I am teaching the book of Ephesians called High Stepping in Heavenly Places in the MOMS ministry. I set up this centerpiece as part of my visual aid.
2 Corinthians 2:14
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
Ephesians 5:1-2
For more pretties click here and go to My Romantic Home and stop by the Inspired Room and Home Sanctuary.
I am studying and teaching the book of Ephesians. And frankly, the more I learn-the less I know! The study is entitled "High Stepping in Heavenly Places." The on-line version is available here if you are interested.
In the book of Ephesians Paul writes some phenomenal doctrinal truth, especially in Ephesians 1:3-14 which comprise one long sentence in the original language.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. 1In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.Paul writes we are blessed by every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. We were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. . We are predestined to adoption as sons. We are accepted in the Beloved (1:6 KJV). We are forgiven and redeemed in Christ. God lavished His grace upon us. We are sealed in the Holy Spirit of God, who is the pledge of our inheritance and God's guarantee of our final and future full redemption in heaven when we die!
Can I unravel all this doctrinal truth? No way. But I accept it by faith. Great minds are debated the meaning of this passage and others like it for thousands of years. I certainly cannot add anything to that. And I will not be drawn into debate. I am not smart enough to go toe-to-toe on this theology AND I am way TOO SMART to be drawn into a divisive debate on what cannot be dogmatically and emphatically proved.
I accept these glorious truths by faith and I can let God reconcile these great mysteries of the faith in His finite mind without doing any damage to the doctrine of salvation. Frankly, I am not nearly so threatened by what I cannot explain as I am by what I do understand yet do not obey!
God's chose of me and my response to His gracious invitation as a "whosoever will may come" seem like parallel truths and how they are operate can only be reconciled in the finite of almighty God! That is just fine with me. In the meantime, I am trying to live out this truth and enjoy the fact that I am Accepted, Blessed, and Chosen in Christ Jesus and raised up and seated with Him in the heavenly places.
So, you will understand when I was thrilled with this birthday gift from Craig.
So are you studying the Book of Ephesians with us? If so, write a comment tell me what God is teaching you.
I am learning that the more I LEARN the less I KNOW! That is what I am learning through the study of Ephesians.
If you have missed any of the lessons, remember you can view them here. So far only Week 1-5 are archived. I assume lessons 6 and 7 will be posted soon. If you would like to download them as PODCASTS just click here. And the study notes for each lesson are here so help yourself!
To all my MOMS, thank you for the wonderful birthday party. You are all so precious to me!! I am thrilled to be able to stand on the sidelines of your life and cheer you on-to run well the race set before you. I am delighted that you are studying God's Word and seeking to mother your little guys according to Biblical principles.
I was so sorry Cathy Huber could not be there with us today. She and Lisa Doyle are doing a fabulous job administrating this ministry for us. Much love to both of those sweet ladies. Cathy was sick today and I just hate she missed the fun. And the cake. Oh yuumo! That was good cake. I had a piece of carrot cake for my dinner tonight. Not somethings I can do often, but hey - it's my birthday.
I love all the travel items. Craig and I try to make at least 1 (and some years 2) overseas mission trips to teach Pioneer Evangelism to pastors and church leaders. And I travel on lots of weekends to speak at women's conference, so all will be put to good use!! And like Lisa said, now I can keep all my "personal things" from being spread out over the security table at the airport for all the world to see!!!
And I love the "shoe bag" of goodies. Lisa and Cathy know how to work a theme! The M&Ms were a theme at our leaders session before we started up this semester. The Kleenex are darling and very good for mopping my brow! And then the gift certificate. Seriously, girls, I will be getting me some goodies at Macy's in short order.
I will be traveling on Nov. 8-9 to Pensacola Florida to speak to the pastor's wives of the Florida Southern Baptist Convention. Ray -Ray (my trusty asst.) is traveling with me to do the book table. We will only be gone about 24 hours, actually. We fly in on Sunday. I speak 2x on Monday and the we jump on a plane and head home. And if my bag gets opened at the airport, and it so often does, they will find darling red and black travel bags. I will be very organized and I will look just darling!! Thanks a million, sweet MOMS. You mean the world to me!
So . . . what is God teaching you?
