Sunday, September 30, 2007
Morning Coffee is Moving!
Tomorrow, Morning Coffee will move to www.renaebrumbaugh.com . Hope to see you there!
The Important Stuff
Philippians 2:1 - 2 “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”
Being like-minded. What exactly does that mean? Does it mean we have to agree on everything? If so, then we will have a hard time finding any two people, much less any group of people, who are like-minded.
Paul was probably addressing the issue of a petty dispute which had arisen between two women in the Philippian church - Euodia and Synteche (Phil. 4:2). He never mentions the reason for the dispute, possibly because it wasn’t important. Instead, he wanted his readers to focus on the important issues of Christianity.
Many of you reading this are Christians. And as Christians, we have a fellowship, a unity with one another because we are joined in Christ. Yet, some of you are Baptist, some Lutheran, some Methodist, some Church of Christ, some Pentecostal, some Catholic, some charismatic . . .
As Christians, we don’t always agree on everything, do we? Yet, we are still in fellowship with one another. We are still united in our belief that Jesus is the one and only Son of God, and that He died on the cross in our place, to take the punishment for our sin. He rose again on the third day, and was victorious over death! It is only because He paid a price that we could never pay ourselves that we can have a relationship with God, and can spend eternity with Him in heaven.
Because we believe those things, we are like-minded, and we have fellowship with one another. We don’t have to agree on everything - just the important stuff. And disagreement doesn’t have to mean division! We can choose to disagree on minor issues, as long as we do so in a Christ-like way. We are already united in Christ. No matter what, for all of eternity, we are brothers and sisters. Now, we must act in unity, and treat one another with the same love, compassion, tenderness, encouragement and comfort that Christ has shown each of us.
Dear Father, Thank you for generously giving me your love, compassion, comfort, tenderness, and encouragement. Please help me to show that same generosity to other people. Please help me not to focus on silly, petty things, but instead, help me to concentrate on sharing Your love with the world.
Amen
Being like-minded. What exactly does that mean? Does it mean we have to agree on everything? If so, then we will have a hard time finding any two people, much less any group of people, who are like-minded.
Paul was probably addressing the issue of a petty dispute which had arisen between two women in the Philippian church - Euodia and Synteche (Phil. 4:2). He never mentions the reason for the dispute, possibly because it wasn’t important. Instead, he wanted his readers to focus on the important issues of Christianity.
Many of you reading this are Christians. And as Christians, we have a fellowship, a unity with one another because we are joined in Christ. Yet, some of you are Baptist, some Lutheran, some Methodist, some Church of Christ, some Pentecostal, some Catholic, some charismatic . . .
As Christians, we don’t always agree on everything, do we? Yet, we are still in fellowship with one another. We are still united in our belief that Jesus is the one and only Son of God, and that He died on the cross in our place, to take the punishment for our sin. He rose again on the third day, and was victorious over death! It is only because He paid a price that we could never pay ourselves that we can have a relationship with God, and can spend eternity with Him in heaven.
Because we believe those things, we are like-minded, and we have fellowship with one another. We don’t have to agree on everything - just the important stuff. And disagreement doesn’t have to mean division! We can choose to disagree on minor issues, as long as we do so in a Christ-like way. We are already united in Christ. No matter what, for all of eternity, we are brothers and sisters. Now, we must act in unity, and treat one another with the same love, compassion, tenderness, encouragement and comfort that Christ has shown each of us.
Dear Father, Thank you for generously giving me your love, compassion, comfort, tenderness, and encouragement. Please help me to show that same generosity to other people. Please help me not to focus on silly, petty things, but instead, help me to concentrate on sharing Your love with the world.
Amen
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Morning Coffee is Moving!
In two days, Morning Coffee will move to www.renaebrumbaugh.com . Hope to see you there!
True Grit
Philippians 1:29 - 30 “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.”
Paul had suffered for Christ, and he knew that other Christians would suffer as well. He wanted the readers of his letter to hold firm to their faith in the midst of hardship, just as he had. Paul counted it a privilege to endure persecution because of his belief in Christ. He knew that, although the suffering itself was not fun, it would bring beneficial results. Indeed, during those early days of discrimination and harassment, the more the Christians were persecuted for their faith, the more people seemed to rally ’round their cause! Instead of eliminating Christianity, the persecution actually helped Christianity to spread.
Just yesterday, I spoke with my dear friend about suffering. She was saddened by the illness of a loved one, and questioned, “Why do people need to suffer so? Why can’t God just stop the bad things in this world?”
You and I both know that God can put a stop to our suffering. But He doesn’t always choose to. He doesn’t cause the bad things in our lives, but He sometimes allows them, for He is more concerned with our souls than our circumstances.
I speak from experience: I have suffered. It was not fun. I would not have chosen to go through a decade of infertility. I would not have chosen to have a miscarriage at 14 weeks pregnancy. I would not have chosen to see my husband through an unknown, difficult illness. I would not have chosen many of the other circumstances in which my family and I have found ourselves.
But may I be honest with you? I am a better, stronger, wiser person because of those difficult things. God has taken me from weak to strong, from naiive to wise, from self-centered to God-centered. And though I still have many miles to travel before I become exactly who He created me to be, I am a lot closer to the mark now than I would be if I hadn’t been through the fire.
Just as an athlete must suffer if he wants to increase his strength and skill, we Christians must sometimes suffer if we want to grow in our faith. Are you suffering? If you are, I am so sorry. I truly am. But hold on, my friend! For if you have grit enough to endure the fire, the results will be beautiful!
