Why good works?

 Good morning,
        I woke up early this morning and curled up under a blanket to read the book of Ephesians, while enjoying a cup of delicious Good Hope Vanilla Tea...I LOVE mornings like this!  Quiet, reflective times, sitting at the feet of Jesus to listen to what He has to say to me in His Word.  Afterwards, I came into the office to check my email...one of my brothers had sent me this link which I pass on for your encouragement.

Simple Truths
[I'm three days into the blogging world and haven't figured out how to imbed the actual video yet...that's next]

     We're told in Ephesians 2:10 that we are the workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them...over and over again in Ephesians, as you read it, you'll see the phrase "to the praise of His glory"...God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing (1:3); He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world and predestined us to be His adopted kids by what Christ accomplished on our behalf (1:4,5), in Him we have redemption and forgiveness of our sins according to the riches of Hs grace (1:7), and on and on "to the praise of His glory"...oh that we would be eager to walk in all the good works He has prepared for us for His glory.  The young man in this story may or may not have been motivated by a love for God, but he does show us plainly that as we do simple deeds of kindness we touch lives...and as true as that is, we must also ask to what end?  Is kindness a marketing scheme to increase your clientele?  Are good deeds done because they feed our pride? Humanitarians serve like crazy, often very sacrificially...and people are fed and clothed and taken into clinics, etc., but if these things are done without looking for ways in the process to offer hope in Christ, their deepest need isn't met.  Let's aim to make Jesus known in all the simple moments of our lives as He gives us opportunity...may we seek to bless others in the name of Jesus and for the glory of His great name.
     How many of you have watched a little kid walk around in his Daddy's huge-to-him shoes?  Kids want to be like their Dad's.  My husband is a route salesman for Oroweat.  Our son always wants to know the code for the bread we're eating...Oatnut, isn't that a 832 Dad?  Kids identify with their Dads and after Paul, the apostle (that is also my son's name),  tells us gobs of things our Father has been and is doing for us, lavishing us with His love and mercy, forgiving our sins, blessing us beyond our comprehension...after telling us about our Father, he tells us in 5:1 "Therefore be imitators of God as dear children."  That is what I want to do today and everyday...become more and more like my Father.  I hope you do too.  God bless you as you seek Him.