Solid Food for Thought

Delight

2010-12-03T08:29:00.005-05:00

What things do we delight in? Just yesterday I posted my feelings on Facebook about that which is delightful - coffee and eggnog combination. A little trivial, but the warmth and flavor were certainly delightful to my senses. This morning I am delighting in my children with their happy hearts that have been eager to obey and serve. (This does not happen every day, mind you.) I delight in the beauty of creation - I have a hike planned with a friend later today. But this morning, the Word of God encouraged me to delight myself in the LORD. I wonder what that looks like. What does it mean to delight myself in the LORD? Lately, our pastor has encouraged us to receive from the LORD as Mary chose to do while her sister, Martha, was busy with all sorts of tasks. There is always something to do, you know. For us mothers, there's always another load of laundry, dirty dishes in the sink, filthy floors that need to be swept, meals that need to be prepared, toilets that need to be scrubbed. And with technology, there are always emails to reply to, text and phone messages to respond to, friends on Facebook to catch up with. We are bombarded with tasks that could keep us busy longer than the 24 hours that we are given in one day. So delighting in the LORD - how do we do that with all of the distractions? I don't have the answers, but I think there is something to be said about the discipline of sitting "with the LORD" amidst the distractions. This is a very challenging thing for me to do given my personality (i.e. wanting everything to be just right so I can sit down, relax, and have nothing else to do but be with the LORD). Let's face it - that's not going to happen. Can anyone out there create the perfect environment to sit and be with the LORD given our crazy lives? Thankfully, today I was able to come home from working out, quickly shower, grab some coffee (yes, with eggnog), and sit down with my Bible before the kids got up ... a very rare experience. And even once they got up, by the grace of God, I was able to continue to sit, read, and pray while they got ready for their day. I learned that I could sit and delight myself in the LORD, receiving from Him a feast from His Word. I am grateful. So ... go, my friend. DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE LORD!

Little Treasures

2009-09-23T09:33:00.004-04:00

I just sat down at my desk to do my Bible study and I noticed a nut on my desk. It was the exact nut that I pointed out to my son the other day when we were outside. He collects things from God's creation (like nuts, flowers, bugs) whenever he sees them. He has an eye for picking out God's created treasures when we are on a walk or in a parking lot or on a hike in the woods. And it's not uncommon for him to put a prized treasure on his dad's nightstand ... or my desk. Just a little reminder of his love for us. He loves to give sweet tokens of love - like a nut.

Our Heavenly Father loves to bless us with good gifts as well to remind us of His love for us - as if the sacrifice of the life of Jesus wasn't enough! Listen to the words of Jesus found in Luke 11:9-13.

"So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

Consider the things for which you did not ask, yet received - like your daily bread. Do we even realize all that God is doing for us - even at this very moment? I love that passage in Luke 12 where Jesus is telling His disciples not to worry about life - food, clothes, etc. He reminds the disciples of how God cares for them and will provide for them as He provides for simple things like ravens and lilies. He continues in verse 29 ...

"And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock [how beautiful that He calls His disciples "little flock"], for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

Wow - did you hear those words? It is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom! I don't know what you've been going through, but I know these are great words of encouragement for any believer. Give thanks for the daily needs that the Lord has provided. Think about how your body is functioning - you are alive, your heart is beating and pumping blood to every part of your body! Think about how you have a roof over your head, food on your table, clothes on your back - give thanks, my friend. These things, which seem simple, are great provisions from the hand of our Heavenly Father. They are good gifts. And as you give thanks for these, I'm sure you will find a limitless list of good gifts that the Father has provided just for you. Praise the Lord for His lovingkindness.

Grace and peace to you.

A Lesson from Lost Legos

2009-09-21T08:51:00.006-04:00

This morning as I was eating my breakfast and about to enjoy a hot cup of coffee, my son came to me with a look of distress on his face. "Mommy, my lego piece is stuck in the cupboard door." His news sounded a bit absurd to me, but I took a look anyhow. Sure enough, the lego piece had fallen through a hole that was once the home of a knob. My son showed me which lego piece it was - it was the top of the light saber for his Star Wars legos - a prized piece. Great - just how I wanted to spend my morning ... looking for a lego piece. But I knew how important it was for him, so I asked him to get me the screwdriver. After he returned with the tool, I encouraged him to pray about it, which he did. Then I asked him if he believed if God could answer his prayer, and he replied with a determined "yes."

It's funny how God has a way of bringing circumstances into your life that illustrate what He has been teaching you. I have been wrestling with the whole faith and prayer issue lately. It was recently brought to my attention at Bible study. There is a passage in Matthew 21 where Jesus teaches his disciples about prayer and faith.

In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, "May no fruit ever come from you again!" And the fig tree withered at once.

When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree wither at once?" And Jesus answered them, "Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith" (Matthew 21:18-22).

I've always struggled with this passage because I don't always get whatever I ask for in prayer. And I don't think it's because of a lack of faith. I know my heart, and I know and believe with all of my heart that God can do anything He wants to. He is omnipotent - all powerful, and there is nothing that He cannot do. Consider creation - all that He made out of nothing. With the simplicity of His spoken word all was created - the world, sky, light, land, sea, vegetation, living creatures, even man. So if God wanted to answer our prayers, He certainly could. But I think the heart of the matter is our hearts and our prayers.

I am firmly opposed to the "name it and claim it" belief where you name what you want and claim that you will receive it. I believe that is presumptuous, and a dangerous place to be with God. Who are we to know what God has planned? Prior to His ascension, Jesus told the inquiring disciples that it was not for them to know what the Father had planned for the restoration of Israel - something they had their hearts set upon. Their job, as Jesus reminded them, was to focus on the here and now, proclaiming the Gospel wherever they were (Acts 1:6-8). Furthermore, even Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, knowing the cross was before Him, prayed that He would not have to endure the wrath of God. But He didn't stop there. He concluded, trusting His Father and saying, "... not as I will, but as You will" (Matthew 26:39).

What kinds of things are you praying about - are they selfish requests - things that make you comfortable in this world? Or are your prayers saturated with a desire to be like Christ and have others seek after Him likewise?

So finding a lego piece isn't really a godly pursuit, but for a 6-year old boy who spends hours with his legos, there was, in my opinion, something to learn about God. After twisting and turning the screwdriver, I finally got the panel off. I looked through the door and laughed to myself. I foolishly thought the light saber fell down into the panel, but the hole went straight through the door. So there sat the lego piece next to one of the pots in the cupboard. I smiled at my son, and asked him to look in the cupboard. He was thrilled! We thanked God for rescuing the lego, and I replaced the door of the cupboard. And you know, my friend, I don't care how foolish I looked - yes, I should have checked if the hole went all the way through to begin with. I should have checked the cupboard before attacking the door with the screwdriver. But, I believe with all of my heart, that God used my foolishness to bring glory to Himself. This was a small lesson with gigantic implications if my son and I would embrace God's teaching. And I think we both have. PRAISE THE LORD!

Grace and peace to you!

Living with Life

2009-08-27T09:08:00.003-04:00

The book of Romans is just packed with truth - sometimes it's hard to get your mind around what you've read. This morning I was led to Romans 8. As believers, the following is list of what is ours in Christ, according to Romans 8:1-11 ...

We are not condemned (8:1).
We are free from the law of sin and death (8:2).
Our sin in the flesh is condemned by Christ (8:3).
Christ in us has fulfilled the righteous requirement of the law for us (8:4).
We walk according to the Spirit, not the flesh (8:4).
As we live according to the Spirit and set our minds on the things of the Spirit, we have life and peace (8:5 & 6).
If the Spirit of God dwells in us, we are not in the flesh but in the Spirit (8:9). We then do not set our minds on the things of the flesh (8:5), which is death (8:6). We are not hostile to God because we submit ourselves to God's law (8:7). And because of Christ, we can please God (8:8). We belong to Him (8:9).
Because Christ is in us, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness (8:10).
The Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us (8:11)!!! Therefore, the Spirit, who lives in us, gives life to our mortal bodies (8:11).

PRAISE THE LORD! Recite these truths to yourself out loud. And live life with all the zeal and zest you can because of who you are in Christ. Oh the riches that are ours in Christ - how quickly we forget! Give thanks today that you belong to Him.

Grace and peace to you.

Rest in the LORD

2009-07-12T10:40:00.008-04:00

This weekend, my husband and I celebrated our 10-year anniversary. Throughout the years, we haven't made much effort to get away, especially when children entered the picture. After spending an entire weekend away from our home and children, we realized that this was what our marriage, our relationship needed. The routine of daily life takes a tremendous toll on a relationship, especially if you don't have the time or energy to feed that relationship regularly. We needed uninterrupted time to be together. The LORD used this getaway as fuel for our marriage to remain strong and vibrant.

As believers, the LORD cares about us being refreshed and renewed to continue on in the journey of life. He wants us to remain strong and vibrant followers of Christ, and we can only do that by coming to Him. Unfortunately, I think He is often misinterpreted. He has at times been referred to as the "cosmic killjoy" or likened to a strict judge who enforces unattainable rules. Yet when I read Psalm 23, I am reminded, as I am at other times in Scripture, that God cares about me, and He wants me to rest in His care, and there find renewal and strength for life. Listen to these precious words of David:

The LORD is my shepherd;

I have everything I need.

He lets me rest in green meadows;

He leads me beside peaceful streams.

He renews my strength.

He guides me along right paths,

Bringing honor to His name.

Even when I walk through the dark valley of death,

I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me.

Your rod and Your staff protect and comfort me.

You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.

You welcome me as a guest, anointing my head with oil.

My cup overflows with blessings.

Surely goodness and unfailing love

Will pursue me all the days of my life,

And I will live in the house of the LORD forever.

I love the language of this Psalm ...

He lets me rest in green meadows.
He leads me beside peaceful streams.
He guides me along right paths.
He comforts and protects me.
He prepares a feast for me.
He welcomes me as a guest.
He anoints my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
Goodness and unfailing love pursue me always.
I will live in His house forever.

God is not a cosmic killjoy and He is not a wicked, ruthless judge. Rather, He is a loving and caring Heavenly Father, and we truly can find all we need in Him. Aren't you grateful? Give thanks for the benefits and blessings of knowing and walking with Him.

Grace and peace to you.

Words of Life

2009-07-09T15:33:00.003-04:00

Today I was reminded of the Proverb that says:

The tongue can bring death or life;

those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

(18:21)

Too often we freely offer death to others using our words, but how refreshing and encouraging when it is the exact opposite. Someone, whose opinion and thoughts I highly value, told me today that my kids are really good kids (well behaved, well mannered, etc.). As I struggle daily in my parenting role, nothing could have encouraged me more. It was as if I were a dry and thirsty plant, and someone poured water upon me - I was immediately encouraged and refreshed ... and thankful to the LORD for His help with parenting. Further, these words were a stark reminder that my children are, as Scripture says, a blessing from the LORD (Psalm 127:3).

Let's not hold back these words that can bring life to others. Offer them freely. Encourage the saints as we all travel on this road of life together.

Grace and peace to you.

Words Have Power

2009-07-06T11:49:00.003-04:00

I'm currently reading a great book (so far, that is) called Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges. The section I just read is worth typing out and sharing - it's powerful.

Sin is a spiritual and moral malignancy. Left unchecked, it can spread throughout our entire inner being and contaminate every area of our lives. Even worse, it often will "metastasize" from us into the lives of other believers around us. None of us lives on a spiritual or social island. Our attitudes, words, and actions, and oftentimes even our private unspoken thoughts, tend to have an effect on those around us.

Paul must have had this concept in mind when he wrote, "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear" (Ephesians 4:29). Our speech, whether it is about others or to others, tends to tear down or build up. It either corrupts the minds of our hearers, or it gives grace to them. Such is the power of our words. If I gossip, I both tear down another person and corrupt the mind of my listener. If I complain about the difficult circumstances in my life, I impugn the sovereignty and goodness of God and tempt my listener to do the same. In this way, my sin "metastasizes" into the heart of another person" (23-24).

Wow - I'm humbled at what a sinful creature I am. Thanks be to God who gives richly of His mercy and grace in spite of our undeserving state!

Grace and peace to you!

Psalm 16

2009-06-30T08:07:00.003-04:00

I have always appreciated the book of Psalms, but I am more recently loving the Word of God in this precious book. It seems like David cries out to God so much when he is in trouble - don't we often do the same? And He, our faithful God, is there. How grateful I am for that! Hear the words of Psalm 16:

Keep me safe, O God,

For I have come to You for refuge.

I said to the LORD, "You are my Master!

All the good things I have are from You."

The godly people in the land are my true heroes!

I take pleasure in them!

Those who chase after other gods will be filled with sorrow.

I will not take part in their sacrifices

or even speak the names of their gods.

LORD, You alone are my inheritance,

my cup of blessing.

You guard all that is mine.

The land You have given me is pleasant land.

What a wonderful inheritance!

I will bless the LORD who guides me;

even at night my heart instructs me.

I know the LORD is always with me.

I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.

No wonder my heart is filled with joy,

and my mouth shouts His praises!

My body rests in safety.

For You will not leave my soul among the dead

or allow Your godly one to rot in the grave.

You will show me the way of life,

granting me the joy of Your presence

and the pleasures of living with You forever.

Several verses stuck out to me, but verse four really hit me this morning: "Those who chase after other gods will be filled with sorrow." I'm not pointing fingers at anyone but myself, for even during an ordinary day, I have seen my heart chase after other gods - other things/possessions, exalting myself rather than God, doing the LORD's work above worshipping Him - you get the idea. This kind of pursuit will dead end into sorrow, and sorrow wears many masks. Beware especially of discontentment in these circumstances. Refocus on the pursuit of the LORD God, and perhaps then, you and I will be able to make a beautiful declaration of God's convenantal love and blessings, just as David did in the end of Psalm 16. We are inexplicably blessed to know the LORD. Give thanks.

Grace and peace to you.

Wait

2009-06-29T09:43:00.005-04:00

Waiting is hard. We've brought this on ourselves with our instant, fast-food society. We can get whatever we want now in a lot of cases. Yet there is plenty out there that we can't get now, especially if we want to do the right thing.

I read Psalm 13 in the New Living Translation the other day, and the LORD spoke to me through it. Here is what David wrote:

O LORD, how long will You forget me?

Forever?

How long will You look the other way?

How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,

With sorrow in my heart every day?

How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

Turn and answer me, O LORD my God!

Restore the light to my eyes, or I will die.

Don't let my enemies gloat, saying,

"We have defeated him!"

Don't let them rejoice at my downfall.

But I trust in Your unfailing love.

I will rejoice because you have rescued me.

I will sing to the LORD because He has been so good to me.

David knew what it was like to wait. And he knew it was best, in all things, to wait on the LORD. It becomes dangerous when we take matters into our own hands and try to force an outcome that we think is from the LORD. That is plain foolishness, and will likely put us on a path moving away from God. David starts the Psalm complaining to the LORD - crying out to Him. "How long, O LORD? Are You there? Can You hear me? Turn Your attention to me! Answer me!" It seems as if he has had enough of the situation and he doesn't know what else to do, but cry out. THEN - I don't know if a few moments pass and he comes to his senses and REMEMBERS the character of the One he's crying out to, or perhaps the answer came eventually and he comes back and finishes the Psalm, giving God the glory - then he makes a godly decision. He proclaims his trust in LORD. He chooses to rejoice because God has rescued him. And he sings to LORD, for the LORD has been so good to him.

It's fascinating to me how God takes a point and drives it home week after week. Yesterday, we had a visiting pastor preach on the parable of the unrighteous judge from Luke 18. There was so much in his sermon, it was like taking a drink from a fire hydrant. But he shared with us some reasons why we may be waiting on God - why God may not have necessarily provided a specific answer to our prayers. First, our Heavenly Father knows best, and in His providential love and care for us, He knows that we don't need that for which we are asking. Our hearts might be completely focused in the opposite direction of where they need to be focused. Secondly, God is never late on His answers. We must learn to persevere - it's a necessary character trait to have. Look at the perseverance of our Savior and all He endured. Lastly, we need to grow in our faith and trust in the LORD. He is trustworthy - we need to believe that and flesh it out

So whatever you're waiting on, continue to persevere in prayer and trust in the LORD. Jesus stated right in the beginning of this parable that we should always pray and not lose heart. I'll leave you with these familiar verses ...

Trust in the LORD with all your heart

And lean not on your own understanding.

In all your ways, acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight.

(Proverbs 3:5&6)

Grace and peace to you.

Holy is the LORD

2009-06-11T07:04:00.002-04:00

At the music conference a couple of weeks ago, I attended a seminar on the book of Psalms. How I wish now that I had the time to dive in and really study that precious book full of praise and prayers and songs - cries, laments, rejoicing. There is so much beauty in that book. I could at least try to read a Psalm a day - so that's what I'm doing.

This morning I read Psalm 5, and one section, in particular, really hit me.

O God, you take no pleasure in wickedness;
You cannot tolerate the slightest sin.
Therefore, the proud will not be allowed to stand in Your presence,
For You hate all who do evil.
You will destroy those who tell lies.
The LORD detests murderers and deceivers.

Because of Your unfailing love, I can enter Your house;
With deepest awe I will worship at Your Temple.
(verses 4-7, NLT)

As I was praying yesterday, I realized that I was lacking a healthy fear of the LORD. Reading these few verses has reminded me the seriousness of my sin and how God feels about it. These are strong words - You cannot tolerate the slightest sin; You hate all who do evil. We cannot take this lightly. We cannot fall upon the mercy and grace of our awesome God in His provision of Jesus until we realize the stinging truth that we are sinful beings and God hates our sinful wickedness.

Have mercy on me, O God, because of Your unfailing love.

Because of Your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.

Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.

For I recognize my shameful deeds-they haunt me day and night.

Against You, and You alone, have I sinned;

I have done what is evil in Your sight.

You will be proved right in what You say,

And Your judgment against me is just.

For I was born a sinner-

Yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.

But You desire honesty from the heart,

So You can teach me to be wise in my inmost being.

Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;

Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Oh, give me back my joy again;

You have broken me- now let me rejoice.

Don't keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt.

Create in me a clean heart, O God.

Renew a right spirit within me.

