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High time I came back to Brook of the Willows myself.

It’s been quite a while since I came here to post my thoughts. I have been on a personal health journey that I will explain soon but for today this is what I want to share. Let’s start with a Word in Ephesians.

Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: KJV

Over the last few months, I have been learning how to really take in the Word of God. I’ve learned that it has to be digested. The Word can become like a good satisfying meal if we take the time to savor it.

The Word also says in, Psalm 34: 8 Oh taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Just like I hope you would not rush through a wonderful meal, I hope you’ll linger here awhile with me. Paul became chosen by God on the road to Damascus. It changed his entire life. A life he never went back to. A life so changed that he wrote much of the New Testament that today you and I can receive so much benefit from. Isn’t it amazing that a man who was so against Christians became such a source of Christian encouragement?

He starts by offering the Ephesians a place to begin. Grace and Peace from God the Father and Jesus. That’s where I want to start today for you. All of us need Grace and Peace spoken over our lives. We are living in a world where that is in short supply. So much chaos and bad news confront our lives every day. Not to mention what each of us faces personally. That’s why here at Brook of the Willows, I want it to be a place you will want to come for a “time out” from whatever is shaking your life. Let your mind settle in right now for a minute by taking a deep breath and receive that Peace. Whatever is demanding your time and attention can wait for a few minutes while you relax here.

Good.

Now let’s read together what Paul has to say next.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.

My goodness. It’s like opening a gift on Christmas morning! We have been blessed by God with ALL spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. If you know the Lord then you know that where He is so are we. We are in Him and He is in us. Which means that we live in a Heavenly place. A place where all blessings are available to us. Have you ever thought about that? What are those blessings? Well, we know that Grace and Peace are two of them. Rest, Love, Comfort of the Holy Spirit, Kindness, Joy; the list goes on. The problem for most of us is that we either don’t know what is available to us or we don’t stop long enough to enjoy what has been given to us.

Oh, if we would only come to know God for who He really is! How much He longs to have a personal and intimate relationship with each of us. To understand how much He wants to walk with us every day. To share in every aspect of our lives. To bless us, strengthen us, encourage us, and listen to the cries of our hearts. I don’t know about you, but one of the things my life has always desired was to “be chosen.” Here Paul is telling each of us that we HAVE been chosen. Not by another person, but by God Himself!

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,

Before each of us was ever born, God said, “I choose Sue. I choose (put in your own name.)” Think about that for a minute.

You and I were going to come into this world not by chance but by choice. There are no accidental births. God wanted you and me here.

I don’t think we give enough thought to the miracle of birth. No matter under what circumstances, each of us should be seen as a person that God designed and sent here for a purpose. But let’s not stop there. There is more Paul has to tell us.

that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

All of this Word is blessing me as I write it but this especially. I was raised by someone who didn’t think my life certainly seemed holy or without blame to him. In fact, just the opposite. There was no love. Maybe you know too what it feels like to just be tolerated. To not have any words of kindness or acceptance ever spoken to you. At times I felt more like a nuisance. When our childhood starts out that way it often gets carried into our adult life. We end up searching for something or someone to make our lives have meaning. To be shown some Grace, to have some Peace, to feel chosen, and certainly to feel Loved.

Well, if you are someone who has found your way here to Brook of the Willows, then you just found that some One who can give you all that.

God.

Maybe you came here by accident. Maybe you weren’t thinking about God at all. But just maybe you should while you are here. I would hope that at some time in your life someone has said, “God loves you.” to you. If not, I’m saying it to you today.

I hope you’ll spend some time here thinking about what you have just read and even more, carry it off with you. These words are not just for my life today, (although I need them too) they were meant for you to share in also.

You are so precious to God. He longs for you to come to Him. To have a real relationship with Him.

Stay awhile and come back again.

I bless you.