Category: Philippians

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Seeds of Promise

Since the beginning of the year, I have been sharing on the importance of planting the seed of God’s word in our lives. Jesus, Himself, said our hearts are like soil – some hard, some stony, some has thorns, and some is good and rich.

Yesterday I told you about the way my love for God’s word began. I encouraged you to read just a few verses a day but make those verses relevant, life changing. The Apostle Peter made a bold statement to Jesus. He said, “You have the words of life”. Absolutely true!

Since God’s word is seed and our hearts are soil, I want to help you plant your spiritual garden. We’ll start with seeds of joy, peace, protection, healing, forgiveness, strength and wisdom. Seeds that will grow and bring a harvest for the rest of your days.

Just pretend we are opening those packets of seeds you see in the store each Spring and planting them in your garden.

Peace: “God, you give true peace to people who depend on you, to those who trust in you. 4 So trust the Lord always, because in the Lord Yah you have a place of safety forever.” Isaiah 26:3-4 ERV

Joy: “You have shown me the path to life, and you make me glad by being near to me. Sitting at your right side, I will always be joyful.” Psalm 16:11 CEV

Protection: “Live under the protection of God Most High and stay in the shadow of God All-Powerful. 2 Then you will say to the Lord, ‘You are my fortress, my place of safety; you are my God, and I trust you.’ 3 The Lord will keep you safe from secret traps and deadly diseases. 4 He will spread his wings over you and keep you secure. His faithfulness is like a shield or a city wall.” Psalm 91:1-4 CEV

Healing and Forgiveness: “My soul, praise the Lord! Every part of me, praise his holy name! 2 My soul, praise the Lord and never forget how kind he is! 3 He forgives all our sins and heals all our sicknesses. 4 He saves us from the grave, and he gives us love and compassion. 5 He gives us plenty of good things. He makes us young again, like an eagle that grows new feathers.” Psalm 103:1-5 ERV

Strength: “Christ is the one who gives me the strength I need to do whatever I must do.” Philippians 4:13 ERV

Wisdom: “If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking. 6 But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm. ” James 1:5-6 CEV

Help: “Praise the Lord! Every day he helps us with the loads we must carry. He is the God who saves us. Selah 20 He is our God, the God who saves us. My Lord God saves us from death.” Psalm 68:19-20 ERV

These few verses are the seeds of life. Tend them well, they will produce an amazing harvest.

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In the Storm

Peace. Simply put: to be at rest. Some see it as the absence of confict but I want to show you that we can be at peace in the midst of a storm.

I’ve been reading in Luke for over a month now but the last few days I have been reading about the final days of Jesus life. He was celebrating the Feast of the Passover with his disciples. He told them that the broken bread and the wine represented what was about to happen to Him. He told them He would be betrayed.

Do you know their reaction? They began arguing about which one of them would do such a thing and then they began to argue about which one of them was the most important to Jesus.

Oh, my goodness!!! If I had been Jesus I would have left them all. But instead, Jesus began telling them that He was praying for them and gave them instruction on how to live once he was gone.

He took them to the garden where He went to pray. He told them they needed to pray so that they could remain strong. Jesus then withdrew, going a little farther and prayed for Himself. He knew what was about to happen.

In His humanity, He didn’t want to face the cross and the horrible death of crucifixion but in His divinity, He knew he was the only one who could be the sinless sacrifice. Only He could be the one to redeem us all and reconcile us to the Father.

“He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.” I John 2:2 NLT

He went through great conflict and turmoil in battling His mind and emotions but came to peace, He was resolved in His spirit!

When Judas betrayed Him with a kiss there was no ridicule or retaliation, when the soldiers were placing him under arrest there was no fight. He was at peace!

Jesus was living the words He spoke to the disciples hours earlier.

“I leave you peace. It is my own peace I give you. I give you peace in a different way than the world does. So don’t be troubled. Don’t be afraid.” John 14:27 ERV

The Apostle Paul tells us this:

“Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. 7 Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.” Philippians 4:6-7 CEV

Are you in the middle of a storm today – do you feel like you’re about to be crucified? Perhaps you’ve received an adverse medical report or it could be your company is planning massive layoffs and your future is uncertain. Whatever you are facing rely on the kind of peace that only God can give.

In the midst of the storm, don’t be troubled, don’t be afraid; let the peace of God control the way you think and feel.

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Living on Purpose

Did you wake up this morning and establish a purpose for your day or will you just “wing it”? Taking each day and giving it purpose is a rewarding way to live, even on those days when you seem to have no agenda at all.

