Ephesians 1 ~ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ +

Ephesians 1

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God!

To the saints who are in Ephesus,
               and are faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!!!


3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
       who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
                 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy
           and blameless before him.



In love
he predestined us for adoption
to himself
as sons through Jesus Christ,
             according to the purpose of his will



To: The praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.


7 In him, we have redemption through his blood,
the forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of his grace,
8 which he lavished upon us,
in all wisdom and insight
making known to us the mystery of his will,

                    According to his purpose,
which he set forth in Christ,
as a plan for the fullness of time,
               to unite all things in him,
things in heaven and things on earth.



11 In him, we have obtained
              an inheritance,
                                having been predestined according to the purpose of him
who works all things
according to the counsel of his will,
12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation,
and believed in him,
were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,
to the praise of his glory.


15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints,

I do not cease to give thanks for you,
remembering you in my prayers,
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,
having the eyes of your hearts enlightened,
that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you.

What are the riches of his glorious inheritance - - - in the saints

And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power
toward us who believe,
according to the working of his great might
He worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
far above all rule and authority and power and dominion,
and above every name that is named,
not only in this age but also in the one to come.

And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,
23 which is his body,
the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Heaven is debated on several levels --- Paul tells us there are   levels and he knows a man who went to the 3rd level. So, literally, levels are debated. Enoch says 10 levels and other sources say 7 levels.

Then we have the Gospels - Jesus explains His Grace is Profound and the thief will be with Him 'today' in Paradise. Joel tells us multitudes and multitudes will arrive in the Valley of Decision. And we hear about the rapture, trumpets with amazing change and 1,000 year sleep. Bishops all over the world, today, are even known to raise their voice and demand they know 'Thee' Answer.

Perhaps there are several answers to immediate Heavenly arrival, sleeping till the years are up, rapture and trumpets. Asking us to draw more closely to Jesus with Love.






I could tell you a small corner I have dreamed of.

With an illustration of a real event: My brother called me one day and texted me a photo asking if he could plant this magnificent flower in Texas. I replied he certainly could, the plant is called a "Rose." At that point he called and said, no, not even florist "roses" are like this. I told him yes, "roses" flown in from South America are just like the photo. He very plaintively asked,  "WHY?"

Well, the answer is this - A Rose never seeing heat stress is about two to three times larger than a Rose with stress. The leaves are perfect and do not see heat stress fungal, disease and malnourishment. Variety is not the determining factor. The perfect conditions - moisture in the cool air - make the Rose - perfectly fulfilled.





When my grandmother died, I was just completely at a loss. I really could not imagine life without Grandmother. And one of my family, told me she always dreamed of Tate - our Episcopal Priest Grandfather - often. And I decided this would happen with Grandmother. I was rewarded for my faith. Sometimes I dreamed knowing Grandmother was just, only, in my dream. Just a dream. And other times still live clearly in my memories, like it was yesterday - where Grandmother and I have conversations. In Heaven. And sometimes on earth. And sometimes with my father. The dreams have fruit. The Love and Joy and Peace of the Holy Spirit. Intact and instant clarity. And I realized - how - Fulfilled my Grandmother Is. I never realized how unfulfilled she was

Grandmother Bit is now well and perfectly fulfilled even far and away above the photos of the Roses. Father God has met and Loved her every need. Augusta Elliott Wilson Anderson Young - Grandmother Bit - is now perfectly fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

And the truth is - Grandmother is more fully filled than some of the other people I have seen in Heaven. I very firmly believe in the 7 levels of Heaven. I have no idea which level Grandmother is - but, I'd say it's Lovely.

And therefore, with firm permanence - I believe seeking the Lord God, Jesus and their Love - plus explaining about this almost beyond Imagining Love - establishes us in the Levels of Heaven.

You may not believe as I do. This fact is once in the Bible and this is my opinion. I believe in our gifts and talents being given with great Love to Jesus. I'm comfortable if this is not your belief. I believe this to be a Glory and not a burden or unpleasantness. I believe this is Beautiful.




Feel Daunted? Don't.

