Category: Ephesians

  • Coffee and Pizza

    God hardwired us all to be different

    mug of coffee and slice of pizza

    One of my favorite breakfasts is a cup of coffee and a slice of pizza. The pizza must be leftover from the night before and eaten cold from the refrigerator, and the coffee must be fresh and hot. 

    Pizza is one of those foods that is good the night before and great cold the following day. It’s probably not the healthiest breakfast in the world, but what can I say?

    There are scientific reasons some foods are better the next day. One source says, “The breakdown of complex carbohydrates into simpler sugars can intensify sweetness, while proteins and fats break down into savory amino acids and fatty acids, enriching umami flavors. Cooling and reheating also play a role, as they can alter the texture of the food, making it more tender and palatable.”

    Some of you think my breakfast choice is “gross,” while others think it sounds like a good breakfast. You see, God doesn’t create us all alike. Each one of us is an individual, and while we might have similar likes and dislikes or similar backgrounds, no two of us are exactly alike.

    It’s like snowflakes or fingerprints. Out of all the billions of people who have been born or all the innumerable who will come, no one is exactly like you or me.

    God’s fine hand of craftsmanship created each of us for a different purpose. He’s given all of us a special purpose in life, a unique ministry, a contribution to be made for all eternity. None of us are here by accident. None of us is without a divine purpose.

    For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 ESV

    Think about what a blessing that is. God made YOU unique because He has something that only YOU can do in mind. That means every person, young or old, rich or poor, Christian or non, has value beyond measure.

    It’s ironic that we go to great lengths and travel vast distances to see the world’s treasures and wonders when the real treasures are all around us. 

    The person you love is a treasure in God’s eyes. The person at work who makes you crazy has value beyond measure. The street person, the criminal, the person who you disdain because of their lifestyle or skin color, all are valuable in God’s eyes. 

    When you look down on or mistreat them, you look down and mistreat the wonders of God.

    Until next time, I pray God gives you the eyes to see how unique and wonderful you are and how valuable ALL the people around you are in His sight (even those who like coffee and cold pizza for breakfast).

    Kevin

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  • Celebrate your identity in Christ

    Fireworks against an urban skyline

    My goal today is to provide you with a small taste of who you are in Christ, no matter what comes.

    If you belong to Jesus, you are safe in His hands.

    I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one. John 10:28-30 ESV

    You are sealed.

    In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guaranteeof our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory Ephesians 1:13-14 ESV

    You are an overcomer

    For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 1 John 5:4 ESV

    You are a new creation.

    Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

    You are being made complete.

    I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 ESV

    You are loved and adopted into the family of God.

    Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love, He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. Ephesians 1:4-5 ESV

    We may stumble and fall, but in Him, we are secure. Nothing can take us away from him.

    Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39 ESV

    Times might get hard, and the world might turn its back on us. We might face struggles or persecution. Whatever comes, my dear friends, we will remain victorious in Christ.

    As we celebrate the coming New Year, let’s remember the one who stepped out of glory to reconcile us to the Father. Through Him, we have the victory. That’s worth celebrating.

    May you come to truly understand who you are in Christ and give Him the praise and honor due His name.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

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