For This Reason...

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 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.
 ²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. -Ephesians 3:14-21

This is my favorite prayer from the Bible.  I remember the first time I read it.  It was just before I began teaching Sunday school for the first time, and I felt the Holy Spirit sweep through me as I read this prayer.  Even to this day, each time I read it, I feel the presence of the Holy Spirit.  It was the beginning of a ministry of "evangelism within the church" to which I have since felt called.  And this prayer says everything that is in my heart that makes that call clear to me. 

Over the years I have answered this call in a variety of ways... teaching Sunday school, teaching confirmation and adult Bible studies, leading VBS and getting more adults involved than kids, sponsoring people for VDC and writing these daily devotions.  I also feel like my job working at church often helps fulfill this calling too.

I know that most, if not all, of those who attend Holy Cross regularly believe in Christ.  I like to think I have a small hand in bringing those who merely "believe" into discipleship... into living a life that reflects Christ in their daily lives.  And it is this prayer that lives in my heart that helps me to continually refocus on that call.

Thank you Lord that your call to each of us is as unique as we are.  Help us all to find that call and do our best to live up to it.  Amen.

Joys:  a good Mexican lunch for Cinco de Mayo; gorgeous Spring day; FRIDAY!