Confident God’s Able of Immeasurably More

Praying for you to the God who does immeasurably more than we ask or imagine.

I sent this message to a friend with the assurance we serve and pray to the God of immeasurably more. 

Immeasurably More

Because this particular Scripture is one of my favorites: 

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)

Google tells us immeasurably means, “to an extreme or extensive degree; immensely.”

And defines more as “a greater or additional amount or degree.”

Therefore, it’s doubled in degree and greatness and amount.

Far More Abundantly

I also like how the ESV states it.

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

Again, according to Google, abundantly means “in large quantities; plentifully.”

And so we conclude these things about God’s ability. It’s extreme or extensive, greater and additional amount, and in large, plentiful quantities.

Kneeling and Praying

But what does it mean for us and praying? Also, what comes before verse 20 in chapter 3 of Ephesians causing the Apostle Paul to began with Now?

10 Ways God Desires to Set Apart His People

Sometimes we misunderstand what set apart means for God’s people.

Because the purpose in being set apart is to be set to something else. 

Biblically speaking, something else is desiring what God desires for us.

It means desiring someone else—God. And not desiring the things of this world more.

So here are 10 things God desires to set us apart from that help us to desire Him.

(1.) God desires to set us apart from other gods.

Even after we realize God is the one true God, we still struggle with letting Him reign supreme in our lives. And other gods are anything or anyone that take the Lord’s place in our heart—even “me.”

(2.) God desires to set us apart from religion. 

When the Lord sets us apart from the rules and regulations of doing to obtain salvation, we are free to just being in Him, His free gift of grace. This sets us to a deep and intimate relationship with the God of the universe.

26 Ways to Strengthen Our Marriage A-Z

We all desire to strengthen our marriage.

But…

Good marriages are made.

And strong marriages birth from intentional work. 

So in the busy everyday grind, how can we prioritize and invest in our marriage? 

What practical things strengthen our marriage?

Because I need this as much as anyone.

Here are 26 suggested and practical ways (ABC’s) to strengthen our marriage.

Strengthen Our Marriage: Apply, Build, Cast, Deposit

A-Apply God’s Word to issues you face. Find Scriptures that address those areas first, instead of turning to a friend or family member for insight. (James 1:5)

B-Build up your spouse through words. Use affirming words that speak life over your marriage and spouse. (Proverbs 18:21)

C-Cast your cares on God first, then your spouse. Going to God first positions your spouse to be what God intended—your partner in marriage, not your Savior. (Psalm 55:22)

D-Deposit into your relationship more than you withdraw. Imagine a bank account where you withdraw more than you deposit. Soon, a spouse feels empty or overdrawn.

Strengthen: Expose, Fan, Grow, Hold

My 10 Favorite Attributes of God as Father

I first met God as Father at sixteen. Since that day, the Lord Almighty is my Abba Father.

And the Bible confirms this happens when we accept Christ as Savior, God’s gift of salvation.

“…God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba Father!’” Galatians 4:6b (NIV)

This meant everything to me then and now. Because my earthly-father story includes chapters of abandonment, a longing to know my biological father, dreams to be loved by a father, and a redemptive ending that still amazes me.

You see, every Father’s Day I celebrate three fathers.

First, during my dad’s absence, a wonderful stepfather came into my life as a young girl. Wendell loved and cared for me like his own flesh and blood. Since fatherhood runs much deeper than bloodline, he’s an amazing dad.

Next, my biological father came back into my life in elementary school. And we slowly rebuilt a father-child relationship again. But he was an atheist. So as soon as I became a child of God, I started praying for my dad. Sixteen years and over 5000 prayers later, my biological father became a child of the heavenly Father, too.

Dad passed away in 2010. And I’m always a little tear-filled this time of year. I really miss him.

Yet, as we honor fathers this month, I also want to celebrate God as my Father.

Regardless of our earthly-father experience, God as Father, rises above any father definitions we write into our stories. He is Abba Father. Here are 10 of my favorite fatherly attributes of God.

God as Father Loves

(1) He adopted me.

Practical Prayers to Pray From Head to Toe

Often we forget to pray specific and practical prayers.

Like prayers taken directly from God’s Word that are powerful when spoken over the various areas of our lives.

This is especially true where we struggle.