Philippians 1:6 “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Dear Father, I don’t like to suffer. During the difficulties of my life, please help me to cling to You. And please use my circumstances to make me into the person You created me to be.
Amen
Paul had suffered for Christ, and he knew that other Christians would suffer as well. He wanted the readers of his letter to hold firm to their faith in the midst of hardship, just as he had. Paul counted it a privilege to endure persecution because of his belief in Christ. He knew that, although the suffering itself was not fun, it would bring beneficial results. Indeed, during those early days of discrimination and harassment, the more the Christians were persecuted for their faith, the more people seemed to rally ’round their cause! Instead of eliminating Christianity, the persecution actually helped Christianity to spread.
Just yesterday, I spoke with my dear friend about suffering. She was saddened by the illness of a loved one, and questioned, “Why do people need to suffer so? Why can’t God just stop the bad things in this world?”
You and I both know that God can put a stop to our suffering. But He doesn’t always choose to. He doesn’t cause the bad things in our lives, but He sometimes allows them, for He is more concerned with our souls than our circumstances.
I speak from experience: I have suffered. It was not fun. I would not have chosen to go through a decade of infertility. I would not have chosen to have a miscarriage at 14 weeks pregnancy. I would not have chosen to see my husband through an unknown, difficult illness. I would not have chosen many of the other circumstances in which my family and I have found ourselves.
But may I be honest with you? I am a better, stronger, wiser person because of those difficult things. God has taken me from weak to strong, from naiive to wise, from self-centered to God-centered. And though I still have many miles to travel before I become exactly who He created me to be, I am a lot closer to the mark now than I would be if I hadn’t been through the fire.
Just as an athlete must suffer if he wants to increase his strength and skill, we Christians must sometimes suffer if we want to grow in our faith. Are you suffering? If you are, I am so sorry. I truly am. But hold on, my friend! For if you have grit enough to endure the fire, the results will be beautiful!
Philippians 1:6 “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Dear Father, I don’t like to suffer. During the difficulties of my life, please help me to cling to You. And please use my circumstances to make me into the person You created me to be.
Amen
Friday, September 28, 2007
United We Stand
Philippians 1:27 - 28 "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved - and that by God."
Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel. Stand firm in one spirit. Contend as one man. Paul knew that his coming trial would be stressful for all believers. And stress, unfortunately, causes us all to act in ways that we shouldn't. It causes us to be rude, to argue, to fight . . . Paul wanted to warn them of the damage they could do not only to themselves, but to the future of the church if they allowed dissension to creep into their fellowship.
He wanted them to show love to the people who hated them, who hated Paul, and who hated Christ. He also wanted them to show love to each other. He wanted them to stand united, and to act as one man. His warning was important for them, and it is important to us today.
John 13:35 tells us "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." All too often, when the world looks at the church, they see fighting. Arguing. Petty disputes. No wonder they don't want to be a part of Christianity! They see people who claim one way of life, but live another. The only way that the world will know we are different, that we are Christians, is if we stand united, acting as one man, and acting in a manner worthy of the gospel!
It is my belief that Satan does not, will not destroy most of our churches from the outside. When a local body of believers crumbles, it is almost always an inside job! Christians fail to love each other. We fail to stand united, following God and following the leaders God has placed over us. We gossip and slander, we fight and argue. And instead of a fortress, we become a crumbling pile of pebbles.
But when we act like Christians should act, loving one another, standing together for Christ, we become a citadel which cannot be destroyed. Let us paste Paul's words on our hearts: Whatever happens (car trouble, disagreements, bad moods) conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Stand firm in one spirit (even when I don't get my way). Contend as one man for the faith (even when I want to do things differently than my leader chooses).
Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel. Stand firm in one spirit. Contend as one man. Paul knew that his coming trial would be stressful for all believers. And stress, unfortunately, causes us all to act in ways that we shouldn't. It causes us to be rude, to argue, to fight . . . Paul wanted to warn them of the damage they could do not only to themselves, but to the future of the church if they allowed dissension to creep into their fellowship.
He wanted them to show love to the people who hated them, who hated Paul, and who hated Christ. He also wanted them to show love to each other. He wanted them to stand united, and to act as one man. His warning was important for them, and it is important to us today.
John 13:35 tells us "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." All too often, when the world looks at the church, they see fighting. Arguing. Petty disputes. No wonder they don't want to be a part of Christianity! They see people who claim one way of life, but live another. The only way that the world will know we are different, that we are Christians, is if we stand united, acting as one man, and acting in a manner worthy of the gospel!
It is my belief that Satan does not, will not destroy most of our churches from the outside. When a local body of believers crumbles, it is almost always an inside job! Christians fail to love each other. We fail to stand united, following God and following the leaders God has placed over us. We gossip and slander, we fight and argue. And instead of a fortress, we become a crumbling pile of pebbles.
But when we act like Christians should act, loving one another, standing together for Christ, we become a citadel which cannot be destroyed. Let us paste Paul's words on our hearts: Whatever happens (car trouble, disagreements, bad moods) conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Stand firm in one spirit (even when I don't get my way). Contend as one man for the faith (even when I want to do things differently than my leader chooses).
United we stand. Divided we fall.
-- Aesop
Dear Father, Please help me to always act in a manner worthy of a Christian. Help me to love others, even when I disagree with them. And when you would have me follow instead of lead, help me to be a good follower.
