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You are here: Home / Archives for Thankful

Thankful

It’s All From Jesus: A Bible Verse Study

April 5, 2019 // Esther Filbrun Leave a Comment

Last Sunday, I started reading through Ephesians, and one thing I noticed in the preface to the book in my study Bible was the mention of the words “in Him” or “in Christ” in the book. And, since I absolutely love discovering (or rediscovering!) patterns in the Bible, I though it would be fun to copy all the instances out. They were a great encouragement to me to meditate on this week, and perhaps they will be to you, too.

Due to the amount of verses (I just counted up, and there are 33 references!), I’ve limited the quotations to just the ones dealing specifically with our relationship with Christ.

There’s still a lot, though. 🙂

It's All From Jesus A Bible Verse Study 01
Farewell Spit, July 2015

“…blessed us with all spiritual blessings…in Christ…” (Eph. 1:3)

“… chosen us in him before the foundation of the world…” (Eph. 1:4)

“…he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” (Eph. 1:6)

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins…” (Eph. 1:7)

“In whom…we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated…” (Eph. 1:11)

“In whom…after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise…” (Eph. 1:13)

“…the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power…wrought in Christ…” (Eph. 1:19-20)

“…quickened [made us alive] together with Christ…” (Eph. 2:5)

“…raised us up…and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus…” (Eph. 2:6)

“…we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works…” (Eph. 2:10)

“…now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” (Eph. 2:13)

“…to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace…” (Eph. 2:15)

It's All From Jesus A Bible Verse Study 02
Farewell Spit, July 2015

“…through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” (Eph. 2:18)

“In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Eph. 2:22)

“…strengthened with might by his Spirit…rooted and grounded in love…” (Eph. 3:16-17)

“May be able to comprehend…the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge…filled with all the fulness of God.” (Eph. 3:18-19)

“…him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think…” (Eph. 3:20)

“…the truth is in Jesus…” (Eph. 4:21)

“…for ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light…” (Eph. 5:8)

I love all the promises here! We are blessed, chosen, accepted. We have redemption, forgiveness, and an inheritance we can’t even imagine. We have been sealed, made alive, raised up, brought near, built, strengthened, rooted and grounded in love…and the list goes on! I have to wonder what this list would look like if one were to go through the entire New Testament—and what about the promises in the Old Testament?

In Christ, we have been given everything. God is so good! I love how through all these verses the emphasis is always on the Lord doing this; it’s not us, or anything we have done. It’s HIM. All Jesus.

And I’ll close with one final one, which also happens to be the last one I copied out, too!

“…be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” (Eph. 6:10)

How has the Lord been speaking to you through His Word this week?

Filed Under: Thinking Tagged With: Bible Study, Thankful

Thank You for the Valley…

April 1, 2019 // Esther Filbrun Leave a Comment

A song that has encouraged me often over the years. I was just singing it the other day, and realized I hadn’t listened to it in a long time! He is so good to us! Trust in Him!

Filed Under: Christian Living Tagged With: Faith, God's Goodness, Thankful

Tasmania 2019: My Favorite Month (so far) This Year

February 14, 2019 // Esther Filbrun 4 Comments

Early this year, I was incredibly blessed to have been given the chance to go with a friend, Truly, to visit some friends of hers in a little community in the northwestern corner of Tasmania. We landed on January 1st, and the next two weeks were some of the most stretching, yet most enjoyable weeks I’ve had in a while!

Tasmania 2019 01—Leaving New Zealand
Leaving New Zealand—the Southern Alps in all their glory!

It’s a different feeling to know you’re walking into a situation where you’ll have to get to know a bunch of new people all at once…and then proceed to live with them for the next few weeks! For me, an introverted homebody that loves to have plenty of “me” time with little other interaction, the idea was a bit stressful. (Please tell me I’m not the only one!)

Tasmania 2019 02—Glacier in the Southern Alps
A glacier in the Southern Alps. So beautiful!

But as soon as I got there, I started to feel at home.

Tasmania 2019 03—First glimpse of Australia
First glimpse of mainland Australia—the beaches were gorgeous! I believe this is Mann Beach, if I matched up our place on the map properly while we were flying over.

They did an excellent job inviting us into their lives, treating us as one of their own, and sharing their joys and sorrows as we went about working and hanging out together.

Tasmania 2019 04—Tasmania from the air
I loved the golden sand on Tasmania’s beaches!

