Gratitude / Ephesians 1

Anyone who has known me for very long, knows that Ephesians 1 is one of my favorite passages.

In it, we are told that we are BLESSED (with EVERY spiritual blessing), LOVED, CHOSEN, HOLY, BLAMELESS, ADOPTED, REDEEMED, FORGIVEN, PREDESTINED…making know to us the MYSTERY OF HIS WILL, according to His KIND INTENTION…WE have obtained and INHERITANCE…being sons and daughters of the KING.

Ephesians 1:1-14

To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: ² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

³ 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, ⁴ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love ⁵ He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, ⁶ to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. ⁷ In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace ⁸ which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight ⁹ 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 ¹¹ 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. ¹³ In 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, ¹⁴ 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.

This post could be miles long…so much has been happening…

My husband and I have sold our home and are  ‘homeless” for 6 weeks…

So, as I sit here alone in our hotel room tonight, I am COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED with God’s goodness, and provision.

My oldest son and his beautiful wife (both reflections of Christ)  have been blessed with the privilege of bringing home their precious son who has been in the NICU for 4 months…fighting for his life.

Through it all, they never left Ethan’s side, as they stood firm…trusting God for whatever would be His will…

“But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth.” -2 Tim 4:17

Ethan is home.

All praise to the Father.

In the corner of our room, I pulled out my art supplies, turned up my Kari Jobe Station on Pandora, covered our little table with foil, and began to worship.

No matter what trials happen in our lives we have the assurance that this is not our home…this is not “all there is” and in Christ Jesus we are already…

BLESSED (with EVERY spiritual blessing), LOVED, CHOSEN, HOLY, BLAMELESS, ADOPTED, REDEEMED, FORGIVEN, PREDESTINED…making know to us the MYSTERY OF HIS WILL, according to His KIND INTENTION…WE have obtained and INHERITANCE…being sons and daughters of the KING.

I am overwhelmed with gratitude for God’s provision.

In the BIG healing, through teams of skilled physicians… to the quiet comfort & strength of caring nurses and lifted prayers from so many friends and family.

Miracle Boy…Child of God

How can our God love us so?

I don’t know…but I BELIEVE that He does.