Day 29  Extravagant Dimensions of Christ's Love

And I ask Him that with both feet planted firmly on love, 

you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus

the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love.

Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length!

Plumb its depths! Rise to the heights!
Live full lives in the fullness of God.
                                                                           

Ephesians 3: 17-19 The Message

Whenever I get to some words in the Bible that I think are too good to be true, I stop and ask God for clarification. “Did you really mean that the “extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love” are really available to me?” 

Ephesians 3:20 tells us that He is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, according to His power at work within us. When we sincerely commit our plans to God, His power, i.e. ability, begins to work in us. He promises to cause our thoughts to align with His will for that particular day or situation. 

God wants only good for us because He loves us so much. It’s His desire that we come to Him and work with Him rather than trying to make things work on our own. He loves to help us avoid those things that are a waste of time, money and physical effort. He wants the very best for us because we are His children and He loves us very much. 

My husband and I commit our plans to the Lord every morning and every evening we review the day and thank God for His extravagant dimensions of love towards us. We love to think His thoughts and He loves to hear our praise—each and every day!

Proverbs 16:3 NIV

I Corinthians 2:9

Ephesians 3:20

Hi everybody!

My husband and I had such a great Saturday and I can't wait to tell you about it! First of all, I want to say that God caused both of our thoughts to become agreeable to His will--and that's because we committed our plans for the day to Him. (Proverbs 16:3 AMPC) Actually, we had no plans which often is the case for us.

I walked into my office to turn off the lamp and I had a thought, "I really do need to get a new lamp because this one really wobbles." Then the thought "Nebraska Furniture Mart" jumped into my thoughts. I quickly whisked it away because going to Nebraska Furniture Mart is a huge undertaking. It takes a lot of time and energy! I walked out of my office thinking, one of these days I'll just run into a lamp somewhere and I'll buy it.

Since we had no plans for the day, we decided to make plans. The forecast predicted rain so that eliminates enjoying the park and the lake we like to go to. I said to Dave, "Your turn to make a plan." A little while later, he came up the stairs and said, "I think we should go to Nebraska Furniture Mart and buy a new lamp for your office." 

I was amazed and I groaned all at the same time. I knew we were going to go, but I really didn't want to. But it was Dave's turn to choose so off we went. Here's what transpired:

We found a parking place right outside the door when the parking lot was jam-packed with shoppers all trying to do what we were doing. 

We walked the entire department and nothing came close in style and price that we were interested---I mean NOTHING! All of a sudden I spotted a lamp that I thought was worth going toward. I liked the style and when I looked at the price, it had a bit red CLOSEOUT ITEM tag on it. The price was ridiculously low compared to so many others that we looked at.

We called a clerk over and as he was writing up the order he said, "How would you like a new one instead of this floor model at the same price?" Of course! That was God's exclamation point at the end of our story!

Dave and I rejoiced to be on the same page and we enjoyed that everything worked out so simply. Something that would have taken lots of walking and lots of time and more than likely--lots of money became a fun and easy purchase. And now as I walk down the hall and see this lamp in my office, I am reminded of the goodness of God and the faithfulness to His promises. When we invite Him, He is so willing to come.

Psalms 119:68 NIV says, "You are good, and what you do is good." 

We say it this way:     "God is GOOD and GOOD is what He does!!"

Day 28  Our Seven Day Recap

Today I am sharing a brief summary of the last seven days. If this is your first time on my blog, I encourage you to go to archives and click on April. There you will find “Day 1” which is entitled “Developing A Successful Lifestyle.” This will help you to know where we started and where we are going.

On Day 22 we learned that there is something we can do on purpose so that we can walk in peace every day of our lives. What is that “something?” Pray Proverbs 16:3 Amplified Classic Bible at the beginning of each and every day.

On Day 23 I showed you how much God cares for every aspect of our day and He wants to give us the wisdom we need to be successful—and sometimes He uses people as His “delivery agents.”

On Day 24 we learned that God has a plan for each and every day and He is more than willing to give it to us so that we can flow through the plan step by step and enjoy great productivity.

On Day 25 we learned that God is waiting for us to come to Him. One of the reasons we don’t is we God is too busy to help us with our practical, daily lives.

On Day 26 I shared with you a truth directly from God,  He said, “I will be to you as personal as you want Me to be.” Wow! There it is for the taking!

On Day 27 we learned that God wants to provide for our every need—whatever it is. Selah…..pause and think of that!

If you haven’t put Proverbs 16:3 AMPC into practice yet, I pray that what I have said so far has motivated you. And to those of you who have made it part of your daily prayer, I would love to hear how God has been able to work in your lives.

God bless you all!

Karol

Day 27 Never Alone

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs

from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19 NLT

God has unending resources to meet your every need. Paul is telling us in the above scripture that he has been well taken care of by God. This same God wants to take care of you, as you put your faith in this promise.

We’ve been dissecting Proverbs 16:3 which says, “Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him…” It’s at this moment that we sense that God is with us and that we do not have to fear. When we have unmet needs, we can invite Him to come and meet those needs, whether they are spiritual (like peace, joy, etc.) or relational (having a new friend or a spouse, etc) or financial (a new job that pays more, the sale of property, etc.)—Whatever our need is, God wants to meet it.

You might say, “Can I really trust Him to take care of me?” It’s okay to ask that question, but the answer will come as you take His outstretched hand and step out in faith.  Ask Jesus to become your personal Lord and Savior. Tell Him you don’t want to live life without Him for one more minute. Never again do you have to struggle on your own because God wants to be right there with you. He’s willing to help you, comfort you, and provide for you as you invite Him into your life.

Come, Lord Jesus, be my guest.

Day 26 What?? How Can That Be??

And I will love them and reveal Myself to each one of them.                                                                John 14:21b NLT

Did I read that right?? He promises to reveal Himself to each of us—-personally?? One morning during my meeting with God He said to me, “I will be as personal as you want me to be.” 

Selah—pause and think about that.

Because you are reading this today, that is a word from God to you also. How personal do you want Him to be? 

Do you want His advice on that relationship problem that you are facing?

Do you want Him to help you with your budget and your finances? 

Do you want His guidance as you make decisions today? 

How willing are you to invite God into every area of your life?

I like that word “invite” because I understand that word. “Come on in, sit down, let’s fellowship together concerning my day, concerning this problem or concerning this situation. Come in—I am in need of Your help and I am willing to receive Your guidance. Even if you tell me something new or something I don’t really want to do, I will follow Your commandments (remember, commandments are instructions)….I will follow Your instructions because You love me and always want me to succeed. You know how to get me from A to B today. Father, cause my thoughts to become agreeable to Your will.” Every day I choose to say, “Come, Lord Jesus--be my guest.”

John 14:21-23  NLT 

Isaiah 30:19b

Psalms 73:24 NLT

Day 25 Are You Stuck?

Are you ready to make a lifestyle change? It might be changing your career, or moving to a different geographical location or even leaving behind a tormenting behavior so that you can live free and clear of that old life.

Who understands better just how to do that? The One that knows you the best and loves you the most of course! God is waiting for you to come to Him—to submit your plans to Him so He can plant His thoughts into yours. Right out of the blue you will hear yourself say,“Here’s what I think I should do…………” You will be speaking God’s thoughts and not your own, and you will amaze yourself. I cannot tell you the number of times that ideas popped into my thinking that I could never have thought of on my own. God wants that for all of us.

He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, 

and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.

Proverbs 16:3b Amplified Classic Bible

When we don’t have God’s wisdom, we are left to our own devices. Think back to the last time you moved ahead on your own! It didn’t work out so well, did it? God wants us to submit our situation to Him and say, “I’m stuck in a place and I could do this…..or I could do that….what do You think? Put Your thoughts into my mine so I will know what to do and how to do it.”

You will show me the way of life, 

granting me the joy of your presence 

and the pleasures of living 

with you forever.

Psalm 16:11New Living Translation (NLT)

Thank You, God!

Would you like to hear from God today??

Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them.

For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].                                         

Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed. 

The above three promises from God are taken from the Amplified Classic Bible:

Psalms 139: 16

Ephesians 2: 10

Proverbs 16: 3

In what area do you need success? If you are like me, you could make a list! 

Relationships

Overcoming illness

Handling finances

Career choice

All my daily decisions

Etc……………… 

You can find the Amplified Classic Bible on the “You Version” app on your phone or tablet or at www.biblegateway.com.  EnJOY!!