Ephesians 1:1-23

Ben and Jer, sorry guys that this is my first time blogging thus far. I am going to cheat big time this first chapter and throw it all into one "blevo". Feel free to give me a charlie-horse next time you see me. (not before tues. night hockey though haha).

Ephesians 1

Verse 3 made me smile instantly after reading it because Paul often will write what the mind thinks but expands on it just a little bit more, which makes me say out loud, "ahhhh, never thought of it like that."
"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." - vs.3
First of all the blessings and gifts from the Lord are amazing and are used to bring praise to him. Which sometimes I forget....should make me more happy than anything. Utilizing this gifts and giving thanks for the spiritual blessings is one thing, but to think about how amazing and unique they are is another. The idea behind God blessing me with "spiritual blessings" from the day of my birth blows my mind. The idea that I do not choose what I think I may excel at, but he chooses for me because he knows me. Created me! I love this idea that we have to discover them, grow into them. I remember reading once that there is no blessing that is given from God that is not in our potential. The gifts (all of them) we are given are to found/discovered, used to praise God, and rejoice in thanks for he has given these blessings - gifts.

After it leads into the area of predestination. I will not go into this at all, other than the fact that my heart skips a beat when I decide to let my head agree that God, my God and creator chose me to know him in return. Well know as much as I can and praise him for doing so. It is more of a beautiful idea for me right now, an all-knowing, all-powerful, all-loving God decides to allow his creation to know him and love him. This is especially important tonight as I witnessed two of my friends get baptized. Proclaiming that they know God, they have been somehow chosen to know and fall in love with Jesus Christ.

vs. 15-23
This prayer amazes in me for many reasons. The prayer not only should be a prayer that I pray for the ones I love and care about, but also amazes me on how it is...prayed. The sincerity and honesty makes me jealous. Pauls passion becomes very clear on his description of God and Jesus Christ. Also how he wants so bad for whomever this letter/prayer is aimed for, know he is beyond desperate (lack of better words) for his audience to understand the importance of loving and praising God. His desire compels me, I read this prayer as if Paul is writing to me. It holds me accountable, allows me to look up to him as a man of great faith, knowing how to fear the Lord. His passion and ability to believe so honestly and really makes me not only want to change and be like that myself, but also be a reflection and enourage others the way he did. If everyone was to pray and express their emotions of faith like this, I would be different and I can garuntee my friends and family would be too. So some how I need to find a way to encourage and pray for fellow believers to continue to walk for the Father and do so in a way that is passionate but also by example.

Graham Reimer

p.s. Its late so my ideas are really scattered in this, but I really really enjoyed this!