Category: Philippians

Posted on

Give Thanks

The sun hasn’t come up yet but I know it will so I will give thanks. The birds haven’t started singing but they will soon and I await their song with a grateful heart.

I haven’t spoken to my children yet but I know that their texts and calls will come today so I say “thank you Lord” for blessing me with their lives. My husband is still sleeping but when he wakes up he will give me a kiss and tell me he loves me and so I will give thanks.

I have strength and health this morning so I give thanks. There is electricity in my home and food in the cupboards so I give thanks.

There are so many things to be thankful for I just have to give thanks to the Lord for He is good!

“Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble. And He saved them from their suffering. 20 He sent His Word and healed them. And He saved them from the grave. 21 Let them give thanks to the Lord for His loving-kindness and His great works to the children of men! 22 Let them give Him gifts of thanks and tell of His works with songs of joy.” Psalm 107:19-22 NLV

We have much to be thankful for. Personally you may be in a difficult spot, things may not be as you would like them to be but God is in control and He can be trusted, so trust Him.

The Israelites left Egypt and immediately began to complain, they didn’t see God’s vision for the future but it is good, very good. The disciples complained to Jesus that they didn’t have enough food to feed the 5000 – all they had were five loaves of bread and two fish. But God had a plan and everyone ate their fill and then they collected the leftovers.

“Do not worry. Learn to pray about everything. Give thanks to God as you ask Him for what you need. 7 The peace of God is much greater than the human mind can understand. This peace will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NLV

Pray about your needs, give thanks and let your heart be filled with peace.

Give thanks!

Posted on

Mistaken Identity

Yesterday Dave and I went for drive to some small ranching towns near where we are camped. I was talking about a friend who lives there and how it’s been over thirty years since we’ve seen her. I wished we had thought to contact her and tried to arrange a meet up.

We stopped at a bar-b-que place for lunch and were seated near the window. Dave looked out and said “I think that’s her”. I did a double take and sure enough, it looked like her. I headed out of the restaurant and down the street. I called her name but no response. When I got closer I realized it was a case of mistaken identity and I apologized to the woman.

It was a disappointment to say the least.

Has anyone ever mistaken you for someone else? I know I’ve had it happen to me a few times. It’s pretty easy to do. It’s also something that happens every day when it comes to character.

A person who is clean and sober runs into someone they knew when they were an addict and they get treated as if they hadn’t changed. A person who was selfish and self-indulgent turns over a new leaf but they’re held at arms length by those they have slighted.

David, the shepherd boy, had a case of mistaken identity. Golaith, the seasoned warrior, mistook David for an unskilled, scrawny youth. What Golaith didn’t see was the bold, God-fearing, young man who had killed a lion and a bear. Goliath’s case of mistaken identity brought him to his death.

“Every child of God can defeat the world, and our faith is what gives us this victory.” I John 5:4 CEV

We are as guilty as Golaith in some of our misjudgements.

We look in the mirror and see ourselves as weak or inadequate. Moses told God that he couldn’t deliver the Israelites because he stuttered. But God saw the man Moses was on the inside and used him anyway. I’ve heard it said that God doesn’t choose the qualified, instead He equips the willing.

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” II Corinthians 5:17 NLT

What are some of the things you, or others, have been saying you can’t do? You’re not qualfied, you’re not equipped to handle. We have a new identity – we are empowered by God for the task at hand.

“I can do all things because Christ gives me the strength.” Philippians 4:13 NLV

Don’t look back at who you once were. Look forward at who God has called you to be!

I am so thankful for my new identity in Christ!

Posted on

Good Things

Every day we live is designed to have a purpose. Every day!

This morning I found that purpose spelled out so clearly in the small book of II Thessalonians.

“Our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father loves us. Through His loving-favor He gives us comfort and hope that lasts forever. 17 May He give your hearts comfort and strength to say and do every good thing.” II Thessalonians 2:16-17 NLV

We are to say and do every good thing. Now I know that is a monumental task but we aren’t told to do it in our own strength. Not at all. We receive the strength from our Father who loves us and gives us hope.