Do not banish me from Your presence,

And don't take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me again the joy of Your salvation,

And make me willing to obey You..

Then I will teach Your ways to sinners,

And they will return to You.

Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves;

Then I will joyfully sing of Your forgiveness.

Unseal my lips, O LORD, that I may praise You.

You would not be pleased with sacrifices, or I would bring them.

If I brought You a burnt offering, You would not accept it.

The sacrifice You want is a broken spirit.

A broken and repentant heart, O God, You will not despise.

Look with favor on Zion and help her;

Rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

Then You will be pleased with worthy sacrifices

And with our whole burnt offerings;

And bulls will again be sacrificed on Your altar.

-Psalm 51 (A Psalm of David)-

Oh, to plead with the LORD continually like this! We need to repent! I personally need to spend more time in repentance. Psalm 51 is a great place to start. Will you join me in an effort to remember the holiness of our great God - He who hates all those who do evil and won't tolerate even the slightest sin? And remember this -

SO NOW THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION

FOR THOSE WHO BELONG TO CHRIST JESUS.

FOR THE POWER OF THE LIFE-GIVING SPIRIT

HAS FREED YOU THROUGH CHRIST JESUS

FROM THE POWER OF SIN THAT LEADS TO DEATH

-Romans 8:1&2

Praise the LORD! Amen.

Grace and peace to you.

The Church United

2009-05-31T06:19:00.005-04:00

I just returned from a church music conference held at a very large and prominent church in Raleigh. I've been to this church several times because of my ties there with a family member who is on staff. We are a part of different denominations, and I have my differences with them on some doctrinal issues. So honestly, I didn't know what to expect. I was fairly confident that the issues that might be divisive would not be brought to the table, although music itself can certainly cause division. I had no idea that God would do the kind of work that He did on my heart.

Even after a few short hours of being at this conference, I realized that this church was sacrificing - giving of their time, talent, resources to encourage the Church. It was not about them nor their denomination, but equipping those of us who are worship leaders in the Church to lead for the glory of Christ and the encouragement of the saints. I was humbled - so humbled and convicted that I confessed to this family member my judgmental heart towards him and his church and sought forgiveness.

God showed me in a real way what Paul was talking about in Colossians 3:11. "... there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all." Paul also spoke to this in his letter to the Galatians. "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (3:26-28). So it doesn't matter what denomination we are a part of, so long as Christ is in us (He unites us) and is being glorified among us. It is all about Him and not about us and our subtle doctrinal differences.

I think I will appreciate more now that our particular church has prayed for the Church most every Sunday, especially mentioning other churches in our city. I need to do this, especially after being with brothers and sisters this weekend who come from different backgrounds, but are about the same work. It is all about Christ. To Him be the glory!

Grace and peace to you.

2009-05-23T11:34:00.007-04:00

Today we took a drive through Wapakoneta, Ohio. Wapak, as it is fondly called by the locals, is mostly known as the birthplace and home of Neil Armstrong, one of the first astronauts to walk on the moon. I have known it all my life as the home of my dear grandparents. My mom was born and raised in this area, and my grandparents have lived here all their lives. It's a special place. As we were driving through town, I was admiring the large, old homes with minivans and toys parked in driveways and yards. There were lots of sidewalks on which to walk or ride bikes. I had a peaceful feeling just soaking it all in. I just couldn't help but think how spread out we've become in this world. As much as I wanted out of this area (we lived not far from Wapak our first year of marriage), I can't help wondering, at times, if we should have stayed. Was it merely a selfish decision to move away - just to be in a larger, more progressive area of the country; a place to "start over" and establish this new family (recent newlyweds) rather than two individuals? My brothers had already relocated to NC prior to our moving there. And eventually, my parents followed, leaving their home near Wapak as well.

Today it will be sad to say farewell to this place - we will bury my grandparents, have a final gathering at the church our family attended, and possibly drive by my grandparents' farm one final time. We may never come back - not much reason to now that my grandparents are gone. So driving through town brought me back to how sad it is that families are so spread out.

Yet at the same time, I see The Church all over the world, and we are a part of that. We have a local body of believers with whom we are family, and despite our distance from my family (we are all over NC actually), this other family fills in the gaps. It's not altogether the same, but the LORD has provided this and I am grateful.

If you are not part of a local body of believers, I hope you will find your family soon. Pray that God would lead you and provide that for you. And if you are, well, be thankful. This is another great blessing from the LORD.

Grace and peace to you.

Gone

2009-05-20T10:26:00.004-04:00

I should have written this a few days ago, but life has been a whirlwind lately. My grandfather did pass from this life to the next in the wee hours of the morning on Sunday, May 17th. My grandmother passed away exactly 5 months prior to that. I do have peace about my grandfather's destiny. I was encouraged in so many ways from friends who simply reminded me to rest in the sovereignty of God. He does know what He's doing. One friend sent me Romans 9:16, but I'll add a few more verses to offer some context ...

What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." So then, it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.

Thank you for the prayers, love, and support. We will bid farewell to my grandfather's life on earth this Saturday. I will have the privilege of singing His Eye is on the Sparrow and leading a congregational hymn, Great Is Thy Faithfulness. I hope the LORD can convey hope and peace to all who come.

Grace and peace to you.

The Hour Is at Hand

2009-05-16T13:52:00.006-04:00

A few posts back I shared a letter that I wrote to my grandfather upon hearing of my grandmother's death. She died this past December. In a lot of cases, they say that once the spouse dies, the other soon follows.

This morning my mom called. She has been with my grandfather much in the past six months despite the fact that she lives hundreds of miles away. He has had cancer all over his body and has lost the will to fight - losing his precious wife (she was what he lived for, especially in this last chapter of his life) was perhaps harder on him than the cancer. Nevertheless, my mom called to tell me that this is it. This morning he was in a pre-coma state, and hospice thought he would only be with us one or two more days.

For those who might not know, we don't think that my grandfather has a personal relationship with Jesus. I have requested friends to pray for him, especially in the last six months. Despite the fact that some have talked with him about it, his heart still seems resistant to the Truth. It breaks my heart.

As I've been praying and thinking throughout this day, I was brought back to the fact that the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart to accomplish His purposes with His people in the land of Egypt. Why He didn't just soften Pharaoh's heart towards the Israelites, I don't know - perhaps to show how great and mighty He is in the face of opposition, but I'm not sure. Well, if God can harden a heart, surely He can soften one too. I am praying that even in a state of a coma, my grandfather would respond to Jesus' invitation for salvation - hope, peace, forever with Him. I know that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD. NOTHING! I do believe God can do it. Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.

I hope that before his times is up, my grandfather can declare this ...

Behold, this is [my] God;
I have waited for Him, and He will save [me].
This is the Lord;
[I] have waited for Him;
[I] will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.
-Isaiah 25:9

Please pray with me. The hour is at hand.

Grace and peace to you.

Come

2009-05-15T15:46:00.002-04:00

I have a special place in my bedroom - it's a little cut-out nook with a large window overlooking the woods in our backyard. When we first moved in, I considered it wasted space, but then I realized that my newborn daughter's crib would fit there, so it was no longer considered wasted space. The crib stayed long past the time that she did - we moved her to her own room once she began to sleep through the night. What to do with the space now? Eventually I realized that the space was perfect for an old desk that I had since college, and the nook became the home for the desk. A year or so later, there was a beckoning, of sorts, to the desk. I believe Jesus, in a sense, prepared a place for me to meet with Him. This space speaks to me invitingly, "Come."

Come. It's a beautiful word evoking invitation. It involves a relationship. It's found throughout scripture. God invites us into relationship, worship, freedom ...

Today I was reading at the end of the book of John, reading through Jesus' post-resurrection/pre-ascension words. I was digging around to see what He said to His disciples in His last days with them following the big event (crucifixion and resurrection). In John 21, for me, it has seemed like the emphasis in that chapter has been on the restoration of Peter. Granted, that was a significant exchange between Jesus and Peter. Yet right before that, Peter and a few other disciples were out to sea again, doing the fishing thing. They had been at it all night and hadn't caught a thing. An onlooker from shore called out to them to see if they had any food. They called back a discouraging, "No." The man on shore told them to cast their net on the right side of the boat, claiming that they would find food there. They not only found food - they couldn't even pull the net in because it was overflowing with fish. I'm sure, at this point, though not stated in the text, that John looked up in astonishment at this man and discovered it was Jesus. He then told Peter, and Peter impulsively plunged into the sea towards shore, though not far from there at all. The rest simply came ashore by boat. Once they got there, they discovered that Jesus had prepared for their coming. He wanted to spend time with them. The fire was all prepared and the food was cooking. Jesus asked them to bring a some more of the fish - He wanted them to have plenty to eat, I'm sure. Peter brought the net full of 153 large fish up from the boat - I can just picture them standing around counting each one. Then Jesus beckoned them, with love and compassion for these dear friends of His, "Come and eat breakfast." What an incredible picture to me. I can see Jesus opening His arms to them in invitation-like fashion, showing them that He had made preparations for them to spend some precious time together. He served them, continuing to show the sacrificial love He had for them.

Jesus bids you and me to come. He wants us as well to come and sup with Him. " 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me" (Revelation 3:20). So ... come.

Grace and peace to you.

American Idol and God

2009-05-14T09:07:00.008-04:00

I know - it sounds rather oxymoronic - American Idol and God. I'll admit, I've been sucked into the show over the past two years. Perhaps it's the fact that I am a musician. I'm not quite sure, but I have enjoyed watching the show. For me, it's seeing these no-named people get recognized for their God-given talent. Probably most would not have had a chance to get their music out to a broader audience if it weren't for the show.

I have heard that this season has had at least two believers. I certainly can't verify if their faith is vibrant and active, but Wikipedia (believe it or not) confirmed some of my suspicions. And frankly, have seen evidence of their faith, especially as they have interacted with the judges. Not too long ago, Simon criticized Kris for being humble - wow, what a compliment. Simon proclaimed that in the entertainment business you have to be self-absorbed and cocky. Simon also commented a few months back that Kris shouldn't have admitted that he was married until America committed to him. Kris responded shockingly, "But she's my wife!" Nevertheless, in my observation, Kris has a humble spirit about him, and I'm happy for him that he has made it to the finish. I do hope that he, and Danny for that matter, continue on in this life, remaining humble regardless of worldly success, keep committed to the Lord, and continue serving God and others.

As I was reflecting on the show that aired last night placing Kris and Adam in the finals, I found myself praying that Kris would be a light to such people as Paula, Kara, Randy, and even Simon - that somehow, these people, who seem so lost, would find Jesus Christ, the only true peace and hope.

My reflections then carried me to a thought: I wonder if someone like Paula Abdul would ever, if drawn to Christ, be able to leave her life and all that she has built for herself in order to follow Him. Have we contributed in keeping her, and perhaps other "American idols" from making such a life change, by putting them on a pedestal, making it near impossible for them to turn? I do believe that when God draws someone, His love, mercy, and grace are irresistible. Yet I also know that when someone is entrenched in a lifestyle, it makes it all the more difficult to walk away from it all. Yet I believe that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD. Consider the virigin birth of God in human flesh. What about the conversion of Saul - the infamous Christian persecutor? Jonah in the belly of a whale for three days, and he survives? Parting the Red Sea long enough for the Israelites to cross, then the waters come crashing down on the pursuing Egyptians? The resurrection of Jesus from the dead? These all seem impossible, yet they are true accounts of things that God has done. Can He save someone like Paula Abdul or Simon Cowell? If he can save you and me, surely He can save these precious lives as well. Pray for them.

Is there someone in your life that doesn't know Jesus Christ personally? Don't give up, my friend. Keep praying for the scales to fall from their eyes, for their hearts of stone to be softened, for their ears to be open to hear the Truth. For NOTHING is impossible with God. NOTHING!

Grace and peace to you.

A Vow and A Curse

2009-05-06T10:20:00.004-04:00

Have you ever read something over and over and over again, yet you missed a part (sometimes a significant part) of what was written? I was making breakfast, serving it, eating it, and listening to Adventures in Odyssey with my son this morning. We were listening to the story of Ruth. I have heard and read the story of Ruth numerous times in my life. And I have always remembered Ruth's undying devotion to her mother-law in her admirable declaration:

Entreat me not to leave you,
Or to turn back from following after you;
For wherever you go, I will go;
And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;
Your people shall be my people,
And your God, my God.
Where you die,
I will die,
And there will I be buried.
The Lord do so to me, and more
also,
If anything but death parts you and me.
-Ruth 16:18

In all my years reading these verses, I cannot recall ever being moved by the last sentence. I prefer it in the New Living Translation: "May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!"

I have heard those verses used in wedding ceremonies before, and in my opinion, I believe they are used appropriately there. I do not, however, recall that last verse being spoken. Frankly, I think that verse would be instrumental, if truthfully proclaimed in such a ceremony, in holding us accountable to our vows. In essence, the person is declaring a curse upon her/himself if s/he allows something or someone to break this vow or covenant or promise - call it what you want. I imagine myself saying it in front of my family and friends, and I guarantee you that in the midst of the challenges of marriage, I would certainly recall my vow.

Our words are precious. They have the power of life and death, in a sense (Proverbs 18:21). As a follower of Christ, our words should not only be truthful but trusted. Jesus encouraged us in the Sermon on the Mount to "let your 'Yes' be 'Yes.' and your 'No,' 'No.'" (Matthew 5:37).

I realize, my friend, that there is so much brokenness in the world today. People change from one day to the next - it is a fact of life. The person you married long ago may be so different than the person you're existing with today. May I encourage you that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD. Stay the course, dear sister or brother. Walk with the Lord in faithfulness - with faith and obedience. Be broken and contrite before Him. Commune with Him continually. Complain to Him alone about your circumstances, your spouse, your life. Pray the Word of the Living God - there is power in God's Word. AND IN ALL THINGS, GIVE THANKS. This is the will of God for you. Focus on it rather than your circumstances. And do this all for the glory of God.

May God bless you richly as you journey with Him.

Bidding Farewell

2008-12-19T22:07:00.002-05:00

December 18, 2008

Dearest Grandpa,

This morning, as I was driving home from the gym, I was admiring the beautiful sky. The sun was in the initial stages of rising, gently and slowly lighting the sky. The pink puffy clouds stood still, hung there with magnificence. The view of it all was beautiful. Such a different picture than the day before – the day when I got the phone call that my beautiful, precious grandmother had passed from this life and into the next. December 17, 2008 was a dreary and gloomy day, and seemed to perfectly capture my feelings in knowing that Grandma was indeed gone.

Sometimes I think God speaks to me in pictures as these – the simple things in life. I felt His presence “crying” with me yesterday, in a sense, as the gray clouds permeated the sky and tear-like raindrops trickled down. God too has known the pain of loss in the death of his Son. And then today, this glorious picture in the sky of beauty, and I just can’t help but think of Grandma in heaven. She is free. Free from all the pain, suffering, and disease of this life. She is free. What a glorious thought to know that her battle with Alzheimer’s has ended, and she is no longer bound by its ugly effects.

Oh, Grandpa, I know this must be terribly difficult for you. I’m sure you feel completely undone in losing the love of your life. And I’m sure it is just as difficult – terribly difficult – as the days you watched her physical body deteriorate with the progression of Alzheimer’s. The pain that she is here no longer must be unbearable. You loved her amazingly well, Grandpa, all the way to the end. It brought me to tears to hear that you spent her last night on earth with her in the nursing home – that must have been the hardest day of your life, yet what a beautiful picture of faithfulness and love. I just hope that you can continually cling to the memories of the best days with Grandma, among them being the day you took her as your bride. That surely must have been the best day of your life. I wish I could have been there. Your commitment to her on that day has been a true testimony to the world as you have lived it out. You have loved her well, as you vowed, through the ups and downs of life. I will always cherish this, Grandpa. Thank you for your legacy and example.

Grandpa – may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift His countenance upon you and give you peace.

I love you dearly … always.

G.I. Joes and Jesus

2008-12-17T07:02:00.005-05:00

There were three of us kids in my family - two boys and a girl. I was sandwiched between the two boys, and of course, outnumbered. Because of this, I often played with them and did what they were doing. If it was football in our yard, I put my "tough girl jersey" on and was there. If they were building forts in the woods in our backyard, I had a hammer and nails in my hands as well. And if they were playing G.I. Joes, I guarantee you that I wanted my share of Joes and jeeps. These are all fond memories.

I have a six-year old son. As we were deciding what to buy him for Christmas, a dear friend who has three boys suggested G.I. Joes. OF COURSE!!! Why hadn't I thought about that before?!?! After all, they have re-released the G.I. Joes of past for the 25th anniversary. And what timing indeed! I began a search online and then took multiple trips to the Toys R Us, Target, Wal-Mart. I wanted to plan out our purchases carefully. The planning took some time, and after about a month of looking, thinking, and dreaming, we began purchasing. I purchased a couple of guys, but let my husband make the bigger purchases last Saturday. And when he returned from shopping, I was like a kid at Christmas - I couldn't wait to see what he picked out. Call me crazy, but I'm so excited to introduce G.I. Joe to my son. I think he will love playing with them. I just hope I can wait until Christmas!

My enthusiasm in choosing and giving gifts to my children is a small reminder of God's enthusiastic love for His children - wanting to give them good gifts.

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

-Matthew 7:7-11

This is not an invitation to a comfortable life with all the stuff that we think we need. This is an invitation to become more like Jesus. These verses are taken from a section of scripture where Jesus is instructing His disciples on what it takes to follow Him. He's referring to gifts such as sacrificial love, obedience, purity, humility, righteousness, etc. We simply just need to ask and seek after these gifts, or attributes, that we desire to have. God is waiting patiently to bless us with these beautiful gifts. Can you imagine?

So what are you asking for this Christmas? Is it righteousness? How about sacrificial love? Or humility? My Christmas wish list is filled with stuff - things that I would like to have, things that won't last. My son's G.I. Joes won't last or bring him true joy. But God longs to bless us with lasting gifts that help us become more like Jesus, giving us genuine joy. Let's give Him the gift of letting Him do just that.

