COVID changed our minds about a lot of things. One thing, when on lock down, we decided we want to be near our friends. We love our home and our neighbors but with both girls gone, we did not need this much room. We had talked about it but thought it would be down the road. When the market became so hot I was praying about it and we felt led that it was time. I asked God to send me a sign that we were doing the right thing. I also asked Him to show off with the sale. I told Him I wanted to be a wise steward of our money, I was worried about finding a place to rent, I have lots of furniture to get rid of and I wanted to get along with whoever bought our house and it be as stress free as possible. I had not told anyone but apparently Mike had mentioned to someone who mentioned to someone who wanted to see it, before it went on the market. I was out of town that week! They came again the next week "to place their furniture." Before they left they made us an offer to keep us from putting it on the market! Along with the cash offer they gave us two months free rent to look for a place and they knew Mike would be having surgery. They purchased our house as is. I knew God was showing off but the thing that really got me was when they said they would like to buy a lot of our furniture. That was that extra, extra that God does! And I would consider them friends now. It had nothing to do with the hot market and everything to do with God!
One of my favorite Bible verses is Ephesians 3: 20, "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us..." Why am I always so shocked? I mean God can do ANYTHING! Yet, He never ceases to amaze me! Paul goes on to pray in verse 17 and 18, "so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ..." We are strengthened by the Holy Spirit and He shows me just how deep and wide God's love is for us. It is a love that we cannot comprehend. Verse 19, "and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." We cannot fathom God's plans for our lives. He IS able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. I am trying to learn from Paul. When I ask God to show off I am acknowledging that HE will do something that passes all knowledge. It causes me to be even more amazed at what He can do. It causes me to be amazed at how much He loves me! Even as sinful as I am! Paul prays for us to then be filled to the fullness of God!
Until today I do not remember that verses 20 and 21 make up what I know as The Doxology.
We sang, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise him all creatures here below. Praise him above ye heavenly hosts. Praise father, son, and holy ghost." A doxology is worship or praise to God because of Who He is and what He has done. Paul was so caught up in Who God was and what He could do that he had to stop and praise Him! Something I read said, Paul's theology had given way to doxology! A lesson for us all!
Comments