Journey Through Ephesians - Speak Boldly

When I was a child and started Kindergarten - my parents originally put me in public school. We 

had a nice little neighborhood school that should have been a fine place for me to learn my ABC's 

and my 123's. But there was a problem, a conflict of interest. The school superintendent called my 

parents in for a conference and in no uncertain terms - asked them to remove me from their little 

neighborhood school. I was 5 years old, and I was rocking the boat. 

You see, I came from a Christian home where the gospel of Jesus Christ was a matter-of-fact and 

lived out daily. It flowed throughout our everyday conversation and was the center from which all 

else in life was rooted. 

                                                                    

I had gotten hold of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ and in my 5 year old mind - it was very simple - EVERYONE and I mean EVERYONE NEEDED TO KNOW IT! 

How could I possibly meet someone - teacher or new friend - even play with someone on the 

playground - then walk away without KNOWING that they had heard about the Salvation of the cross?

I didn't - I didn't meet anyone or walk away from them without checking to make sure that they knew my Jesus. I couldn't! I had the truth and they needed it! 

It was not going over very well. 

I was no evangelist - no preacher - no one special - just a little bitty girl who loved Jesus and was excited about the truth of His love and salvation from our sins. He DIED for us! He came to set us free - that we might live eternally! How could I NOT share that wonderful news? God had a message for them & the Truth flowed from me. 

I spoke boldly. I'd come to Christ as a child and with child-like simplicity, I understood all I needed - to know without a doubt - that it didn't matter if they threw things at me on the play ground. It didn't matter if I was sent to the office again. It didn't matter if I was told to stop. The eternal souls of my new friends were at stake! Some of them agreed. Some of them prayed and accepted Jesus.

 It really didn't go over well at the Jewish household down the street - but you know what? I had done what I knew in my heart was my purpose in life. I'd shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with all whom I'd come into contact. 

My parents did end up having to pull me out of that school. They really didn't know what to do with a 5 year old who wouldn't shut up about Jesus. I loved the name of Jesus, Master, Savior, Messiah, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Alpha and Omega, Yahweh, my Jesus.

Ephesians 6: 19-20

I was unashamed. I wept for those who threw proverbial stones. Though it may have hurt my feelings, it was their eternal soul at stake and it was my Jesus whom they mocked. I prayed for them. I didn't understand how they could hear truth and not welcome it. 

These Scriptures are a reminder to me that we are at war. There is a battle raging in our world for the souls of the lost! How can we NOT boldly share the truth of the gospel? We must. 

I'm teaching my children - and we shared the "soldier" below with our Children's Church. They need to know how to put on the armor and share the truth. 

We must gird up our loins - put on the whole armor - and go out into the world to proclaim the

 gospel of Jesus Christ. In our super markets. In our neighborhoods. At the soccer field. In church. Wherever we are, wherever we go - there are people who need to know that God loves them, that Jesus died for them - and that He has a plan for their lives! They need to know our Jesus! 

Are we boldly proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to them?

As Easter approaches - as we stop to take time to remember His ultimate sacrifice - let us take note of what it cost Him - and let us speak boldly about it! 

*My prayer: "Lord God, help me to remember the child-like simplicity with which I viewed the sharing  of the gospel - Protect us as we put on Your armor and go out into the world - Help me to hear the leading of the Holy Spirit and to open my mouth and speak boldly in love" 

I'm counting my Gifts to #1000 and beyond: 

#211 - A Christian family and home 

#212 - The opportunity to share Christ with others

#213 - The freedom to share Jesus with others

#214 - Gift of the gospel that we can know truth! 

#215 - Experience of seeing others come to salvation 

#216 - Having Jesus be the center of our home and lives (with my own children) 

#217 - Legacy of Faith to pass to my children 

#218 - Courage to speak boldly - to stand up for Jesus 

#219 - Personal relationships developing in my own children with the Lord I love

#220 - Bearing witness to His grace and forgiveness - His love!!! 

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Journey Through Ephesians - Learning and Teaching Obedience

I don't know about you, 

but I want my children to reap the benefit of this blessing! 

I have to love my children enough to discipline them - to teach them respect and honor

It is a daunting task! 

At the Apologia Live Retreat this past weekend I had the privilege of hearing Rachael Carman speak

(among other inspirational women) One of the things she said that has stuck with me is this: 

"God; who spoke light into existence 

chose the kids that He has placed in your (my) home 

for His perfect purpose" 

She encouraged us to be bold; raise the bar; and to love them enough to discipline! 

It isn't new information. I believe that God hand picks children - both biological children 

and also (from personal experience) I believe that His mighty hand is on adoption. 

But, there are those times when I have doubted my own abilities to live up to the task.

And, this is her point - we can't totally live up to the task - God's got it! 

All the talk of discipline was balanced beautifully with teaching of love, and laughter 

with the admonition that if we tend to hold on too tightly to our "ideals of perfect" 

to go ahead and let go and let God! 

With regards to trusting the Lord in our home-life, she posed the following question: 

"When are we going to 'get it' and rest in His

providence? He parted the Red Sea! When is He going 

to 'do' enough for us to know that He's got it?" 

I love looking at it this way. I already know that I don't have what it takes to be an honest 

to goodness - perfect mother! I can stop worrying about it and "lean into Him" 

I can trust that God 's got it! I actually use those words a lot. I say:  

"God's got it" 

When I speak about the difficulties life has thrown our way - with parenting issues

 that leave me stumped

I will often quip "God's got it"; it's not that I don't mean it when I say it - I do mean it, I believe that 

He has placed these children in my home - I believe He has a plan for them - but what I'm learning is 

this - the thing God really has been working on - is me. 