Their love was one thing that struck me the most—often, it seems like when you visit conservative Christian circles, there’s a certain amount of “us” and “you” distance automatically placed on the relationship. And as much as I hate to admit it, I know I’ve done that before, all too often, when I’m relating with people. I didn’t sense that distance when I was at Detention River, though. We were able to have meaningful fellowship, and spiritually I came away feeling very refreshed.

Tasmania 2019 05—Poppy field
Poppy fields—we passed quite a few of them on our way back from Devonport, where I landed. The poppies were to be used for morphine, I believe.

One day, we went to a beach about 15 minutes away—Boat Harbour beach. There were quite a few people there, but we found a beautiful spot to ourselves! The sand was so white, and the water warm, but still cool enough to feel really good!

Tasmania 2019 06—Boat Harbour beach

Tasmania 2019 07—Rocks at Boat Harbour beach

I don’t generally go swimming, so I enjoyed wading for a while, then went to explore the tide pools.

Tasmania 2019 08—Mussels at Boat Harbour beach
Miniature mussels, only about 10mm tall at the most
Tasmania 2019 09—Sea anemones at Boat Harbour beach
There were lots of beautiful sea anemones, slightly bigger, I think, than the ones we get in New Zealand.

I love exploring beaches different places in the world, so I was thankful to have gotten the chance to take my time here! I wanted to explore this set of tide pools (below), but everyone else was ready to go by then. Perhaps another time! This is looking north-west from Boat Harbour. Just at the base of the trees on the left (you may be able to make it out) is the tip of Rocky Cape, just a few minutes’ drive away from the community. We went there another day; pictures to follow!

Tasmania 2019 10—Looking north-west from Boat Harbour beach

Tasmania 2019 11—Unidentified flowers

Although I didn’t know I’d be going to Tasmania until early December, it ended up being a very enriching time for me. I’m looking forward to sharing more pictures with you in the coming weeks, as time permits!

For now, I’ve got a question—how has the Lord answered unasked prayers for you in your life, especially your more recent past? For me, being at the community was a huge blessing, but I had never thought to ask for that. Have you had anything similar happen lately?

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: Pictures, Thankful, Traveling

Monday Inspiration: Blessed

February 11, 2019 // Esther Filbrun Leave a Comment

The song “Blessed be Your Name” has been running through my head today. We don’t always understand why the Lord brings testing into our lives, but I am so thankful that no matter what the situation, we can still praise Him!

Today, I’m thankful for sunshine, summer weather, and a God we can rely on!

More than they... (image)

“And he answered, fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” (2 Kings 6:16, emphasis mine)

What is encouraging you today?

 

Filed Under: Christian Living Tagged With: Monday Inspiration, Thankful

Winter Wondering

June 28, 2018 // Esther Filbrun Leave a Comment

The sun has just set behind the mountains. It’s going to be another cold one tonight. These days, we often wake up to hoar frost outside and wish we could cuddle under the covers for another couple hours until the bedroom grows a little warmer.

Now is the time of year when sunsets are dusty pinks—not a huge amount of color, but beautiful all the same. It’s the time of year when few birds flit around, but the ones that are still here are precious and welcome. They carry the promise that winter will not always be here—that just as cold has slowly settled onto the land, warmth will follow with a riot of color and mud come spring. This is the time when multiple hot drinks are the norm on chilly days, and soft, fuzzy blankets are a must. When reading in a cozy spot is an absolute delight. When candles burn brighter, and we let them go longer, because their soft, hazy glow is such a delight on chilly evenings.

Winter Wonderings

As much as I used to hate winter, I’m learning to embrace it. Yes, it’s cold in the mornings—but when the sun breaks into the world, you feel like cheering. There’s a beautiful view of the mountains from the kitchen where I work, and I’ve grown to really appreciate seeing the sunrise reflecting in oranges and pinks on their peaks first, then fuller in paler yellows as the sun gets higher, before it finally touches the high board fence around the garden and the green fern trees within it and voila! another day has begun.

Winter has put me into a meditative mood.

I wonder about why it’s so hard for me sometimes to be thankful, to see the blessings around me, when it used to come naturally like a needle in a seamstress’s hand.

I wonder why I don’t blog very much, even though I still enjoy the idea and used to love sharing my musings on my own online platform.

I wonder why my sourdough bread is turning out with consistent results, and my yeast bread isn’t—with the same recipe, week after week.

I wonder what the gardens of our souls will be like in another ten or fifteen years. Are there things I’m not watering and feeding that I should be? Or things that I’m over-emphasizing right now?