Kissed Again

2008-11-06T21:54:00.003-05:00

Thanks to my friend, Janna, I've now thought about blogging again. (Thanks for the comment on my previous post, Janna.) Writing has taken a back seat to other things in my life. I do miss capturing those thoughts, meditations, prayers. The time will come when I am, once again, compelled to verbalize my thoughts. Like tonight ...

I just walked into my son's room - he was fast asleep. I kissed him twice and whispered in his ear that I loved him. Katie too was in a deep sleep as I crept into her room to do the same. Another two kisses for her as well. The routine kiss at bedtime just wasn't enough after reading this ...

http://www.ahundredforahome.com/

I think my previous post pretty much sums up how I feel about this one too.

Why NOT Me?

2008-06-20T08:25:00.003-04:00

I have been wondering lately why others' suffering is beyond my own suffering. Frankly, I haven't been the recipient of much bad news. My grandparents have both dealt with serious illnesses in their old age (cancer and Alzheimers), and surely this has been difficult, but my grandfather is in remission with his cancer and my grandmother has had Alzheimers for over 10 years now, so, sadly, we are used to it. Within a week though, I have received grieving news about friends in three separate circumstances. One of my dear friends' aunt was in a terrible car accident. Declined quality of life seems inevitable if she even survives at all. I'm deeply saddened for my friend and her family. This is painful. Another dear and life-long friend shared the news the other day regarding her husband's job. Unrelated to the fact that business has been bad, his wrestlings with God brought him to quit his job with no prospects in sight. They are now living day to day trusting God to guide them to what's next. And finally, I discovered that there is a girl from my hometown church that is having a double mastectomy performed in two weeks. She is several years younger than me.

So why do these things not happen to me? Why am I living comfortably in my spacious home - husband has a good, stable job; there's an abundance of food on our table; my kids appear healthy and well; my marriage is okay; I'm able to exercise daily and perform all of my duties on the homefront; we have two functioning cars; our extended families are healthy and well - we have both sets of our parents still; etc. Why are these things not happening to me? Honestly, I have told God several times this week that I'm scared - I'm scared that He's going to allow something to happen to me. I've thought about what I would do if I were terminally ill or if I lost my husband and children. I think about these things all the time because the potential is real. I know suffering is part of the Christian life. Of course it may not be the kind of suffering I'm talking about here, but it may very well be. And I just keep waiting and wondering what today will bring. What tomorrow will bring. When?

I desire so deeply to know Jesus Christ more and more. I long for such an intimate relationship with Him. But I know that I must suffer to discover more of Him. Suffering brings Him glory, and isn't that what my life should be all about - giving God glory?

I shared some of this with Carl last night, and he reminded me that God may be using us in other ways. He has blessed us so richly so that we can bless others. So our giving (whatever that looks like) can also bring glory to Jesus. Those words encouraged me. And though I still have fear that I need to give over to God, I am excited about what He will call me and my family to do to bring Him glory.

Anyhow, if you're reading this, please pray for my friends mentioned above. My heart goes out to them and I'm praying for them. And consider how you might bless others to bring God glory.

Don't Forget!

2008-05-13T10:05:00.003-04:00

Don't ever forget those early days when you first learned about Christ.

-Hebrews 10:32 (NLT)

I can still vividly recall the day I heard the gospel message and received the gift of salvation. It was a beautiful August afternoon in Mansfield, Ohio and I was attending a week-long camp with my best friend at Camp Mowana. Our counselor, Molly, took us to the porch of the dining hall (it looked slightly different about 26 years ago!) and poignantly shared the gospel. It was the first time that I realized that because of my sinfulness, I was unable to have a relationship with God. But Jesus Christ came to our world as perfect man and was the perfect sacrifice once and for all for all of my sins. If I confessed my sins and invited Him to be Lord of my life, I would be saved - I would have the rights and privileges to a relationship with my Creator. Wow - I was enamored with the idea! Molly sent us out into the woods individually to contemplate the message she shared. I remember sitting upon a big rock and receiving Christ that day. I am humbled by God's mercy and grace on my life.

Later that week, when my parents picked me up, rather than blabbing on and on about the various events of the week, one of the first things I shared with them was the gospel. I wanted everyone to hear and know, especially my own family. I figured since I had never known about this, they probably didn't either.

I wish I had that same zeal for and confident faith in the Lord 26 years later. It seems like that's not the case - or at least not the case most days. What once were beautiful revelations that transformed me and motivated me have often become familiar duties that are sometimes monotonous. I seem to plod along the narrow path exhausted and worn, uninspired and at times, discouraged. Lord, have mercy on me!

Yet, this is not always the case. I have a hunch the lack of zeal is related to not being in the Word as much as I should. I'm not suggesting that we need to study God's Word for hours a day (although we'd most certainly be better off for it!), but I do think making an effort regularly to renew our minds by spending some quality time in the Bible is key in maintaining zeal and confident trust in the Lord. Psalm 19:7-8 declares,

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.

The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight to life.

So let us, with fervor, pursue God. "Let [us] not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of [our] minds, that [we] may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." And this for His glory alone.

Amen!

Redemption of Price

2008-04-22T11:52:00.000-04:00

I read a scripture today that really hit me between the eyes - well, actually, it pierced my heart ...

... for the redemption of their souls is costly ...

-Psalm 49:8

Now I'll admit that I didn't spend any amount of time looking at the surrounding verses, considering the context. But this verse reminded me that, indeed, the redemption of my soul was costly to God. He sacrificed His beloved Son, placing my sins (and all of those He ransomed), on Him so that I, an enemy of God, could become a friend of God - or, better yet, a child of God. This makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

I think about my own children - I love them dearly. I live every day to care for them, teach them, love them. I do everything I can to protect them from harm. So, do you think I would give their lives for that of my enemy - one who hates me and does everything possible to display such hatred? NO WAY! How then, can God's love for us, shown in the sacrifice of His only Son, make any reasonable sense.

I need reminders such as these continually. These truths are what can (and I hope will) compell me to love and serve God with my entire being. What wondrous love is this!!!

Peace Be with You

2008-04-04T10:16:00.003-04:00

I can imagine how they must have felt - each one of them abandoning their master, throwing out their mission, disregarding their lifetime commitment - only to save face in the moment; after all, nothing is more sacred than self! Now sitting in a room together - probably with little conversing, a bit of fear mixed with desire and hope in seeing the master once more. Leaning their elbows on their legs, looking down at the floor, palms sweaty from nerves ... what will he say to us? What does he think of us now? What is going to happen?

I can imagine it no greater though than my son probably could after an event that took place this morning. The occurrence is always daily when he teases, aggravates, and/or is just plain mean to his sister. I'm trying to deal with these particular actions head on. Today he got to eat his muffin before his sister since he finished his grapefruit first. He proceeded to rub it in his sister's face that that was the case. So I sent him to his room. Not sure how I would handle this effectively, I left the kitchen myself and went to dry my hair. I know it was the Holy Spirit that, in that instance, reminded me of how deeply I love my son. I, by the grace of God through the working of the Holy Spirit, did what I am completely incapable of doing. I went to Drew's room, knelt down to his level so I could look directly into his eyes and be close to his face, and said, "I was just thinking about how much I love you." That is certainly NOT how I usually respond, and he must have been utterly shocked. I think he got the message after we spent a few minutes talking about how God longs for us to act towards others. I believe he actually understood much more than if I had come back into his room and yelled at him or punished him in some other fashion. (I was tempted to not allow him to finish his muffins, but now you can see how God changed that plan.)

So the disciples are preparing for Jesus to lay into them about how they failed him, a rebuke most certainly deserved. They are seated together in a room after hearing that the risen Christ was back in town, and in through a closed door walks their master, Jesus. Hearts pounding with joy and fear, I'm sure, he speaks to them, "Peace be with you." What?!?! Wow!!!! The love of God ... can you imagine how they felt at that moment? Probably much like my son did this morning when I declared that I loved him despite his failure. And just as I encouraged my son to go forth and do the right things with God's help, Jesus commissions his unfaithful followers, blessing them with the presence of the Holy Spirit to do the work of Christ.

How often we get caught up in our own failures. It can paralyze us and prevent us from doing the work of Christ. We can beat ourselves up. Now don't get me wrong - I think we need to be alert to our sins, confess them to our Lord, and turn from them. We should then, as Paul encourages us, forget what is behind and move toward what is ahead (Philippians 3:14).

THERE IS THEREFORE NOW NO CONDEMNATION TO THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS, WHO DO NOT WALK ACCORDING TO THE FLESH, BUT ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT.

(Romans 8:1)

Praise the Lord for His great mercy and love.

The Gospel

2008-04-01T10:55:00.004-04:00

I guess I'll go off on yet another tangent, as I'm prone to do. Is there any rhyme or reason to this blog?!?! :-) ...

I heard an intriguing quote recently: "Once the gospel is tamed, it is no longer powerful." It's not that there isn't power in the gospel - that is completely not the case. What I think this person meant was that as we tame the gospel, conveniently and comfortably fitting it into our lives, the identity of the gospel is essentially lost in its purest form. We have therefore distorted its message, but although hidden, the content remains unchanged. What do you think? Is this in line with scripture?

I want us to explore two things here:

What is the gospel? How does scripture define it?
How is the gospel powerful? What kind of power is lost in taming the gospel?

That should give us enough to chew on for a bit. Please let me know your thoughts as you explore God's Word. May our study be fruitful.

Angie, Repent!

2008-03-20T09:57:00.003-04:00

Wow!

Wow - God does it again! He prepared me for something that I didn't see coming. I know that it was God who led me to read the passages on repentance. But I didn't realize it was going to be specifically for my own good. I was typing and hoping that this look at repentance would be a blessing to someone out there. And perhaps it has, but God used it for more than that.

I believe I was mildly aware of my sin, but God used some difficult circumstances to "paint it in the sky" for me. It was clear - I was confronted by a dear brother in Christ who pointed out my sin and the effects that it had. I did not argue, for the Holy Spirit had confirmed it within my heart. I confessed my sin to God and those involved, and I have determined in my heart not to go back doing those things. Am I perfect? Certainly not. Most certainly not!

As Jesus prepared Himself for His crucifixion, He took His disciples to the Mount of Olives with Him. He told them to pray so that they wouldn't fall into temptation. Then He withdrew from them to another place to pray - the Bible says it was only a stone's throw away. After praying, He went back to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow. (Read what happened before and after that and you'll understand their sorrow!) He then admonished them: "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation" (Luke 22:39-46).

Why include this narrative in my post? Because I think I've been sleeping - spiritually speaking. Another brother in Christ encouraged us last Sunday that even if it is only 5 short minutes, we should be in the Word DAILY. God can use 5 short minutes as much as he can use 35 minutes. The point is that we are IN THE WORD. How can we remember our duties as followers of Christ if we're not hearing His Word (Romans 12:2)? Furthermore, I am so good at justifying, and I'm sure I was justifying my sin in my heart, thinking that some aspect of what I was doing was okay. But it wasn't. And I would have heard that message had I been in the Word more faithfully.

I hope that in some way, this entry encourages you to examine your own life in light of what scripture teaches. God is faithful. He does want to see us grow in Him. We can certainly be confident, "that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" - praise God that He doesn't leave us when we fail. Amazing love!

Repent! (Part 2)

2008-03-11T10:55:00.002-04:00

Some more verses ...

Matthew 3:2 - repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (John the Baptist)

(I read a great note in my Bible about "repent" ... " 'Repent' translates the Old Testament call to Israel to "return" to faithfulness to the covenant. It does not mean self-punishment, depression, or remorse. Judas was sorrowful and distressed (Matthew 27:3) but he did not repent.")

Matthew 4:17 - repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Jesus)
Matthew 11:20 - Jesus rebukes the cities who have yet to repent and yet witnessed most of His mighty works
Matthew 21:32 - the kingdom of God is for those who repent and believe
Mark 1:15 - Jesus' message in Galilee: the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel
Mark 6:12 - the disciples were sent out two by two by Jesus to preach that people should repent
Luke 13:3 - repent or perish (spoken to some who were judging others)
Luke 13:5 - repent or perish (Jesus states this twice in five sentences!)
Luke 15:7 - there is more joy in heaven over one sinner repenting than over 99 who have no need of repentance

All for today. More to come in the next entry. I am appreciative of a bird's eye view of this word and its use in Scripture.

Know the Truth

2008-03-11T10:39:00.004-04:00

This morning I was listening to another great sermon preached by Alistair Begg. He read a letter from a man who listens to Alistair on the radio. The man told of his wife's unfaithfulness in three long-term extra-marital affairs. He received concurring advice from friends, family, and spiritual leaders that he should divorce her and move on - start anew. The man heard a different message, however, from Alistair's preaching. At the time, Alistair was preaching from Hosea - a message of covenantal living, forgiveness, hope in God regardless of circumstances or outcome, faithfulness to God. The man did these things, by God's strength, and God blessed the outcome.

I was moved to get my heart into the Word of God. I cannot trust the preaching, teaching, or the advice of others. I cannot. I can only trust the Word of God as truth. I need to listen and discern what is biblical and what is not. I need to know the Book better than anything else I read.

May we passionately pursue God and His Word, the only Truth.

Repent!

2008-03-06T10:46:00.002-05:00

I set off to do a study on discipleship this morning. That quest turned into a study of the kingdom of God/heaven, which I hope to continue because it is a primary message of Jesus'. But then, as I was beginning to look up passages on that subject, I stumbled upon the word REPENT. It was the precursor to John's statement, "For the kingdom of heaven is at hand," before Jesus began His earthly ministry. So if this was John's message, it had to be important. Furthermore and more significantly, not only was this the first command from John, but it was the first command of our Lord as He began serving, preaching, and healing bodies and souls of people He encountered. Indeed, then, repentance is quite important. Ironically, it is a word we don't hear much of in our churches. It's not something usually discussed over coffee with a friend. Most probably consider repentance a private matter. Repentance is between the Lord Jesus and me, and in some cases, includes an offending party. Even so, we don't discuss the word and its implications. Why? This was the first command recorded from Jesus' mouth - why wouldn't we address this subject more often? And why is grace stressed so much more than repentance? The Christian subculture is obsessed, in my opinion, with grace. Shouldn't there be a balance?

So just what is repentance? Here are a few things that I read this morning, straight from the Book. Feel free to add verses in the comments section, for my list is certainly not exhaustive.

Isaiah 30:15 - salvation comes through repentance and rest
Isaiah 59:20 - the Redeemer will come to those who repent/turn from their sin
Jeremiah 5:3 - unrepentance: not grieved by sin; refuse to receive correction; determined not to repent; refuse to return to God
Jeremiah 15:19 - God restores those who repent
Ezekiel 14:6 - repentance includes turning away from idols and from all abominations
Ezekiel 18:30 - repentance includes turning from all transgressions which destroy/ruin us
Ezekiel 18:32 - repent and live
2 Cor 7:10 - godly sorrow produces repentance
2 Tim 2:25 - God grants repentance
Heb 6:6 - repentance not granted again to those who fall away
2 Pet 3:9 - God is patient, wanting all to come to repentance
Revelation 3:19 - be zealous/eager and repent

That's a good start. I'll probably continue this in the next blog. So dig in the Word and let's learn more about this command of Jesus to REPENT.

Springs in the Desert

2008-01-03T10:40:00.000-05:00

After recapping some of what He had done, the Lord said this to Israel ...

But forget all that --it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do a brand new thing. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness for my people to come home. I will create rivers for them in the desert! The wild animals in the fields will thank me, the jackals and ostriches, too, for giving them water in the wilderness. Yes, I will make springs in the desert, so that my chosen people can be refreshed. I have made Israel for myself, and they will someday honor me before the whole world.

-Isaiah 43:18-21

Why does the Lord love His people so? Verses like these offer hope when things seem hopeless. God knows those whom He created. He knew that we would stumble and fall throughout this life. He knew that we would wander off from our Guide, getting lost and unable to find our way. And even in our utter stupidity and foolishness, He would shine the light so that we would return to Him.

It doesn't take much for me to take my eyes off of Him. My flesh is so easily drawn to this world and what it has to offer. I need Him to constantly hold the eyes of my heart so that I'm fixed on Him. I wish I weren't so easily enticed to look away from Him, even for a moment.

After being saturated in our culture's Christmas extravaganza, which is hardly fixated on Christ, I am ready to be refreshed by those springs in the desert. I can just picture the joy and beauty of such reprieve. I simply need to be pried away from the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.

Why I Like Coffee - Some Random Thoughts

2007-12-15T16:22:00.000-05:00

I haven't always loved coffee. When I was a kid, I enjoyed some milk and sugar with a splash of coffee offered to me on special occasions when I was with my grandparents. They drank coffee faithfully, and we grandkids got to join them when we were with them. Tasty! Then in college, I occasionally indulged in a cup of coffee generously topped off with some cream and a spoonful of sugar to take the edge off.

Recently I contemplated the authenticity of my relationship with coffee. If I had to add cream and sugar, why bother drinking coffee? Besides, real coffee drinkers drink black coffee, or so they say. So I have slowly weaned myself from my cream-and-sugar habit and am now, almost always, drinking black coffee. It's a little more enjoyable when accompanied with a sweet treat, but I am getting used to it. The french press is key.

Still, why bother? Why drink coffee? I have concluded after much deliberation that coffee creates something that I need. From the time when those oily, rich beans are ground to the sound of the hot beverage being poured into a particular mug, my body is engaged - the sight of the steam rising from the dark-brown, french-pressed liquid; the delightful smell of a dash of cinnamon and dark-roasted beans from some foreign country, the feel of the hot beverage - first dripping ever so slightly upon my tongue to ensure it won't burn, then indulging in a full swallow warming first the mouth and then moving along to the belly - it warms me. But the amazing thing about a cup of coffee, for me, is that it entices me to slow down. While enjoying it in every possible way, I am beckoned to stop and delight in what is around me. And often I do. And then I grab my Bible and bathe my heart in the Word of God, dialoguing with Him along the way. I love this about coffee.