This morning I would like to give you a few verses that came to mind as I was praying and hope that one of two of them will strike a chord with you. God’s word has a way of bringing direction even to the most common of days.

“This is what I command you: Love each other as I have loved you. ” John 15:12 ERV

“Christ is the one who gives me the strength I need to do whatever I must do.” Philippians 4:13 ERV

“It is good for people to be kind and generous and to be fair in business.” Psalm 112:5 ERV

“ I pray that God will take care of all your needs with the wonderful blessings that come from Christ Jesus!” Philippians 4:19 CEV

“Obeying your instructions brings as much happiness as being rich.” Psalm 119:14 CEV

“If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking.” James 1:5 CEV

“Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 CEV

Now, I ask you to please take the time to read those verses over again. Let one or two stick with you throughout the day.

I hope you find yourself drawing from God’s word today – I promise, it will give your day purpose!

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New Thinking

Do you remember a couple of weeks ago when I shared the story of Mary and Martha with you? Jesus told Martha that Mary had chosen the “one thing” that was most important, listening to His teaching.

Each word that Jesus spoke, each word that was recorded, each word that is written in the Bible is for our instruction and benefit.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” II Timothy 3:16 NLT

Jesus was teaching a large group of disciples and He told them that He was the bread of life. They thought Jesus was teaching cannibalism and instead of asking Him to explain further they got offended and walked away. Jesus asked His apostles if they were going to leave as well.

“ The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life…66 At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. 67 Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” 68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:63-69 NLT

It would be easy to criticize those that walked away if it weren’t for one thing. I too have been offended at times by things I read in God’s word. Things like “judge not” or “how many times do I forgive, 70 x 7”. In my selfishness and hurt I have gone to the Scriptures to find justification for my actions and instead find correction – don’t gossip, forgive…again, be patient, love your enemies, be generous, don’t harbor grudges.

Sometimes we have to let God’s word simmer for a while. You know what I mean?

When I read a verse or a group of verses I don’t quite understand or that are pointing out an area of correction that I’m not quite willing to deal with, I let them sit in my heart and mind. I ask the Lord to give me understanding and insight and a desire to change. I want to be willing to let His word work the change in my heart that He desires.

“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had…13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” Philippians 2:3-5,13 NLT

Focus on one thing today – thinking like Jesus! I can guarantee life will be fuller and more rewarding than ever before; it won’t be easy but it will be worth it!

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Added Strength

I sometimes wonder what it must have been like to be with Joshua and Caleb as they were crossing the Jordan River into the land God had promised.

They were the oldest members of the community, each one was eighty. Everyone was younger, but none seemed to have any more determination, strength of character or soundness of mind than they. They were respected leaders.

Where did this vitality come from? We find the answer in the Lord’s instructions to Joshua.

“Joshua, I will always be with you and help you as I helped Moses, and no one will ever be able to defeat you.

6-8  Long ago I promised the ancestors of Israel that I would give this land to their descendants. So be strong and brave! Be careful to do everything my servant Moses taught you. Never stop reading The Book of the Law he gave you. Day and night you must think about what it says. If you obey it completely, you and Israel will be able to take this land.

9 I’ve commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the Lord your God, and I will be there to help you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:5-9 CEV

A while back I found myself voicing concern that I didn’t have the strength I did as my younger self. It didn’t take long for me to realize that the Lord was about to correct me in my assessment. It’s never been about “my” strength anyway, it should always be about His ability working in me and through me.

“With all my heart I praise the Lord! I will never forget how kind he has been. 3 The Lord forgives our sins, heals us when we are sick, 4  and protects us from death.
His kindness and love are a crown on our heads. 5 Each day that we live, he provides for our needs and gives us the strength of a young eagle.” Psalm 103:2-5 CEV

There is still so much I know the Lord has for me, and for you too. It’s about drawing on the strength that He provides for each day, the strength of a young eagle. We all get weary, tired and need rest but our times of rest shouldn’t find us complaining about how tired and weary we are, they should be times of renewing and refueling by finding focusing on God’s word and His strength.

King David who wrote Psalm 103 was talking to himself, encouraging himself in all that God’s provides. One version of those verses says, “Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me”!

In my words it would be “soul and mind get in line and look at all the marvelous things the Lord has done. He forgives my sins, heals my body, protects me crowns me with love and kindness. Each day He provides for my needs and gives me strength when I am lacking. I will certainly praise the Lord for that.”

“Christ gives me the strength to face anything.” Philippians 4:13 CEV

Start this new day, this new week, knowing the Lord has provided us with all the strength we need.

