It’s the last day of school here before Spring Break for the DoDEA Pacific West schools! Our children completed their 6th week of school online today here in Daegu and they are really looking forward to having a break from their studies. Today’s episode is an encouragement from Paul to the church (of Ephesus) from the book of Ephesians. We pray this time reminds you and encourages you to remain steadfast in the Lord in all situations. I continue to be thankful for all that God has provided for us- His Son, Jesus, and then the Holy Spirit within us who have believed in Him. I thank you for this life that we have been given. Thank you for your grace to provide a way to us for salvation not just for eternity but for here and now in our day to day lives. Thank you God for not leaving us here alone to figure things out. You are with us.
SONGS:
You Are My All In All -Dennis Jernigan
Your Presence Is Heaven To Me – Israel & New Breed
Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me – City Alight
Bible Verses:
Ephesians 1:13-14 Thank you God for the Holy Spirit with us.
‘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, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. ‘ Ephesians 1:13-14 https://my.bible.com/bible/59/EPH.1.13-14
Acts 4:8-12 Peter spoke boldly the Truth through the Holy Spirit to those who questioned him about how he healed the lame beggar (Acts 3).
‘Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” ‘ Acts 4:8-12 https://my.bible.com/bible/59/ACT.4.8-12
Ephesians 1:15-23 AMEN AMEN!! Just read Paul’s words of thanks and encouragement to the believers in Ephesus and everywhere!
‘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 that 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, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. ‘ Ephesians 1:15-23 https://my.bible.com/bible/59/EPH.1.15-23
Ephesians 2:1-10 Paul continues in his letter to remind them from where they came and how God saved us through Christ by grace.
‘And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. ‘ Ephesians 2:1-10 https://my.bible.com/bible/59/EPH.2.1-10
Other things discussed in the video:
I am thankful for all the many hands that are going into trying to help other people around the world during this time. I referenced a friend’s family whose husband is serving with the US Army Corps of Engineers. (I also thank God for all the ways I see different people embracing this time with their families and offering grace and compassion to one another as we all figure out our new “normal” in our day to day life and in our continued relationship with God during this time. This is a journey!) https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2020/03/31/tcf-center-hospital-detroit-army-corp/5097993002/?fbclid=IwAR1sL-LgoWYpHn3qfkuTS4gYWyZ1UkBFVcb2SKTrWQK6CtbtDuc-VYdaQCQ
Here is an article that talks more about why Saul who zealously persecuted Christ followers before being confronted by God on the road to Damascus was never renamed Paul. He had and went by both names (Saul and Paul). https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/no-saul-the-persecutor-did-not-become-paul-the-apostle/ Another reference by Got Questions on this is here.
Yes, God ‘uses’ people, all sorts of people. This is a good thing. https://blogs.blueletterbible.org/blb/2013/10/09/god-uses-ordinary-people-in-extraordinary-ways/
Thank you again for joining in and praying for us #togetherathome and others around the world. I pray this time encourages you to dig into your Bibles and to seek #truth and the understanding that comes from the Lord. Today is our last day of our 6th week of “no school at school” as everyone here continues to go to school online to minimize group gatherings and help prevent the spread of the #coronavirus in #Daegu, South Korea. I am thankful for our local leadership’s efforts. I am in prayer as I see the news of the spread of this virus and many deaths around the world. God is able and #Godisbiggerthanxyz (any situation we may be facing) even if it is scary. It is in Jesus that I continue to place my hope and trust. I pray this has been helpful to point you back to Him too.
Sincerely,
Sejana
#homeworship #thankful #familyBiblestudy #Killthevirus #Godisbiggerthanxyz #onlineministry #discipleship #faithoverfear #bestrongdaegu #parenting #togetherathome #prayer #worship #encouragement
Looking for a Bible Study to watch and reflect on during this time? Try these: https://sejanashines.com/2020/03/07/bible-time-worship-every-episode-summary/
Sejana Shines 