Truthfully though, after I make the coffee and anticipate the luxury of slowing down and spending time with God, it sits in the stainless steel carafe and awaits my indulgence. I pass by hurriedly on my way to take my son to school. I'll eye it after returning from running errands, only to throw another load of laundry in, vacuum a room or two, then get lunch for the kids. After checking e-mail, paying some bills, and thinking about dinner, I fall asleep briefly, awakening to the alarming thought that dinner is an hour away and I have nothing ready. And of course I can't have any caffeine after dinner or I'd be up all night (even though my coffee is 1/3 caffeinated). Well, maybe tomorrow. I'll try it again then.

Another wonder about coffee is sharing it with a close friend. I love meeting dear friends for coffee (even though some of them don't drink coffee). But it has the same effect on me in that setting too.

Funny how most people like coffee for the caffeine. Just happens to be something different for me.

The Love of God

2007-11-28T11:19:00.000-05:00

Isaiah's prayer for Jerusalem in Isaiah 62 ...

Because I love Zion, because my heart yearns for Jerusalem, I cannot remain silent. I will not stop praying for her until her righteousness shines like the dawn, and her salvation blazes like a burning torch.

The nations will see your righteousness. Kings will be blinded by your glory. And the Lord will give you a new name. The Lord will hold you in his hands for all to see - a splendid crown in the hands of God. Never again will you be called the Godforsaken City or the Desolate Land. Your new name will be the City of God's Delight and the Bride of God, for the Lord delights in you and will claim you as his own. Your children will care for you with joy, O Jerusalem, just as a young man cares for his bride. Then God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.

These beautiful and poignant verses clearly declare the love of God. I am struck, once again, that God loves His people, persevering through their unfaithfulness and disobedience. His fatherly love remains unchanged. He awaits with open arms for them to return to Him in faith, repentance, and obedience.

How is it that I walk away time and time again from such love? I don't understand my own ways, let alone Jerusalem's. Sometimes it may be that I subconsciously divert because in and of myself, I cannot be holy as He has called me to be. When I pursue holiness on my own strength, I fail miserably. As I read a passage in 2 Peter this morning, I was trying to grapple with the reality that the Spirit of God needs to be ever-present doing these things in me.

Add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control, perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are your and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

I cannot do these things on my own - that is clear and evident as I have countlessly attempted. However, the mystery to me is how the Holy Spirit does these things. I still have some role - I do have to, in the least, step out of the way and allow Him to work. But how do I do this? When do I do this?

Just a few thoughts this morning as I opened the Word of God. I think these things are life-long struggles. But as Hebrews 12:14 reminds me, I must pursue holiness in all things. May God be gracious to teach me these things which are unknown to me.

Lost

2007-11-06T10:30:00.000-05:00

Show me the path where I should walk, O Lord;

point out the right road for me to follow.

Lead me by your truth and teach me,

for you are the God who saves me.

All day long I put my hope in you.

-Psalm 25:4-5, NLT

I love the authenticity of David in the Psalms. His prayers speak to my heart because it's as if he were reading my mind. I have wandered off in the worldly woods over the past week. I lost my bearings because I failed to be in the Word. My life quickly shows evidence of that reality. Today, it's as if I'm starting anew, and I do ask the Lord to show me the path where I should walk - step by step. How I long for the Lord to lead me into and by His truth, saving me from that which I need to be saved.

The phrase "all day long I put my hope in you" fascinates me. The NKJV translates it as, " On You I wait all the day." Either way, the psalmist waits/hopes in God ALL day. How I long to be aware of God all day long. I'd love to imagine Him right here with me constantly - how then would I live? And yet He is here - within, beside, in front, behind, under, above, around. The very presence of God resides right here, and I live in ignorance of His glorious presence. What foolishness! May God have mercy on me to be mindful of His loving presence. And may I live to honor Him all day long.

The Fear of the Lord

2007-10-26T10:37:00.000-04:00

"Do you not fear Me?" says the Lord.

"Will you not tremble at My presence ..."

-Jeremiah 5:22

I have grown to appreciate the books written by the Old Testament prophets. They have a way of putting me in my proper place, reminding me of who God is. I've attempted to imagine being in God's presence, but I cannot fathom the fear and trembling part. No doubt, Yahweh is holy, awesome, magnificent - beyond anything we have seen or known. Yet this God, full of majesty, wonder, and glory loves us and knows us - to the point that He even knows the number of hairs on our heads. Who could love us in such a magnificent way? That, to me, is unfathomable. Let us live in the awe of the Lord our God. May we be keenly aware of evidences of Him in every part of our day. Give Him the glory that He deserves - for big things and small. Praise the name of the Lord.

Home

2007-10-25T13:57:00.000-04:00

"He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."

"Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?" ...

"If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him,

and We will come to him and make Our home with him."

-John 14:21-23

My parents have since moved from the homes in which I grew up. Two homes, in particular, are special to me, reminding me of memorable experiences and events throughout most of my childhood, adolesence, and part of my adult life. I would love to visit those places now and see what the current owners have done to them.

This thought of Jesus making His home inside of me is baffling. I have heard countless times that my body is God's temple, but to really ponder Jesus residing within me is quite humbling. And it causes me to wonder what He thinks about His dwelling - is it clean or cluttered? Inviting or insulting? Does it reflect His beauty or ruin it?

In this passage, Jesus clearly indicates the kind of home in which He resides - one filled with obedience and love for the Master of the home. Is it time to clean the closet or perhaps the bedroom? Maybe the kitchen floor is sticky and full of crumbs. Is your home the kind of dwelling in which the Master resides? No need to panic - Jesus is the only One who can clean it and effectively maintain the kind of cleanliness fit for the Lord of the home. All we need to do is let Him.

A Nursing Child

2007-10-24T08:23:00.000-04:00

Well, I thought I'd blog again. Not quite ready to finish Philippians. Perhaps someday. Sometimes I long to journal the spiritual nuggets of truth that I receive from God in His precious Word. So, that's what I'm going to do with this blog - at least until I get distracted and move onto the next thing. Ah ... my restless spirit.

This morning I read these verses from Isaiah 49:14-15:

Zion said, "The Lord has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me." Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you.

The New Living translation actually inserts the word "NEVER" after the quote of Zion. It's as if the Lord is fighting for us. What a beautiful picture. And to think of our position as a nursing child - desperately needing God to sustain us; completely relying upon Him for our every need.

This past weekend we had our women's retreat. The entire weekend was beautiful as we dug into the Word and fellowshipped with one another. I am so grateful for the time. Our theme for the weekend was "what not to wear" and we had a lot of fun with it. In our study of God's Word, we talked about some of the things that we as believers must take out of wardrobes and what needs to replace these items. I love the analogy and think I'll try to use it as much as I can when gleaning truths from Scripture.

O Lord, help me to put on the garment of trust in You as I rid myself of trust in self. Help me to look only to You to sustain me. Give me this day my daily bread. Thank you for being my loving heavenly Father. Your love is matchless.

Trophies

2007-06-03T05:56:00.000-04:00

I used to have a lot of trophies back when trophies really meant something. No offense to anyone, but my 4½-year old son just received a trophy for playing “soccer” for six weeks – catch my drift? Trophies these days seem a dime a dozen. Nevertheless, as a child and teenager, I proudly showcased these icons in my room as symbols of my great accomplishments in softball and soccer. I even displayed my very first trophy – first place in a bicycle rodeo at the age of five! One day, after I had grown up, moved out of the house, and gotten married, my parents brought me boxes of things from my room in their house, including a box filled with my trophies. As I sifted through the box, I enjoyed reliving some of those moments when I received the trophies – the bike rodeo – they announced my name as the winner, but I didn’t believe that it was me – it took awhile before I went forward to receive my trophy; the soccer championship where it had poured down rain – I had something to do with the winning goal – can’t remember exactly; and the softball championship where I sat out because my brother accidentally hit me in the head with a pick axe, digging a hole in our backyard (another story altogether) – how could they win without their starting pitcher?!?! (Well, they did.) But what would I do with these trophies now? Great memories reminding me how much I enjoyed sports, but really, they had no significance in my life now. I ended up throwing them all away … except for my very first trophy from the bike rodeo. I understood, in that moment, that it didn’t matter. So what if my shelves were filled with trophies – it doesn’t matter to God, and after growing up some, it didn’t matter to me.

The apostle Paul had a lot of “trophies” to display – things that he considered important. Then he met Jesus and all those things became worthless – they were no longer of value to him. He even went to the extent of calling them garbage, rubbish! As we know Jesus and are in relationship with Him, we begin to realize, along with Paul, what really matters – it’s not what you’ve accomplished in your lifetime; it’s not your occupation; it’s not your wall full of educational degrees; it’s not all the wealth you’ve accumulated; it’s not your heritage; it’s not your ability to live a moral life; it’s not about sacrifice or service or charitable deeds. It IS, however, about Jesus and what HE has accomplished. Instead of valuing what the world values, we value Christ and what is ours because of His work. And, friend, we gain so much more than we ever lost. As we put our faith in Christ alone and not in our self-righteousness, we gain a relationship with Christ. Because of our faith in Him, we can know Him, experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead, learn what it means to suffer with Him, and somehow experience the resurrection from the dead. I don’t understand the breadth and depth of all of that, but I long for Him and His fullness.

Are you still clinging to any of your trophies – your abilities, skills, strengths, accomplishments, etc. – as a means of giving you self-worth? For me, this is a major challenge. Carl has often told me that my identity seems to be wrapped up in what I do rather than in Christ. And as I read this passage and studied it a little, I realized that yes – there are trophies that I’m clinging to. Instead of experiencing the fullness of Christ, I’m leaning on my own abilities and whatnot to get me through the day. I could be and have so much more – all that Christ offers – if I would just surrender these things! Further, I don’t believe it’s a one-time sacrifice, but a daily – even moment-by-moment surrender. At least that is the case for me.

May God be merciful and gracious to us as we surrender ourselves and encounter His fullness. Give me more of Jesus!

Philippians 3:7-11

2007-05-29T11:45:00.000-04:00

As I studied this passage this morning, God spoke to my heart. I pray that He uses these verses to bless you in some way.

What does Paul count as loss that was once profitable to him?
Why are these things worthless to Him now? Isn't there at least some value in them?
What did Paul gain?
How did he gain these?

May the Lord bless you as you seek Him.

Perfectly Qualified

2007-05-23T14:31:00.000-04:00

I have been updating my resume over the past week and thinking about what makes the ideal or perfect candidate for a particular job. I’ve been wondering if I’m the perfect candidate for a particular job – do I have everything it takes (or just about) to perform the duties of this job well?

Although no one is perfectly, in all ways suited for a certain job, Paul seemed to have been and done all the right things to please God. In this section, he is still dealing with the Judaizers and continuing to prove a point to the Philippians that righteousness cannot be achieved. Even Paul who came from the ultimate Jewish background – purely Jewish, from the tribe of Benjamin, circumcised on the eighth day, etc. – and who had done everything he could in the flesh to keep the law, preaches that no one can achieve righteousness – not even by being born into the most perfect of circumstances and living “blamelessly.” Paul’s resume seemed to contain all the right stuff, but it would never be good enough.

Do you ever find yourself trying to earn God’s favor? It is done – in the person of work of Christ – it is done forever and ever – AMEN! Be thankful that we don’t have to try to fulfill the law, for Christ accomplished that on our behalf once and for all. Praise Him!

Philippians 3:4-6

2007-05-16T11:36:00.000-04:00

Grab your Bible and ponder these questions regarding these verses ...

What is Paul's point in this section?
Paul suggests a list of reasons that he could put confidence in the flesh. What are they?

Blessings!

Rules

2007-05-10T11:27:00.000-04:00

I have recently been in touch with a dear friend from high school. We have communicated off and on since graduating in 1991. I was able to share Christ with her during our high school years, and she seemed receptive to Him at the time. Unfortunately, I also impressed upon her a bunch of “Christian rules” necessary for her to have a relationship with Him. That was my understanding of Christianity back then, and so I was merely passing my beliefs on to someone who was learning about them. I think those rules may have driven her away from Christ for a time at least. And honestly I don’t know where she currently is with regards to her relationship with God. I have spoken limitedly about God when we have communicated - enough to let her know subtly that I have changed regarding “the rules.” I wish so much that I could come right out and speak to her from my heart, but honestly, I don’t want to drive her away again. I am saddened by this.

There are a lot of Christians who impose rules on other believers – if not out loud, then silently in their hearts. This is not a new practice. Obviously, there were some in Paul’s day who were trying to convince converts (new, Gentile – whomever they were) that there were certain things needed to achieve salvation. Paul refuted such teachings until his dying day. In this particular section, he was reminding the Philippians to beware of those who falsely proclaimed the Word of God, declaring that salvation was something achievable. Paul was referring to the Judaizers – those who imposed Jewish law on Gentile believers, claiming that living by the law was the only means of attaining salvation. Paul referred to them as dogs – vicious animals who attacked the innocent (not your typical domesticated pet); men who did evil – those whose work was nothing less than evil; mutilators of the flesh – a sarcastic phrase used because it was nothing more than that to a Gentile who did not understand circumcision.

Paul attacks further by explaining that all that is needed for salvation is the circumcision of the heart – that which cannot be done by any man, but by God alone. Salvation is an internal change rather than an external one. Salvation is the work of God alone, and it is through faith in Him that we receive salvation. There is no other gospel message. Paul is reminding the Philippians of this. Those whose hearts have been circumcised worship by the Spirit of God rather than practicing a law. They glory in Christ and not themselves. Nothing more is necessary than the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross. Finally, those who have been internally circumcised put no confidence in themselves, for man can do nothing to please God. Once again, it is the work of Christ alone.

Nothing Can I Boast In

At God’s perfect timing, Christ died for fallen Man.
He wore a crown of thorns, nails driven through His hands.
Christ willingly endured it, to death He chose to go
He broke His body for us, shed blood to make us whole.

Nothing can I boast in, my life is scarred with sin.
My works are filthy rags, no merit can I bring.
Yet mercy filled Christ’s heart, love took Him to the tree.
It’s grace alone which saves me; Christ’s blood that sets me free.

So if I am to boast, I’ll speak of my disgrace
For my weak self displays the power of God’s grace.
Christ’s Spirit works within me, in weakness He is strong.
So I look to my Saviour to safely bring me home.

Bryson Smith and Philip Percival, 1996 Plainsong Music

It is vital, my friend, that we know our Bibles – not just read, but know the truths contained on the pages of God’s very word. We can easily be fooled by wolves in sheep’s clothing or lies that are dressed up to look like truths. We must do all we can to know the Word of God that we might stand for truth in an age where people believe in relativism. And if we know God and love Him, we will understand the joy of living with His “rules” – those loving ways that He longs to protect us and have us delight in Him; after all, He is our perfect Heavenly Father.

God’s grace and peace be with you as you seek Him.

Philippians 3:2-3

2007-05-09T20:55:00.000-04:00

Back at it. Dive into Philippians 3:2-3 and answer these questions.

Who is Paul describing in verse 2?
What three descriptions does he use?
What three descriptions does he use for believers in verse 3?
What does Paul mean by “it is we who are the circumcision?”

Blessings!

Rejoice in the Lord!

2007-05-03T16:01:00.000-04:00

Paul starts off this section with the word finally. So one might think that he is wrapping his letter up. Yet a good portion of the book remains, so that is not the case. It is suggested that the word finally could mean something along the lines of furthermore. At any rate, Paul still has more to say, and he begins with, rejoice in the Lord! Paul is reminding them to rejoice IN THE LORD as he stirs the waters again by bringing up the matter of those who are contradicting the gospel message. According to some theologians, the rejoice-in-the-Lord section is connected with what he is about to write. Paul says that he has no trouble bringing up these matters again because it is for their own good. If Paul is saying such a thing, it would make sense that they were having issues with opponents of the gospel. Perhaps the issue was causing discord among them, which is why Paul would bring up unity in other parts of the letter.

Nevertheless, Alice, I appreciated what you said, and I would have gone that route too had I not read a reputable commentary that I've been referring to quite often. Reading this verse is a good reminder to rejoice in the Lord no matter what the circumstances. This can be challenging - we are inclined to do things in our own strength and in our own way. Rejoicing in the Lord reminds us who is in charge as we worship Him rather than ourselves or others.

REJOICE IN THE LORD!

Philippians 3:1

2007-05-02T18:55:00.000-04:00

A couple of questions from the opening verse of chapter three ...

What is the exhortation in verse one and what is its purpose in this passage?
What is Paul referring to in the second part of verse one?

Blessings be upon you!

A Couple of Philippian Prayers

2007-04-27T14:20:00.000-04:00

Hi, all.

We are back. Vacation was wonderful and not nearly long enough. I very much relished watching my two children play delightfully on the beach - not a care in the world. And it was wonderful kicking back a bit with my hubby. We all really needed some time away from home and routine in order to be with one another. I spent some time reading a little biblical history. I haven't read much in the OT historical books in awhile. I look forward to more of it. Anyhow, thanks for the prayers.

A side thought ... I walked into the grocery store this morning and every person I passed was on his/her cell phone. Technology has been such a blessing but also a curse. I realized this while I was away. Not having the computer around was a total blessing. I realized how much time I waste on the Internet. And yet it was a blessing to have my cell phone because my mom called me to tell me that my grandfather was in the hospital with advanced colon cancer. We have distanced ourselves with technology and yet we have gotten closer as well. We use e-mail more often to communicate than the phone. But e-mail has enabled and encouraged us to communicate more frequently with those we may not have otherwise. When we are on our cell phones, we may miss opportunities to speak with people whom we are passing. Yet we are able to conveniently reach more people with such mobility.

Well, to the matter at hand. It has been awhile since I've read in Philippians, so I took some time this morning to reread chapters one through three. A few verses stood out to me today as wonderful prayers to pray for ourselves and others, and I thought I'd share them with you. And next week I hope to jump back into our study, picking up at the beginning of chapter three.

May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation - those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ - for this will bring much glory and praise to God. (Philippians 1:11)

For I live in eager expectation and hope that I will never do anything that causes me shame, but that I will always be bold for Christ ... and that my life will always honor Christ ... (Philippians 1:20)

[Be] careful to put into action God's saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him. (Philippians 2:12-13)

Grace and peace to you!

Break

2007-04-17T22:56:00.000-04:00

Greetings, friends.

Just wanted you to know that I will be taking a short break from blogging to enjoy a little R&R with my family at the beach. It is much needed and prayers for safety and a blessed, relaxing time would be appreciated. Thanks.