We have this promise from God’s word: “I can do all things because Christ gives me the strength.” Philippians 4:13 NLV

He has promised that Christ will give us the strength we need to do ALL things and part of that ALL is saying and doing what is good. Now, I haven’t accomplish this yet but I am working toward that end.

Let’s break this down. Take the next five minutes. Commit to saying and doing good. We can do that. Now, look down the road an hour; break it up into smaller segments. We can do this! But our focus must be on the doing and the saying and not on the actions or the words of others.

“Christian brothers, keep your minds thinking about whatever is true, whatever is respected, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever can be loved, and whatever is well thought of. If there is anything good and worth giving thanks for, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8 NLV

Did you see what Paul said there? Keep your minds thinking on what is good, or better said on Who is good.

Take Daniel for example. Daniel, a young man, was taken as a prisoner from his home in Judea to Babylon. There he was put through a training course that would make him a good palace slave.

Daniel kept his mind on the good things of God even in small things like his diet. He refused to eat anything that God had said no too and he excelled in his countenance and strength. He went to work in the palace and only did what he knew would please God. Because of these actions he was trusted and promoted in the kingdom. He became second to the king. Even when those around him plotted to trap him and see that he was sentenced to death Daniel did the right thing.

If Daniel could do this as a prisoner, a slave, then I know that we can do it in our own homes and places of work. The same God who strengthened Daniel will strengthen us!

And when we fail and get derailed from our purpose, God is faithful to forgive us and set us back on track.

I am thankful that Paul reminds us of the Father’s love and also the love that Jesus has for us. If we keep their love as our center focus it will provide us with the strength we need to say and do everything good.

Posted on

Another Project Begins

I’ve been talking with a number of people who have been doing some very involved DIY projects over the last few months. Years ago a friend of mine, who was going through a home remodeling, told me that that the most important part of the project was having a good marriage. She said the renovation was so stressful at times that she would have given up and lived in rubble if it hadn’t been for the strength and encouragement of her husband.

One of our daughters’ and her husband just completed a complete make-over of their travel trailer; floors, walls painted, cabinets, new cushions, table tops, the works. A friend of mine started slowly with her projects- the master bathroom needed new fixtures. Now, her walls have been painted, new light fixtures added, the garage cleaned and organized, new furniture has been ordered, and some rooms have been rearranged.

Today we start a new project ourselves. In December, we bought an 5th wheel travel trailer. It’s over ten years old and the interior is very nice but dated. Dave and I have been planning this all summer. Dave actually started in July by changing out some of the flooring before we started off on our three week trip. But today is the day we start with the walls and the cabinets.

We’ve taken inventory of what we had and what we needed to buy. Supplies have been gathered and it’s time to begin. We can see in our mind’s eye the completed project. It’s going to be hard work but the end result will be worth the effort.

It’s not hard to relate the changes we make in our homes, our hairstyles and our wardrobes with the changes that God makes in us. Just yesterday I was talking about something and realized I shouldn’t have said what I did and right out loud I said “Father, I’m sorry I shouldn’t said that. Thank you for correcting me”. I’m being changed daily by His grace.

“For by His loving-favor you have been saved from the punishment of sin through faith. It is not by anything you have done. It is a gift of God. 9 It is not given to you because you worked for it. If you could work for it, you would be proud. 10 We are His work. He has made us to belong to Christ Jesus so we can work for Him. He planned that we should do this.” Ephesians 2:8-10 NLV

In one version of these versions it says we are His workmanship. God, the Father, has lovingly designed each one of us for good things. He wants nothing but the best for us. At times, it seems like we are under construction; there is painter’s tape on our walls, some rough edges that need sanding, our counter tops may be covered with drop cloths and supplies but the Master Craftsman can see the finish product and it makes Him smile.

“I am sure that God Who began the good work in you will keep on working in you until the day Jesus Christ comes again.” Philippians 1:6 NLV

Lord, thank you for loving me enough to do a good work in my life!

