Chosen...

I have been getting SOOOO MUCH out of what I've been reading in the Bible lately that I'd have to post nearly everyday to keep you caught up with it all. For now I'll just share two verses with you and my thoughts about them from when I was reading and thinking about what it meant...kinda breaking it down. You can apply these verses to you as well. Enjoy!

"Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love." ~Ephesians 1:4

God chose me for Himself. He picked me as His own in Christ. Because of His great love, even before the foundations of the world were laid, He chose me! =) I am loved. I am accepted in the Beloved. I have been chosen. And God is good. I've not been chosen in some evil plan. God chose me out of His great LOVE! His desire is that I should be holy, consecrated, set apart for Him, blameless in His sight, above reproach, and before Him in love. I have been set apart for Him, since He chose me before the foundation of the world. I am blameless and above reproach in His sight because I am in Christ. I am before Him in love. He desires to be loved in return. Yet, He loved me EXTRAVAGANTLY first. He isn't asking for something He hasn't first given.

"For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]-" ~Ephesians 1:5

My Father planned in love way beforehand to adopt me and reveal me as His child through Jesus Christ. This lined up with His will. It pleased Him and was His kind intent to make me His own child.

God's Word is amazing! Dive in deeper for yourself! =)

Undisturbedness and Favor...

"May grace (God's unmerited favor) and spiritual peace [which means peace with God and harmony , unity, and undisturbedness] be yours from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ." ~Ephesians 1:2

Peace. Undisturbedness. That is such a wonderful place to be! This undisturbed peace is from my Father and my Beloved. Undisturbedness is like a settled quiet feeling in my stomach. It's not scratchy and uneasy.

Peace. Everything is alright. All is well. There's a real rest where there's paece. It's not like a forced sleep, it's gentle and refreshing.

Grace. God's unmerited favor. I didn't do anything to earn His favor, but He has favor on me. He showers blessings on me. He saved me! He rescued me! I should have been forever separated from Him- what a completely, utterly, horribly despicable thought! =/

Yet, He made the way for me to be with Him forever! =D Now that is a completely, utterly, wonderfully beautiful thought!!!! Forever with the One Who loved me enough to die for me- though He didn't stay dead. (And, by the way, that power that raised Jesus from the dead is in me!) I'm no longer separated from Him. I can talk to Him, listen to Him, walk with Him, live by His side... =)

It's the best life. And He just showed this favor to me; I didn't earn it. I just received it. I didn't reject it! Of course not!

He shows me His favor because of His extravagant, over-the-top love for me. Even when I was far away from Him, even before I was born, He loved me. He chose me. I've just chosen to respond to that love. =) His love is so amazing!

Wow! All that from one verse- the Bible is so good! It's God's letter to me. =)

You know what, you can experience the things I've been talking about too! This undisturbed peace and favor from God isn't just for me- it's for you too. You just have to receive it! Ask Jesus to reveal Himself to you. If you have any questions, ask away. Have a great night!