I encourage you to continue feasting on the Word of God. The Psalms are a great "sidetrack." On occasions like these, I also enjoy reading from The Daily Light, a little book that groups scripture verses together thematically in a morning and evening reading. And Spurgeon's Morning and Evening devotional is meaty and can be read online. Those are just a couple of ideas if you need some.

Thanks for being patient with me as we slowly work through Philippians with interruptions for various reasons. God's rich blessings be upon you. Grace and peace to you.

In Christ,
Angie

Epaphroditus

2007-04-16T15:44:00.001-04:00

In Philippians 2:25-30, Paul mentions another one of his associates, Epaphroditus. He is referred to by Paul as his brother in Christ, a fellow worker laboring for the work of the gospel, and a fellow soldier sharing in the life-threatening dangers of the time in proclaiming the gospel. Again, this was a perilous era for believers who made themselves known as such.

As to Epaphroditus’ relationship to the Philippians, we learn that he was a messenger sent on their behalf to help Paul with his need. Yet in the process of assisting Paul, Epaphroditus became ill, nearly dying. Scripture doesn’t enlighten us regarding the circumstances surrounding Epaphroditus’ illness, but we do read that it was relative to his work for the Lord. God spared Epaphroditus’ life, showing mercy not only to Epaphroditus but Paul as well who was blessed by his ministry and friendship.

Paul then decided to send his associate back to the Philippians because Epaphroditus longed to be with them. It appears, from the reading of the text, that there was an underlying issue occurring regarding Epaphroditus’ illness and the Philippians understanding. Why else would he be distressed because they heard that he was sick? Surely he didn’t want them to worry about him, but that probability coupled with Paul’s urging for them to receive him (which should not have been a problem given their relationship with one another) causes some to believe that there was more to the story. But if God wanted us to know the details, well, they would have been included here. Alas, they are not.

I guess I have no particular personal reflections nor application ideas from this passage. So if you do, pass them along. I do, however, think it’s cool to see the love extended from the Philippians to Paul through Epaphroditus and then from Paul through Epaphroditus to the Philippians.

Philippians 2:25-30

2007-04-11T11:10:00.000-04:00

In this section, we encounter another one of Paul’s messengers, Epaphroditus. You may recall an introduction to this man earlier in our study, but this is the first time he’s mentioned in this book. Here are a few questions to help you learn a little more about this associate of Paul’s.

What is Paul’s relationship to Epaphroditus?
What is Epaphroditus’ relationship to the Philippians?
According to this passage, Paul plans to send Epaphroditus back to the Philippians. Why was Epaphroditus sent to Paul in the first place? Why is Paul sending him back?
Why did Paul need to exhort the Philippians to welcome their dear friend back home?

Blessings!

Timothy

2007-04-10T21:50:00.000-04:00

Have you ever visited a church – perhaps it was a former church that you attended at one point in your life or a church you’ve wanted to visit. One of the reasons you visit is because you have wanted to hear the pastor speak. You know of his vibrant ministry and his powerful, biblical messages and want to partake of it firsthand. You sit in your pew with anticipation, as if you were about to delve into a scrumptious feast prepared by an expert chef. You sing your heart out during every hymn and song. You pray earnestly with each prayer delivered. And them comes … what?!?! The associate pastor?!?! I came all this way for the associate pastor?!?! You take a dive into the depths of disappointment and there allow his every word to move through one ear and out the other. Bummer!

It seems that in our study today of Philippians 2:19-24 that Paul is trying to keep the Philippians from such a disappointment. He has an incredible relationship with these people. They know him and love him, and probably most hang on his every word, yet Paul was going to be sending Timothy to them and didn’t want him to be received as the second-rate pastor. So Paul commends Timothy to the Philippians even though they already know him. Paul reminds them that Timothy’s heart for ministry beats with Paul’s. He would instruct them and care for them just as Paul would have had he been with them. Timothy was trustworthy. “But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel” (2:22). Paul placed his complete confidence in this young pastor and wanted the Philippians to as well.

Apparently there were others that Paul could have sent but did not. These were ministers who were more self-focused than service oriented. In the midst of ministry, they might be more concerned that their own needs and perhaps desires were met before giving to others. Or possibly they ministered to others because it made them feel good. Whatever the case, they were placing themselves before Christ and His work for His glory. And people know when that’s the case. So Paul distinguishes Timothy by setting him apart from the rest of this group.

Every believer who ministers in the name of Jesus has something to offer. Sometimes we close ourselves off to certain people because we don’t like the way they talk or dress or act. Maybe they’re too philosophical or intelligent. Maybe they’re dull or repetitive. Or maybe they just aren’t educated enough, unable to use eloquent speech and connect complex ideas thoughtfully and brilliantly. Timothy was too young in some people’s minds. He probably didn’t have enough experience for some. He didn’t seem to have the type of outgoing personality that attracted a crowd. But you know, it didn’t and doesn’t matter because his heart belonged to God. God can and will still use these people despite their apparent weaknesses. So set your premonitions and pride aside and allow God’s servants to minister. This doesn’t mean that you let your guard down and accept every word as truth. Be wise, but couple that with humility. And hopefully you’ll be blessed in unexpected ways.

Grace and peace to you, dear friend.

Philippians 2:19-24

2007-04-09T20:56:00.000-04:00

Questions to think about ...

Paul has some wonderful things to say about Timothy in this short section. How does Paul describe Timothy?
Why do you think Paul is commending Timothy to the Philippians?
To whom is Paul referring to in verse 21, “everyone looks out for his own interests?”

Grace and peace to you.

Shine

2007-04-03T10:31:00.000-04:00

After eight long days at furniture market, I'm ready to get back into the swing of things. Hope a little time off from our study in Philippians encouraged you to dive in elsewhere in the Word. I was reminded how important the Word of God is in my life. It is food for the soul - food that I desperately need.

Before our break, we looked at Philippians 2:12-18. It would probably be beneficial to spend a few minutes looking back over the text. Paul begins this section with the word "therefore." He is pointing us back to his description of Christ's supreme example in the previous verses. Because of who Christ is and what He has done, Paul lays out what I'll call the three p's. First is the principle: obey God with a deep reverence and fear. This is, in essence, working out one's salvation (NOT to be confused with working for one's salvation - salvation cannot be earned by our works). Verse 13 reminds us that it is God who works within us to enable us to do obey Him. This is the second p - the promise that we can cling to. Paul shares later on in his epistle that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (4:13). It is in and through Christ that we can and will obey God. I love the New Living Translation of 1:13: "For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him." What a great prayer with which to petition our Heavenly Father daily. The promise of verse 13 should give hope to every believer.

Finally, Paul offers the third p - the practice. These are signs of obedience and indications that we belong to God. Again Paul reminds the Philippians of the importance of abstaining from arguing and complaining so that they would be blameless. The world is watching us and so are other believers. We are to live differently than unbelievers - those who are of this dark world, crooked and perverse. We are to stand out and shine among them and as we hold firmly to th word of life that we have been given.

Paul closes out this section reminding the Philippians that his labor in advancing the gospel is worth every sacrifice that he has made, even if it costs his own life. He takes great joy for the sake of Christ and asks them to rejoice with him as well.

Most days I spend in the comfort of my own home caring for my children. I get out here and there for various reasons, but I'm mostly at home. Last week I was at furniture market, and it is the perfect representation of this crooked and perverse world. I spent eight hours a day with these people and I wonder if my light for Christ shone brightly or if it barely shone. I will say that it can be challenging to live for Christ when it seems like you're the only one. I hope that somehow God was gracious so that these people, in even some remote way, saw Jesus through me.

How 'bout you? Are you allowing Christ to shine in and through you in your home, your work, your goings and comings? Pray that He would. He is able.

Blessings to you.

Philippians 2:12-18

2007-03-22T21:00:00.000-04:00

Here are some questions for the next several verses ...

What is the exhortation in this passage?
How are the Philippians able to do what is asked of them?
How are they to respond to the exhortation given?
What does it mean to work out one’s salvation and what is the purpose?

Grace and peace to you.

Imitate Christ, Pt 2

2007-03-20T16:25:00.000-04:00

Often, when really studying a passage of Scripture, I tend to want to stand up and shout, “Hallelujah” for the wonderful things that God reveals in His Word. This passage is certainly no exception. Paul’s Christological confession is marked with beauty and triumph and can do nothing less than provoke a believer to glory in Christ.

If I had to write a short summary of what I learn about Jesus in these verses, I would use three words: humiliation, exaltation, and submission (to Him). Yesterday we focused our attention on the humility of Christ. Even though He was the pre-existent God He condescended to become the incarnate God, identifying with us by putting on flesh and dwelling with us.

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made….14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-3; 14)

Today we’re going to focus on the exaltation of Christ, which leads to the submission of all before Him. Following Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension, God raised Jesus up to heaven to the highest position. All that Jesus willingly gave up to become man was now re-established. In His exaltation, He was given “a name above every other name.” During the incarnation, although He was known as Jesus to most and Lord to some, Paul makes it clear that all will know Him as Lord – if not now, then surely in the end. Christ existed as God before, throughout, and following His appearance as man, and even though some submit to God now, one day everything in heaven, on earth, and under the earth will bow before Him and confess His lordship. Some will confess “in joyful faith” and others “with resentment and despair” (Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 11, 125). And, as Paul writes, all of this has occurred and will occur for the glory of God.

Therefore, as we meditate and rejoice in these truths, let us not forget the purpose of this passage – that we would imitate Christ in full in order to bring glory to God. The beauty of all of this is that we know what happens in the final chapter – we know what’s going to occur in the end. As we keep our focus on the goal - the hope of victory, the hope of glory - we can endure a life of humility and hardship.

1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Praise the Lord, oh my soul! Praise the Lord!

Imitate Christ, Pt 1

2007-03-19T16:07:00.000-04:00

In our last study, Paul was pleading that the Philippians be unified in their efforts, indicating that this can only come through humility. In our passage today, Philippians 2:5-11, he continues to write about humility, requesting that they imitate Christ who is the ultimate example of humility.

As we dive into the passage, we discover a beautiful portrait of Christ. First of all, He is the pre-existent God. He had every right to cling to the privileges of being God, but He did not take that glorified path. Instead, He set aside His reputation as God and stooped to become nothing. Think about His entrance into this world – a stable not a palace, a few onlookers rather than the masses, a quiet setting with no trumpet fanfare declaring His presence among us, a star in the east rather than a festive party in the center of town. Clearly God’s appearance as man was a lowly affair. Furthermore, He did not live in royalty once He arrived. He came to serve not to be served; to associate with outcasts and sinners rather than the esteemed and religious leaders of His day. And as for His death – He was crucified as a criminal. Those descriptions alone should convince us that Jesus was willingly stripped of His royalty as God. It is, however, crucial to note that foregoing His rights as God does in no way mean that Jesus gave up His deity. This is simply not the case. Just read through the Gospels. The most prevalent argument supporting this is that Jesus never sinned. However, it is a fact that all humans sin. So if Jesus was human yet did not sin, then He must be God.

Another aspect of Christ that is described is of the incarnate God. Jesus took off His royal robes and put on flesh. He became part of humanity, one of us. Through His short earthly existence, He is able to identify with us. Just yesterday one of our elders preached a sermon on one of Jesus’ last words, “I thirst.” Jesus was also tempted (most prominently following His baptism), in need of sleep (asleep on the boat with His disciples during a fierce storm), He cried (John 11:35), He sweat (Luke 22:44), and He bled on the cross. Surely He was fully human, yet in His humanity, though tempted, He did not sin. Further, the final and ultimate act of the incarnate God’s humility was His criminal’s death upon a cross. He was our substitute, paying for the sins that we have committed. It was for us that Christ was nailed to the cross and His blood poured out. It had to be Jesus, the Son of God and Son of man. Alistair Begg stated it like this: “Jesus is the only one qualified to be a savior. If God must save, then the savior must be God. If man must bear the punishment because man sinned, then the savior must be man. If the man who bears the punishment for sin must be himself sinless, who then meets these qualifications?” (When? What? Why? Pt 2) Jesus as God and man is the proper and only sacrifice sufficiently covering our sins once and for all.

I’ll finish out this portion of Scripture in my next entry. What a great text to reflect upon as we head into the Easter season, focusing on what Jesus has done for us. Indeed how blessed we are!

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;

And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains;

And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;

And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.

Washed all my sins away, washed all my sins away;

And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its power

Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.

Be saved, to sin no more, be saved, to sin no more;

Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.

E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,

Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.

And shall be till I die, and shall be till I die;

Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.

Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I’ll sing Thy power to save,

When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.

Lies silent in the grave, lies silent in the grave;
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.

Philippians 2:5-11

2007-03-14T19:54:00.000-04:00

These verses are an amazingly beautiful part of the book of Philippians and Scripture as a whole. So much about Jesus is packed into these seven verses - so much for our benefit too. I encourage you to read this passage in a couple of different translations to get the full effect. Dive into these verses, meditating on them, and pray that the Spirit of God directs your heart to discover more about Jesus and how we are to live. Here are a few questions to get you started ...

From these verses alone, what words would you use to describe Jesus?
What does this passage tell us that Jesus did?
What were the results of what Jesus did?
What is this passage about? What do you think Paul's intention is?
Describe how you feel after reading this portion of Scripture.

Praise God for the wondrous gift of Jesus!

Unity

2007-03-13T11:50:00.000-04:00

One of the most difficult things about parenting a young child, in my opinion, is the amount of repetition I need to provide. If someone were to log every phrase that comes from my mouth throughout a day, most of them would be repeated over and over and over again. A dear friend of mine recently reminded me that these younger years in my childrens' lives are, in essence, the training years, thus the reason for all the repetition. So many times I think, “If he would only remember and do what I’ve asked of him! When will he learn?!?!” And then, within that moment, I am often reminded of my loving, patient, and kind Heavenly Father. I do wonder if He thinks of me as I do with my children.

As children of God and followers of Jesus Christ, it is vital that we remember what the Lord has done and obey what He has asked of us. Obviously that is one of the best arguments for getting in the Word of God – renewing our minds continually so we can do what God asks of us (Romans 12:2). For anyone who is part of a community of believers, which should be every believer, Philippians 2 should be a passage that we read and reread on a regular basis. I don’t know what was going on in the Philippian church that prompted Paul to write these words, but there must have been a fear of disunity in some way for him to write this. If we were to read on in Philippians, we do find him addressing two women specifically, Euodia and Syntyche, who were in the midst of some kind of disagreement (4:2). Whether or not 2:1-4 are geared toward these women or the church at large, these words are certainly applicable to all believers.

I think the theme of these verses is unity, and a strong call to unity at that. Paul reminds this fellowship of believers that we receive much from being in relationship with Christ – encouragement, comfort from His love, fellowship with one another produced by the Spirit, affection and mercy – just to name a few. These benefits should drive us to impart these to one another as Christ has to us. This, in reality, is an obligation of being linked to Christ. Being a follower of Christ means that we emulate Him.

Paul continues on, explaining what it would take individually to bring about unity:

don’t be selfish or conceited
don’t live to impress others
be humble
put others before yourself
be interested in the affairs of others, not just your own

Seems like selfishness/self-centeredness is what divides two or more believers. Looking at that list above, how easy it is to let self creep into a discussion or situation with another person. After studying this passage, I see the great need for me to feast on the Word of God and earnestly pray to relinquish my selfish desires before I have a discussion or meeting with another person regarding any type of issue. I realize that doing this is not always practical, but when possible, I really need to do this. Maybe just writing out these verses and slipping them into my meeting notebook would be a start. More so, I should stick these verses above my phone or on my computer screen. Whatever the case, these verses are not only useful but vital in instructing us how to work with one another to bring about unity.

I hope and pray that as we study His Word that we would be a changed people. I needed to hear these words and am grateful that the Spirit of God uses the Word of God to train us and change us to be more like Him. To Him be the glory for those kinds of results!

Philippians 2:1-4

2007-03-12T11:32:00.000-04:00

We are moving ahead and are now in chapter two – YEA! We have lots of great truths in store for us in this chapter. For now, focus on verses one through four and respond to these questions …

What issue is Paul addressing in these verses?
On what basis should the Philippian church seek unity?
In this passage, Paul reveals how the Philippians (and all believers for that matter) can be unified. How?

Blessings to you!

Representing Jesus

2007-03-07T20:18:00.000-05:00

I'll admit that I'm not the most cautious and kind driver around. I'm slightly more cautious and defensive when I'm driving with my kids, but generally I have one goal in mind - to get wherever I'm going. For me that sometimes means going through orange lights (yeah, the ones that aren’t quite yellow but not quite red either), safely passing someone driving slower than the speed limit, etc. You know my type, I’m sure.

A few years back, a student of mine gave me a car window decal from my alma mater. It’s still sitting in the same place today because I wasn’t sure I wanted to represent (or rather misrepresent) Taylor University by my sometimes poor style of driving. So I opted, in the best interest of the university, not to put it on my car. Eventually I did purchase a license plate holder with Taylor’s name across it because I truly am a proud and grateful graduate of Taylor, but I honestly don’t think it’s nearly as visible as a window decal would be. In short, I didn’t want my poor driving habits to cause others to have a negative reflection of Taylor University.

Paul opens verse 27 by requesting that the Philippian believers allow their behavior to be representative of the gospel of Christ Jesus – nothing more, nothing less. Whether in word or deed, with or without Paul amongst them, they were to make every effort to conduct themselves on earth as citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20). What did Paul envision for them? I think he continues on, explaining this behavior. First, he called them to “stand fast in one spirit.” Coupled with that, he desired that “with one mind [they would] strive together for the faith of the gospel.” Both of those pieces are crucial in creating unity, and unity is vital to proclaim, protect, and preserve something as precious as the gospel was to this group of Philippians. Paul called them to be a team and to work together in thought and in action to proclaim the gospel that they embraced. He desired that they cherish this message of Christ, promoting it by sharing it with others as well as protecting and preserving it in the face of opposition. Furthermore, a citizen of heaven would not fear the enemy, but face this foe with courage and strength from Christ as Paul did throughout his entire ministry. The believer in Christ, in light of eternity, has nothing to lose and redemption to gain in standing firm. The unbeliever – those opposing the gospel of Christ – has everything to lose, facing God’s judgment and subsequent destruction. Paul wanted the Philippians to be reminded of the reality that the attacks of those opposing the gospel were futile in the grand scheme of things.