So let’s address the issues we face as believers from head to toe. And these prayers include the help we need from the Bible. 

Our prayers include: our mind, eyes, ears, mouth, shoulders, heart, hands, and feet.

Everything from our head to our toes.

Practical Prayers: Mind

Father God, You created my mind, so I submit it to Your care. Help me set my mind on eternal things. And give me power to take every thought captive, making it obedient to Your truth. I cast out every lie from the enemy. Help me meditate on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and excellent of praise. Let Your Spirit renew my mind daily in Your Word. Also, give me the mind of Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Scriptures: Colossians 3:2, 1 Corinthians 2:12 & 16, Romans 12:2a, Philippians 4:8, 2 Corinthians 10:5)

Practical Prayers: Eyes

Lord, Your Word reminds me how my eyes can cause me to sin. So help me turn my eyes away from lust and temptations like overspending, addictions, and sexual immorality. Place in me a desire for integrity. Give me the strength through Your Spirit to not set things before my eyes that do not please You on television, devices, and online. Because those things never bring honor to You, but defile my flesh. And it stunts my growth in You. Instead, let my eyes be raised to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Scriptures: Genesis 3:6a, 1 John 2:15-16, Psalm 101:3a)

Practical Prayers: Ears

7 Things God Wants Us to Know About Hope

God wants us to know.

Hope is one of those words we often overuse in our daily vocabulary. Such as hoping to get something good to eat, for a good income tax return or not have to pay too much, to land a new job, and so on. But God wants us to know more.

We underestimate the power of hope in our lives and in the heavenly realm. Perhaps, you relate to these 7 things God wants us to know.

(1.) God wants us to know we are never far from hope. 

Hope. In tragedy, it is there. During dark moments, it covers with light. It soars above despair. Life brings hurt, heartache, and disappointment. 

And hard places dissolve every ounce of faith. But in an uncertain world, there is an undeniable hope, an unshakable anchor for our soul. As the unexplainable happens in life, there is a promise that brings hope near. 

(2.) We choose between hope-less or hope-filled. 

Because the world only offers hope that fades and fizzles away. But God offers the kind of hope still standing when all else fails—a foundation on something outside of this world. 

Although hope seems intangible in how it’s not seen or touched, it is something we can know exists and then grab ahold of. 

Therefore, the perfect place to search is God’s Word. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13, ESV, emphasis mine)

(3.) God wants us to know we can personally know the Hope-Giver. 

Connect Who You Are to Whose You Are

Every step closer tied my stomach in knots. On the kitchen counter laid the evidence that my biological father existed. 

Around seven-years-old at the time, my birth certificate brought a painful reminder that my real dad was missing from my young and vulnerable life (both me and my twin sister).

Although I had a new dad enter the picture, my wonderful step-father Wendell, who loved and cared for me. 

Still, my heart ached to know deep down:

Who am I? 

And more importantly, Whose am I?

Likewise, have you ever struggled with questions about identity? We discussed identity in Christ recently. Yet, we need to take it a step further.

Who and Whose 

Sometimes we separate who we are with whose we are. But the two were always meant to be one and the same.

My father came back into my life a few years later. And my last name had already changed to my step-father’s with my adoption. Then, my name changed again, back to the original family surname, when the adoption was deemed as not valid.

My sister and I lived with one dad (step) and visited the other. I wasn’t sure whether or not to call both “Dad.” Because they were different as night and day in personality, discipline, showing affection, communication, and opinions.

It was all confusing.

Identity and Belonging

When I came to know Christ as Lord and Savior at sixteen, I began a new life in Christ with a brand new father, my heavenly Father. 

And God, the Father, not only wants us to rest in who we are in Him, but to also find our security in whose we are, we belong to Him.

Because at our very core, who we are and whose we are can never be separated. 

So let’s look at powerful declarations to connect who we are and whose we are. 

Connect: God Knows My Name

(1.)  My heavenly Father never goes missing from my life. “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5b (ESV)

(2.)  God knows my name. (Isaiah 43:1)

Treasure Hunt in the Bible: Jewels of Hebrews

Who wants to go on a treasure hunt in the Bible? It’s my pleasure to introduce a writer friend for today’s guest post, Stephanie Pavlantos. I had the honor to read through her Bible study, Jewels of Hebrews, and happily endorsed it.