Amen
Thursday, September 27, 2007
The Bridge
Philippians 1:25 - 26 "Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me."
Paul's great desire, his great joy was to serve Christ and to fulfill his mission of building the church. He knew that his death would bring great discouragement among the early Christians, and would cause a major setback in the faith of many believers. He also knew that his acquittal and release would strengthen their faith, for they would know that God alone was behind such a victory.
Paul knew that he would die. Eventually. But something in his spirit told him that God still had work for him to do. Intuitively, he knew that his trial would be successful, and that he would be set free.
This great hero of faith was devoted to Christ. He told us so in verse 21, when he said, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Christ was his reason for life and for death! For all Christians, Jesus Christ is the bridge between life and death. While we are here - Christ. When we die - Christ. Without Christ, we simply have the sentence, "For me, to live is . . . to die." We will all die. But because we have Christ, we have a reason, a purpose for both life and death.
Do you have that purpose, my friend? Are you joyful to go on living, so that you can do the work which God has placed before you? Are you joyful in knowing that death brings with it an eternity with the One you love? Or do you just live, knowing that you will one day die?
God wants, more than anything, to give you the purpose and joy that you desire. Ask Him for it, by believing in His Son, Jesus Christ. Then, you will no longer live to die. You will live with purpose, and you will die with joyful expectancy.
Dear Father, Thank you for the purpose that comes with knowing You.
Amen
Paul's great desire, his great joy was to serve Christ and to fulfill his mission of building the church. He knew that his death would bring great discouragement among the early Christians, and would cause a major setback in the faith of many believers. He also knew that his acquittal and release would strengthen their faith, for they would know that God alone was behind such a victory.
Paul knew that he would die. Eventually. But something in his spirit told him that God still had work for him to do. Intuitively, he knew that his trial would be successful, and that he would be set free.
This great hero of faith was devoted to Christ. He told us so in verse 21, when he said, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Christ was his reason for life and for death! For all Christians, Jesus Christ is the bridge between life and death. While we are here - Christ. When we die - Christ. Without Christ, we simply have the sentence, "For me, to live is . . . to die." We will all die. But because we have Christ, we have a reason, a purpose for both life and death.
Do you have that purpose, my friend? Are you joyful to go on living, so that you can do the work which God has placed before you? Are you joyful in knowing that death brings with it an eternity with the One you love? Or do you just live, knowing that you will one day die?
God wants, more than anything, to give you the purpose and joy that you desire. Ask Him for it, by believing in His Son, Jesus Christ. Then, you will no longer live to die. You will live with purpose, and you will die with joyful expectancy.
Dear Father, Thank you for the purpose that comes with knowing You.
Amen
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Morning Coffee is Moving!
In five days, Morning Coffee will move to www.renaebrumbaugh.com . Hope to see you there!
A Purpose-Driven Life
Philippians 1:22 - 24 "If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body."
Paul had a clearly defined goal and purpose for living. He had a mission. And because of that mission, he wanted to keep living, in spite of the fact that being with Christ would be better by far! His goal was to share the good news of Jesus Christ with everyone. Period.
Far too many of us seem to drift through this life without a clearly defined reason for living. We have fuzzy ambitions, hazy aspirations. Yet, each of us needs a purpose, or we will feel useless and unappreciated. Without a clear cause, without a definite motivation for life, we can become depressed and disheartened.
I am convinced that we each need a mission statement. Whether we write it out or simply paste it onto our mental files, we need to establish our main purposes for living. Then, from time to time, we can evaluate our lives, and see how we are coming along. Paul knew that his mission was still in the process of being accomplished, and it gave him a reason to keep going. What is your mission? Are you headed in the right direction? If not, what do you need to do to change directions?
Dear Father, Thank you for placing in me the desire for a purpose. Please let my goals and ambitions honor You, and help me to accomplish them.
Amen
Paul had a clearly defined goal and purpose for living. He had a mission. And because of that mission, he wanted to keep living, in spite of the fact that being with Christ would be better by far! His goal was to share the good news of Jesus Christ with everyone. Period.
Far too many of us seem to drift through this life without a clearly defined reason for living. We have fuzzy ambitions, hazy aspirations. Yet, each of us needs a purpose, or we will feel useless and unappreciated. Without a clear cause, without a definite motivation for life, we can become depressed and disheartened.
I am convinced that we each need a mission statement. Whether we write it out or simply paste it onto our mental files, we need to establish our main purposes for living. Then, from time to time, we can evaluate our lives, and see how we are coming along. Paul knew that his mission was still in the process of being accomplished, and it gave him a reason to keep going. What is your mission? Are you headed in the right direction? If not, what do you need to do to change directions?
Dear Father, Thank you for placing in me the desire for a purpose. Please let my goals and ambitions honor You, and help me to accomplish them.
Amen
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Morning Coffee is Moving!
In six days, Morning Coffee will move to www.renaebrumbaugh.com . Hope to see you there!
No Matter What
Philippians 1:20 “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.”
Paul’s brave proclamation, given in the next verse (v. 21) gives us reason to believe that this great hero of faith was fearless, unmovable in his convictions. But this verse shows us that Paul was human. He had fears and doubts, just like the rest of us.
Listen to him. I sure hope I won’t get cold feet. I hope I won’t have a reason to be ashamed of myself. I hope Christ won’t be ashamed of me! I must be brave . . . I know I can be brave! His words above seem, to me, to be a self-directed pep talk. He wants Christ to be exalted in his life, and in his death. But he knows that things could get pretty scary for him at his trial.