I know it's going to be easier to "let up" and pray my way through parenting as I rest in 

the knowledge of those three little words. 

"God's got it" not because of what I say - but because I'm ready to fully lay it down. 

I cannot do this - I am not worthy - but with His grace and His love - 

I will be the woman, the wife, the mother, the friend 

HE wants me to be. 

I fully believe that my children will be able to lay claim to the blessing in Ephesians 6 

because of those three little words - 

God's got it 

I'm willing to let go - give up - and simply follow where He leads. 

I've messed up enough things in my life - this one is far too important! 

I'm so very grateful for the opportunity these past two weeks to soak up these truths

I'm grateful to have spent time in the presence of others who - like me - are not perfect super women 

but are honest and who truly love our Savior and want to serve Him first in our homes. 

I am inspired, refreshed, and honored to call you my friends. 

I'm thankful for opportunity to share with you here online and IRL - thank you! 

And I count to #1000 Gifts and beyond: 

200. Confirmation in that special God - like way 

201. Faithfulness unending, when I just don't deserve it

202. Gifts of friendship 

203. Real, down to earth women who will share their hearts and even their failures

204. Overcoming fear 

205. A cousin/ sister and her husband who will keep all three boys for me 

206. Actually missing my boys 

207. God's blessings on our home and business 

208. Everyday miracles - and taking the time to notice them

209. Being on the road - another adventure with the boys

210. Distance cannot separate Christian sisters 

                          
       
                           

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Journey Through Ephesians - Childlike

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These first two verses - had me at hello! 

Ephesians 5: 1-20

. . .  As dear children 

This week I'll be looking to my children in order to take this message to heart. 

Coming to God 

. . . As dear children

My children come to Jesus with their whole hearts.

They bow to pray and they mean every word - their faith is complete 

When they question it isn't to cast doubt - it is to fully understand

They do not question God in the way that grown ups do 

Theirs is an innocent - a wondering - a wanting 

to know Him better - to see Him clearly. 

. . . As dear children

. . . And walk in love 

I don't always "walk in love" - I try to walk in love - I desire to walk in love

Sometimes I walk in stress - and He gently reminds me - like a child - His child

to "walk in love as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering 

and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma."
I, all too often need the reminder. 


Ephesians 4: 29


"Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good
for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers"


. . . That it may impart grace to the hearers 


* my prayer today is that God will supernaturally, grant me the ability to tame my tongue 
to such a degree that every word from my mouth will impart grace to the hearers!  

Counting to #1000 Gifts and joy pockets: 

190.  . . . As a child - childlike open hearts

191. miraculous provisions and a path made clear

192. opportunity to travel with my children 

193. meeting sweet blog friends I already love

194. God's clear message of love - walk in love - love one another

195. childlike faith 

196. seeing through the eyes of my children 

197. opportunity to spend time with friends and family 

198. cousin time

199. watching God move mountains when I come to Him with a road bump

I've been very busy getting ready for my road trip - making my list - checking my list

I am so looking forward to meeting some of my favorite blog sisters IRL 

I'll have my children - a trapped audience - on a long car ride.

Maybe they'll be able to teach me a thing or two along the way! 

I plan to use the time to review Bible verses we've learned and to listen to some 

new audio books on the road. We also have a couple of favorite parks to stop and see. 

I'll be sure to take good notes for you - I'll be tweeting from Teach Them Diligently in SC

and I'll be at the Apologia Live Conference the following weekend - tweeting to keep you 

up to date and informed. You can follow our road trip adventure on Instagram as AdventurezInChildRearing and on Twitter as @AdventurzNchild  - I'll be sure to post 

some road trip "how to's" and hopefully not too many "what not to do's" with the kids! 

The blog link up for Kids in the Kitchen will continue on Tuesdays - hope to see you there!

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Journey Through Ephesians - Ultimate Love

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           Ephesians 4: 1-16  


The memory verse for the study this week is:
 Ephesians 4: 2 "with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love"  The chapter grabbed my attention right away as Paul began in verse one with:
"I beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called" 
In order to be worthy of the calling to which I've been called. . . 

 . . . I  Must  Love 

The Amplified Bible puts it as such: "Living as becomes you] with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and meekness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness), with patience, bearing one another and making allowances because you love one another." 

Paul goes on to talk about the fact that the reason for all this love is to keep the unity or fellowship
of the body of Christ. He tells us that we, as followers of Christ Jesus, are all part of the same body
 - with one Spirit.

"one Lord, one faith, one baptism: one God, and Father of all,

 who is above all and through all, and in you all"

"But to each one of us grace was given 

according to the measure of Christ's gift." 

What an amazing God we have! Even though we are all one body - one Spirit - He doesn't fail 

to see us as unique individuals and give us His unmerited grace "in proportion to the measure 

of Christ's [rich and bounteous] gift." 

Rich and bounteous hardly begins to scratch the surface of the measure of Christ's gift 

 He gave it all - His whole life - all that He had to give. To know that He gives us grace in proportion

 to "all of Himself" is difficult - if not impossible to  comprehend. 

Romans 5:8 

"But God commended His love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." 

It's because of this grace and the depths of His love that I am able, capable of rising up to be the woman He has called me to be - not from any qualities of my own - but in spite of them - because of Him. 

"I beseech you to walk worthy of the calling 

with which you were called" Eph. 4:1

We are called to Love! 

Our Bible verse in our Homeschool this week is: 

 Ephesians 4: 2 "with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, 

bearing with one another in love" 

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