Paul continues on in verse 29 with the reminder that believing in Christ and suffering for Him go hand in hand and are, in fact, a privilege given to us by Jesus Himself. I have struggled with gospel presentations that don’t give the whole picture – that make life in Christ seem all too simple. At the same time, it can be difficult to understand or to help others understand that suffering and struggling for Christ is a privilege. Jesus had to suffer in order to bring about our salvation (Hebrews 2:10), and he faced that suffering, the cross, with joy (Hebrews 12:2). Our particular struggles are purposeful indeed and often beyond our understanding. Scripture helps us recognize, in general, God’s purposes in our suffering. James 1:3-4 reminds us that “the testing of [our] faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that [we] may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” And Peter speaks to this as well in 1 Peter 1:6-7. “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ …”

Yes, it would be a beautiful thing if we weren’t constantly marring the name of Jesus by being unfaithful representatives. Unbelievers will always have an opportunity to point out our weaknesses and failures – we aren’t perfect. Yet when we portray that we are perfect, or equally embarrassing, better than the unbeliever, we are disregarding the work of Christ, the only perfect one, who purchased us with an unparalleled price, His very life, so that we will one day be perfect. Our sanctification is a process in which we become holy or perfect – a process that will come to completion on the day we meet our Heavenly Father. Thus, we await perfection.

I don’t think it’s our holiness or lack thereof that attracts an unbeliever to Christianity. I think what may stir his/her interest, through the work and power of the Holy Spirit, is how we as believers respond to our own sin and the sins of our brothers and sisters. I think they are additionally interested in not only how we treat them, but also how we treat other unbelievers, particularly social outcasts.

So, yes, I could work on my driving a bit more, regardless if the Taylor University decal is hanging in the rear window of my car. I represent so much more than my alma mater – I represent Jesus Christ, and although I will fail, I have the privilege and opportunity to proclaim, protect, and preserve this gospel that I hold dear, whether in my car, in my home, in the grocery store – wherever. May God graciously grant us a passion and the strength to conduct ourselves in a way that is worthy of the gospel of Christ. Amen!

2007-03-06T22:10:00.000-05:00

Please take some time to reread Philippians (either the entire book or a chapter or two) since I have been deliberating with my response to yesterday's questions. We have slowly moved through chapter one, and a refreshed perspective might be helpful as we plunge ahead. Thanks. May God bless you with His grace and peace.

Philippians 1:27-30

2007-03-05T11:33:00.000-05:00

As I was studying the Word of God today, I was reminded how little I know it. And yet the Spirit of God has stirred within me a hunger to know Him more through His Word. I'm thankful to be studying Philippians with you and pray that God blesses our understanding of His Word so that our conduct is worthy of the gospel of Christ. So dive into Philippians 1:27-30 and enjoy the treasures found there. God's blessings be upon you.

Paul asks the Philippian believers to "let your conduct be worthy of the gospel." According to these verses, what does this look like?
Paul encouraged them to "not be terrified by [their} adversaries." Why?
What was Paul reminding them of in verse 29? Why do you suppose they needed to hear this?

More About Jesus

2007-03-01T15:34:00.000-05:00

These two verses, once again, revolve around the work of Christ in Paul’s life. The apostle’s willingness to imitate Christ’s humility and selflessness is amazing as we recall his current circumstances. I can only imagine how exhausted he must be from all his labor, travels, writing, and imprisonment, so the aspect of leaving his weary body must have been enticing, although for Paul being with Christ was so much more than that. Regardless, Paul knew that the Philippians needed him more than he needed to be with Jesus, and yet he proclaims his confidence that his work with the Philippians is not quite complete, suggesting he would return to them, ministering to them so that their faith would grow as they understood more of their lives in Christ, resulting in deepened joy. How does Paul know this though? How can he be confident that he will return to them? Although Paul may have felt the peace of God regarding remaining on earth, it may have been more than that which prompted Paul to express what he did. It appeared that he knew that the arguments supporting his imprisonment were quite weak (Acts 23:29; 25:25; 26:31-32), thus giving him confidence in his release.

The Philippians “will have even more reason to boast” (1:25) when Paul returns to them because of the work of Christ in their lives through Paul. This boasting wouldn’t simply be the result of Paul’s release, but more so the result of the continued work of Christ in the lives of the Philippians as they would “grow and experience the joy of [their] faith” (1:25).

I am reminded from these verses how important it is to grow in our faith – to understand more and more who we are in Christ and the glorious benefits that accompany our relationship with Him. The more we learn, understand, and take to heart concerning Christ, the greater our joy will be. Christ will fill our hearts as we long for Him rather than the things of this world, which the prince of this world uses to steal our joy. So, dear friends, remain steadfast and press ahead, doing everything you can to know God more – an inexhaustible and glorious quest. To Him be all glory, honor, and power!

I leave you with the words of a wonderful hymn, More About Jesus …

More about Jesus would I know,
More of His grace to others show;
More of His saving fullness see,
More of His love Who died for me.

(Refrain)
More, more about Jesus,
More, more about Jesus;
More of His saving fullness see,
More of His love Who died for me.

More about Jesus let me learn,
More of His holy will discern;
Spirit of God, my teacher be,
Showing the things of Christ to me.

More about Jesus; in His Word,
Holding communion with my Lord;
Hearing His voice in every line,
Making each faithful saying mine.

More about Jesus; on His throne,
Riches in glory all His own;
More of His kingdom’s sure increase;
More of His coming, Prince of Peace.

Phil 1:25-26

2007-02-27T21:34:00.000-05:00

Let's jump back into our study in Philippians. Today's questions focus on 1:25-26. Take a moment and ask the Holy Spirit to guide your heart as you engage these two verses.

Of what is Paul convinced in verse 25?
How can Paul be confident that he will live, returning one day to minister to the Philippians? Is he potentially offering them a false hope?
Why does Paul tell them, in essence, that he's going to return to them?
Who will receive the glory when Paul returns to them? Why is this significant?

God's grace and peace bless you.

How

2007-02-26T15:48:00.000-05:00

Do you ever get overwhelmed thinking about life - how you're going to make it through the day and get everything done, how you're going to afford this or that, how you might handle hardship or tragedy, what you're going to do about your current employment situation, how you're going to reconcile with an estranged sibling, how you're going to raise godly children - the list could go on and on. Last entry I talked about what I do while driving - thinking and praying in most cases. The thinking aspect usually entails thoughts like the above which then leads to either worry or prayer.

Yesterday, Joel was preaching a sermon in Hebrews that took us back to Genesis 15 to God's covenant with Abram. Read the following ...

The Lord’s Covenant Promise to Abram

1 Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.”
2 But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth. 3 You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir.”
4 Then the Lord said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.” 5 Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”
6 And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.
7 Then the Lord told him, “I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as your possession.”
8 But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, how can I be sure that I will actually possess it?”
9 The Lord told him, “Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 So Abram presented all these to him and killed them. Then he cut each animal down the middle and laid the halves side by side; he did not, however, cut the birds in half. 11 Some vultures swooped down to eat the carcasses, but Abram chased them away.
12 As the sun was going down, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a terrifying darkness came down over him. 13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “You can be sure that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign land, where they will be oppressed as slaves for 400 years. 14 But I will punish the nation that enslaves them, and in the end they will come away with great wealth. 15 (As for you, you will die in peace and be buried at a ripe old age.) 16 After four generations your descendants will return here to this land, for the sins of the Amorites do not yet warrant their destruction.”
17 After the sun went down and darkness fell, Abram saw a smoking firepot and a flaming torch pass between the halves of the carcasses. 18 So the Lord made a covenant with Abram that day and said, “I have given this land to your descendants, all the way from the border of Egypt to the great Euphrates River—19 the land now occupied by the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, 20 Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, 21 Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”

Can you imagine what was going through Abram's mind? I wonder what he was thinking moments, days, weeks, even years from that particular event in his life. I wonder if he sat around trying to figure out how God was going to make all of this happen. We often read, however, that throughout his life Abram trusted God. Read Hebrews 11 for a concise synopsis. Abram believed that God would do what He said He would do - all Abram had to do was obey what God asked of him. And yes, that's often easier said than done.

I saw the movie Facing the Giants last weekend. I have a few critiques about it, but I have been reminded of the main message of the movie several times since then - trusting God through everything; praising Him through the joys and challenges of life. So when I look down the road one year, five years, ten years from now and wonder how we're going to manage this or that, I should come back to these wonderful stories in God's Word (and there are many of them) that remind me to trust Him. He alone knows the future, and even though I can do some things to prepare for that time, He is and always will be in control of all things. And whether the outcome is how I had hoped or not, I will praise Him.

Pray Continually

2007-02-24T14:07:00.000-05:00

God is teaching me more than just what I'm learning in Philippians. Not only do I desire to capture these revelations/thoughts/nuggets of truth, but I thought sharing them on my blog might be a blessing to others. So here is something God taught me today ...

It seems that I do a lot more thinking than anything else when I'm driving in my car. When I'm not thinking, I'm usually praying. This morning I was doing a little of both as I was driving back home from an errand outing. I had reread the first two chapters of Philippians this morning and was allowing my thoughts to dwell on some of the truths I read. After a few minutes into my prayer, I let out a huge sigh and said, "God, how can I remember to pray for ALL the things You want me to pray for? There are so many people I know and don't know who have requested prayer. My own immediate needs tend to dominate my prayer times with You. And I have other needs aside from the urgent ones. Oh, and yes ... what about praying Scripture for others and myself? And which verses - there are soooo many of them? I'm overwhelmed. How can I pray when I'm so overwhelmed?!?!" Instantly I was flooded with peace as my mind returned to a verse I have heard and read so many times, "Pray continually." Pray now. Pray when someone enters your mind. Pray when someone requests prayer. Pray when you are burdened by something. Pray when you are thankful. Pray when you see God's glory displayed. Pray in all things.

I thank God for that reminder which blessed my soul as I was facing a potential dilemma. I hope you too are blessed with that reminder today.

Torn

2007-02-23T20:05:00.000-05:00

Have you ever been torn between two wonderful choices? (I’m not talking about chocolate or vanilla!) Perhaps the choices are difficult either way. A couple of months ago, it seemed as if my grandmother, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s for about 10 years now, was on her deathbed. I struggled with how to pray, knowing full well that both outcomes would have significant implications for my grandfather especially, who has faithfully and selflessly loved her through her life and illness. If her life were spared to be here awhile longer (which it has been incidentally), my grandfather would have to continue to deal with the reality and pain of watching the love of his life exist without knowing or remembering much of anything, especially him. On the contrary, if she were to depart from this life, he would finally be able released from this burden of watching his wife’s mind and functions regress as if she were an infant once again, yet the pain of her going would sting incessantly. Torn is a good description.

In Philippians 1:22-24, Paul describes his dilemma of staying or departing – remaining here in the flesh on earth to continue in “fruitful labor” for Jesus Christ or passing from this life to the next, never to return but forever in the presence of Christ. Paul heavily weighs these options knowing full well that ultimately the decision is not his to make, but His Maker’s. In the case of staying, Paul demonstrates his selflessness in wanting to stay – it’s strictly about others. First and foremost, it is about Christ – giving Him glory and honor by telling others about Him. Paul also longs to see believers grow in their knowledge, understanding, and love for Christ. He also desires to continue to spread the gospel to those who haven’t heard and allow God to use him with those whose hearts may have been hardened to the message. These were certainly all a part of Paul’s idea of fruitful labor – anything of eternal value. I think labor indicates that it’s not easy work, but it takes energy and effort – living for Christ takes everything we have – all that we have been given through Christ.

In the matter of departing, Paul understands, as much as his human mind would allow, that he would be with Christ – in His presence forever. His heart and mind were set on that, and being with Christ is where he longs to be. Additionally, Paul, physically weary, would be set free from this life on earth. He would no longer have to endure the challenges that he had faced, including his current imprisonment and probable execution. Departing was certainly enticing, but quite a dilemma for an unselfish person who was constantly thinking of others.

Paul’s ministry was fruitful in so many ways. It was more than just his work, however – he was fruitful through his life, his very existence . In what ways is your life fruitful for Christ? Ponder this question today. Praise God for how He works in you to produce that fruitfulness. Ask Him to continue that good work in and through you. To Him be the glory!

Philippians 1:22-24

2007-02-22T20:39:00.000-05:00

In these couple of verses, Paul continues writing about living and dying and the dilemma he faces as he weighs the options of both. Spend some time reading these verses and reflecting on the questions below. Remember that it is often helpful to read a couple of different translations to grasp a better understanding of what Paul means.

What is the dilemma that Paul describes in these verses?
Why is it a dilemma? Why is he torn?
What are the benefits of him staying? of departing?
What do you suppose Paul means by "fruitful labor?"
What do we learn about Paul in this section?

May God bless us with an understanding of His Word. Grace and peace.

Reality Check

2007-02-19T19:42:00.000-05:00

I have been pondering Paul's words, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" a lot these days. I have found much more joy and peace about the day I meet Christ now that I've studied this verse. I praise God for His instruction and how He works in my heart.

Yesterday I met a young graduate student who was visiting our church. She came with another grad student that I've had the privilege of getting to know over the past few weeks. After being introduced, I asked Tracy about her studies and what she had hoped to do once she earned her Master's degree. It was fun to hear her share briefly about her hopes and dreams.

Early this evening, my grad student friend sent out an e-mail to our church requesting prayer. Tracy, the young and vibrant gal I met just yesterday, collapsed during her clarinet lesson today and was unable to be revived. Tracy is in the very presence of Jesus right now, declaring that dying is abundantly more than living ever was - to die is gain. Those who knew her and loved her - family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances even - must believe and find peace that this is what is best for her. She is better off with Jesus than living on this earth. As much as it hurts, this seething sting of death, we must look to the interest of another, Tracy, rather than our own interests. To be with Christ is the very best thing for her now, and those left behind must rejoice that she is with Jesus and continue in declaring the praise of her Savior whom she is now with.

In the case of a believer, death is bittersweet. But again, let us reflect on the joy that engulfs the spirit of the one who is now with Christ. May God be gracious and most merciful to those who are left behind - to those who grieve yet rejoice; to those who question and do not understand; to those who are angered. Our God is great and His ways have been and always will be above our ways. We will never understand the mysteries of our Great God. Praise Him now and forever more. Amen.

To Die Is Gain (Spurgeon)

2007-02-16T22:39:00.000-05:00

Some more great thoughts from Spurgeon …

“Could I now have the greatest favor conferred on me that mortals could desire, I would ask that I might die. I never wish to have the choice given to me, but to die is the happiest thing man can have, because it is to lose anxiety, it is to slay care, it is to have the peculiar sleep of the beloved. To the Christian, death must be acceptable.”

To be in glory with Jesus – face to face with no other cares or responsibilities other than to adore and worship Him in all His glory, splendor, and majesty - a blissful existence that I can't even fathom.

Take some time this weekend to adore and worship God, relishing Him for who He is and what He has done. Our glorious Lord. Our wonderful Savior. Our magnificent Creator. Praise Him.

Grace and peace to you.

To Live Is Christ (Spurgeon)

2007-02-15T15:28:00.000-05:00

Charles Spurgeon had some meaningful comments on Philippians 1:21. He writes,

"Paul's words mean more than most men think; they imply that the aim and end of his life was Christ - nay, his life itself was Jesus. In the words of an ancient saint, he did eat, and drink, and sleep eternal life. Jesus was his very breath, the soul of his soul, the heart of his heart, the life of his life. Can you say, as a professing Christian, that you live up to this idea? Can you honestly say that for you to live is Christ? Your business - are you doing it for Christ? Is it not done for self- aggrandizement and for family advantage? Do you ask, "Is that a mean reason?" For the Christian it is. He professes to live for Christ; how can he live for another object without committing a spiritual adultery? Many there are who carry out this principle in some measure; but who is there that dare say that he hath lived wholly for Christ as the apostle did? Yet, this alone is the true life of a Christian - its source, its sustenance, its fashion, its end, all gathered up in one word - Christ Jesus. Lord, accept me; I here present myself, praying to live only in thee and to thee. Let me be as the bullock which stands between the plough and the altar, to work or to be sacrificed; and let my motto be, "Ready for either" (Morning and Evening).

Feel free to respond to Spurgeon’s comments. Grace and peace to you.

To Die Is Gain

2007-02-14T22:36:00.000-05:00

If you could have one wish, what would it be? After surveying multiple people, asking them that very question, I would imagine that the response would vary – fame, fortune, better health, a more fit body, peace in the world, restored relationships, reliving a particular time in life, etc. Can you imagine someone wishing for death? Not death as an escape from the struggles and pains of this life per se, but death being the ultimate joy – being with Jesus forever. I’m not so sure, quite honestly, that such a thought would even cross my mind if asked that question.

That’s certainly not the case with the apostle Paul. He once again reminds us of the supreme seat that Christ had in his life in Philippians 1:21: “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Whether Paul was to remain on earth, his life here would be all for Christ. And if he were to lose his earthly existence, it would be far greater because he would be in the presence of the One he loved, served, and eventually gave his life for – Jesus. Paul had an obvious peace about his death because he understood by faith what lay on the other side of his life in the flesh. And he knew that nothing would change that. In Romans he writes,

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? … For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (8:35, 38).

Paul was secure in his standing with Christ. And this gave him strength in his current circumstances with the hope of glory undergirding him.

I have to be honest – death hasn’t been something that I’ve personally looked forward to, but everything in this verse tells me that I should. I should anticipate with great joy and hope life on the other side of this earthly existence. I think it is the reality of the unknown aspects of death that causes fear within me. Perhaps as well, I have failed to step back and consider the larger picture, keeping in mind that my quest really should resonate with Paul’s – to exalt Christ in all things. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus – this life and the next is ALL about Him.

Bernard of Clairvaux seemed to understand Paul’s words when he penned the first verse of the hymn, Jesus, The Very Thought of Thee ...

