Author Archives: Marilyn

A LETTER WITH YOUR NAME ON IT!

Do you have a box of treasured letters in the attic or in a special drawer somewhere in your house?  Perhaps you have saved them because they are part of your family history or your own romantic story or they may be the letters you wrote to your parents during your adventures some years ago.  For centuries these kinds of letters have formed the basis for many of our best historical books as well as biographies.  While the greatest percentage of our personal communication now is done by phone or electronically, would you agree there is still something very special about receiving a letter? Words and ideas you can read and savor again and again?

We can only imagine what it must have been like for the people in Ephesus to welcome Tychicus back from his visit to Paul in Rome.  They, no doubt, eagerly came together to hear what Paul had to say in the letter he sent to them.  How many times did someone re-read it to them so they could begin to talk about the things that were important to Paul?  Did they make handwritten copies of it so they could share it with neighboring churches?  Did they grasp the grandeur of his presentation of what it means to be “in Christ” and what it looks like to “live life as God’s dearly loved children”?  While we don’t know the answers to questions like this, we do know that from those early beginnings of the church, God has continued to accomplish His purposes through those who belong to Him.

So, today, through the amazing vision of God’s people, we have this letter preserved in our Bibles, so we can read it, study it, and understand in much clearer ways what it means to be “blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ”.  We can, like the first century believers, “be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and become mature”.  Want to learn more about these amazing truths?  You are invited to join our 7 week study of this important letter written to the Ephesians and to us!  You will be richly blessed and inspired.

Go to www.westudytogether.com to print out the lessons located under the heading “Current Study”.

Weekly introductions for each lesson will be sent via e-mail each Thursday to all subscribers beginning Thursday, June 25, 2026.

Better Nutrition and Flavor

These days many people want their physical food precooked, prepared, processed, and packaged. Quick, easy and convenient is a priority. Nutritious and delicious is a bonus. Has it ever occurred to you that we have similar preferences when it comes to our spiritual diet? We are busy people so it is easiest to turn to…Continue Reading

IN THE GOOD OL’ SUMMERTIME . . .

Looking for a great new Bible study for yourself or your small group for this summer? Check out our 7-week study called “Because of HIS Great Love” – a study focused on Ephesians. We’ll explore what it means to be ALIVE in CHRIST – both the riches and the power that are available to all…Continue Reading

Through Experiencing Loss and Suffering – Introduction Lesson 5 – May 21 – 28

GRIEF – it’s a complicated human experience, isn’t it?  There is no immunity shot to prevent it or lessen its impact on the body, mind and spirit.  How would you define it?  The dictionary says it is, “intense mental anguish, deep remorse, acute sorrow”.  To grieve is “to be sorrowful to lament, mourn”.  Whether the…Continue Reading

Through Understanding God’s Compassion – Introduction Lesson 4 – May 14 – 21

What would you say is the difference between sympathy, empathy and compassion?  Perhaps it will help to clarify the differences between them if you think of individuals who exemplify each of them.  While these words are closely related, they are not synonymous with one another.  Sympathy means you can understand what the person is feeling.  Empathy means that you…Continue Reading