Texting

There are some places in the Scriptures in which I just want to step back and say, "Thank you, God." It seems Eugene Peterson got there too.

14 My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, 15 this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. 16 I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength— 17 that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, 18 you'll be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! 19 Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.
20 God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

21 Glory to God in the church!

Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!

Glory down all the generations!

Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!
Eph 3:14-21 (MSG)

I'm going to be working through that text tomorrow from the personal to the corporate or church point of view.

So many of us - so many people and so many churches, need to humble ourselves and admit that if we are to succeed in expanding the kingdom of God - it will be through the power of the Holy Spirit, not the next big thing.

We need to focus on growing - growing deeper in Christ and doing everything we can to bring others deeper into Him.

We need to live lives of extravagant grace and generosity, all the while pointing back to the source of our power and giving Him the glory for everything.

Glory!