I wonder what simple, childlike faith really looks like. When encrusted with do’s and don’ts and preoccupations and misconceptions, life can get muddly (is that a word? probably not…I’ll go with it anyway).

I wonder at the beauty and simplicity I see in bare tree branches with little buds prepared, just waiting for the whisper of warmth to breathe through their twigs and announce “life has come!”

And I wonder…when that same Voice whispers in my heart, do I listen?

So while I continue catching glimpses of sunrises and sunsets, and birds talking in the trees outside, I will wonder. I will live each day with hope of being able to serve my Savior more. I will keep seeking for beauty, reaching for stars. And maybe—in the looking, wondering, and trusting—I will find that though I may wish for parts of my life to be different, the life I’ve been given is already more enough. Even in winter.

Like Spurgeon so ably put it,

“Beloved, it is not the office, it is earnestness; it is not position, it is grace which will enable us to glorify God. […] [B]e not discontented with your calling. Whatever God has made your position, or your work, abide in that, unless you are quite sure that he calls you to something else. […] Fill your present sphere to his praise, and if He needs you in another He will show it you.” (From Morning & Evening by Charles Spurgeon, June 27 evening reading)

Let’s discuss: What are you pondering right now? What are you appreciating about your season right now?

Filed Under: Life, Thinking Tagged With: Thankful, Thoughts

“I Get To!” (Life Update)

March 15, 2018 // Esther Filbrun Leave a Comment

One thing that’s become clearer and clearer to me over this past week is the fact that I need to work on developing better daily and weekly rhythms. No longer am I working three-hour days; when I work, I’m doing nine-hour days! That makes a significant difference in the amount of time I have in a given week—not to mention the fact that after I get home from an 8-5 day, I don’t have a whole lot of extra energy left to do much else (yes, mothers, you are allowed to laugh).

My weeks are definitely going by a little faster than I was used to, but I’m loving it, too. 🙂 And I definitely don’t have any grounds to complain!

In the three days per week left to me to do things, I’ve been working at a myriad of jobs. Last night, I finally sat down and took five minutes to write out all the things that I really need or want to get done in the next month:

River Rocks

  1. Finish my aunt and uncle’s wedding video (I got the files for this 2 1/2 years ago…it’s about time I finish it, methinks!)
  2. Sand, stain, and varnish my new (old) wardrobe (this has been in progress since soon after we moved here—my sister and I need it for our room, and preferably the sooner the better!)
  3. Catch up on book reviews (I’ve finished quite a few books lately…and am set to do more soon)
  4. Get the category sorting function on my new website figured out (this has been waiting for several months now)

Most of these jobs are ones that will take several days apiece to do—and that’s not counting the ones I need to complete on a weekly basis (like bread making) or roughly once a month (like uploading new book reviews to the website).

But wow. I look at that list and think, “how many people out there have time to even think about jobs like this?”

Two or three weeks ago, I came across an interesting point about the Indians that lived in the Pacific Northwest: “Because food and wood [were] easy to gather, the Northwest Indians [had] much leisure time. Their lives [were] full of playacting, dancing, and singing.” (From A History of Us, Book 1 by Joy Hakim.)

I have to wonder, statistically speaking, how many people these days do not have time for things like this—or “relaxation” as we know it at all!—simply because it’s a daily fight for survival. It’s a struggle to even find a little food to feed their family.

None of those jobs listed above would be on my to-do list if I lived in a country where food was scarce. If anything, they would be a someday/maybe dream. That fact makes me feel very thankful. My food almost always appears, ready to eat (thank you, Mom!).

I live in plenty. So even if I struggle with a very first-world problem of figuring out prioritization and how to get the most out of my days, I know that I am blessed. Of course, there are the negative aspects of having too much plenty, but that’s a completely separate topic!

For now, I’m choosing to focus on the fact that I get to do these things, when for many people it’s an impossible dream. That it’s a privilege. Remembering that cuts down on the overwhelm factor quite a bit.

But, seriously—getting overwhelmed over something as trivial as what I should do with my days?

Okay. I’ll stop. But thanks for sparking the thought, Mr. History Book.

Let’s discuss: What are you working on right now? What are you thankful for today?

Filed Under: Life, Thinking Tagged With: Thankful, Thoughts

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Hi! I’m Esther, lover of the Lord Jesus Christ and brainstormer behind helping families find good books (read more about that here). My goal is to live a purposeful, fulfilling life—whether that is in what I read, write, cook, design, or do with my wonderful siblings. My life is full and often messy. But God is good. Welcome to the adventure!

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