Jesus, the very thought of Thee

With sweetness fills the breast;

But sweeter far Thy face to see,

And in Thy presence rest.

Father, grant us the grace to continually realize that there is more to this life than what we see around us. Help us to step back and gaze at the bigger picture, remembering that TO LIVE IS CHRIST, AND TO DIE IS GAIN. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Philippians 1:21

2007-02-13T15:46:00.000-05:00

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

How would you rephrase this verse, putting it in your own words?
If living is Christ for Paul, how is dying even greater?
What is it that you are living for?
What would it take to get you to the place where you can honestly echo Paul’s words here?
How do we break habits of living for something/someone other than Christ?

The Goal

2007-02-12T11:09:00.000-05:00

A good friend of mine just returned from a leisure trip to Tanzania, Africa. She and her husband went on a safari – an experience that they loved. But nine days of their trip were spent hiking up Mt. Kilimanjaro. My friend said it was the most grueling event of her life thus far. Although the physical aspect of this hiking/camping excursion was demanding, she claims she never imagined how much of a mental challenge it would be. They summitted Kilimanjaro and fulfilled their goal of climbing the tallest freestanding mountain in the world at 19,350 feet. So why deal with the trials of getting muddy, wet, and cold for nine straight days with no relief – no hot shower, no dry clothes once all of your clothes became damp, no comfortable mattress, etc. – you get the picture. Why go through such an experience? These die-hard hikers were determined to get to the top. They had a goal in mind and they were focused on accomplishing it no matter what adversities they faced.

Similarly, Paul had his mind made up of accomplishing his life’s task no matter what he faced – that Christ be exalted in his life and in his eventual death. In the midst of his present afflictions – his imprisonment and its unknown outcome as well as the discord and contention with the brethren attempting to discredit him, Paul saw beyond these challenges knowing that things would turn out for the glory of God. He saw the bigger picture, one which gave him hope. He did not fear a skewed reputation. He did not fear death. He did not fear the emperor’s ruling upon his life. Paul was confident in Christ alone, and all he longed to do was to glorify Christ.

Paul amazes me. Better yet, it is Christ who worked in Paul who is so profound. God’s transformation of Paul was so marvelous that he pledged his life to the very end to his Savior. I don’t have a radical conversion story like Paul’s, but my conversion is certainly radical – everyone’s is for that matter. Yet the intensity of the apostle’s devotion to Christ is remarkable, nearly unbelievable and certainly extraordinary – one that I feel I have yet to emulate. What a tremendous example.

Beyond conversion, my current circumstances are drastically different than Paul’s at the time he penned this letter. I’m not facing the prospects of my execution. I’m not in prison apart from those I love dearly. I deal with opposition at times, but I don’t think anyone is out to shame my reputation currently. However, I have very real struggles as an American, Caucasian, wife, mom, daughter, sister, friend, co-worker, instructor, citizen, etc. who believes and tries to love and obey Christ. Countless times I get so bogged down in my roles and responsibilities that I lose determination and sight of the big picture that I am to hold in view as a believer. Although I am quite a different person living in times unlike those in Paul’s days, my life’s task should be the same as Paul’s – that Christ be exalted in all things no matter what sufferings or joys I may face in the process. And that mission is no more or less challenging today than it was back then.

Spend time today praying that Christ be exalted in all areas of your life – whether you are at home, work, out and about running errands, at church, meeting with a friend, dealing with conflict in a relationship, being falsely accused for something, etc. Meditate on some of these verses as you pray and confirm your calling to glorify Christ in all things - Romans 8:28; 2 Corinthians 4:17-18; 1 Corinthians 6:20; Romans 14:7-8.

May God’s grace and peace be upon you.

Philippians 1:18-20

2007-02-07T21:48:00.000-05:00

I'm providing you with a few more questions than normal because I think there is a lot to unpack in these verses. I'm including 1:18 in your reading because it's helpful in understanding verse 19. Since this may take a bit more time, especially given the last question, I would like us to spend the next few days diving into scripture to discover more about this section. This also affords me the opportunity to have a longer study time which I need given how things have been around here lately. So enjoy diving in. May the Holy Spirit reveal God's glorious truths to us.

Paul says "this will all turn out" in verse 19. What is "this" referring to?
"For" points us back to verse 18; therefore, verse 19 seems to explain why Paul can rejoice. Why?
From what is Paul confident he'll be delivered?
What more do we learn about Paul in these verses?
What is Paul eanestly expecting?
Why do you suppose Paul refers to living and dying?
How has Paul been bold for Christ in the past?

Addendum

2007-02-06T21:28:00.000-05:00

Currently, I don’t have the time to invest in backing everything I say with scripture references. That takes a tremendous amount of studying on top of what I’m already doing. If you have a question or concern about something and would like me to back my thoughts with scripture, I’ll be happy to do that. Just let me know the specifics. Thanks!

Christ Is Preached

2007-02-06T21:22:00.000-05:00

I have in many ways appreciated our pastor, Joel Gillespie. He has redefined my view of a pastor in a good sense. One noteworthy thing he has done along with the other elders of our church is to occasionally pray for several of the churches in our community by name during our worship on Sunday morning. That says to me that not only is he supportive of their efforts, he is not concerned in the least about any type of competition. I truly believe that Joel’s desire is that Christ is preached.

The circumstances were quite different for the apostle Paul; nevertheless, he remained steadfast in his desire that Christ be preached no matter what. In Philippians 1:15-18, Paul describes a group of folks whose goal was indeed to preach Christ – not a heretical gospel of any type. Unfortunately, however, that was accompanied with selfish ambition. It seems that these brethren, who were part of the group mentioned in verse 14 that had gained confidence in spreading the gospel because of Paul’s testimony in prison, were actually jealous of Paul and were doing things to attempt to discredit him. Perhaps it was Paul’s apostolic authority or maybe the giftedness with which God had blessed him that caused these sinful feelings to emerge and create discord among believers. Whatever the case, despite their selfishness, the message of the gospel went forth by the grace of God alone.

I do wonder that even though Christ was preached, if their selfishness and unkindness toward their brother compromised the message of the gospel. If I was an outsider looking in and I was clued into the discord between Paul and these folks, I’m not sure I’d want any part of this Christianity thing. However (and I think this is the key point), we do not have a hand in the salvation of others. It is God the Holy Spirit at work in people’s lives that cause them to confess their sins and acknowledge Jesus Christ as the only way to save them from the terrible wrath of God because of those sins. It is God the Holy Spirit that awakens them and shows them that God made a clear, loving, sacrificial way for them to be in a relationship with Him through the perfect sacrifice of His perfect Son. So then, does this give us liberty to live however we’d like, not loving our brothers and sisters as we ought? Of course not! We are responsible to be holy as God is holy – it is commanded of us. We are to love God with all of our being and to love our neighbor as ourselves. If we are followers of Christ, then we are to imitate Him in every way. That’s our job – the rest is up to God.

We read in these couple of verses that the gospel was also proclaimed by those whose motive was love. These brethren were supportive of Paul and weren’t out to discredit him. They had a genuine love for him and longed to see the gospel go forth as he did. This must have been encouraging for Paul despite the opposition.

Paul’s confidence was in Christ and I believe that is why he was able to rejoice in the midst of this trial. He declared that he was appointed by the sovereign God to defend the gospel, and he had all of God’s resources to do so. Paul’s desire was to see the message of Christ preached and that’s why it didn’t matter what happened to him – the focus was on Christ, not Paul. It is said that when a person suffers, his/her heart is revealed. In the midst of this trial supplementary to the trial of his incarceration, Paul’s heart overflowed with joy that Christ was preached – not only at that moment but also in the future. He committed himself to rejoice.

In reflecting on these few verses, I realize how foolish we are when we go head to head with our brothers and sisters in Christ with selfishness at the heart of these arguments. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s okay to hash things out with one another, but we have got to be examining our hearts to uncover our motives. I wonder how much of each others’ time we waste because we are selfish or jealous or insecure. What a great tool for the enemy in distracting us and disunifying us. Take some time to reflect on your relationships with your brothers and sisters in Christ to see if you need to confess and repent of sinful attitudes toward them. Ask God for the strength and grace to do so and to make things right between you and them.

May God grant us grace and peace in our relationships with one another in Christ.

Phil 1:15-18

2007-02-02T19:04:00.000-05:00

For your weekend reading: Philippians 1:15-18
Questions for thought ...

Compare the two groups that are preaching Christ mentioned in these verses.
What was the result for each group?
What was the motive of each group - what was at the heart of their message?
What is Paul's attitude despite the disunity? How was this possible?

May God's grace and peace bless you this weekend.

Purposeful Chains

2007-02-01T16:27:00.000-05:00

God never wastes our pain and suffering. He will somehow use our difficulties for His glory. A former pastor’s wife told me that when I was fresh out of college and in the midst of youth work. It wasn’t the youth work that was causing heartache in my life, although I confess that there were times when I was in tears, brokenhearted over the kids He entrusted to my care. But it was actually the end of a relationship with a man I probably adored a little too much – as in I put him on a pedestal. Nevertheless, I never forgot those words that brought as much comfort as I could have allowed at such a time.

A broken relationship is one thing, but being unjustly imprisoned is quite another. In Philippians 1:12-14, we find Paul elaborating more on his circumstances. He loved the Philippians and wanted them to know that God was not wasting his incarceration. Paul communicated, contrary to what they may have been thinking, that his imprisonment was not an obstacle but rather an opportunity to bring the gospel to a place that would have otherwise been off limits. What we readers might not know and certainly can’t glean within the text itself is that Paul was actually chained to a soldier 24 hours a day. Within one day, he was fastened to four different men, each having six-hour shifts. Knowing Paul, do you think he was just going to sit there in silence attached to these guards as the hours and days passed? Better yet, was he going to merely shoot the breeze with these fellows? Of course not! This was a pioneering opportunity to bring the gospel to the elite palace guards who may never have had an opportunity to hear. God brought His vessel, His mouthpiece, to proclaim the good news. Some may have thought that his chains impeded his missionary work, but on the contrary, that effort continued as he proclaimed the Word of God to these men. Further, as the Roman government tried to unravel the mysteries of this new “sect” called Christianity to see if it was a threat to them, some of the officials were converted as they studied the doctrines of the Christian faith. I don’t think anyone – Paul, the soldiers, the Roman government, or all the believers of that time – imagined that such a thing would result from Paul’s imprisonment. Truly his chains were furthering the gospel in inconceivable ways. God’s ways are definitely higher than ours.

The impact of Paul’s chains didn’t stop there. At a time when it wasn’t necessarily safe to be preaching the gospel out in the open in Rome, the fact that God was using Paul so powerfully in prison gave courage to those believers outside the prison walls to continue in their evangelizing efforts. Even if they were put in prison as Paul was, the gospel would continue to go forth with great power. Paul’s attitude regarding his present circumstances had a profound impact on the believers in Rome who stepped up with great power and courage, guided and strengthened by the Holy Spirit. I can imagine their bravery as they proclaimed with confidence, “If Paul can do it, so can we.” What a leader the apostle Paul was.

This morning I was “chained” to my endodontist for a few hours. Well, actually he was in and out of the room as dental experts do when performing root canals and the like, but for all intents and purposes, I was there and wasn’t going anywhere until he was done. I had an opportunity to proclaim something amazing about God but failed, and I didn’t recognize it until the opportunity had passed. The tooth he was working on had calcified, and I declared how amazing it was that our bodies take care of themselves in such remarkable ways rather than proclaiming how awesome it was that God designed our bodies to respond in such a way. I felt like an utter failure and began wondering if such proclamations would ever be on the tip of my tongue – that whenever I speak it would be to declare something beautiful about our God. I wonder.

Pray for courage to boldly speak the truth wherever you are to whomever you are with.

Oh Father, that Your truths would roll off of our tongues. That we would joyfully and firmly, without fear, proclaim who You are to a lost world or a wavering believer. That our words would be seasoned with love and grace always. Tame our tongues and use them for Your glory. Amen.

Phil 1:12-14

2007-01-30T16:10:00.000-05:00

These few verses had much more to say than I had anticipated. I hope you can dive in and glean more than meets the eye initially. Here are a few guiding questions as you read …

What did Paul say was the purpose of his trials?
What was Paul’s outlook on his trials? How could this be?
How was the gospel advanced?
What did Paul mean when he said his “chains are in Christ?”
What do these verses declare about God?

God’s grace and peace be upon you.

Intercessory Prayer

2007-01-29T10:24:00.000-05:00

All throughout my Christian life I have appreciated knowing that someone was truly praying for me. When I have experienced difficulty, the comforting thought that someone was praying for me soothed my soul. When I was a teenager, our church had a wonderful program that connected the senior women with the teens. They were known as our "spiritual grandmothers." My spiritual grandmother, Marguerite Johnson, always let me know that she was praying for me. And I believe with all my heart that this dear saint did pray for me regularly. I may never know how God answered those prayers that she offered up on my behalf, but I'm certain that there were times I was strengthened in my faith knowing that Mrs. Johnson was on her knees for me.

Paul was a spiritual father to the church in Philippi, and here in Philippians 1:9-11 we find him earnestly praying for them to be outstanding followers of Christ. Unpacking these few verses, we immediately discover what Paul was praying - that they would increase in their love for one another because of what they believed. Knowing Christ the way that a believer ought would only provoke one to live as Christ. Paul elaborates on how Christ lived later on in this letter, but the essence is that Jesus came to serve and love all people no matter who they were, disregarding their socio-economic status, their gender, their race, their religion, whether thief or model citizen, murderer, adulterer, or disciple - Jesus' mission was the sacrifice of His life to give life to those who did not deserve it. Paul hoped that the Philippians would understand this and be compelled to live similarly.

But in order to understand this, we MUST not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2). We need to be reminded of Jesus' way of life and His desire for how we should live our lives through the help of the Holy Spirit. We MUST be in the Word of God, thinking it over and meditating upon it as we sit and walk and lie down and rise up. When we know the Word of God and understand what we are to do, we are well equipped to evaluate and test not only good and evil but what is better and best. After all, why would we want to exert our energy and efforts on less productive things? Paul wanted the Philippians to be invested in what was excellent so that their lives would be genuine and pure - in essence, that they would live lives of integrity. This is the fruit of what righteousness produces in the life of one who is diligent about living like Jesus. And the righteousness that bears such fruit comes only from and through Christ. His righteousness was imputed to us on that glorious day of salvation - He took our rags soiled with sin, washed us clean, and clothed us with His royal robes of righteousness. Strangely and ironically and illogically, it really is all for His glory and honor. Praise be to His name.

In college, we learned about the heady, hearty, handy man. This little guy was to remind us of the importance of incorporating the whole person in what we planned, be it a Bible study or a retreat. Paul seems to be praying for the whole person in this section - the heart in verse 9, the head or mind in verse 10, and the hands in verse 11.

This is a great prayer in which to use when praying for other brothers and sisters in Christ. In fact, pick one person or a few people and spend some time praying this very prayer for them.

I’ll end with a beautiful song that seems to capture what these verses are about.

Compelled By Love
Bryson Smith and Philip Percival, 1997 Plainsong Music

Compelled by love, Christ left His Father’s glory.
The Word took flesh as man He did appear.
The Son of God took on the role of servant
And emptied all to bring salvation near.

Compelled by love, Christ heralded the Gospel.
“Repent, believe; the Kingdom is at hand.”
Despite His call, Israel failed to follow.
They turned aside, despised the Son of Man.

Compelled by love, Christ set His face to Zion.
He gave His life, nailed to the tree in pain.
Though without sin He took our place in suffering
To set us free from all our guilt and shame.

Compelled by love, Christ will return in glory
And all the earth will join in endless praise.
But until then we go to all the nations,
Compelled by love to share the news of grace.

Tomorrow I’ll pass along some questions from the next few verses. It seems that it’s best for me, given my schedule and the “little” interruptions, that I “assign” a reading and then some questions and then the following day offer a response. Writing takes a good chunk of time as does studying to prepare questions and their responses. Hope that works for you all.

Blessings to you through God's grace and peace.

Phil 1:9-11 Questions

2007-01-27T15:48:00.000-05:00

Read Philippians 1:9-11.

Summarizing it in your own words, what is it that Paul is praying for the Philippians?
Why does he pray these things? In other words, what does he want them to look like/be like?

I realize that these are very general questions, but I think answering these questions will help you understand these three verses a bit more which I will address on Monday. Until then, God’s grace and peace to you.

Together

2007-01-26T20:18:00.000-05:00

Have you ever gone on a mission trip or a retreat with people other than your family? What happens with those relationships? There is something about shared experiences that are out of the ordinary that unite people together in unusual yet wonderful ways.

Back in October, Covenant Fellowship (the small body of believers that I’m a part of), had a women’s retreat. Our purposes for retreating were simple and logical – to get away from the routine of our lives in order to have some focused time with God and to build relationships with one another. The retreat wasn’t even 24 hours, yet somehow within that limited timeframe, those goals were accomplished. Believe it or not, there were people attending that I really didn’t know, people whom I knew slightly, and people whom I would consider dear friends. I walked away from that experience, as did many if not all of us, closer with these sisters in the Lord. One woman in particular moved all the way from the “I don’t know you” category to the “I think you’re going to be a dear friend” category. And yes, she is a dear friend today.

Paul didn’t have to spend a chunk of time in Philippi for them to become so beloved by him. In Philippians 1:7-8, Paul continues expressing his deep affection for these dear friends who were brothers and sisters in Christ. Why did he feel this way about them? Similar to us going on a retreat or missions trip together, Paul shared something in common with these people, something about which he was passionate – Jesus Christ and the glorious privilege of telling others about Him. Whether they were together or apart, they and he continued in this good work. And whether blessings or hardship followed this effort, they were united. Paul, being imprisoned, had needs in which the Philippians provided. Not only did they send monetary help to him, but they also sent encouragement by the way of Epaphroditus, one of Paul’s associates who had obviously established himself with the Philippians.

