, His safety, His warmth. The elements are still out there, swirling masses of cold air surrounding my body. The world still revolves. Stuff still happens. But I can handle it as long as I cling to my Father’s arm and don’t try to deal with it on my own.
Heavenly Father, Thank you for this promise, that You take me to the high places of blessing…in You. I’m so unworthy of Your love and Your presence, yet You choose to show me Your world. You want to share eternity with me so much, that You allow me to get a glimpse of what it will be like to be near You always. Help me to never let go of Your hand again. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
--Ephesians 1:3-6 (The Message)
My Heavenly Father loves me. He loves me enough to share His son, my Master, Jesus Christ. If He loved me enough for that, why wouldn’t He offer to me the same things He gives His Son.
God takes me to the high places of blessing. Whatever could that mean? Does that mean I’ll have all the physical things I’ll ever need? A nice house? Good health? What did it mean for Jesus?
Wait a minute! Jesus died! He suffered a horrible death. He came from heaven, lived a short time on earth, suffered and died. That doesn’t sound like high places of blessings!
According to John 3:16, God gave His Son so that I would not have to perish, but have eternal life. Hmm. I know I’ll die someday, unless the Lord returns before then. So, this is a spiritual type of perishing. An eternity without God to the point of suffering from the loss of His presence. Therefore, if eternal life is spiritual, the high places of blessing must be spiritual, too.
I love the thought of soaring toward heaven hanging onto my Father’s arm. Much like Lois Lane, who clung to Superman while he showed her his world. And like Lois, if I hang on, I’ll not be affected by the elements, but remain safe and warm. I’m more like Lois than I dare to admit. There she is, pressed against her only safety, reveling in his loving gaze, nothing can happen to her as long as she holds on. And what does she do? She tests her boundaries. How far can she slip away from him without falling. She finds, as long as she’s making some kind of contact—even fingertip to fingertip—that she herself remains superhuman and can defy gravity. But she goes too far. She lets go, thinking she now possesses his ability to fly. Nope. She plummets to earth, screaming in terror, her gauzy ball gown tangling around her body like a shroud.
I’m going to leave Lois there for a minute and contemplate what all that means for me. God has given me this incredible gift. He’s allowed me into His world. As long as I remain in contact with Him, cling to Him, I can enjoy the safety of His presence. If I test my boundaries, and let go to fly on my own, I’ll plummet toward the world. I’m not strong enough to suspend myself in the high places. So gravity takes over and the world pulls me back, back into its limitations, away from my Father’s outreached hand.
So, if I let go, does that mean I’m lost forever, doomed to smack into the hard ground never to see my God again?
When we last saw Lois, she was plummeting toward the earth. I’m sure she felt lost, alone, separated from the safety of Superman’s presence. The way she’s screaming certainly suggests that. But in a heartbeat, she’s rescued, gathered once more in the Man of Steele’s arms, suspended in space. Time stands still.
God won’t let me plummet. Even if I let go, even if I rebelliously sin, even if I choose to remain separated from Him, He rescues me before I smack the hard ground. He gathers me in His strong arms, looks lovingly into my eyes, forgives me, and once again takes me to the high places of blessing.
What does that mean? Is it physical blessing? No. The rest of that verse says it plainly. These are high places of blessing…in Him. In His presence, His safety, His warmth. The elements are still out there, swirling masses of cold air surrounding my body. The world still revolves. Stuff still happens. But I can handle it as long as I cling to my Father’s arm and don’t try to deal with it on my own.
Heavenly Father, Thank you for this promise, that You take me to the high places of blessing…in You. I’m so unworthy of Your love and Your presence, yet You choose to show me Your world. You want to share eternity with me so much, that You allow me to get a glimpse of what it will be like to be near You always. Help me to never let go of Your hand again. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Friday, October 21, 2005
How Blessed Is God!
I began these devotions to have a better understanding of God's love. I wanted to take a closer look at the book of Ephesians because they seemed to have it all together. They loved God and spread His message. But somewhere along the line, they blew it. By the time Revelation was written, they had lost their first love.
But I have this complaint against you. You don't love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen from your first love! ~Revelation 2:4-5a (NIV)
What happened? And could it happen to me?
My goal is to post weekly. If for some reason that doesn’t happen, it’s because life has gotten in the way and I need prayer to get back on track. I ask that you lift me up as we go through Ephesians. In return, I will pray for each and every person reading this. I don’t know who you are, but that’s okay. God does.
And so, we’re off on a journey together!
How Blessed Is God!