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Bitter Fruit

We have a beautiful orange tree at the back of our lot. The fruit grows large and has a beautiful color but we warn everyone not to pick or eat the fruit.

It’s full of thorns and bitter as medicine.

They are called an ornamental orange, many of them have been planted throughout the Phoenix valley because they look beautiful all year round. But to give you an idea of how bitter the fruit really is even the javelina won’t eat them. Personal experience tells me to leave them alone.

This morning I was focused again on prayer. I remember a time when I was bitterly complaining to the Lord about a situation that just wasn’t right. I may have even used a swear word or too when I was talking to Him.

What a sharp contrast to the words of one of our verses yesterday, “Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done”. There is no room in our relationship with the Lord for bitterness and complaining. He wants us to rid ourselves of this destructive behavior and focus on His goodness and provision.

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT

That doesn’t mean that we can’t or don’t come to the Lord when we are upset, angry, heartbroken or even complaining bitterly but what it does mean is that when we leave our prayer time we leave the bitterness and murmuring there. The Father knows our heartaches and disappointments so we can be honest with Him, asking for His help. Taking on an attitude of joy and thanksgiving because we know He has heard us and will intervene in our situation.

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and sing praises to Your name, O Most High. 2 It is good to tell of Your loving-kindness in the morning, and of how faithful You are at night, 3 with harps, and with music of praise. 4 For You have made me glad by what You have done, O Lord. I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands. 5 How great are Your works, O Lord! How deep are Your thoughts!” Psalm 92:1-5 NLV

Murmuring is a lot like that ornamental orange tree. We can disguise it as concern or our desire to correct a wrong, making our complaining and criticism look good on the outside but inwardly there is bitterness.

“The Lord is right and good in all His ways, and kind in all His works. 18 The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. 19 He will fill the desire of those who fear Him. He will also hear their cry and will save them. ” Psalm 145:17-19 NLV

When we pray about the things that bother us or are unjust He hears us and will save us. Our job is to let Him do it in His own way and with His best timing.

Let’s not be like that bitter orange but instead be a sweet fruit of joy.

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Saying Yes and Amen!

This morning I have just a few more verses to share with you on prayer. These are verses that have held me stable in my prayer life for years. First let’s take a look at what it means when we say “Amen” at the end of our prayer.

“The Son of God, Jesus Christ, the one that Silas, Timothy, and I told you about was not yes and no. In Christ it has always been yes. 20 The yes to all of God’s promises is in Christ. And that is why we say “Amen” through Christ to the glory of God. 21 And God is the one who makes you and us strong in Christ. God is also the one who chose us for his work.” II Corinthians 1:19-21 ERV

Because we are in Christ, we have God’s yes to all His promises. When we say AMEN, we are agreeing with Christ and saying “let it be so”. We are affirming what the Father has said and what the Son has done. We are affirming that we have been given God’s great and precious promises.

“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.” II Peter 1:3-4 NLT

These great and precious promises are ours because of Jesus. We have no claim to them on our own but only through Christ. But since we are in Christ, these promises are part of our inheritance from the Father. He has lavished these gifts, the promises in His word on us, by His grace.

We don’t earn them. We can’t work for them or obtain them on our own. We receive them as expressions of the Father’s love.

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT

Our salvation is the greatest answer to prayer. If there was ever anything that we are unworthy to ask for it would be the grace of God that makes us new. Yet, when we ask to be cleansed and forgiven the Father lovingly removes all our sin and restores us to right relationship.

That’s why we have such confidence when we pray. We can thank Him for all He has done – adopting us as His own and that gives us peace, freedom from worry when we come now asking for what we need.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Philippians 4:6 NLT

Don’t let prayer be a religious habit. Pray for the heart. Give the Father a hearty amen, let it be so!

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Prayer Works

This morning I want to continue on with yesterday’s teaching on prayer. I have had people tell me, “Kristi I pray but you just never know what God is going to do”.

If that’s your attitude on prayer let me share some Scriptures that will give you a greater confidence in your prayer life.

“And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.” I John 5:14-15 NLT

Here is the biggest key to answered prayer. Asking for those things that we know please the Father. I can hear you asking, “Ok, so how do I know what pleases Him?”.

When we ask for things that He has already promised us in His word we know that those requests will be answered in the affirmative.

“ If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.” James 1:5-8 NLT

Do you need wisdom? Ask for it and be assured that God will give it to you. Do you need strength? Then ask for it because He has promised that we can do all things through Him who gives us strength.

