No sillies, that BS doesn’t refer what you’re thinking of, instead it
refers to two things I did yesterday, and how they relate to each other.
refers to two things I did yesterday, and how they relate to each other.
First, I had some Bible Study:
I’m going through an inductive study of Ephesians with two of my
closest high-school friends. The plan is to “get together” every week
(or so) on a conference call on skype, but this week plans changed for
one of the girls and I got to have Bible study over the phone with each
of them at different times. Let’s just say this was extra good for my heart,
because I got to talk about Jesus and blessings and power, and hear two
different people’s takes on the same passages at two different times.
closest high-school friends. The plan is to “get together” every week
(or so) on a conference call on skype, but this week plans changed for
one of the girls and I got to have Bible study over the phone with each
of them at different times. Let’s just say this was extra good for my heart,
because I got to talk about Jesus and blessings and power, and hear two
different people’s takes on the same passages at two different times.
Then there was Baby-Sitting:
I had the privilege of watching over a beautiful little princess while
her daddy was at work and mommy was cashing out on a pedicure she had
been given for her first Mother’s Day. Then we hung out some more
during the party at their house (party included a 6-week-old, a
10-week-old, twin 7-month-old boys, four couples, and me) while she
fell asleep on me.
her daddy was at work and mommy was cashing out on a pedicure she had
been given for her first Mother’s Day. Then we hung out some more
during the party at their house (party included a 6-week-old, a
10-week-old, twin 7-month-old boys, four couples, and me) while she
fell asleep on me.
Now, you may be wondering why I’m writing a blog about Bible study
and baby-sitting and how in the world those two things relate, but bear
with me please. I’ll get there, I promise.
and baby-sitting and how in the world those two things relate, but bear
with me please. I’ll get there, I promise.
While I was watching sweet Caylah I realized that I could simply just sit and look at her all day. I delight in watching her smile as well make as the all-too-cute “wah” face, I take joy in watching as she begins to explore her world with her eyes and her ever-so-uncoordinated hand and leg movements, I love
seeing her try to play and try to figure out how to make sounds come
out of her mouth. But me just watching her wouldn’t help her very much
– she trusted that I would provide things for her. She was
content to sit back and let me take care of everything she needed (with
a few reminders, of course – what would baby-watching be without a
little bit of crying?).
seeing her try to play and try to figure out how to make sounds come
out of her mouth. But me just watching her wouldn’t help her very much
– she trusted that I would provide things for her. She was
content to sit back and let me take care of everything she needed (with
a few reminders, of course – what would baby-watching be without a
little bit of crying?).
It’s the same way with God – He delights in watching over us when we’re happy and when we’re sad, He takes joy in seeing us explore the world He’s created for us, and He loves to watch us figure things out. And He has plans to provide for all of our needs. Let’s go a little deeper with this…
Caylah trusted that, when she woke up from her nap hungry, there would
be food ready for and available to her – even if it didn’t come in the
form she is used to or prefers, she was still fed. And she knew that
when her diaper was dirty, someone was going to clean her up – it may
have been uncomfortable for a little while but she ended up feeling a
lot better. She also knew that if she cried because she wanted to be
held, someone would eventually pick her up and cuddle her close – even
if she had to wait on that person’s timing and not her own. And then I
got to thinking: if sweet little 10-week-old Caylah has that much trust
in people, human people who make mistakes and forget things and break
promises; how much more should I be able to trust in a God that existed
before time began, who never makes a mistake or breaks a promise. It was a great reminder that I trust in a God that keeps His word that He will provide for me, even if it’s not
in the way I like it or if it makes me uncomfortable or if I have to
wait on His timing. And I should have no reason to doubt that He is
going to provide for me, because in His Word He says that not only will
he provide, He wants to bless me beyond my wildest imagination and
dreams.
be food ready for and available to her – even if it didn’t come in the
form she is used to or prefers, she was still fed. And she knew that
when her diaper was dirty, someone was going to clean her up – it may
have been uncomfortable for a little while but she ended up feeling a
lot better. She also knew that if she cried because she wanted to be
held, someone would eventually pick her up and cuddle her close – even
if she had to wait on that person’s timing and not her own. And then I
got to thinking: if sweet little 10-week-old Caylah has that much trust
in people, human people who make mistakes and forget things and break
promises; how much more should I be able to trust in a God that existed
before time began, who never makes a mistake or breaks a promise. It was a great reminder that I trust in a God that keeps His word that He will provide for me, even if it’s not
in the way I like it or if it makes me uncomfortable or if I have to
wait on His timing. And I should have no reason to doubt that He is
going to provide for me, because in His Word He says that not only will
he provide, He wants to bless me beyond my wildest imagination and
dreams.
And this got me thinking about my Bible study lesson on the first part
of Ephesians 1 again. This section, in my opinion anyway, is about the
amazing blessings that God wants to give us. Listen to this section (Ephesians 1:3-6):
of Ephesians 1 again. This section, in my opinion anyway, is about the
amazing blessings that God wants to give us. Listen to this section (Ephesians 1:3-6):
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons
through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the
praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One
he loves.
through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the
praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One
he loves.
or hear how Eugene Peterson translated this section in the Message:
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 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.
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 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.
And what’s more is that there’s a whole list of blessings in the
first part of chapter 1 to add to the couple mentioned in these verses
– not only did He choose us before the creation of the world and adopt
us as his sons and daughters, he also chose to make us holy and
blameless, freely gives us grace, redeems and forgives us, shows us the
mystery of the gospel, seals us with the Holy Spirit, and guarantees
our inheritance in him. Wow! And all He asks us to do is trust Him, to believe that He wants to provide for us, and to claim those blessings for ourselves.
first part of chapter 1 to add to the couple mentioned in these verses
– not only did He choose us before the creation of the world and adopt
us as his sons and daughters, he also chose to make us holy and
blameless, freely gives us grace, redeems and forgives us, shows us the
mystery of the gospel, seals us with the Holy Spirit, and guarantees
our inheritance in him. Wow! And all He asks us to do is trust Him, to believe that He wants to provide for us, and to claim those blessings for ourselves.
Oh, how He loves us!
