Lori D

Hi, well let me give just another twist to this topic. I have been in a 12 step meeting for a number of years. We learn that WE are powerless over our addictions (mine is trying to fix other people) and that this has made our lives unmanageable. Admitting that I am powerless has helped me in so many ways. I am learning about God's unmeasurable power by giving up my own power. For me it hasn't been a lack of faith but rather that I was playing God in my life and couldn't experience Him in that role! Surrender is the mystery of the Christian faith. We find God's power through surrender, the preaching of it is foolishness to those who are perishing and our flesh tries to keep us from doing it! Admitting that I am powerless and surrendering this to God has also helped me come closer to Him which in turns also helps me to learn about my inheritance in the saints and his unmeasurable power. Now I am able to learn about him in other forms in my life through being powerless. a) I have leukemia. I am powerless over it. No amount of worrying, quoting a scripture, claiming faith, etc. can take it away. God can. I am not going to say it isn't there when it is, that to me is lying. I know what scripture says. Through my daily surrender of this I find Him in that place. I experience his unmeasurable power giving me the strength to get through the day and be a blessing to others. I am powerless over worry. Growing up with an alcoholic father I learned early how to take in everything and think I had to fix it all. Today I am learning how to surrender this too and learning how to accept God's power in my life at work taking all of the worries. c) I am powerless over grief. I just lost my niece in a tragic accident. To experience God's power working in my life I also am learning how to surrender this whole experience on a daily level. Just a few examples. When I "get out of the way" God can come in there and I do experience His unmeasurable power. Lori

I heard once that being holy means to be set apart. Thinking this week about being chosen, holy and blameless is a lot to wrap my mind around. As a human I don't feel worthy of all of this. But, it's not about what I feel now is it? God put this in His word so it is truth. Because of what Christ did on the cross for us I am now set apart for Him. Have you ever looked at a red shirt through red cellophane? The shirt will appear white. I think of God the Father looking at me through the red of the blood of Christ. I am pure, white and blameless! Thank you, Lord!

My pastor was speaking about this very thing today He said it would be like buying a brand new $7000 dollar fridge, filling it up with all your groceries and then finding out the next day that everything melted and was ruined. You failed to plug it in. We need to be "in Christ" simply to "work". We can't do the job we were intended to do with out being plugged into Christ. For me this is everything. I can't even open my eyes in the morning with out thinking about Jesus! I need Him so very much for my whole life!!! Lori

Hi, I'm Lori. I'm from Mesa, AZ. I'm excited to start this study on Ephesians. Ephesians has always been one of my favorite books. I was looking for a way to get motivated to be in the Word. I hope there are still others doing this study. Lori