By Stephanie Pavlantos

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Matthew 13:44 ESV

I’m a scientist and a researcher. I have always loved science—biology and anatomy, mainly. I worked in cancer and AIDS research, and later I worked as a histotechnologist in a hospital pathology lab. Researching comes naturally to me, as does teaching. 

Teaching is my first love. I taught biology, chemistry, and anatomy in homeschool co-ops, and the Lord called me to teach Bible studies over twenty years ago. Researching the biblical languages, culture, and history are exciting to me. 

Treasure Hunt

However, when the Lord told me He wanted me to write my own Bible studies, I was not a fan. I had no desire to write. Science people write about science, and I didn’t even care to do that. 

As I was wrestling with the Lord about writing, the Lord reminded me of the parable of the man who found a treasure in a field and sold all he had to buy the field. The Holy Spirit impressed me with an understanding of myself; I was a treasure hunter when it came to the Bible. I read scripture like someone who is searching for gems and when I find one I want to show it to everyone who will stop and look.

After I had written half of my Bible study on the book of Hebrews, the Lord reminded me of that parable again. He gave me the theme of the jewels for each chapter—a treasure hunt through Hebrews.

Family Fun: Laugh and Play More Together

In our hurry-up culture, fill-every-spot-on-the-calendar life, and present social media world, we sometimes lose sight of simple pleasures like family fun.

And we forget in all the planning and going and doing to spend quality and fun time with our family…those who mean the most to our hearts. 

Because we all need to laugh more and play more.

But you may wonder how to plan enjoyment for family members including adults and kids of various ages. Yet, most of us are big kids at heart anyway. 

Even if we’ve been adult-ing all day or all week, what better way to bring out the child in us than by a little creative recreation. Then, sometimes add in extended family like grandkids/grandparents or cousins and their parents.

So here are a few ideas with the acrostic “family fun.” I hope these activities inspire the laughing and playing often missing from our lives.

Playing and Laughing More

Fly a kite. While on our beach trip one year, we enjoyed watching a dad and his kids flying a kite near the ocean’s edge. I bet it was one of their trip’s highlights. With so many electronic devices in the hands of kids these days, why not show them a different activity by putting a kite in their hands. And take advantage of windy days in our yard or nearby park.

Assemble something as a team. Maybe a puzzle, a model car, rocket ship, new play set, swing, tent or teepee, a kite, and so on. Kids love to help and they’re invested when they get to try out the item after putting it together. What’s more rewarding and fun at the same time.

Make cookies or cupcakes and decorate. Messy hands and a messy kitchen are the recipe for both yummy and hooray. Whether small kids or teens, icing or sprinkles, admiring or tasting, baking simply produces enjoyment. A glass of cold milk never hurts either. 

4 Things That Never Define Who We Are

It seemed like she looked right through me. 

You’re the pastor’s wife? You’re not what I expected.

Have you ever been anyone’s “not what I expected”? 

If you’ve lived any amount of time on this earth, it’s highly likely. And this certainly wasn’t my first rodeo for not meeting someone’s expectations, and it wouldn’t be my last. 

The Wrong Definitions

Because all the wrong ways others attempt to define us or we attempt to define ourselves, have circulated for countless ages. Really, these false dictionary-attempting claims started in the beginning and in our beginning. 

So, let’s look at 4 things, 4 R’s, that never define who we are.

With each one, we discover how God defines who we are from the book of Truth. 

(1.) Roots never define who we are.

Plants have roots. Those of us who color our hair have roots. People have roots from childhood and family experiences.

Although I started going to church in elementary school, I didn’t have a spiritual upbringing or grounding in God’s Word. So when my parents divorced, I felt unseen and unheard and unloved. 

But when I accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior at sixteen, and later had mentors in college and as a woman, I began to grow spiritual roots. 

Our root-system in Christ most accurately describes us: loved, chosen, forgiven, and redeemed. 

If your childhood became cut off from a secure source of parents or family. If decisions in your teen and young adult years caused root-damage. Or, if your marriage feels dried up instead of nourishing, the Lord is your source of nourishment for healthy roots, now. 

As we walk closely with the Lord, we become rooted and established in the faith (Colossians 2:6-7).

Jesus establishes our correct identity in Him. 

(2.) Rejections never define who we are.