Digging into prayer

 

This summer the women's group at church is studying through On Bended Knee; a book which studies some of the prayers in the Bible.  The first week works through the Lord's Prayer and the second week works through Paul's prayer to the Ephesians in Ephesians chapter 3:14-21, etc.  

The prayer in Ephesians is one of my go-to prayers for praying Scripture for others. Often, while praying, I will plug in specific names of the people I am praying for wherever the text says "you".   It is such a powerful prayer for spiritual strength, power and knowledge that even when I don't know the details of what others need...the strength, power, presence, love and knowledge of God are always the answer.  

As many of you know, I love, love to dig into the original words and often find a much deeper and richer understanding of Scripture through studying this way.  Today, while looking over the past few days I began to see a beautiful picture of all Paul was praying for these believers.  So, I decided to sit down and plug in those detailed definitions into verses 16-19.  This exercise has been such a blessing to me so I thought I would share what I wrote out.  I pray you would take some time and read through these verses in your Bible.

Ephesians 3:16-19

"that according to the [fullness, abundance] of his [majesty, glory] he may grant you to be strengthened with [moral power and excellence of soul] through his Spirit in your [inner being, conscience], so that Christ may [pervade, prompt, govern] in your [thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes and endeavors] through faith -- that you being [rendered firm, fixed, thoroughly grounded] and [made stable, established] in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the [great extent], and [greatness of the blessings received from Christ], and [eminence] and [immensity] and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be [rooted in Christ by virtue of the intimate relationship with Him] with all the [presence, power, agency, and riches] of God."

Jumping into June...finally!!

 I noticed tonight that it has been over a month since I have blogged.  I have thought about it several times but life has been completely crazy (in both good & bad ways) so I haven't had time to sit and blog.  

From spring band concerts, to fun run fundraisers, to field days, 8th grade graduations, graduation parties, celebrating the last day of school with friends, attending celebrations of life, dealing with sick kiddos and family members and just life in general.  God has been faithful through it all this past month.  

We are enjoying having the older two at home and praising God for summer jobs for them.  We have had fun hosting the youth group and I'm looking forward to the three ladies meetings this summer.  We have also been working to reclaim an overgrown back patio area and install some stone steps going down to the fire pit area.  The landscaping was put in many years ago and is just too overgrown now.  

Here are a few pictures of the fun we've been having.

Here's to a great rest of June and a wonderful summer!  ...and hopefully more blogging!