This example teaches me that faith is hard sometimes! If it were easy, then we would have many, many more committed Christians in this world. There is no shame in feeling afraid, or in having doubts. The shame comes only when, in our fear and doubt, we turn away from God instead of to Him. It is my prayer that, like Paul, I will square my shoulders, lift my chin, and proceed into an uncertain future with determination to serve my Savior no matter what.
Dear Father, I admit that sometimes I feel afraid. Sometimes, my faith gets shaken. Please help me, during those times, to cling to You.
Amen
Paul’s brave proclamation, given in the next verse (v. 21) gives us reason to believe that this great hero of faith was fearless, unmovable in his convictions. But this verse shows us that Paul was human. He had fears and doubts, just like the rest of us.
Listen to him. I sure hope I won’t get cold feet. I hope I won’t have a reason to be ashamed of myself. I hope Christ won’t be ashamed of me! I must be brave . . . I know I can be brave! His words above seem, to me, to be a self-directed pep talk. He wants Christ to be exalted in his life, and in his death. But he knows that things could get pretty scary for him at his trial.
This example teaches me that faith is hard sometimes! If it were easy, then we would have many, many more committed Christians in this world. There is no shame in feeling afraid, or in having doubts. The shame comes only when, in our fear and doubt, we turn away from God instead of to Him. It is my prayer that, like Paul, I will square my shoulders, lift my chin, and proceed into an uncertain future with determination to serve my Savior no matter what.
Dear Father, I admit that sometimes I feel afraid. Sometimes, my faith gets shaken. Please help me, during those times, to cling to You.
Amen
Monday, September 24, 2007
Morning Coffee is Moving!
In one week, Morning Coffee will move to www.renaebrumbaugh.com . Hope to see you there!
By Life or By Death
Philippians 1:18b - 21 "Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."
Wow. Paul's bold proclamation leaves me . . . speechless. He was imprisoned, and was awaiting trial. He knew that one of two things would happen: he would be set free, or he would be executed. I can't even begin to imagine the tense emotions that may have been swirling around in his mind. And yet, he was able to find good in either outcome! If he lived, he would get to continue pursuing his passionate goal of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. If he died, he would be with Christ, face to face.
We can learn from Paul. All too often, we view imminent death as scary or sad. But for the Christian, death is a step up from this life! Then again, sometimes we get depressed or frustrated, and we wish we could just "go home." But this life is filled with opportunities to serve Christ, who loves us so much that He gave His life for us! Like Paul, each and every day of our lives should be lived as a joyful thank you to the One who gave us life. And like Paul, death, in its proper time, should be viewed as an exciting prospect to see that very One for all of eternity!
Paul's valiant statement gives me reason to pause. If I had to fill in the blanks, "For me, to live is ___________ and to die is ____________," what would go there? Is Christ my life? Or is it my family, or writing, or music? What about death? If faced with losing my life, would I feel regret or excitement? Probably both. But it is my prayer that like Paul, Christ will be my life, and spending eternity with Him will be my greatest dream come true.
Dear Father, Thank You for Paul's brave example of faith and commitment. Help me to model my faith after his.
Amen
Wow. Paul's bold proclamation leaves me . . . speechless. He was imprisoned, and was awaiting trial. He knew that one of two things would happen: he would be set free, or he would be executed. I can't even begin to imagine the tense emotions that may have been swirling around in his mind. And yet, he was able to find good in either outcome! If he lived, he would get to continue pursuing his passionate goal of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. If he died, he would be with Christ, face to face.
We can learn from Paul. All too often, we view imminent death as scary or sad. But for the Christian, death is a step up from this life! Then again, sometimes we get depressed or frustrated, and we wish we could just "go home." But this life is filled with opportunities to serve Christ, who loves us so much that He gave His life for us! Like Paul, each and every day of our lives should be lived as a joyful thank you to the One who gave us life. And like Paul, death, in its proper time, should be viewed as an exciting prospect to see that very One for all of eternity!
Paul's valiant statement gives me reason to pause. If I had to fill in the blanks, "For me, to live is ___________ and to die is ____________," what would go there? Is Christ my life? Or is it my family, or writing, or music? What about death? If faced with losing my life, would I feel regret or excitement? Probably both. But it is my prayer that like Paul, Christ will be my life, and spending eternity with Him will be my greatest dream come true.
Dear Father, Thank You for Paul's brave example of faith and commitment. Help me to model my faith after his.
Amen
Morning Coffee is Moving!
Thanks so much for visiting! In about a week, Morning Coffee will be moving to www.renaebrumbaugh.com . For the next seven days, each post can be found in both places. Hope to see you there!
Sunday, September 23, 2007
When Bad People Do Good Things
Philippians 1:15 - 18 "It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice."
Politics, politics. Even in the time of the early church, there was envy and rivalry. Even then, there were people who did the right things with the wrong motives. Paul was a much better person than I am, for if I were sitting in prison, and others were taking advantage of my bondage to further their own causes, I'd be pretty steamed. But Paul was able to look past their motives and appreciate all that was being accomplished to further the gospel!
Sometimes I have to remind myself that God, and God alone, will judge each person's heart. He will hold each of us accountable not only for our actions, but for the reasons behind those actions. It is not my place to judge anyone. I am learning (though it is hard sometimes) to deal gently with people. I'm learning to give others the benefit of the doubt, and to appreciate their good qualities without scrutinizing their bad ones.
