Family Blog - Ephesians 1:17-19
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Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, prayed a simple, but powerful prayer for the Ephesians. As leadership, we are asking our members to pray this prayer along with us - for both ourselves and others in the church. We believe if we commit to praying this prayer - from our hearts, not just our heads - our Heavenly Father will grant us this request...
"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe." (Ephesians 1:17-19a)
Now personalize it for yourself and our church...
"I ask you God, the glorious Father, and God of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you may give me and the members of our church the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that we may know You better, Father. I pray also that the eyes of our hearts may be enlightened in order that we may know the hope to which You have called us, the riches of Your glorious inheritance in the saints, and Your incomparably great power for us who believe."
I'm In!
Will you commit to daily pray this with us? If so Email Dan I'm In! and we will put you on the list below. And as our Father in Heaven begins to answer this prayer, please blog us a note by Emailing Dan Your Blog and story of our Father answering your prayer and it will be reviewed and posted...
Who is "IN" thus far to pray this prayer?
- Steve Woodrow, Dan Bosko, Billy and Natasha Linn, Tom and Dee Balderston, Curt Larson, Jennie Contreras, Carter Budwell, Mark Kirch, Drew and Noelle Larson, Beth Seeman, Brent and Daniella Phillips, Marcos Rodriguez, Tim and Ann White, Sharon Barnes, Ann Marcus, Bobbi-Ann Houtsma, Kimberly Grandy, Bryan Stinchfield, Yvette Trincado, Maidy Reside, David and Estela Cockrell, Maureen Phillips, Laurie Danks, David and Ellen Forsman, Fred Dick, Brunhilde Schloffer, Clint and Jade Phillips, Robin Galambos, Kathy Pike, Bob and Linda Brining, Wendy Nevins, Lisa LeMay, Kyle and Sarah Taylor, John and Annette Laverman, Jessica Lahey. Marion Melville, Gail Otte, Karen Houston, Tim and Marina O'Keefe...
Blogs (most recent first)
Tim White, 7-2-08 (2:25pm)
I could fill many, MANY pages with all that HE has done for my family and I since we began coming to this church in 2004. Tonight is no exception. It's 1:08am as I write and initially it seemed like just another in a long string of nights wondering why I have such a hard time moving my lips in conversation or prayer with my Lord. Why is it SO hard to speak to, or with him in light of the fact that he wants to be my friend and for most of my life that's all I have ever really longed for as well. In my mind, I confessed to Him that I don't know how to be a friend, much less HIS friend. Finally, I opened my mouth and started by asking what are we, who are we that you are mindful of us, that you care so much for us. A short time later I asked for wisdom, revelation, and an open heart . . . .. . . moments later, a couple of minuets maybe, he brought to mind a conversation that I had earlier this evening with my kids.
The catalyst for this conversation was a disappointment I had with one of them that turned into a reminder for several of them that I expect a lot of them, that to whom much is given much is required. And as these things usually go, I was fairly stern and got the impression that I was, once again, alienating instead of expressing my love and concern for them. As it turns out one of them was upset because my wife and I were arguing again, however it took A LOT of effort, patience, and reassurance for that truth to actually be revealed.
Here is what my LORD revealed to me this evening:
I could not understand my child's reluctance to respond to my question about what was bothering them, so I said things like, "You can come to me and ask anything. No subject is off limits." "There is no reason to be afraid, I won't be angry with you." "Please share whatever it is that's on your mind." Still I had no response. During my waiting and comforting my mind was searching for a possible reason that they would be so afraid to talk to me. Don't they know that I love them? Don't they know that I want the best for them? Don't they know that they can trust me?
The LORD drew a straight line in my mind from that conversation to my tight lips and I realized that He is giving us the same assurances and asking us the same questions. He knows our thoughts, but our LORD wants to hear from us as well. Conversation creates rich loving relationships. When our words are just ritual what we end up with is religion and we should expect no wisdom or revelation beyond the hypocrisy of our actions.
I praise GOD that HE is at work in this wonderful community and that I have the great honor and privilege to be a part of. I am also reading Eph 3:14-21, & 2Cor 9:6-15 and I want this community to know that I have found in you the generosity described in 2Cor and the Love of Christ proclaimed in Eph. Praise GOD that his Glory has manifested itself in you! Now I am going to follow our pastor's lead and live in expectation of more than I can ask or imagine.
Robin Galambos, 6-26-08 (8:17pm)
I love that our church family is praying scripture together! I look forward to seeing God move in amazing and mighty ways!
Lisa LeMay, 6-27-08 (8:31am)
Please count me in as one of the many praying Eph 1:17-19. I am so looking forward to seeing how God will work in us and, more importantly, through us to grow in the chuch and the whole Aspen community. His plan will be awesome as it comes to fruition! Thanks for becoming my church home! Crossroads is a blessing in my life!
Drew Larson, 6-24-08 (11:38am)
Noelle and I have committed to pray Ephesians 1:17-19 everyday with expectation. I felt God speaking to me through the message on Sunday and have been encouraged greatly as we have prayed this prayer since Sunday. Noelle and I are so excited to see our Heavenly Father on the move as we never have before!
Dan Bosko, 6-21-08 (1:15pm)
The past year has been nothing short of amazing for me in this area of understanding the Father's love. I have listened to tapes, watched dvd's, read books and most importantly, come back to the our Heavenly Father's written Word to look for more about what He has to say to us about His son Jesus, the Holy Spirit and Himself. I have been especially moved by Roman's chapters 5-8 as I now see the Father in those passages like never before. Like Roman's 5:5,10 where it reads,
"For the love of God (the Father) has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit... while we were enemies (lost) we were reconciled to God (the Father) through the death of His son."
To see how the entire God-head has worked together (Father, Son and Spirit) with the purpose of reconciling the Father's lost children (me and you) to Himself. I am just moved by the imagery ofour mountains and thinking of myself as this helpless hiker lost in the back-country trying to find his way home and how my Dad sent out this amazing search and rescue guide (Jesus) looking for me that he may guide me back home and into the loving embrace of my concerned Father. For me, that is the foundation of our Christian faith... being rescued and returned into the arms of our loving heavenly Father.
Anyways, I, like Steve, look forward to hearing your stories and being encouraged by how the Father is revealing Himself to you as well.
Steve Woodrow, 6-21-08 (9:39am)
As I have been praying this prayer over the last couple of weeks it has really transformed my thinking about prayer and challenged what I am really seeking from my heavenly Father. Meshell and I have made a commitment to pray this prayer over our children with great expectation. It really revealed how small our prayers and expectations for them had been. It also has been good accountability for us to spend good time in prayer together. In light of the prayer for spiritual wisdom and revelation Meshell and I also are pursuing the gifts of: prophecy, word of knowledge and wisdom, (1 Cor 12:7-11) so we can better minister to others in these areas. Now, for my recent experience with my heavenly Father: I have been trying to give more time to listening, desiring for my Father to speak to me. Recently, He said to me these simple words: “Love them with My Word.” This has revealed to me that I have been more about trying to convince with logic and win an argument than lead people to the heart of my heavenly Father! More to come… Can’t wait to read how others are experiencing the Father’s heart!!!
Who's Next? :)
As always feel free to contact any of our staff, elders or leaders if you have questions. Or Email Dan.
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