Psalm 121 - 12.2.24

Scripture

Psalm‬ ‭121:1-2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

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Observation

The Psalmist writes that true comfort, safety and protection comes only from the Lord.

Relying on other things, other people and even ourselves for what only God can provide will always leave us disappointed.

Just a disclaimer that God still works through people and we need people. There have been seasons in my life where I have needed people and counselors to give me a hand out of a pit because I couldn’t encourage or lift myself out of it.  However, people are still faulty because we have limitations. We have limits on our time, resources, emotional and mental energy and strength; limits on wisdom and limits on what we can control. 

Perfection is found in Jesus Christ alone. Our only hope is in Christ. He is available for us 24-7!

Application

Look up.

Are you mourning and in need of comfort? Go to Jesus. (Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matt. 5:4)

Need wisdom? Ask the Lord. He gives freely to those who ask. (James 1:5)

Need encouragement? Go to the Lord through His Word. (2 Timothy 3:16-17.)

Need protection from the evil one? Run to Him. (2 Thes. 3:3)

It is promised that we will have trouble in this world. But, He has overcome the world, so let’s keep looking up to Him! (John 16:33)

Prayer

Thank You Lord that Your eye is always on us. Thank You that You are always available and know the depths of our heart. Thank You that whatever we are walking through in life, You are right beside us celebrating with us, leading us and even carrying us through it. We are nothing without You and thank You that Your love never fails or ends. Amen.

-Michelle Gaddi

Ephesians 2 - 11.29.24

Scripture:  Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Observation:

We were dead in sin but God’s love, grace, and mercy bring us to life in Christ. God’s gift saves us by grace through faith. Our works are not what saves us. God created each of us unique and has an assignment prepared for us.  Verse 6 stands out, it says we will be seated with Jesus in the heavenly realms. 

Application:

I love how verse 10 says we are God’s handiwork and that God prepared good works for us to do in advance. 

‭‭Nothing happens by chance. I need to let God continue to create me to be more like Him and guide me into what He has prepared.  I want to seek His plan, take risks, and use my gifts to glorify Him.  Then, I will be prepared for the ultimate job, being seated with Him and experiencing the “incomparable roaches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”

Prayer:

Lord, nothing compares to your love, grace and mercy.  Please help me to be an example of this to others. Increase my faith as I live by the truth that you have good works prepared for me. Help me not to be timid or hesitate. May I trust you wholeheartedly.  Amen

- Cindy Howard

Ephesians 1 - 11.28.24

SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 1:17-18a, 22-23 NIV

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,

may GIVE you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation,

so that you may know HIM better.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened

in order that you may know…

HIS incomparably great power for us who believe.

God placed ALL things under his feet and

appointed HIM to be HEAD over everything for the church,

which is HIS body, the FULLNESS of HIM who FILLS  everything in every way.”

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OBSERVATION

Talk about a Thanksgiving Prayer…

Paul reminds the believers in the church at Ephesus who Christ is—and who they (we) ARE—in CHRIST.

ALL things are under Christ’s feet.

Christ is the HEAD of EVERYTHING and EVERYONE.

Paul takes the analogy further…

Christ is the HEAD of The Church…

We, as The Church, are The BODY of Christ—His Fullness.

APPLICATION

Is there a Power Shortage in our lives?

Paul explains:

The POWER of The Holy Spirit, THROUGH the resurrected, ascended Jesus Christ,

is Available to ALL Christians—by Faith.

HIS Power is To “us-ward” who believe.

“…that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and HIS incomparably great power for us who believe.”

‭‭(Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Paul is speaking about a dynamic, mighty, divine, living, eternal energy that is Available to us!

A wealth of riches that has been FREELY given. But what good is this wealth if we leave it locked up and never draw on it?

When Paul explains that Christ is the Head and we ARE Christ’s body—the practical application is that there is a LIVING Connection—right here—right now—between us and Christ!

THROUGH His Holy Spirit-we are UNITED to Him, share in His resurrection, and are seated in the heavenlies (Ephesians 2:6).

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;

and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,

and to the ends of the earth.”” (Acts‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

PRAYER

LORD Jesus,

I pray that out of YOUR glorious riches YOU will strengthen us with your power through YOUR Spirit in our inner being,

so that Christ may DWELL in our hearts—through faith.

And I pray that we, being rooted and established in love,

may ALL have power, together with ALL the Lord’s holy people,

to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is YOUR Love,

and to KNOW this love that SURPASSES knowledge—

that we may be FILLED to the measure of ALL the FULLNESS of GOD.

Now to HIM who is able to do immeasurably MORE than ALL we DARE to

ask, hope, or imagine, according to His POWER that IS at WORK

WITHIN us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus

throughout ALL generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

‭‭(Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭14‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Tina L Kudelka