So, when someone (who happens to be running for public office) makes a very public, very generous donation to the church van fund, we can praise God for the donation! When those around us seem to be insincere in their concern for this cause or that, we must remind ourselves that God will use even wrong motives to accomplish great things. Most importantly, we must examine our own lives, and seek to remove any impurities which may lurk there, for God most certainly sees what others do not. And though He may use our insincere motives, His desire is to create in us clean hearts, pure aspirations, and beautiful spirits.
Dear Father, Thank You for using me in spite of myself. I know that I am sinful. Please help me not to judge others, but instead, help me to be thankful for the unique contributions each person makes.
Amen
Politics, politics. Even in the time of the early church, there was envy and rivalry. Even then, there were people who did the right things with the wrong motives. Paul was a much better person than I am, for if I were sitting in prison, and others were taking advantage of my bondage to further their own causes, I'd be pretty steamed. But Paul was able to look past their motives and appreciate all that was being accomplished to further the gospel!
Sometimes I have to remind myself that God, and God alone, will judge each person's heart. He will hold each of us accountable not only for our actions, but for the reasons behind those actions. It is not my place to judge anyone. I am learning (though it is hard sometimes) to deal gently with people. I'm learning to give others the benefit of the doubt, and to appreciate their good qualities without scrutinizing their bad ones.
So, when someone (who happens to be running for public office) makes a very public, very generous donation to the church van fund, we can praise God for the donation! When those around us seem to be insincere in their concern for this cause or that, we must remind ourselves that God will use even wrong motives to accomplish great things. Most importantly, we must examine our own lives, and seek to remove any impurities which may lurk there, for God most certainly sees what others do not. And though He may use our insincere motives, His desire is to create in us clean hearts, pure aspirations, and beautiful spirits.
Dear Father, Thank You for using me in spite of myself. I know that I am sinful. Please help me not to judge others, but instead, help me to be thankful for the unique contributions each person makes.
Amen
Friday, September 21, 2007
Making Lemonade
Philippians 1:12 - 14 "Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly."
Now, this is what I call taking lemons and making lemonade! Paul was in a really rotten situation, and yet he chose to focus on the good that was coming out of it! While being guarded, he seized the opportunity to share Christ with the Roman guards, and apparantly many of them were sympathetic with Paul's cause. And, he recognized that because of the injustice he was suffering, more and more Christians were speaking out.
Like Paul, many of us are going through difficult times. Many of us are experiencing injustice of one kind or another. And yet, we can choose to remain positive, knowing that God will bring good out of our hardship! When we go through difficulties, we can be certain that others are watching us. When we handle our situations with grace and poise, when we face hardship with calm expressions on our f aces, we encourage others! As they watch the peace that rules our hearts in spite of bad circumstances, they will be drawn to the source of that peace.
What are your chains today, my friend? Are you experiencing sickness? Stressful job situation? Financial burden? Though the place you are in may not bring you happiness, God wants to give you joy. Though your situation may not be tranquil, God wants you to know Him as the source of peace. And if you let Him, He will bring something wonderful out of rotten conditions. Depend on Him, and like Paul, you can face each day with confidence, knowing that He will bring you through to the other side with something good.
Dear Father, Please help me to handle difficult situations with grace, peace, and faith in Your goodness.
Amen
Now, this is what I call taking lemons and making lemonade! Paul was in a really rotten situation, and yet he chose to focus on the good that was coming out of it! While being guarded, he seized the opportunity to share Christ with the Roman guards, and apparantly many of them were sympathetic with Paul's cause. And, he recognized that because of the injustice he was suffering, more and more Christians were speaking out.
Like Paul, many of us are going through difficult times. Many of us are experiencing injustice of one kind or another. And yet, we can choose to remain positive, knowing that God will bring good out of our hardship! When we go through difficulties, we can be certain that others are watching us. When we handle our situations with grace and poise, when we face hardship with calm expressions on our f aces, we encourage others! As they watch the peace that rules our hearts in spite of bad circumstances, they will be drawn to the source of that peace.
What are your chains today, my friend? Are you experiencing sickness? Stressful job situation? Financial burden? Though the place you are in may not bring you happiness, God wants to give you joy. Though your situation may not be tranquil, God wants you to know Him as the source of peace. And if you let Him, He will bring something wonderful out of rotten conditions. Depend on Him, and like Paul, you can face each day with confidence, knowing that He will bring you through to the other side with something good.
Dear Father, Please help me to handle difficult situations with grace, peace, and faith in Your goodness.
Amen
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Fruit Salad
Philippians 1:10 - 11 . . . "so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God."
My husband is quite the chef. It is a little known fact that he loves to cook, and while he usually enjoys the manly art of grilling, he has coined quite a delicious recipe for fruit salad. In this salad, he blends just the right mixture of tropical and domestic fruits with just the right amount of sugar, and the results are amazing!
In this passage, Paul refers to the fruit of righteousness. This fruit comes only through a right relationship with Jesus Christ, and brings to our lives a delicious mixture of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and self-control. The more we grow in our relationship to God, the more these fruits will be evident in our lives.
But, just as with any fruit tree, fruit will not grow in our lives without some rain, without some heat, without some pressure. Sometimes, we may feel we are drowning, but during those times God is really just providing nourishment to our roots. At times, we may feel we just can't take any more of the heat, but God is simply allowing "Vitamin D" to penetrate our spirits. And when the pressures of this life seem to be closing in, we can know with certainty that, if we let Him, God will use that to produce beautiful, delicious, lasting fruit in our lives. And when others see that fruit, and taste of its goodness, they will be drawn to the One who put it there.
