I get continually blown away by the lengths God has gone to to bring me closer to Him.  It’s almost too good to be true- the sheer extravagance of bankrupting Heaven for my perfect redemption and restoration – and perhaps it was in that head-space that some of the early church members began to ‘muddy the waters’ a bit by trying to bring back some of the old rules or old ways attached to the Jewish Law to somehow justify the lavish demonstration of God’s grace that they were experiencing. The Apostle Paul was directly speaking into that when he wrote the following in Romans 4: “That famous promise God gave Abraham—that he and his children would possess the earth—was not given because of something Abraham did or would do. It was based on God’s decision to put everything together for him, which Abraham then entered when he believed.” (Vs 13 MSG) God puts everything together for us!  He goes on to make the point: “This is why the fulfillment of God’s promise depends entirely on trusting God and his way, and then simply embracing him and what he does. God’s promise arrives as pure gift.” (Vs 16 MSG) And then, just to remind everyone why it’s pretty stupid to think we can somehow earn our gift of salvation and redemption, and the fulfillment of God’s ancient promise over His people, Paul frames the capacity of God with this incredible statement: “…the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.” (Vs 17 NIV) Gives life to the dead.  Calls into being things that were not. That last line has given me great pause over the past few weeks.  As I grow in my understanding of what it is to live in His strength and power, I also understand the power and authority God has granted me!  If the same power that conquered the grave lives in me (Ephesians 1:19-20 – thank you, Hillsong, for putting that into verse and melody), then there is something to understand about being a Heaven-breathed, blood-redeemed, God-destined daughter of the King.  I am called to be someone who calls into being things that were not. “What is it I’m supposed to call into being?” I hear you ask.  I’m so glad you asked!  How about this for a few heaven-collides-with-earth scenarios: Call into salvation, those who are lost.Call into health, those who are sick.Call into strength, marriages that are weak.Call into clarity, minds that are in turmoil.Call into peace, that which is at war.Call into light, that which is shrouded in darkness.Call into wholeness, that which is broken beyond repair.Call into usefulness, that which is discarded and forgotten.Call into hope, that which is hopeless.Call into family, those who have suffered rejection.Call into possible, that which is impossible.Call into life, that which is dead.Call into fruitfulness, that which appears barren. The power of God is, at it’s very core, a creative power.  It sees what others cannot see – like a sculptor or an artist or an architect.  We start with absolutely nothing – or sometimes with a reality that screams a different story – and our faith and our confession begin to draw out the God-reality. Can you feel that?  It’s the Holy Spirit’s power stirring within to call into being that which is not. Next week, I’m going to give you some insights into how we can practically activate that gift. Strap on your seatbelts!