Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder

I suggest plopping yourself onto God's lap. This is to say that I suggest plopping yourself into God's church; His people.

It is there that you will find:

• His PROVISION in all the gifts He's given the people around you
• His PRESENCE because His particular character is displayed in each of those gifts given to particular people
• His PROTECTION as this is where the spiritual-glue is; where truth is; where accountability is.

To plop yourself in the midst of God's people is to plop yourself onto the lap of God.

Bewithme.us or deezer podcasts to subscribe for more plopping tomorrow.

I suppose one can be HOSTILE or INDIFFERENT to maintain team-unity.  Hence Paul's charge to be EAGER to maintain it.

Join me for 7 minutes to get our arms around the singularity which is Christianity.  The truths are the same no matter what part of the planet you are on; no matter if it is the year 1800 or 2200. We're looking at the book of Ephesians to help us assess our attitudes towards being on TEAM-UNITY. May we be eager to hear the challenge.

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Three things today:

• PATIENCE is the quality of self-restraint in the face of ongoing PROVOCATION
• the BEAR-WITHING of people in God's church probably with COST YOU something.  If it is occasionally hard, you know you are on the right track
• Being EAGER to maintain unity means really showing up when you show up to the body of Christ

Be eager for another little spiritual snack tomorrow by leaving an email at bewithme.us or [email protected]. Please share, re-post, comment, or critique gently.

Walk in a manner worthy.  Today, you won't be static: there'll be dynamic thinking, watching and saying.  But be careful, in the end, it is supposed to be worthy.

What must be in our minds? humility.  "think lowly"-Paul actually makes up a word to describe the position of our minds.

What must be in our souls? Gentleness, sometimes translated meekness. In unfortunate  American thinking, this = WEAKNESS, but in the original language is much different.  It really means this settled condition of the soul with its power under control.

Finally, my favorite "patience".  Yes, it's patience regarding TIME but also patience regarding PROVOCATION.  It is self-restraint when life has its FINGER IN YOUR EYE. For more gentle, humble spiritual provocation, subscribe at bewithme.us or google podcasts.

A doxology is a liturgical formula of praise.  Who knew? The close of Ephesians chapter 3 is supposedly "the greatest doxology in the Bible."

In it we find that our concerns are the concerns of God. Praying so as not be be embarrassed is probably not the effort He is looking for. Ask as if He is able.

Also of note: the power in you is "of the kind" of the power of Him. May our praise and prayers reflect that reality. 

Join me for 7 minutes as we expose ourselves to the best of the best of the Bible. Write at [email protected] to expose yourself tomorrow too. 

My old boss said his criteria for selecting people to work with him was, "I just look for a guy who can TAKE IT."

I thought today was going to be a rainbows and puppies kind of day because of the phrase KNOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST. But there is the strangest line associated with it: may you have the strength to comprehend it. Wait, I need to gird my loins to understand true love? Yup.  I need to "man-up" to know Christ's love? Yup.

Whether it is for the first time in belief, or for the 1000th time in sanctification, exposing yourself to the love of Christ is going to require some guts.  There will be at least some stretching, if not breaking of us in our comprehension.  May you be the man or woman today as you look to the love of Christ who is indeed, a guy who can take it. May we all be strengthened. Come back tomorrow for more by subscribing at bewithme.us.  Likely, you'll need strength then too.

Prayer is FOR US. Only people pray.
Prayer is FOR NOW. Nobody in heaven will need to pray. God will be there.
Prayer is FOR GENERATIONS. Many many generations have called upon the name of the Lord.
Prayer is FOR THE INNER MAN because of trouble around the OUTER man (or woman.)
Prayer is FOR COMMUNITY. The "me" of you should be in an US of fellowship.
Prayer is FOR RESIDENCY. God lives in believers and wants to do so FULLY.
Prayer is FOR UNDERSTANDING love that is described as in 4 dimensions and beyond measure. Good luck with that.
Prayer is FOR POWER. Ephesians gives us a green light to pray for POWER. Good to know...

There may be more wonder to follow tomorrow.  You'll catch it if you subscribe on bewithme.us or Apple or other podcasts. Or write and I'll email you first thing in the morning [email protected]

I watched a 4 year old pray his first prayer last night. He is the most recent generation, in a long line of generations to call upon the name of the Lord. Generations have been doing so since Genesis 4:26 and will do so until the Lord dwells with man in Rev 21:3. Prayer is for NOW. Prayer is for generations.

Dogs don't pray. Rivers don't pray. Angels don't pray. Desks don't pray. And certainly demons don't pray. Only PEOPLE pray.Prayer is for US

Our Ephesians prayer is for the weary INNER MAN. It is for the Lord to help with His power in the indwelling Persons of the HS and Jesus. Prayer is for the inner man.

No need to belabor this point: we live in a world of trouble. Prayer is because of outer trouble.

Join me for 7 minutes to consider praying at bewithme.us. There is an opportunity to come-back-tomorrow by leaving an email. I pray you do so. Your inner man/woman may need it.

If all you see of Paul's ministry is the imprisonment and the suffering, you are missing the boat. Those are some consequences, but there is a core that is such a blessing.

Paul is a minister "IN FULL." He is on task, in the battle, reaping fruit and using all his resources.  He is going to bed tired and satisfied.

He reminds everyone of all he's received as a steward of God's grace; a grace that has been given to him as a gift.  He starts conceptually with all that has been given TO ME (Paul).  But he doesn't stop there.  He emphasizes that all that has been given TO ME is FOR YOU.  Here is the key to purposefulness in motherhood; in business; in medicine; in retirement; in sport; and in ministry.  To be purposeful in using what has been given TO ME in the service of FOR YOU is the key. Paul is on PURPOSE by moving the needle towards the FOR YOU.

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Certain things that seem evident to us were MYSTERIES for ages. A spiritual mystery is something we never would have figured out on our own. First and foremost is the Gospel. 

Next is that the body of Christ is to be made up of Jew and Gentile.  The two to become one, and then one before the Cross.  Though it seems obvious to us, the transition to this thought took quite some time.  When Jesus hinted at it in his hometown, they were so offended about the Gentiles being under the favor of God, that they tried to throw Jesus off a cliff. 

No one is excluded from the family of God if they join by faith. I never want to take this for granted! bewithme.us please.