Posted on

Sweeter Than Honey

When I was a girl one of our best friends was a bee keeper. Since we didn’t have aunts and uncles around, the Smith’s were the closest thing we had to family. When we would go to their house, out in the country, there were always bee boxes lining the fields and the honey barn was at the back of the yard. We never left their place without a gallon can of honey.

Nothing better than honey on toast or a freshly baked buttermilk biscuit except, maybe, the kind words of a friend.

“The heart of the wise has power over his mouth and adds learning to his lips. 24 Pleasing words are like honey. They are sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Proverbs 16:23-24 NLV

One of the things we covered on being “in Christ” was having right thinking. Right thinking produces right actions and right words. Words that are sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. The verse that tells us to “Think as Christ Jesus thought” comes from the book of Philippians, chapter 2. Just a few verses further in that chapter we read this:

“Do everything without complaining or arguing.” Philippians 2:14 ERV

Do EVERYTHING without complaining…Really God? ALL things! Yes, all things. Because as the verse goes on to say we will then be a light in the dark world. If we, who believe in Christ Jesus, and have received His wonderful gift of sonship go about complaining all the time, we are no different from the rest of the world. How will they know that there is victory and hope if our lives don’t reflect that Christ is living in us?

“so that you will be blameless and pure, children of God without any fault. But you are living with evil people all around you, who have lost their sense of what is right. Among those people you shine like lights in a dark world,” Philippians 2:15 ERV

It’s so easy to complain about our kids, mates, jobs, health, finances, the politicians, the weather, etc., but we must resist that temptation and live in what God called us to do. When we control our words we prove that we have a wise heart.

Paul, who wrote this verse while he was in prison had been beaten, shipwrecked, stoned, and run out of nearly every town he preached in but he didn’t complain. In fact, he would sing and praise God in the midst of his adversities. He called them “light afflictions”.

There was a Disney movie in the late 1950’s called Pollyanna. Pollyanna always had something good to say no matter  how bad the situation was. She brought gladness to the most sullen souls in town. Her attitude helped people see past their disappointments and brought them healing from their pain.

“Your words can be as satisfying as fruit, as pleasing as the food that fills your stomach. 21 The tongue can speak words that bring life or death. Those who love to talk must be ready to accept what it brings.” Proverbs 18:20-21 ERV

When we speak words of life, words without complaining, we are a testament to God’s power in our lives. We have so much to be thankful for – do all things without murmuring or complaining .

Rejoice in the Lord always because He is the one who can and will cause us to be victorious.

Posted on

Everything I Need

If you started making a list of everything you need how long would it be? Not talking about your wants or your wish list but the things you really need. Did you know there is an “In Christ” verse to cover that?

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 NLT

As I was sitting here and thinking about what my day has in store I found that in Christ He has already supplied all that I need. Just like Noah was kept safe in the Ark, I am kept safe in Christ. 

    He became my sin so that I could become his righteousness

    He took stripes on his back so that I could be healed

    He told me to come boldly to his throne to find help (Him) in time of need

    He became my strength when I am weak

   He became my peace when things around me are in chaos.

    He gave me a cup that runs over when the enemy is trying to steal, kill and destroy

   He gave me wisdom when I asked for it

What more could I ask for? Then these verses came to mind, this is the right kind of thinking.

“ You have been raised to life with Christ. Now set your heart on what is in heaven, where Christ rules at God’s right side. 2 Think about what is up there, not about what is here on earth. 3 You died, which means that your life is hidden with Christ, who sits beside God. 4 Christ gives meaning to your life, and when he appears, you will also appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4 CEV

Not only do we have God’s promise to be all we need here on earth but we have His promise that our life is hidden in Christ and we will be with Him in heaven.

He is ALL I need!

Posted on

Right Thinking

Thinking like Jesus is our thought for today.

“Think about what we have in Christ: the encouragement he has brought us, the comfort of his love, our sharing in his Spirit, and the mercy and kindness he has shown us. If you enjoy these blessings, 2 then do what will make my joy complete: Agree with each other, and show your love for each other. Be united in your goals and in the way you think. 3 In whatever you do, don’t let selfishness or pride be your guide. Be humble, and honor others more than yourselves. 4 Don’t be interested only in your own life, but care about the lives of others too.