Describe your life in Six Words Saturday.
I am growing in God's grace.
My progress is slow. Turtle pace. At times, it is painful. Painful and slow. Painfully slow. Slow, I say. Slow and painful. But I am growing. I AM growing in God's grace.
I am studying the Book of Ephesians and teaching it to a group of precious MOMMAS who indulge my maniac style of teaching. I talk fast. I talk with my hands. I pace. Alot. Alot of fast talking, hand waving, and pacing. It appears I don't take a breath. Not one time. Not one time during my 45 minute lectures. Fast talking. Hand waving. Frantic pacing. No breath-taking. No time for it!
Frankly, I wouldn't be able to listen to me with all the fast talking, hand waving, and pacing. Taking notes on what I am teaching is nearly out of the question. I wear out my audience. I wear down my listeners. But I am growing. I am growing in God's grace.
Anyways. I am growing. My life is changing. The pace is slow. Like a turtle. But I am growing. I am changing. Because the Word of God and the indwelling Spirit of God has the power to activate change.
God's Word is changing my life. Slowly. Painfully at times. But I am growing in God's grace.
"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12 NAS). Blessings for today and the week ahead.If you are interested in studying Ephesians with us click here and go to High Stepping in Heavenly Places blog. For more Six Words Saturday click here. And you will want to read Spiritual Sundays. And I linked this post to Thankful Thursday.
I am hosting an on-line Bible study on the book of Ephesians called "High Stepping in Heavenly Places".
I wrote this study especially for MOMMAS to encourage women in the fine art of Christian mothering. Mothering is a tough gig - no doubt about that! Every mom needs huge doses of encouragement and inspiration. God's Word has much to say about this holy occupation and how to hand down a living faith to the next generation.
For anyone interested, it is not too late to join in. Click here and check it out. You can purchase the interactive workbook by clicking here, but the workbook is not necessary in order to participate in the study. Learning to study God's Word is a life-changing investment.
We have a 45-minute message to accompany the study. A link to see the DVD is posted on our "High Stepping in Heavenly Places" blog. We also have a link to my study notes for each of the 10 lessons for you. You can also download the messages from the Ephesian study as PODCASTS.
Join us for "High Stepping in Heavenly Places". There is more to the walk of faith than wearing great shoes! Click here to see what we are learning.I would count it a privilege to be able to share the things of God with you!
I am studying the book of Ephesians and teaching it to a wonderful group of MOMMAS. So much of Paul's letter to the Ephesians is hard to grasp. While I cannot unravel many of the divine mysteries of this book, I am gladly receive them by an act of faith and rest in God's ability to reconcile in His infinite mind what my finite mind cannot begin to decipher.
I cannot explain it all, but this much I know: I once was blind, but now I see. I once was dead; but now I am alive in Jesus Christ. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
For more Spiritual Sunday click here.
I am teaching the book of Ephesians to a group of wonderful MOMMIES with toddlers to teens. I have been reading a pondering Paul's recorded prayer in Ephesians 1:18-23. Paul recorded several prayers in his epistles.
When the disciples asked the Lord to teach them to pray, He gave them the Lord's prayer as a model. We can read and study this prayer to learn how to approach the throne with praise, thanksgiving, intercession, confession and supplication. We can also we study Paul 's prayer and learn from this prayer warrior about how to bring our petitions before the Lord. The Lord's prayer was a model for instruction. Paul's prayer was a plea for revelation. The Lord's prayer was a model for prayer. Paul's was a prayer. Not only can we learn from Paul's recorded prayer, we can pray it!
Paul prayed in general terms. He asked God to grant us as believers a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him (Eph. 1:17).
Paul prayed for specific requests. Paul prayed that the eyes of (our) heart may be enlightened, so that (we) will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places (Eph. 1:18-20). He prayed we would understand the call of God on our lives, understand we are God's inheritance in Christ, and that we would realize we are endued with resurrection power by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Wow!
I make it a habit to pray God's Word back to Him. I use passages and/or recorded prayers, like the one above, to personalize and pray back to God. When we pray God's Word back to Him, we can know we are praying in the will of God!
Prayer is undoubtedly one of the great mysteries of the faith. Too much time is spent on trying to unravel how it works and not enough time is spent praying!
