Ephesians 3:16-19

16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 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, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. -Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV)

Amen!

Eph 2:10

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  -Eph 2:10 (NIV)

I am incredibly thankful for the opportunities afforded me to take actions upon which i can be proud.  Lord knows, I'm not proud of everything I've done, but I can be proud of the things I do today, and it's not that hard. I don't have to go looking for the good I am meant to do. It's already been prepared for me.

John 6:29

“Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”” -John 6:29 (NIV)

this one for me is difficult. granted it would be good for me if I an judged on my faith, and not so much on the sins if my past, but I was taught that to believe something is to know it to be true, blind faith, without question. maybe I was taught wrong?

if you tell me something, and I believe you, I don't know it to be true. you could be lying, you could be unsure yourself, but if I believe you it's because I choose to believe you, probably because I've chosen to trust you.

Isaiah 26:3

"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you." -Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

Am I steadfast? I'm not there yet, but at least this verse includes a solution...

Trust in you

Romans 12:4-5

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” -Romans 12:4-5 (NIV)

I think I'm inspired to know that I don't have to be like everybody else, in fact, I'm not supposed to be. I'm intended to be different, unique, to serve a purpose all my own. You are no more justified to tell me to be a Christian like you than I would be you me.

Psalm 119:165

“Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.” -Psalm 119:165 (NIV)

I never understood that, until recently. Like that passage, Psalm 1 I believe, his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law doth he mediate day and night.  Why would someone delight in more rules and restrictions?

Today I see things differently. Following the rules keeps me safe. If I think of Peace as a lack of anxiety, then it's easy to see how living within the rules brings peace.

Psalm 116:1-2

“I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.” -Psalm 116:1-2 (NIV)

when I talk to god I usually feel heard. I feel like I can always turn to him for anything, no matter how big the mess is that I'm in, no matter how much that mess is entirely my fault.

I think sometimes the answer to my cry for mercy is, "well now Jonathan, you have to suffer these consequences, but I will suffer then with you."  maybe having to face the challenges presented by my own choices is somehow true mercy...

...or maybe it's that I never have to face them alone.

Psalm 94:18-19

“When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” -Psalm 94:18-19 (NIV)

I was telling my sister recently, when life is difficult there is no question in my heart, my faith is strong; but when life is good then I get all philosophical, I question everything.

I don't really question the existence of god, that he loves me and provides for me. I question the holy scriptures, the inspired word of god.

regardless, this scripture reigns true in my heart. I know that when things seem impossible, I always have a place to which to turn.

Romans 8:32

“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” -Romans 8:32 (NIV)

all things in this context I'm sure doesn't include all things, does it? or it doesn't mean in this life, does it? are we talking material things? spiritual things? c'mon, what are the parameters of this promise? I'm probably missing the point.

god spared not his own son for me, so why do I worry so over material things, spiritual things, all things far less significant than the son of god?

Out of gas

We passed in Biddeford recently a gas station, and I remembered...

Thirteen years ago I stopped in that gas station, almost out of gas, and prayed. a man approached me and asked if I was John Williams son. I said that I was and he told me how much my father had been a blessing to him and wanted to know if there was anything he could do for me...

So I asked him for some money for gas.

Awake, O sleeper

Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.  -Eph 5:14 kjv

Dad, I'm sorry.  I didn't want to argue with you.  I just wanted to spend time with you and enjoy that time.  There rarely seemed to be any agreement between you and I concerning things of the spirit.

Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.  -Eph 5:17 kjv

I think my life today gives honor to you and God.  I think to say that I know God's will for my life would be arrogant.

But when anything is exposed and reproved by the light, it is made visible and clear; and where everything is visible and clear there is light.  Therefore he says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine (make day dawn) upon you and give you light. -Eph 5:13-14 amp

I try not to have secrets.  Granted I don't share everything with everyone.  I didn't keep secrets from you, Dad.  I shared everything with you.

...Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead...

Powerful.  That speaks to me.  And yet I don't get it.  It seems in context here it has something to do with keeping my life transparent.

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.  For it is a shame event to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.  -Eph 5:11-12

Harsh.  Come on, God, seriously?  If this really is your inspired word, don't you think that's a bit much?  I hate the absolutes.  If I do something of which I am not proud, I have to talk about it.  If I keep it a secret it only grows more powerful.

Whatever.  I don't get it.  The only thing I know for sure is that I don't know anything for sure.

John Williams Gone

My father (John) passed away nine days ago.  The Morning Sentinel published the obituary and a touching article about his life.

• Article
• Obituary

I just read the article I posed in June wondering why my dad tried so hard to share what he believed.  In perspective it seems pretty simple.  My dad wanted me to know God the way that he knew God.