Eph 1:3a
How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son. ~Ephesians 1:3-6 (The Message)
I’m one of those rebellious children that runs to God when I need something, then tries to do things on my own when I don’t want Him interfering. Sometimes I do things that I know don’t please Him, but I shut my eyes and figure if I can’t see Him, He can’t see me. But through all of that, I still love Him with all my heart. Don’t I?
In Ephesians, after Paul’s greeting, he goes into a praise that should be shouted from the mountain tops—or the very least, a world-wide radio broadcast. “How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is!” These words should be on our lips from the moment we wake up to the end of the day. Power thunders from this statement.
But somehow, in the rush of the day, other lesser statements attempt to drown it out. “How fun is that TV program! What a time I have laughing at it!” “How exciting is that game on my computer! What skill I have to make it to the last level!” “How great is that book! What satisfaction I have in reading it!” While in some cases, these other statements have validity, the truth is that over and above it all I should be thinking about God and what a blessing He is.
I think that’s where the danger lies for me. When I begin to love the little distractions of the day, rather than the God who frees me from those things, that’s when I lose my first love. When I first became a Christian, I thought of God all the time. I was so in love with Him. Every song on the radio became a love song to Him. Granted, this was the early ‘70s when peace and love oozed from much of the programming. But He was the one I thought of first while melodic contralto strains flowed from my radio and answered the question: “Why do birds suddenly appear, every time you are near? Just like me, they long to be close to you.” Ah, that Karen Carpenter. She could really sing a love song!
Now, thirty-two years into my Christian walk, I have to re-evaluate. Have I lost my first love for Christ, my Savior? Or has it simply been squashed down in the daily rigors of my life that has involved rearing children, supporting my husband, and beginning a writing career…the list is endless! It’s my attempt as I look closely at Ephesians, to unsquash that love.
Heavenly Father, forgive me for squashing my first love. Forgive me for putting anything, including my children, husband, or career, higher on the priority list than You. I climb in Your lap, Abba Daddy, and ask for another chance, one of many in my thirty-two years of knowing You. Help me to continually praise You, and to never allow that praise to leave my lips. How blessed You truly are, God! And what a blessing You have always been to me! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
But I have this complaint against you. You don't love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen from your first love! ~Revelation 2:4-5a (NIV)
What happened? And could it happen to me?
My goal is to post weekly. If for some reason that doesn’t happen, it’s because life has gotten in the way and I need prayer to get back on track. I ask that you lift me up as we go through Ephesians. In return, I will pray for each and every person reading this. I don’t know who you are, but that’s okay. God does.
And so, we’re off on a journey together!
How Blessed Is God!
Eph 1:3a
How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son. ~Ephesians 1:3-6 (The Message)
I’m one of those rebellious children that runs to God when I need something, then tries to do things on my own when I don’t want Him interfering. Sometimes I do things that I know don’t please Him, but I shut my eyes and figure if I can’t see Him, He can’t see me. But through all of that, I still love Him with all my heart. Don’t I?
In Ephesians, after Paul’s greeting, he goes into a praise that should be shouted from the mountain tops—or the very least, a world-wide radio broadcast. “How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is!” These words should be on our lips from the moment we wake up to the end of the day. Power thunders from this statement.
But somehow, in the rush of the day, other lesser statements attempt to drown it out. “How fun is that TV program! What a time I have laughing at it!” “How exciting is that game on my computer! What skill I have to make it to the last level!” “How great is that book! What satisfaction I have in reading it!” While in some cases, these other statements have validity, the truth is that over and above it all I should be thinking about God and what a blessing He is.
I think that’s where the danger lies for me. When I begin to love the little distractions of the day, rather than the God who frees me from those things, that’s when I lose my first love. When I first became a Christian, I thought of God all the time. I was so in love with Him. Every song on the radio became a love song to Him. Granted, this was the early ‘70s when peace and love oozed from much of the programming. But He was the one I thought of first while melodic contralto strains flowed from my radio and answered the question: “Why do birds suddenly appear, every time you are near? Just like me, they long to be close to you.” Ah, that Karen Carpenter. She could really sing a love song!
Now, thirty-two years into my Christian walk, I have to re-evaluate. Have I lost my first love for Christ, my Savior? Or has it simply been squashed down in the daily rigors of my life that has involved rearing children, supporting my husband, and beginning a writing career…the list is endless! It’s my attempt as I look closely at Ephesians, to unsquash that love.
Heavenly Father, forgive me for squashing my first love. Forgive me for putting anything, including my children, husband, or career, higher on the priority list than You. I climb in Your lap, Abba Daddy, and ask for another chance, one of many in my thirty-two years of knowing You. Help me to continually praise You, and to never allow that praise to leave my lips. How blessed You truly are, God! And what a blessing You have always been to me! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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