Dear Father, Thank You for the nourishment You provide so that I can grow to be more like You. Please let others see Your fruit in my life, so that they will be drawn to You.
Amen
My husband is quite the chef. It is a little known fact that he loves to cook, and while he usually enjoys the manly art of grilling, he has coined quite a delicious recipe for fruit salad. In this salad, he blends just the right mixture of tropical and domestic fruits with just the right amount of sugar, and the results are amazing!
In this passage, Paul refers to the fruit of righteousness. This fruit comes only through a right relationship with Jesus Christ, and brings to our lives a delicious mixture of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and self-control. The more we grow in our relationship to God, the more these fruits will be evident in our lives.
But, just as with any fruit tree, fruit will not grow in our lives without some rain, without some heat, without some pressure. Sometimes, we may feel we are drowning, but during those times God is really just providing nourishment to our roots. At times, we may feel we just can't take any more of the heat, but God is simply allowing "Vitamin D" to penetrate our spirits. And when the pressures of this life seem to be closing in, we can know with certainty that, if we let Him, God will use that to produce beautiful, delicious, lasting fruit in our lives. And when others see that fruit, and taste of its goodness, they will be drawn to the One who put it there.
Dear Father, Thank You for the nourishment You provide so that I can grow to be more like You. Please let others see Your fruit in my life, so that they will be drawn to You.
Amen
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
This is My Prayer
Philippians 1:9 – 10 “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ.
Paul knew the Christians in the Philippian church faced many decisions. He knew that being a Christian during that time was not easy, and that they may suffer repercussions for befriending Paul. Although they were already a loving group of people, he wanted them to have discernment, or keen and sensitive judgment, as they made decisions each day. He prayed for them, and reminded them that their goal was to remain pure and blameless.
Paul knew the Christians in the Philippian church faced many decisions. He knew that being a Christian during that time was not easy, and that they may suffer repercussions for befriending Paul. Although they were already a loving group of people, he wanted them to have discernment, or keen and sensitive judgment, as they made decisions each day. He prayed for them, and reminded them that their goal was to remain pure and blameless.
Just a few verses earlier, Paul reminded the Philippians that "He who began a good work in you will continue it until the day of Christ Jesus." So, if God is bound and determined to have His way in us, why bother praying at all? Why bother to seek, to grow, to learn? Certainly, it is a part of God's great work in us to develop a desire for Him. The more we desire Him, the more He will work in our lives. And the more He works in our lives, the more we will desire Him, and the cycle goes on and on and on.
As we desire God, we will remain pure and blameless. The way for us to remain pure and blameless today is to grow in our knowledge and discernment of God. The way for our love to abound, to overflow, is to grow in our knowledge and discernment of God. And the way to grow in our knowledge and discernment of God is to remain pure and blameless, and to let His love abound. So you see, it all depends on us. And it all depends on God. We cannot grow in Him without His divine hand in our lives. But He will bless our desire to grow, by showing up and causing that growth!
Dear Father, This is my prayer: that my love will abound more and more in knowledge and insight, so that I may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ.
Amen
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
That Your Love May Abound . . .
Philippians 1:9 “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight.”
Paul knew the Philippian church to be a group of loving, devoted people. But in the Christian life, there is always room for growth! Paul had much time on his hands while in prison, and he spent much of that time in prayer. He prayed that his friends would grow in their knowledge and insight of the Christian life.
The goal of the Christian is to become like Christ. And that goal will never be completely met until we get to heaven! But as we journey through this life, we should seek to grow in our knowledge of God’s Word. We should seek to grow in our understanding and insight.
God is love. As our knowledge of Him increases, our ability to love will increase. The more we spend time with Him, talk to Him, and study His Word, the more we will see others with His vision. And when that happens, our love for others will abound, as He transforms our flawed spirits into a perfect replica of Himself.
We need to seek this kind of growth in our own lives. And, like Paul, we need to be diligent to pray for our Christian brothers and sisters. For the more we all grow in our knowledge and insight of our Lord, the more His work will be accomplished here on earth!
Dear Father, Please help me to grow more and more like You each day. I want Your love to abound in my life. Please be with ______________________________ as he/she grows in You.
Amen
Paul knew the Philippian church to be a group of loving, devoted people. But in the Christian life, there is always room for growth! Paul had much time on his hands while in prison, and he spent much of that time in prayer. He prayed that his friends would grow in their knowledge and insight of the Christian life.
The goal of the Christian is to become like Christ. And that goal will never be completely met until we get to heaven! But as we journey through this life, we should seek to grow in our knowledge of God’s Word. We should seek to grow in our understanding and insight.
God is love. As our knowledge of Him increases, our ability to love will increase. The more we spend time with Him, talk to Him, and study His Word, the more we will see others with His vision. And when that happens, our love for others will abound, as He transforms our flawed spirits into a perfect replica of Himself.
We need to seek this kind of growth in our own lives. And, like Paul, we need to be diligent to pray for our Christian brothers and sisters. For the more we all grow in our knowledge and insight of our Lord, the more His work will be accomplished here on earth!
Dear Father, Please help me to grow more and more like You each day. I want Your love to abound in my life. Please be with ______________________________ as he/she grows in You.
Amen
Monday, September 17, 2007
Old Friends
Philippians 1:7 – 8 “It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart, for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.”