“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 NLT

Jesus gave his disciples specific instructions on prayer. “Our Father”.

“Our Father in heaven,
    may your name be kept holy.
10 May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
    as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today the food we need,
12 and forgive us our sins,
    as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
13 And don’t let us yield to temptation,
    but rescue us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:9-13 NLT

The Father has promised to provide and we can trust Him to do just that. He provides forgiveness, He promises our need for food, clothing and shelter. He promises to give us protection from the works of Satan.

Jesus went on to say in this teaching:

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:33 NLT

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 NLT

The Father doesn’t want us asking prompted by selfish ambition but when our eyes are focused on Him and His word He says ask and you will receive.

Yes, prayer works!

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Anticipation

We should be living every day with a sense of anticipation – not fear, but excitement for the wonderful things God has planned for us!

This morning I know three small children who are waking up with anticipation. I hope their folks are too. You see, Dave and I gave the gift of experience to our youngest daughter’s family for Christmas. Today we will drive to northern Arizona, early evening we will board a train for the Polar Express experience.

The weather forecast is calling for snow this evening and tomorrow. It will be a day filled with firsts. A first train ride, not just a first for the littles but for Dave too. And a first for snow for the little ones! The excitement is building – that wonderful sense of anticipation!

“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7 NLT

Anticipation: Always be full of joy and don’t worry about anything! That is our instruction from God the Father.

This morning I was reminiscing about the last 10 years. We have had numerous moments of anticipation: the sale of our home in Montana, our return to AZ, births, weddings, home goings, cancer treatment, back surgery, full-time RV leaving. Yes, there has been much anticipation and there are new ones for 2023.

“Praise the Lord, O my soul. And all that is within me, praise His holy name. 2 Praise the Lord, O my soul. And forget none of His acts of kindness. 3 He forgives all my sins. He heals all my diseases. 4 He saves my life from the grave. He crowns me with loving-kindness and pity. 5 He fills my years with good things and I am made young again like the eagle.” Psalm 103:1-5 NLV

Remembering the past and looking forward to the future should heighten our sense of expectation. Young David, the shepherd, remembered the Lord’s help in killing a lion and a bear and so it increased his anticipation of success when he went out to face Goliath.

Moses reminded the Israelites on how the Lord had delivered them from Egypt, opened the Red Sea, and fed them with manna. These events of the past filled them with hope of God’s continued provision for their future as they entered the promised land.

“ I have been young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the man who is right with God left alone, or his children begging for bread.” Psalm 37:25 NLV

As we remember the past it should give us great anticipation for our future. God is faithful to a thousand generations – He is the Father of strength and victory. Be full of joy and free of worry as you anticipate the year ahead!

(There will be no blog tomorrow morning. I want to focus on my time with family.)

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Gift of Humility

Years ago, there was a silly county western song, “Oh Lord, It’s Hard to be Humble”, written and sung by Mac Davis.

“Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble
When you’re perfect in every way
I can’t wait to look in the mirror
‘Cause I get better lookin’ each day”

Humility is something that we have all had to battle at one time or another. Pride takes a variety for forms from self-exaltation to low self-esteem.

Think of Jesus. He was at the creation of the world; heaven was His home. He had the ability to do all things, to rule all things and He came as a baby with no reputation.

Who else had angels filling the sky and announcing their birth? Who else had the wisest men in the known world searching for Him and bringing Him gifts of incalculable value? Who else had an angel appear to His mother for his baby reveal?

“…and His name shall be called “Mighty God”. Isaiah 9:6

I still can’t get my mind around it fully – that Almighty God came in the form of a baby and subjected himself to a human life. Why? Because of His great love. From that love came His desire to see us (mankind) return to our right relationship with the Father.

“The Word became a man and lived among us. We saw his divine greatness—the greatness that belongs to the only Son of the Father. The Word was full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

How many times in a week do we complain when we are asked to do something menial, trivial, beneath us? Clean a toilet, help a co-worker with a mess they’ve made, a job that’s “below” our pay grade…

Do we take the same attitude that Jesus took? What if he had said to Father God, “ya, I’ve thought about it and decided I’m not going to earth. Those people won’t appreciate what I’m doing, they will only expect more. They won’t realize who I really am; some of them will really hate me and spend all their time discrediting me and telling lies about me. No, I don’t need that kind of treatment – I deserve better than that.”

“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.” Philippians 2:5-8 CEV

When things get hard to handle and we feel underappreciated, remember Jesus, God’s own son – He left the perfection of heaven to come to earth – “mighty God” and became a servant to all. He gave to us the living gift of humility.

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