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Lenten Observations, March 14, 2026: Ephesians 2:1

 2:1 -    And  you  He made alive,   who were dead in trespasses and sins Since three key words are italicized in the first clause, I go to other versions and the Greek.  NIV:  As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, . . . The idea of being made alive reappears in verse 5.  The other major versions, NASB, ESV, and Holman, do not provide the italicized words because they aren't there in the Greek.  There's a rather cliched statement, "Jesus did not die to make bad people good but to make dead people alive." Well, He did both, but the New Testament idea of the unconverted being dead cannot be overlooked. How were we dead? In trespasses and sins, and the next verses show the extent of it. This is just one more way that the New Testament makes a clear distinction between believers and non-believers. God sees a clear difference even if it's not always visible to those around us. However, I imagine today the difference is mo...
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Lenten Observaions, March 13, 2026 - Resting point

Today marks three more weeks until Good Friday, crucifixion day. It is Friday the 13th also, a superstition that comes from 13 (Judas Iscariot, the betraying disciple, being the thirteenth, whether one count Matthias as replacement 12 or Paul*) and Friday, the traditional day seen as the crucifixion (which puzzles us because of the "three days in the grave" requirement**). I am stopping to explain what I am doing here before I move into Ephesians 2, which I noted this morning in my study is a "testimony" of individual Gentile believers in Ephesus as well as the corporate church community in that region of Turkey. I was privileged and blessed to visit it in late September/early October and it was one of three high points. No, I take that back; the whole trip was a high point that is almost impossible to process even now because so much happened. I am writing these daily posts as part of my Lent. I did not "give something up" for Lent. I don't believe in...
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Lenten Observations, March 12, 2026: Ephesians 1:15

 The subject shifts slightly in verse 15, from what we have already been granted to what Paul chooses to pray for in regard to the Ephesian church community.  15  Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,  16  do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers Two relative clauses follow this opening: that  the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,  the eyes of your understanding being enlightened  that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,  [that you may know]   what  is  the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power  which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated...
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Lenten Observations, March 11, 2016 Ephesians 1:11 - Inheritance

 I have begun to hear a term "generational wealth." Some thoughts.  Part of me does not believe in it. I think it is each generation's, each person's, responsibility to build his/her own "wealth." By wealth I mean savings and ability to take care of one's family, and to be ready through investments for the later part of one's life when working is no longer an option. It is not my parents' job to pass something on to me, nor mine to my child or grandchildren. In other one, each person fends for themselves. The alternative, to me, seems to be a sense of expectation that the previous generation owes us something, even to the point of wishing someone would die so we are rewarded with money or property we did not earn.  My parents left me no money at all. I had to put out some money when my mother passed. I do not harbor any ill will about that. She was my mom. I didn't expect anything from my mother-in-law, who willed her house to my son. It is c...
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 How often is our prayer in arrogance rather than humility? "I am praying for what I know is best for other people"? "God, give me this thing I want and make it your will for me"?  I write this today for two reasons. My husband is going to his doctor this morning, something he has anxiety about (long story), and I started to pray a very bold and presumptuous and me-centered prayer about it.  The prayer should be for his primary care physician and for his ability to explain his needs and for God's grace. And my repentance.  I bring this up because, well, it just happened and because I am concerned about my husband's health and ability to navigate the health care system (another matter entirely) and because we are moving into the second part of Ephesians 1 soon, a very intensely theological prayer Paul offers for the people of this southeastern Turkey church community. I will probably spend the biggest part of the rest of Lent on that. But not yet. First, we h...
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Lenten Observations, March 9, 2026: Ephesians 1:9-10

  9  having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,  10  that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ,  [ c ] both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. (New King James) he [ d ]  made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,   10  to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. (New International Version)   9  making known [ c ]  to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ [ d ]   10  as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in him. (English Standard Version) 9  He  [ i ] made known to us the...
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