Ephesians 5:28-33

Scripture: Ephesians 5:28-33
28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church--
30 for we are members of his body.
31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."
32 This is a a profound mystery-- but I am talking about Christ and the church.
33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Observations:

Husbands are to love and care for wives as their own bodies. They become one flesh, one body to care for. I like the analogy of feeding and caring for the body, since that's something not only necessary but also continuous. It's not something that stops for a time then picks back up. No one stops eating for a month, or bathing for 2 weeks (I hope) and in the same sense, wives shouldn't be ignored. It shows a constant regard, much in the same way that Christ is constantly caring for the church.

Application:

I think it is so applicable to my life TODAY that I'm going through these verses. Tonight I went to the "Discover the Vista" class and became a member of the Vista family. Yay! I've been in THE church, but I'm so blessed by the Vista. God definitely led me here.
God gave us a small-scale example of the union between Christ and the church through marriage. We still need "power to grasp" the concept of being loved so much by Christ, belonging to His body. Oh what love :)

Prayer:
Father, thank You so much for the structure of marriage. Help us to grasp how much You love us and how Jesus sustains the church. God I praise You for bringing me to this community and plugging me into this group. Bless and strengthen these ladies and their families. In Christ's name I pray, amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21

Scripture: Ephesians 3:20-21
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Observations
Immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.... wow. This always brings me back to healing. I have a very dear friend who is sick. I pray and pray for healing, and I have to have the strength and faith to believe God will heal. It's hard because as Christians we say "if it is Your will, God" and that's very true... but do we doubt that He would heal? He surely surely has the power to do so. I can't question that.

Application
Again, pushing my faith to beyond "reasonable"... I can't limit God. He can do IMMEASURABLY more than I can even imagine.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me despite my limited mind. Help me to have more faith, to push aside my "human understanding" and ask boldly and without wavering. Give the women of this group the encouragement they need to seek You fervently. To You, God, be all the glory, forever and ever. In Christ's name I pray, amen.