Have you ever had to move, and leave good friends behind? Have you ever had a dear friend move away? I have dear friends spread from California to New York, and in many states between! I have a missionary friend in Canada. I have friends in the military, and they are spread all over the globe. Sometimes, I long for their company, and I wish they could all just move to Texas, so I could see them!
As Christians, it is good and right for us to develop strong bonds of friendship. We are family, really, for we share the same Father. It is important for us to take the time needed to build and nurture Christian friends. And it is important for us not to forget those friends, even when we don’t see them often. As we long for old friends, we can take comfort in knowing that we will see them again, if we share a bond in Jesus Christ. We will one day have all of eternity to celebrate together, in the presence of our Father and our Dear Brother! Until then, we need to put forth the effort to remember one another, pray for one another, and encourage one another as we look forward to that glorious day of our reunion.
Dear Father, Thank You for blessing me with friends. Help me to take responsibility for keeping those friendships strong.
Amen
Have you ever had to move, and leave good friends behind? Have you ever had a dear friend move away? I have dear friends spread from California to New York, and in many states between! I have a missionary friend in Canada. I have friends in the military, and they are spread all over the globe. Sometimes, I long for their company, and I wish they could all just move to Texas, so I could see them!
As Christians, it is good and right for us to develop strong bonds of friendship. We are family, really, for we share the same Father. It is important for us to take the time needed to build and nurture Christian friends. And it is important for us not to forget those friends, even when we don’t see them often. As we long for old friends, we can take comfort in knowing that we will see them again, if we share a bond in Jesus Christ. We will one day have all of eternity to celebrate together, in the presence of our Father and our Dear Brother! Until then, we need to put forth the effort to remember one another, pray for one another, and encourage one another as we look forward to that glorious day of our reunion.
Dear Father, Thank You for blessing me with friends. Help me to take responsibility for keeping those friendships strong.
Amen
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Master Builder
Philippians 1:6 “. . . being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Do you ever get impatient? I know I do. I get really impatient with God sometimes, just wanting Him to go ahead and do whatever it is He is doing in my life! And I get impatient with myself, because it seems I will never be the person that God wants me to be. But God has all the time in the world. He is in no hurry. Rather than just slapping together a sub-standard version of our souls, He likes to take his time, sculpting us into a beautiful masterpiece.
And He is not a quitter, either. He began His work in us on the day of our conception! From the moment we had life, He began drawing us to Himself, longing for us to someday choose to have a relationship with Him. And for those of us who have accepted His Son as our Savior, He has been whittling away at our souls from the moment of our salvation. He is molding, sculpting, whittling, . . . discarding the needless, ugly, useless parts, leaving behind only what is lovely and true and perfect. And He is taking His time doing it, because He already knows the finished product, which will be complete on the day our Lord returns!
My friends, God is the master architect, and He holds the blueprints of our lives. Trust Him. He will not leave His work undone. Let Him have His way, and the final results will be stunningly, breathtakingly beautiful.
Dear Father,
I know that You are always working to make me more like You. Thank You for not giving up on me.
Amen
Do you ever get impatient? I know I do. I get really impatient with God sometimes, just wanting Him to go ahead and do whatever it is He is doing in my life! And I get impatient with myself, because it seems I will never be the person that God wants me to be. But God has all the time in the world. He is in no hurry. Rather than just slapping together a sub-standard version of our souls, He likes to take his time, sculpting us into a beautiful masterpiece.
And He is not a quitter, either. He began His work in us on the day of our conception! From the moment we had life, He began drawing us to Himself, longing for us to someday choose to have a relationship with Him. And for those of us who have accepted His Son as our Savior, He has been whittling away at our souls from the moment of our salvation. He is molding, sculpting, whittling, . . . discarding the needless, ugly, useless parts, leaving behind only what is lovely and true and perfect. And He is taking His time doing it, because He already knows the finished product, which will be complete on the day our Lord returns!
My friends, God is the master architect, and He holds the blueprints of our lives. Trust Him. He will not leave His work undone. Let Him have His way, and the final results will be stunningly, breathtakingly beautiful.
Dear Father,
I know that You are always working to make me more like You. Thank You for not giving up on me.
Amen
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Teamwork
Philippians 1:4 – 5 “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”
The Christians in the Philippian church were valuable partners in Paul’s ministry. They loved him, supported him, saw that his physical needs were met. They teamed together with Paul, and stood ready to do whatever was needed to assist him in spreading the good news of Jesus Christ.
Now, a couple of thousand years later, we are still a team. Each of us has different gifts, talents, strengths and contributions. And with any team, victory or defeat does not depend on one member. It depends on the ability of all members to work together.
We can’t all go overseas and live in huts, sharing the gospel with people who have never heard of the Bible. But we can pray. We can’t all spend years in seminary, and hours each week preparing sermons to deliver on Sunday. But we can give a portion of our income to support the church.
All too often, we focus on what we can’t do. Instead, we should focus on what we can do. And we should pour our time and energy into developing and using whatever unique gifts God has given to each of us, for His glory! Do you love children? Volunteer at a local school, and change a child’s life! Are you a great cook? Keep some pies frozen to deliver to people who are ill, or who have lost a loved one. Are you a whiz on the computer? Offer to help out in the church office, or at a local charity. Together, we can change the world with God’s great grace, mercy, and love.
Dear Father, Thank You for creating me with a unique personality and unique talents. Help me use my life to share Your love.