5 In your life together, think the way Christ Jesus thought.

6 He was like God in every way, but he did not think that his being equal with God was something to use for his own benefit. 7 Instead, he gave up everything, even his place with God. He accepted the role of a servant, appearing in human form. During his life as a man,
8 he humbled himself by being fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death—death on a cross. 9 So God raised him up to the most important place and gave him the name that is greater than any other name. 10 God did this so that every person will bow down to honor the name of Jesus. Everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth will bow. 11 They will all confess, “Jesus Christ is Lord,” and this will bring glory to God the Father.” Philippians 2:1-11 ERV

A few days ago we saw where God the Father was in Christ to fulfill His plan of reconciliation. And now we receive this admonition from Paul to “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus”. We have the mind of Christ when we are born again. We have the Holy Spirit in us creating God-like thoughts and inspiring us to do God-like actions.

Our thoughts are created by what we hold in our heart. Jesus came to earth with the goal of serving man and telling them of God’s love. His heart was filled with love – love for the Father and love for those who accepted and those who rejected Him. His thinking and His actions didn’t change because of what others thought or did to Him. He was single-minded.

The Apostle Paul, who wrote those verses in Philippians, also gave us this instruction in the Book of Romans.

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.  2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2 NLT

These verses above teach us how to develop that thinking. We are to be humble and loving, placing God’s desires over ours. If we copy the pattern that Jesus gave us our thinking will be completely transformed.

So I will say with the Apostle Paul today – Let this mind be in me, I want to think like my Father!

Posted on

No Need to Hide

Are you crazy or delusional? You can’t be happy all the time! Really?

You’ve got your head stuck in the sand – you just need a good dose of reality!

Ever heard those kind of comments – I have! But what people are really saying is “what gives you the right to be so happy when I am so upset?”.

“Always be filled with joy in the Lord. I will say it again. Be filled with joy.” Philippians 4:4 ERV

There’s a difference between happiness and joy, or at least there is to me. Happiness is our positive reaction to external circumstances. Joy is a character trait that comes from within. Happiness is an emotion that fluctuates; joy is a stabilizing confidence.

I choose to be joyful. I choose to see that God has more in store for me that I can fathom; I see God’s love sustaining me no matter what the circumstances are in my life and so I chose to be filled with joy!

I like me better when I’m joyful. I don’t like being grumpy or aggravated. I just don’t. Those conditions tell me that I’m looking at me. I’d rather look at God the Father and be reminded of His amazing love.

“Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. 3 Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. 4 But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4 AMP

We need to practice being JOY FILLED! I went to bed last night humming a praise song that we sang Sunday morning and the words are still in my heart this morning. It is the reason I choose to be joyful regardless of the circumstances. 

You're my champion 
Giants fall when You stand 
Undefeated Every battle You've won 
I am who You say I am 
You've crowned me with confidence 
I'm seated in the heavenly places 
Undefeated with the one who has conquered it all.
Source: "You are My Champion" Lyrics: Dante Bowe

Fill up your joy reservoir and as you go throughout the day. Share it with others. When asked why you are smiling so much or why you’re so happy, let people know that “God loves me” and that’s more than enough reason to be glad. Joy comes from knowing Jesus is always with us and He has faced any struggle, any trial, any circumstance that would try to destroy us. He is greater than Covid, He is greater than social distancing. He has conquered it all and because of that I am filled with confidence. Confidence of who I am in Christ!

“I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace as you trust in him. Then you will have more and more hope, and it will flow out of you by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 ERV

Posted on

True Freedom

This morning started a little differently for me. I woke at 2:30 and thought I should sleep just a little longer…Yikes! Woke at 4:50 am. My youngest daughter and I had committed to walking the “God Shed His Grace on Thee” 5k so I had enough time to change out of my jammies and into my walking clothes. We were out the door by 5:05.

We participated in a virtual 4th of July 5K. Walk done. Cool down in progress and now it’s time to share some thoughts on freedom with you. True Freedom.

