After a crazy, busy start to my summer, I'm finally getting ready to start a new project. I've cleaned off my desk, rearranged books and made room for new 'stuff' to clutter up my area. I'm feeling some uncertainty at the same time that I feel direction. What kind of sense does that make?! So, I'm stepping out in faith and beginning to study Ephesians and prepare the study to share with my Bible study sisters. I do know that this won't be the same approach as the John study but it feels like, as we ended our groups in May with the words "Follow me", that Ephesians is the next step.
How do we live out our faith in a real, authentic, discipled lifestyle surrounded by the very real "idols" of our culture tugging at our time, our interest, our allegiance and our "obedience"? There have been so many times when I have felt so out of touch with the Lord and yet, he's never out of touch with me. In fact, he still allows me to be, as St. Teresa of Avila prayed, his hands and feet in this world. After reading in the news lately of so much tragedy - fatal car accidents, murders, natural disasters, etc. - I know this world needs to know and see the love of Jesus. The apostle Paul exhorts us to walk out our faith as children of the light, to walk in love and in a manner worthy of our calling - to make a difference. How do we live a life that attracts non-believers to the Jesus we love and serve? It's so exciting to be able to participate in someone's first-time encounter with the living Jesus as they experience his love, his healing, his forgiveness, his power to transform. That's what we offer to the hurting people we meet. The Lord can minister to others through us (in spite of us if need be), if we're willing to serve, willing to let the Lord use our time and talents, willing to go where he sends us.
I love the book of Ephesians - its prayers, its message. Paul's prayers in that book speak to me so powerfully! I'm stepping carefully into this new project. I can't attempt anything except to join with my friends and try to hear what the Lord is speaking through Paul's words to us as we make our way through this study together. I'm so blessed and privileged to know women - young and not-so-young - who are passionate about their journey with Jesus; they're serious about answering the Lord's call to take up our cross and follow him. What an incredible blessing that is!!
So, here goes!! And, in the words I pray so often from 1 Samuel: Speak Lord, your servant is listening.
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