Amen
The Christians in the Philippian church were valuable partners in Paul’s ministry. They loved him, supported him, saw that his physical needs were met. They teamed together with Paul, and stood ready to do whatever was needed to assist him in spreading the good news of Jesus Christ.
Now, a couple of thousand years later, we are still a team. Each of us has different gifts, talents, strengths and contributions. And with any team, victory or defeat does not depend on one member. It depends on the ability of all members to work together.
We can’t all go overseas and live in huts, sharing the gospel with people who have never heard of the Bible. But we can pray. We can’t all spend years in seminary, and hours each week preparing sermons to deliver on Sunday. But we can give a portion of our income to support the church.
All too often, we focus on what we can’t do. Instead, we should focus on what we can do. And we should pour our time and energy into developing and using whatever unique gifts God has given to each of us, for His glory! Do you love children? Volunteer at a local school, and change a child’s life! Are you a great cook? Keep some pies frozen to deliver to people who are ill, or who have lost a loved one. Are you a whiz on the computer? Offer to help out in the church office, or at a local charity. Together, we can change the world with God’s great grace, mercy, and love.
Dear Father, Thank You for creating me with a unique personality and unique talents. Help me use my life to share Your love.
Amen
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Remember This
Philippians 1:3 “I thank my God every time I remember you.”
What a great example Paul set for his dear readers! He was in prison. Things couldn’t get much worse. There was not much Paul could give thanks for in his current circumstance. So, he looked inside, and pulled out good memories! He remembered people he loved, and he thanked God.
How many times do we get so caught up in our current bad situations that we forget how good God has been? Our Heavenly Father has shown His love to us in countless ways, and has given us the ability to remember all the wonderful things He has done for us! He has given us food and shelter. He has surrounded us with people to love. And, no matter how bad things get, most of us can pull up at least one good, positive, praiseworthy memory.
When we find ourselves in circumstances beyond our control, circumstances which make us angry or break our hearts, we should follow Paul’s example. We should think of something that makes us smile, something for which we are thankful. And we should give thanks to God for His eternal goodness.
Dear Father,
Thank You for all of the good things You have given me in my lifetime. Please help me to remember those things when my circumstances are difficult.
Amen
What a great example Paul set for his dear readers! He was in prison. Things couldn’t get much worse. There was not much Paul could give thanks for in his current circumstance. So, he looked inside, and pulled out good memories! He remembered people he loved, and he thanked God.
How many times do we get so caught up in our current bad situations that we forget how good God has been? Our Heavenly Father has shown His love to us in countless ways, and has given us the ability to remember all the wonderful things He has done for us! He has given us food and shelter. He has surrounded us with people to love. And, no matter how bad things get, most of us can pull up at least one good, positive, praiseworthy memory.
When we find ourselves in circumstances beyond our control, circumstances which make us angry or break our hearts, we should follow Paul’s example. We should think of something that makes us smile, something for which we are thankful. And we should give thanks to God for His eternal goodness.
Dear Father,
Thank You for all of the good things You have given me in my lifetime. Please help me to remember those things when my circumstances are difficult.
Amen
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Look Up!
Philippians 1:1 – 2 “Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Paul wrote this letter from prison. The church at Philippi had shown great support and love to him, and he wanted to thank them. In the midst of what must have been very difficult circumstances, Paul took the time to write a joyful, kind, loving letter to his friends. Instead of feeling sorry for himself, he focused on his dear readers, wishing them grace and peace.
Sometimes, life is hard. Really hard. During those times, we often are so frustrated with our circumstances that we focus only on ourselves. And in focusing on ourselves and our rotten circumstances, we see only gloom and doom. By keeping our chins to our chests and looking only at our problems, we actually make our situations seem worse!
We can learn an important lesson from Paul. Look up! Look at God, and at those He has placed around you! Take the time to love them, to help them, to thank them for kindness shown. By taking our eyes off of our own darkness, we widen our vision to take in some light!
Paul was able to wish his readers grace, because he had experienced the grace that only God gives. He was able to wish them peace, because he had unlocked the secret to peace in his own life. He set his attention on God, and on others, and he barely had time to remember how bad things were. And those bad things seemed not quite so bad, as he remembered and shared God’s blessings.
Dear Father, Thank You for Your grace and peace. Please help me not to get so wrapped up in my own problems that I forget to be a blessing to others. I love You.
Amen
Paul wrote this letter from prison. The church at Philippi had shown great support and love to him, and he wanted to thank them. In the midst of what must have been very difficult circumstances, Paul took the time to write a joyful, kind, loving letter to his friends. Instead of feeling sorry for himself, he focused on his dear readers, wishing them grace and peace.
Sometimes, life is hard. Really hard. During those times, we often are so frustrated with our circumstances that we focus only on ourselves. And in focusing on ourselves and our rotten circumstances, we see only gloom and doom. By keeping our chins to our chests and looking only at our problems, we actually make our situations seem worse!
We can learn an important lesson from Paul. Look up! Look at God, and at those He has placed around you! Take the time to love them, to help them, to thank them for kindness shown. By taking our eyes off of our own darkness, we widen our vision to take in some light!
Paul was able to wish his readers grace, because he had experienced the grace that only God gives. He was able to wish them peace, because he had unlocked the secret to peace in his own life. He set his attention on God, and on others, and he barely had time to remember how bad things were. And those bad things seemed not quite so bad, as he remembered and shared God’s blessings.
Dear Father, Thank You for Your grace and peace. Please help me not to get so wrapped up in my own problems that I forget to be a blessing to others. I love You.
Amen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