If you would like to study the book of Ephesians online with us, please click here and see our High Stepping in Heavenly Places blog. We would love to have you.
For more Caffeinated Randomness just click here and visit with Andrea and her peeps.
I am studying Ephesians. I am continually overwhelmed by God's love for me. He has blessed me with every spiritual blessing in Christ. He has chosen me. He has predestined me to the adoption as sons. He has accepted me in the Beloved. He has forgiven me and redeemed me. He has sealed me with the Holy Spirit of promise. I am seated in Christ in heavenly places. I am as secure in Christ as if I were already home. I am stunned by His mercy. I am staggered by His grace.
So, what is God teaching you through His Word?
Craig and I were blessed to raise and release 2 great sons. Both boys are married and have babies of their own. We are so proud of the godly men they have become and the households of faith they are busy building. John wrote, "I have no greater joy than to know my children walk in truth." (III John 6). Amen to that!
When the boys lived at home, I was surrounded by males. The only female in the family, I lived in a male dominated household! It was loud at my house. Music blared. ESPN was always flickering the tv. Food was recklessly consumed. Seven gallons of milk was downed each week - much of it right out of the jug. Volumes of laundry was generated at an alarming rate. Bags of chips and boxes of Little Debbies were inhaled. The teen-aged habit of moving in herds filled our house with lots of their friends who could move through my pantry like a plague of locusts.
Because I was the only female, my husband took to calling me "The Queen." And, I must add, he treated me like one and trained my boys to do the same. Last Monday night I was at a meeting with the sweet MOMMAS that help me in the MOMS MINISTRY, a weekly Bible study I teach at Bellevue Baptist Church. (You can participate in the study of Ephesians on-line by clicking here. You can watch the 45 minute video message by clicking here.) Cathy Huber, my assistant, wrote out my name tag.
It's good to be "The Queen." Blessings.
For more Under Grace - Over Coffee click here. Thanks to for hosting this meme.
I wrote this study especially for MOMMAS to encourage women in the fine art of Christian mothering. Mothering is a tough gig - no doubt about that! Every mom needs huge doses of encouragement and inspiration. God's Word has much to say about this holy occupation and how to hand down a living faith to the next generation. I can hardly wait to hear what they are learning as they study "High Stepping in Heavenly Places." We are studying how to walk by faith AND wear cute shoes while you are at it!
For anyone interested, it is not too late to join in. Click here and check it out. You can purchase the interactive workbook by clicking here, but the workbook is not necessary in order to participate in the study. Learning to study God's Word is a life-changing investment. We have 45-minute DVD to accompany the study. A link to see the DVD is posted on our High Stepping in Heavenly Places blog. We also have a link to my study notes for each of the 10 lessons for you.
You can also download the messages from the Ephesian study as PODCASTS.We have the first and second PODCAST on the book of Ephesians posted on this blog. The title of the first lesson is "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" The second lesson is "The Price is Right." Do you see a game show theme working here?
In order to download the PODCAST click here. You will land on my page entitled Podcast Bible Studies. Please help us spread "the WORD" and tell all your MOMMA friends to join in our study.
FYI-The PODCASTS for Philippians entitled "Joy in the Journey" are also available. Click here or go to my Podcast Bible Studies page. I have 10 45-minute messages on a verse-be-verse study Philippians. The workbook can be ordered by clicking here if you choice to use it in conjunction with the PODCAST study.
It is my hope to engage the blogoshpere with the Word of God. I know and love the Lord Jesus Christ and I am hoping to encourage and inspire MOMMAS in their walk with the Lord. I can personally testify of the power of God to change a life. Mine has been dramatically changed after asking Christ into my life and committing to study and obey His Word and depend on His Spirit. The study of God's Word has changed my life, my marriage, my mothering, and every other relationships. I would count it a privilege to be able to share the things of God with you!
Are you "High Stepping in Heavenly Places" with us either on-line are at Bellevue Baptist Church? If so, what is God teaching you from the book of Ephesians? Leave me a comment. Blessings.
