Be VERY Careful, Then, How You Live...

Hey Friend!
I am still reading through Ephesians.  In my groggy state this morning, This passage stood out to me as a great challenge for me today...

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is...be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. - Ephesians 5:15-20

If God's instruction (through Paul) is to be VERY careful how you live - not as unwise but as wise, then how should I be living today?
1 - Making the Most of Every Opportunity - Staying alert to each choice I make today and whether it is a choice which leads to Godliness or Selfishness.
2 - Understand the Lord's Will - Look in the Bible as I face situations in which I'm unsure of the direction.
3 - Be filled with the Spirit - "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.  For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.  They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want." - Galatians 5:16-17
4 - Speak Psalms and Songs to each other - Encourage others with passages and songs that have encouraged me.  Psalms have a neat way of talking us through our feelings and emotions and bringing us out on the other side with the courage we need to glorify God as we move forward.
5 - Sing and Make Music in Your Heart to God, Give Thanks to Him for EVERYTHING - Remember, all we have is from him!  It will completely change the direction of the situations in our live if we are able to give thanks and glorify him with what he so freely gave us.

God's Power for Us TODAY!!

Hey Friend!

This morning, I was reading in Ephesians and look at this amazing prayer/promise I found:

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order 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. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,  far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.  And 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. - Ephesians 1:18-23

God's power in us is such a mystery, but when we look at it in Jesus, and other brothers and sisters out there doing God's work, we realize that he's working.  At some points in my life, I have felt he was working in others, but not in me, but looking back now, I see that every challenge, every gift, every friend and every QT was made to draw me close, to change me into the likeness of Christ, to prepare me for heaven.  Even during the seasons of illness and grief, God was working, equipping me to take on all that he has for me today!!  And God's power is not limited by my ability or inability to grasp what he's doing.  He's bigger and stronger than anything and he's exerting that strength to build in me the person he needs me (AND YOU!!) to be today and for the rest of our lives.  God is the master potter and we are the clay!  Let's trust him as he molds us today!

Love you!  Ash