Fantastic Friday #1045 - Ascend

Ascend

8 This is why it says:

“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.”

9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) Ephesians 4:8-10

I was listening to someone talk about a book about a man that ascended the very dangerous climb up a mountain where most of his party died, and I also recently read a book about a group ascending a mountain for a higher power(fiction of course). There was danger involved in both of these climbs, but there is an ascent that is not as dangerous as a descent. What have you done this week to move from a lower level to a higher level of relationship with our Father in Heaven? The picture we need to think about is how Jesus, who ascended higher than all the heavens, actually came down to the lowest level of earth to serve and fulfill His calling. The world is a beautiful place but it can also be a swamp of disaster for those that allow the worst parts that are influenced by the enemy to encompass their entire life. We tend to get dragged down by the enemy because that is his sole goal to pull us away from ascending to our Father. We have to take steps every day to avoid descending to the level that God doesn't want us at. Keep climbing with the help of our Father, and we can reach heights you never thought you could.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #1044 - Blessings

Blessings

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
Ephesians 1:3-6

Do you think much about the blessings you receive, whether it be daily, weekly or every once in a while? Blessings are funny things, they can be the smallest impact in a brief moment, a huge immediate impact or they can be a continual blessing over a longer period of time. I think the smaller ones are the harder to acknowledge and recognize, because they can make less of a long-term impact, but they are truly as important as the long-term blessings. As I get older, I can see each and every day alive as a blessing that God has given me and my family. When you see these blessings regularly, it is easier to recognize the less noticeable ones. God wants us to be blessed, but we do have to remind ourselves that our blessings come from Him and not some unknown force or even our effort. While we might view some people as being blessed by money, cars, homes, and fancy clothes, those things can't take the place of the blessing Christ gives us with His sacrifice. We know we can't take those material things with us, but we can take Christ's love. So sit back and think what is truly a blessing and God will reveal Himself.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #1043 - Strength

Strength

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:14-16

Do you find yourself lacking the strength to make it through trials and tribulations? I have been able to observe over the last several months the growth of my grandson, and it is amazing the things that he is doing every single month. I know, by watching him, I can relate to certain areas of growth in my life that God has created for me.While the areas of growth may be over several years, I can certainly recognize His hand on me. The picture of every supporting ligament making the entire body strong is a huge visual to show that God gives us our strength to support and help us grow. I know that whenever I feel weakness, I can always turn to the strength of our supporting Father that provides every bit of power we need to make it through any trial or tribulation. That doesn't mean we only rely on Him, we need to strengthen ourselves daily against the evil that can come upon us unexpectedly, and be prepared to the handle the challenges placed before us. God makes us strong and we can rely on that always, keep in stride with his teachings and guideposts.

Have a great weekend.

Matt