One of the most difficult issues of mothering involves sibling rivalry. While sibling rivalry is the natural product of having more than one child, the constant fussing and fighting can push mom to the edge of a breakdown! Here is an excerpt from my study on the Book of Philippians entitled "Joy in the Journey."
When our boys were small I began teaching them to get along and live in harmony. I routinely cajoled, “Boys, let us love one another” (1 Thess. 4:9). I regularly said, “Guys, remember the Bible says to be kind one to another” (Eph. 4:32). I tried to teach the boys to defer to one another. I desired our home to be peaceful and harmonious. One day as I attempted to settle yet another bout of sibling rivalry I told Jason, who was 3 at the time, to defer to his brother. Jason replied, “I am sick and tired of detouring to Dawson.” “Deferring,” I corrected without thinking. Jason’s response was not accurate but was insightful! When we defer to the needs of others we detour around them. Considering their needs over our own, we go out of our way to minister to them.
Teach your children through exhortation and example. Verbally teach them how to dwell in harmony. Show them what the Bible has to say about it. Use illustrations to explain this Biblically based life skill. Affirm them when they are kind to their siblings. Correct them immediately when they are not. Exhort them to love one another and promote family harmony. And then model this behavior. Do not be divisive in your family, your church, or your community. Demonstrate how a godly women promotes harmony and unity in the home and in her sphere of influence.
Biblical exhortation and a lifestyle example are the best way to train children in the way they should go!
If you would like to read more "Joy in the Journey" click here to order the book.
If you would like to download my 10-week series on Philippians called "Joy in the Journey" click here.
If you would like to join in our on-line Bible study on Ephesians called "High Stepping in Heavenly Places" click here.
If you would like to purchase the book "High Stepping in Heavenly Places" click here.
Blessings.
Click here and go to "High Stepping in Heavenly Places" blog and read the comments.
It will bless you and it will make you smile.
I promise. Smiles all around.
To all who are sharing what you are learning through your study in the book of Ephesians, thank you. I have read all of them-several times. And they made me smile.
And they sent me to the Throne Room. Into the presence of the Lord. Where my soul praised the Lord and rejoiced in the God of my Salvation! He has blessed us with every spiritual blessings in heavenly places. In Christ. He has blessed us. Blessed us, indeed. In Christ, we are blessed.
Thank you for sharing! Now God is smiling.
Blessings.
God chose to love me. Me. Chief among sinners. He chose me. Broken. Messed up. Selfish. Self-centered. Self-absorbed. Me. Sinner by nature. Sinner by birth. Sinner by choice. But then . . . God broke in.
God broke in. He broke into my life. He chose to love me to Himself.
"But God being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved ), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:6-9).
He saved me. Me. Chief among sinners. By grace through faith. He saved me. By the surpassing riches of His grace, He saved me. Me. Chief among sinners.
Hallelujah. Praise the Lamb!
Podcasts. Seriously, how hard could it be to host a podcast. Seriously. How?
In order to engage as many MOMMAS as can in the blogoshpere to encourage MOMMAS in the fine art of Christian mothering, we are making the podcasts for my Bible study on Ephesians entitled "High Stepping in Heavenly Places" available RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW from my blog site.
Posting podcasts has proved harder than one might expect!
We started with my study on the book of Philippians called "Joy in the Journey." How hard could this be?Here was our first effort.
We called in on of our resident experts, Jason. He had never posted a podcast but he was willing to pitch in for us!
We did our research. Directions were downloaded and printed. Soon stacks and stacks of papers filled the desktop and spilled onto the floor.
Considering my computer skills, I was assigned the task of taking notes on each step we took.
Frustrated, Ray and I decided to call in another consultant.
Finally, four days and some 68 man-hours - frought with irritations, frustrations, and a million little electronic aggravations - later . . . we got this message:
And this is what I did:
Whas a long strange trip its been!
The podcasts for my Bible study on the book of Philippians called "Joy in the Journey" can be downloaded by clicking here.
Now we are in the process of posting the podcasts for the study "High Stepping in Heavenly Places". It will take us a few more days, but stay with us. Soon we will have those up too. AND they are free for the taking!
If you are interested in joining us for the on-line Bible study, visit our "High Stepping in Heavenly Places" blog. To purchase my interactive Bible study workbook click here.