This is really about Heart and not checks, deposits, withdrawals and tabulations. This is about Love.

St. Augustine said, "It's not us pulling off the BOOK OF ACTS for God again." We all fall short. Paul was a murderer.

What God wants - truly - have Heart to Love Jesus and care and pray for those we love and are given.

It's Beautiful. This is John saying, "Jesus, I'm here for you." With John's example are His Mother and His Aunt on Good Friday in the hour of Jesus needing them most.

This is Mary saying, (The Message Version)"Well, Gabriel, that's pretty scary about Zechariah. And man, I could get stoned to death and it could be really bad. Ok, sure, yes. I will accept the Glory of God. And if He gets in trouble being considered nuts - I'll go get HIM. I PROMISE. And I will take His Brothers and Sisters with me."

With two good parents seeking a Lost Messiah Teenager. And being confused in the middle of their life, to go look for the Teenager. "Okkkkk om. Yeah, that happened. Okkk. Where is He." God was with these beautiful people even in confusion.

And Joseph. His great love for His Son. (Still the Message Version.) "It's seeing all these people change. He's mute. And Angels and I saw the Dream too. I WILL EVEN MOVE TO HORRID EGYPT and deal with Irate In-Laws and Pointing fingers. YES, I BELIEVE GOD. And that boy will be seen as MINE."

And that's what St Augustine is saying! We take excellent care of the ones God has given to our lives. Even when you have cereal to give and life requires Prime Rib. You give what you have and you pray earnestly. Taking care of all that God has asked you to care for.




God is Good, actually Wonderful.
Abiding Grace. Profoundly.
Life. Forgiven.

God was dwelling in their hearts. Salvation known.

Peace.


And then we have to recall the anger of man does not produce the Righteousness of God. Which is like the Beatles singing, "Money Can't Buy Me Love." This is still all about Love. Not the stage. Not the seeking. About Love.

Love.

God does not care if we Die to Gain Place. And recognition. God is not about every handmade, elaborate work or fancy dress vestment. God is not even about the Martyrs. God is really about Mercy. Grace upon Grace. And - Love.

Jesus said to the thief, who was truly sorry. "Today! You will be with Me. In Paradise."

One more thing about Wonderful, Wonderful Jesus - He knows where we should really want to be according to Love, Grace, God and Mercy.

God is not about all the ins and outs of our interpretations of the rules,

God is not about all the ins and outs of our interpretations of the Law,

God is not about all the ins and outs of our interpretations of the niceties,

God is not about all the ins and outs of our interpretations of the Traditions of man, at this point, He even says He is not a respecter of persons. Right after He has given us His Son, Jesus Christ, to clear our sins, trespasses and self-absorption.

God was not enchanted with Saul and his perfection.

God was not enchanted with man and his achievements in the first skyscraper.

God was not enchanted with David's taller, stronger, smarter and more handsome brothers.

God seeks heart. God seeks Love. God is building His Kingdom. God is giving an incredible invitation.

Revelations 6 -

Under the altar
the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne.

10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true,
how long before you will judge
and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”

11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.


Completely explains this:

I Corinthians 13
If I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.


Remember what Jesus said. "I Forgive Them. They don't know what they do."

Holy Jesus gives Love. He does not demand equality with God.

God Is About This Love: 

Father God tells us in the Old Testament, what He sees of this Love - running down out of the Temple. Is Love going in the Way of God - we treat our spouse and children. Love treating our parents well. Love treating our co-workers well. Love treating our neighbors well. Love treating conflict with prayer and minimum repeat conversation allowing God to get in there and Do His Love. Love for our prayers to let this Love God has continue to flow.  Love making sure we are Spiritually fed. Not Spiritually starved. Reading God's Word and Praying. Love helping our Church financially and with prayer. Love attending Church weekly. Love being fed of God's Love.







Abba, Abba, Abba,

Bless us this Day to see Your Love.

Bless those we Love.

Bless the people You have given us.

Bless us to see Your Love on earth, given heart to heart, prayer to prayer, Love for Love.

To You be the Glory. In Jesus Christ. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †