1470-1485, Ephesians 4:17-20

Blessings
1470. Matt hiding all the sweets in the house from me - and me not going on a massive sweet hunt (YES, this is a blessing :-P)
1471. Cole "alright, LETS GO" - his enthusiastic reply to just about everything these days
1472. Blake giving Cole potty lessons
1473. Matt swinging by the grocery store just about every afternoon - and with a good attitude
1474. Hope that one of these days I'll get our meal plan and shopping days organized
1475. A God who loves me despite my imperfections
1476. A tough conversation with friends turning out just fine
1477. Friends

Blessings in the word
1478. MUST - leaves no doubts
1479. the LIFE OF GOD
1480. The reminder not to HARDEN my HEART
1481. the WAY OF LIFE I learned when I HEARD ABOUT CHRIST
1482. TRUTH IS IN JESUS
1483. The concept of PUTTING OFF and PUTTING ON
1484. The hope of BEing made new (and knowing way down deep that even though it doesn't feel like it some days, this has already begun and will be a life long process)
1485. I (we, if you're a believer) have been CREATED TO BE LIKE GOD IN TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS

Ephesians 4:17-20
¹⁷ So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. ¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. ¹⁹ Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

 ²⁰ That, however, is not the way of life you learned ²¹ when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. ²² You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Quick Thoughts

Ah, if I could only figure out the balance between my choices and the Holy Spirit's action.  I tend to either try to hard and get discouraged because of my lack of perfection, or not try much at all and say it is supposed to be an act of the Holy Spirit - not of my own will.  What I feel like God is calling me to lately is to truly try my best, but know that He is there to hold me, love me, and comfort me when I mess up (rather than accuse me and discourage me...we all know where accusations come from)

Praying the word

Lord I thank you for the directness of Paul's command for obedience.  Thank you for the reminder that we MUST NO LONGER LIVE...IN FUTILITY OF our THINKING.  Oh Father, how I beg you to protect me and help me no longer be DARKENED IN my UNDERSTANDING and SEPARATED from the LIFE OF GOD BECAUSE OF THE IGNORANCE THAT IS IN me DUE to the HARDENING OF my HEART.  There are so many areas in my life in which I HAVE LOST ALL SENSITIVITY and so often I INDULGE in all KINDs of IMPURITY.  And Lord, I am FULL OF GREED.  Lord thank You that you have so much more to offer than this.  Thank You so much for introducing me to the WAY OF LIFE I can be a part of because I have HEARD ABOUT CHRIST.  Thank You that I have been TAUGHT IN you and that TRUTH IS IN JESUS (apart from Him I am and can do nothing).  Oh Father, please teach me how to PUT OFF my OLD SELF, WHICH IS BEING CORRUPTED BY ITS DECEITFUL DESIRES.  Help me BE MADE NEW in the ATTITUDE OF my MIND and to PUT ON THE NEW SELF.  Jesus, thank you that you have CREATED me TO BE LIKE GOD IN TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS.  I feel so far from this, but knowing that I have the potential because of You is wonderful Lord.