We are hoping to have the opportunity to instruct MOMMAS with the Word of God and encourage MOMMAS with the Spirit of God. Help us spread the Word!
I found this lovely crown in a little home accessory shop. I just had to have it.
I am studying the Book of Ephesians and teaching it to my MOMS Bible study at Belllevue Church. Do you live near Memphis? Stop by and join us if you do! Or you can join us on-line if you like. Even if you are not able to do the on-line study at this time, we would love for you to visit the High Stepping in Heavenly Places blog and leave a comment. We are trying to flood the internet with truth from God's Word!
But I digress.
I bought this crown to remind me of my position in Christ Jesus. When we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior-by grace through faith- we are placed into the body of Christ AND the family of God. (See Ephesians 2:8-10). The Bible says we become an heir of God and an joint-heir with Jesus! (See Rom. 8:17). That makes us a member of the Royal Family! How's that for good news!
In the book of Ephesians Paul wrote God has predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself (Eph. 1:5). In the original language the word sons means "adult sons." That is significant. A child cannot use his inheritance but an adult son can. God gave us adult son standing at the moment of our conversion. We have access to our inheritance in Christ! Right here! Right now! This is not an inheritance that we "cash in" in heaven when we die. This inheritance is access to all that Christ is and has, available to us NOW!
Whoa baby! We are members of the Royal Family of God with access to our holy inheritance-right here in our earthly sojourn-not just in heaven when we die! In this life I shall "wear" the crown of my royal standing in Christ-living IN His power. FOR His glory.
And when I see Jesus face-to-face, I will cast the crown at His feet.
For more Caffeine Randomness click here. And don't forget to stop by High Stepping in Heavenly Places and leave a comment. Blessings.
Okay. So, are any of you doing the "High Stepping in Heavenly Places"Bible study either at Bellevue Baptist Church or on-line? Yes. You are? Wonderful. Tell me what God is teaching you.
I have studied the Book of Ephesians several times and it my favorite. Really. My all-time favorite. I just love the truths Paul shares in it. I especially love Eph. 1:3-14. We are blessed, chosen, adopted as sons into the family of God, accepted, redeemed, forgiven, and sealed by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God's guarantee, His down-payment, His promise of our total redemption when we see Jesus face-to-face (through death or the Rapture of the church).
In my study here is some of the insight I discovered.
Paul said that after we heard the gospel and believed, we were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise. Paul is referring to an official mark of identification that was placed on a letter, contract, or important document. The seal was usually made with hot wax impressed with a signet ring. The document was officially identified with and under the authority of the person owning the signet ring. The Holy Spirit is God’s official mark of authenticity on the life of a believer.
The Holy Spirit is also given as a pledge of our inheritance. The word pledge was used to mean “the down payment to guarantee the final purchase of an item or piece of property.” It is similar to our way to our use of earnest money in real estate. The Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee of our future redemption and entrance into heaven for all eternity.
In the original language the word pledge also came to mean “an engagement ring.” Our redemption is not only a legal transaction, but it is also based upon a love relationship. Jesus is our heavenly Bridegroom and we can rest confidently in the truth that one day He will come and lay claim to His bride, the church.
Now that's worth knowing! Seriously. Good stuff. Seriously.
Now, tell me. What are you learning?
It’s time to slip on your heels, slippers, tennis shoes, flip flops; or in my case rain boots (it’s been raining here 2 weeks) and lets start marching though Ephesians!
I have taught the first lesson and now it is up and ready for us to watch! The pod cast will also be available soon right here on my site!
1. Listen here to the first lesson.
2. Start working through your homework and take notes or highlight what speaks to you most each day.
3.Visit my site often for other words of encouragement. I post Monday Morning Manna for Moms every Monday. Make a point to stop in then!
4.Click here to go to our High Stepping in Heavenly Places Blog next Wednesday night (or anytime after) for a blog post dedicated to a discussion on week 1 in your workbooks.
I can not wait to hear what everyone out there is learning through this study, each week will affect each lady differently and that is truly where we all can learn and grow!
Oh, and if you have not gotten your workbooks, that’s ok too! Just click here to order! Alright girls, I’m off to stomp through the puddles! Hope your day is truly blessed!
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