On this day of independence, it’s important to remember that we are truly free through our relationship with Jesus Christ. We are no longer held captive or enslaved by sin and/or the devil because the Son, Jesus Christ, broke the chains of bondage and set us free! Hallelujah!

“So if the Son makes you free, you are really free.” John 8:36 ERV

Our nation was founded by men who were seeking a better way of life; an opportunity to achieve life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. They trusted in God’s leading and direction in the founding of this nation.

Many of us have become disheartened, during the recent past months and years, by the events taking place in our nation. But one thing has not changed, God is still, and forever will be, Lord God Almighty who rules and reigns in mercy, truth and justice!

We can trust Him and Him alone! He is our hope, He is our peace, He is our joy, the Everlasting God!

“Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Don’t tremble with fear. I am your God. I will make you strong, as I protect you with my arm and give you victories” Isaiah 41:10 CEV

Kingdoms and nations will rise and fail but the kingdom of God and the liberty that we have in Christ will remain forever. We should be grateful to live in this country that we have but the most important thing of all is that our citizenship is secure in heaven.

“But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.” Philippians 3:20 NLT

Make today a celebration of freedom!

Posted on

How Much Longer?

Are you beginning to wonder “how long can this go on”? Or perhaps you’re saying “I don’t think I can take much more”, “I just can’t do this any longer”? Well I have good news for you today!

In II Kings, chapters 6 & 7, the king of Syria (Aram) brought his army against the Israelites and they had surrounded Samaria and cut off all the food supply to the city. The situation became so grave that people in the city were eating animal dung and there were even reports of cannibalism. They were in a desparate place – hope was all but gone.

There were four lepers who were outside the city wall and they asked a question: “Why are we sitting here waiting to die? 4 There is no food in Samaria. If we go into the city, we will die there. If we stay here, we will also die. So let’s go to the Aramean camp. If they let us live, we will live. If they kill us, we will just die.” II Kings 7:3-4 ERV

How long will we sit here, until we die? It was time to do something even if it meant that they might die. They couldn’t go into the city because there was famine in the city, if they stayed where they were they would starve to death and if they went to the enemy camp they also faced the possibly of death but they had to do something. So they went.

I’ve faced some difficult situations but none have been this serious, how about you?

When the lepers got to the enemy camp they found that the army had fled and left all of their food, clothing, horses, tents and gold.

“So that evening the four lepers went to the Aramean camp. When they came to the edge of the camp, no one was there! 6 The Lord had caused the Aramean army to hear the sound of chariots, horses, and a large army. So the soldiers said to each other, “The king of Israel has hired the kings of the Hittites and Egyptians to come against us.” 7 The Arameans ran away early that evening. They left everything behind. They left their tents, horses, and donkeys and ran for their lives. 8 When these lepers came to where the camp began, they went into one tent. They ate and drank. Then they carried silver, gold, and clothes out of the camp and hid them. Then they came back and entered another tent. They carried things out from this tent and went out and hid them. 9 Then they said to each other, ‘We are doing wrong! Today we have good news, but we are silent. If we wait until the sun comes up, we will be punished. Now let’s go and tell the people who live in the king’s palace.’” II Kings 7:5-9

Through these four lepers, the outcasts of society, God provided for the whole city. They were men in a desperate situation and in that situation they saw God work a miracle for them personally and for their city.

We are told in the Book of Acts that God is no respecter of persons and He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Book of Hebrews). Now I’m not saying that we’re going to go out today and find an enemy camp with horses, clothing, food and gold but I am saying that God will provide. Our desperate situation isn’t desperate to God. He has the answer and is providing a way. One of God’s names is “Provider” and His name is a reflection of His character.

“Abraham named that place ‘The Lord Will Provide.’ And even now people say, ‘On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.’” Genesis 22:14 CEV

“My God will use his glorious riches to give you everything you need. He will do this through Christ Jesus. 20 Glory to our God and Father forever and ever.” Philippians 4:19-20 ERV

Again, we come back to putting our hope in God. When we trust Him and follow what He calls us to do we will find Him there to help.

“So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:16 CEV

Privacy Policy Proudly powered by WordPress