I think we are starting to uncover more of who Paul was. He seemed very passionate about Jesus his Lord and the work for the cause of his Lord. He devoted his life, even if it meant the loss of it, to the One who miraculously transformed him. As Paul continued to convey his affection for the Philippians to the Philippians, he called God into the picture as his witness. Perhaps the repetition of what he’s expressing to them was rendered unbelievable. I can just see some of the skeptics in the back of the room listening to this letter and rolling their eyes, muttering under their breath, “Yeah, right, Paul!” Perhaps. But truly, I think Paul just wanted them to know it, and making an oath could conceivably assist in expressing the seriousness of it.

Do you feel a partnership in the gospel with the believers in your life? One of the acute struggles of living in this age is our busyness and attentiveness to our own matters because of our busyness. I confess that I don’t think enough about furthering the gospel in my spheres of influence. I need to spend time praying for a unity with other brothers and sisters (not just in my church but outside of church) – that we would be united in loving others for Jesus’ sake. How about you? Care to join me in that prayer?

Weekend scripture reading: Philippians 1:9-11
Questions to think about over the weekend:

Forthcoming … it has been a long day. :-)

Grace and peace.

Oops

2007-01-25T15:37:00.000-05:00

As I was falling asleep last night, I realized that I offered no questions in yesterday’s post. Part of the reason for this was that I had some difficulty unpacking Philippians 1:7-8. Nevertheless, these are the verses for today’s questions. Here is what these verses say in the New Living Translation (NLT). It’s a bit easier to understand than the NKJV.

(7) It is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a very special place in my heart. We have shared together the blessings of God, both when I was in prison and when I was out, defending the truth and telling others the Good News. (8) God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.

Ponder these questions and respond in the comment section. I will address them tomorrow …

According to 1:7 (and perhaps previous verses), why does Paul feel the way he does about the Philippians?
What are “the blessings of God” that Paul refers to here? Some other translations use the phrase “partakers of grace.” What does that mean?
What do we learn about Paul in these verses?
What are your thoughts as to why Paul would go to such lengths (calling God to the witness stand - see NKJV) to make a seemingly simple statement in 1:8?

Grace and peace.

Faithful

2007-01-24T09:05:00.000-05:00

I have a particular pet peeve – when someone tells me that he/she is going to do something and they don’t do it. Back in my single days I was especially annoyed with people who told me they would call. Then they never did. In fact, I wrote a song about it – it annoyed me that much. I expected them to call me. I planned my time around their phone calls. A few years later I finally got clued in to the fact that people don’t always do what they say they will do. A few years after that I realized that I was one of those people.

You know, God is ENTIRELY not like that. When God says He will do something, He WILL do it. You can bet your life on it. The part about God’s faithfulness that people don’t understand is that it probably won’t be according to their timetable or occur in the way they had hoped or anticipated. That’s when people start to doubt God’s faithfulness. If you have spent any time reading the Word, you’ve clearly seen that God’s faithfulness is a prominent thread connecting Old Testament stories and prophecy to the songs of Psalmists to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the apostles as they spread the gospel. Those Israelites wandering in the wilderness following their Egyptian captivity wondered, I’m sure, if God was really a faithful God. I think that’s why one of the major themes throughout the book of Deuteronomy is not only to obey but to remember. All they had to do was to look back and they would realize that there was never a time when God wasn’t faithful. Likewise, Paul could have that kind of confidence in God because he knew that God was faithful. And although the Philippians seemed faithful in their duties as believers, Paul’s confidence in their sanctification was in God alone.

The work that God was doing in the lives of the Philippians is the same work he is doing in the lives of every believer. Our faithful and loving God is sustaining us in this life where the enemy seeks to destroy us or in the least, thwart us. Not only is our Father sustaining us by His grace and strength, but He is also nourishing us and equipping us for the tasks He has called us to. I believe that God’s desire for those whom He has called to Himself is to see them through to the very end. He loves us dearly!

This brings up an interesting point. God did not make us into robots. He doesn’t control what we do, although He very well could, but He chooses not to. We have freedom and autonomy in a sense, and with that comes responsibility. God can hold a spoonful of His Word to the mouths of our hearts, but we need to open our mouths. He can hand us the armor that we need in our daily battles, but we have to put it on. In other words, just don’t sit there (and stare at our gracious God), do something!

Our road is not an easy one to travel. Yet God is at work and there is a glorious end in sight – when Jesus returns in all of His glory, majesty, and splendor – the King of kings and Lord of lords! He will complete that good work of salvation.

I don’t know where you’re at in your belief in God’s faithfulness. If you are in any way struggling to believe that God is faithful, step back and look at your past. When has He not been faithful? Remember. Remember His faithfulness so that you’re not tempted to doubt it when He seems silent. Remember so that you can proclaim the faithfulness of God to others, whether they be your parents, children, friends, co-workers – whomever. Remember so that you won’t forget to praise God for who He is. Great is His faithfulness.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless

Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior, who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty, dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.
(Jude 24 & 25)

Home

2007-01-23T14:10:00.000-05:00

I spent four years of my life at Taylor University in Upland, IN as a college student. I can vividly recall the day my parents dropped me off for my freshman year - I was inexpressibly excited, but I was scared and anxious about the unknown. Everything was new and nothing was familiar. I was unsure that I could ever call this strange place home. I cried the first night not knowing what was in store. But you know, I never cried again, for Taylor University became home for me, and the roots of my heart became firmly planted early during my freshman year. I can't begin to express how difficult it was for me to leave that home in May of 1995. There comes a point, however, when every student must leave college (some take a little longer than others), but I wasn't ready to go. I loved my home. Despite that, God knew my heart and relocated me only 30 minutes away, planting me in Muncie, IN. I had my first job as a youth director at a PCA church. I was showered with love upon arrival there - the kids, their parents, the staff, and many other church members greeted me and accepted me as part of the family. As much as I continued to miss Taylor, I realized that Westminster Presbyterian Church was my new home. And the roots began to grow deeply and did so for four years.

As I look back on those eight years of my life, the emotions that surface when I think of Taylor University and Westminster Presbyterian Church probably overlap to some degree with Paul's feelings for the Philippians. Even within a few short verses, Paul's words and the emotions in which they convey make Philippi sound like home for him. He expresses his gratefulness for them. Whenever they were brought to mind, with joy he would thank God for them. I would venture to say that the joy meant that his experience with them overall was positive. Furthermore, there seemed to be a unity and partnership in the gospel between Paul and them. A partnership is two-sided, meaning the Philippians were doing what they could to contribute in the work of the gospel, even apart from Paul's presence among them.

It seems that Paul thought of the Philippians often. When you are away from those whom you love, it hurts to think about them. There's a longing - an ache in your heart as you desire to be with them. Paul took this and rather than sulking, he thanked God for them and prayed for them. I'm certain that Paul had fatherly thoughts for them since he helped birth this church in Philippi. In a sense, he was away from his children.

Do you have memories of different homes in your life? Feel free to share them with us. And do take some time today to pray with thanksgiving for those places and the people who were/are there. Perhaps there is a relationship that needs to be mended - pray that God would restore and bring peace.

For tomorrow ...

Read Philippians 1:6.

How is Paul (or anyone else for that matter) confident in God? In other words, how would you explain to someone that God is trustworthy?
What is the work referred to here that God is doing in the lives of the Philippians?
What is the day of Christ Jesus?

Until tomorrow, grace and peace to you.

Grace and Peace, Pt 2

2007-01-22T11:38:00.000-05:00

Thanks for your input in the comment section. You never know how God might use your particular contribution in the life of another believer.

A few more thoughts on grace and peace … The Hellenistic greeting used in Paul's days was actually the word greeting. Paul personalizes and spiritualizes his greeting to the Philippians with this familiar blessing of grace and peace, combining not only the Greek but Hebrew. As I heard in a sermon I was listening to this morning, grace and peace are essential to a believer's life. We could probably spend a year on a study of the word grace; however, I don’t think I will. Obviously, the word is used frequently throughout Scripture since it is a central doctrine of the Christian faith. Interestingly enough, grace is used in the New Testament 155 times, 100 of which were penned by Paul. Any guesses as to which book of Paul’s contains the most uses of this word? Grace is favor. Man has a need for God’s favor and God has the means to grant it. Grace is given through Jesus Christ - a free gift. Peace, in this case, as the Expositor’s Bible Commentary states, is the “inner assurance and tranquility” that God gives to a believer, granting “spiritual confidence and contentment” no matter what the circumstances (104). And this was Paul's blessing, hope, and desire for them – grace and peace. God the Father and the Lord Jesus are the source of these blessings and join together in bestowing these.

Moving on to the next section, read Philippians 1:3-5.

1. From these few verses, what do you sense is the relationship between Paul and the church in Philippi?

2. Since Paul cannot be with this part of his spiritual family, what does he do according to these verses?

3. If you are jotting down notes or thoughts in a notebook or something of the like, take note of Paul’s use of the word joy throughout the book.

Please feel free to add your thoughts as the Holy Spirit leads you. I'll address these questions tomorrow and then give you another "assignment. " :-)

Grace and peace to you. And as Carmen encouraged us in the comment section, let us impart grace to others, being a peaceful representative of our Lord.

Grace and Peace

2007-01-19T14:52:00.000-05:00

Philippians 1:2 – Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Today I want to ask a couple of questions regarding verse two of chapter one, hopefully inviting more of a discussion. We’ll take the weekend to dialogue about the questions I pose for today’s post. Please join in with your comments, thoughts, insight, and questions. (Note: I have changed the setting so that anyone can comment – you don’t have to have a blogger account now. So join in. You don’t even have to label who you are, but it is nice to know.)

Paul loved to incorporate the words grace and peace into his writings, for he paired them in the greeting section of every one of his thirteen letters. A study note in my New Geneva Study Bible states that grace and peace are “a concise expression of the effect of Christ’s saving work …” Once we have received Jesus, His work delivers unto us grace and peace.

1. What is grace?

2. What is peace?

3. Obviously our source for these things is God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. But why does Paul mention them separately here? If they are one in the same, why doesn’t he just mention one or the other? Why are they distinctly named in this verse?

You know, as I sit here and think about grace and peace, I’m dumbfounded that there is NOTHING we can do to earn them. We have never, can never, will never be able to do anything that would give us rights to even a morsel of His grace and peace by our own efforts. Frankly, I am humbled, having received His glorious grace and His calming peace, that the Holy God of all would lavish these beautiful gifts on one so unholy. The formula is simple yet perplexingly and illogically profound.

I can’t help but be reminded of a song as I type. If you are a worship music guru as I consider myself to be (although I’m quite picky – no Jesus-is-my-boyfriend type songs!), you would appreciate the work of Sovereign Grace Music. The Gospel message is weaved through their songs reminding us of who God is and who we are. Anyhow, I’ll end today’s post with Always Forgiven. Spend some time over the weekend studying and pondering these questions. As you do so, continually give thanks for the gifts of God’s grace and peace.

I don’t deserve to be Your servant
And how much less to be Your child
Anger and wrath, sure condemnation
Should be my portion, my just reward
Never have seen it, never will know it
Your lovingkindness enfolds my life

All You have shown me is grace, love, and mercy
Now and forever, I am Your child
Freely You pour out Your loving kindness
Father of Grace, You welcome me in

All of the sin I have committed
Was placed upon Your righteous Son
And now You see me through His perfection
As if I’d never done any wrong
Always forgiven, always accepted
No fear of judgment before Your throne

©2003 Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP). Sovereign Grace Music, a division of Sovereign Grace Ministries.
From Worship God Live. All rights reserved. International copyright secured.
North American administration by Integrity Music. International administration by CopyCare International.

Paul's Last Days

2007-01-18T16:34:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I picked up a book that I had to read in one of my college classes called The Life of St. Paul by James Stalker. I flipped through it skimming brief sections of interest here and there amidst the interruptions from my two little ones. And although the background noise was slightly distracting, I tuned out the world as I read this description of Paul in prison …

Of his spiritual children in the distance he never ceased to think. Daily he wandered in imagination among the glens of Galatia and along the shores of Asia and Greece; every night he prayed for the Christians of Antioch and Ephesus, of Philippi and Thessalonica and Corinth. Nor were gratifying proofs that they were remembering him missing. Now and then there would appear in his lodging a deputy from some distant church, bringing the greetings of his converts or, perhaps, a contribution to meet his temporal wants, or desiring his decision on some point of doctrine or practice about which difficulty had arisen. These messengers were not sent away empty: they carried warmhearted messages of golden words of counsel from their apostolic friend.

Some of them carried far more. When Epaphroditus, a deputy from the church in Philippi, which had sent to their dear father in Christ an offering of love, was returning home, Paul sent with him, in acknowledgment of their kindness, the Epistle to the Philippians, the most beautiful of all his letters, in which he lays bare his very heart and every sentence glows with love more tender than a woman’s. When the slave Onesimus was sent back to Colossae, he received, as the branch of peace to offer to his master, the exquisite little Epistle to Philemon, a priceless monument of Christian courtesy. He carried, too, a letter addressed to the church of the town in which his master lived, the Epistle to the Colossians.

The composition of these Epistles was by far the most important part of Paul’s varied prison activity; and he crowned this labor with the writing of the Epistle to the Ephesians, which is perhaps the profoundest and sublimest book in the world. The church of Christ has derived many benefits from the imprisonment of the servants of God; the greatest book of uninspired religious genius, Pilgrim’s Progress, was written in a jail; but never did there come to the church a greater mercy in the disguise of misfortune than when the arrest of Paul’s bodily activities at Caesarea and Rome supplied him with the time needed to reach the depths of truth sounded in the Epistle to the Ephesians (136-8).

The book continues on, describing his eventual release from prison and his continued missionary work in his final days before his last imprisonment, which ultimately led to his cruel beheading instigated by none other than Nero himself. (Read specifically about the Great Fire of Rome for an understanding of what it was like for the believers in Rome at that time.) In all history there is not a more startling illustration of the irony of human life than this scene of Paul at the bar of Nero. On the judgment seat, clad in the imperial purple, sat a man who in a bad world had attained the eminence of being the very worst and meanest person in it—a man stained with every crime, the murder of his own mother, of his wives, and of his best benefactors; a man whose whole being was so steeped in every namable and unamable vice that his body and soul were, as someone said at the time, nothing but a compound of mud and blood; and in the prisoner’s dock stood the best man the world contained, his hair whitened with labors for the good of men and the glory of God. Such was the occupant of the seat of justice, and such the man who stood in the place of criminal (141).

Before his trial and death, Paul sat isolated in a cold and damp prison cell in Rome awaiting the end of his life on earth. Imagine such horrid conditions, having the Lord alone to befriend you, comfort you, and give you hope. These were Paul’s circumstances. Yet another tangent, I know; however, it’s so fascinating to pick up these golden nuggets of insight along the way. Therefore, I want to encourage you to read the final letter, 2 Timothy, penned by the apostle Paul at the end of his life. The purpose of this is none other than having more insight into the life of this dear saint and brother in the Lord who labored diligently for the cause of Christ and His glory to the bitter end of his life. The awesome work of Christ in Paul’s life – what a transformation indeed from the days of Saul.

Tomorrow back to Philippians. Until then, may God bless our little tangent in some way.

All the Saints

2007-01-17T11:40:00.000-05:00

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons …

Paul writes this letter not just to the believers in Philippi, but to ALL the believers in that Macedonian city. Paul wanted no Philippian in Christ excluded from receiving this letter. The term “saints” used in this instance reminds us that believers aren’t merely saints once they depart from this world and enter the presence of their Lord and Savior, but they are saints now – saints at the moment they repent and acknowledge the lordship of Jesus Christ in their lives.

Paul continues on specifically mentioning the bishops and deacons. These men were the leaders of the church. Paul addresses them recognizing their established authority in that setting. Whether it was for the benefit of the leaders to be acknowledged specifically or for the believers, their roles as leaders were significant.

Take some time to review or familiarize yourself with the roles of these people according to scripture. Who were they? What were their roles? What was expected of them? See Acts 6:1-7 and 1 Timothy 3:1-13.

Being a church leader is not easy. These people need our prayers as they minister. Take some time to pray for your church leaders – for their ministries, for their marriages, for their children, for strengthened faith – that they would walk closely to Christ constantly, that they would not give into temptation, that they would be firmly rooted and established in Christ, etc. You could probably come up with many additional things in which to pray. Consider incorporating a regular time in your day or week to pray for these people who lead us in our spiritual journey to know Christ more.

Blessings from God to you.

Paul and Timothy

2007-01-16T21:00:00.000-05:00

It would seem that this posting is repetitious, but I think there is more to unravel with this part of Philippians 1:1 ... Paul and Timothy. I have wondered why Timothy was mentioned here if he was not the author of this epistle. Here are a couple of thoughts that I gleaned from The Dictionary of Paul and His Letters ...

Sometimes a greeting will not only contain the author but his coworkers.
Timothy was a significant part of the beginnings of the church in Philippi. I haven't had time to explore this much, but I'm assuming that Timothy was with him when he wrote the letter, otherwise it wouldn't make much sense to mention him. But I could be wrong and would love for someone out there to set me straight if I am. (Interestingly enough, there is debate among scholars as to when this letter was written - from which imprisonment. The most logical conclusion seems to be during his Roman imprisonment recorded in Acts 28.)
The final suggestion was that perhaps Timothy assisted with the letter in some way. Perhaps he was even Paul's scribe. No one knows for sure, and although it is interesting to think about, it's not a life-changing discovery.

Paul not only identifies himself and his companion, but he describes in very simple terms who they are - bondservants of Jesus Christ. Paul generally uses either this term or apostle when writing his letters. The literal translation of bondservant is slave. The Greek word for slave (doulos) and the Greek word for servant (diakonos) are very similar in meaning and are sometimes used interchangeably. There are many implications regarding this word, but in essence, if one is subject to another in a slave/master relationship, there is a loss of any sort of autonomy on behalf of the slave. He is in complete and exclusive subjection to his master. Paul (and Timothy for all intents and purposes) has this kind of relationship with Jesus and as you read on in the book, you'll discover he takes joy in serving his master - there is nothing else he'd rather do.

Let me ask you a question ... do you have this kind of relationship with Jesus? Are you exclusively His? Ask God to search your heart and reveal if there is a division of devotion. We are tossed to and fro in this world and enticed in a moment's notice to be unfaithful to our Master. We must continually renew our minds in the Word because our minds are constantly bombarded by the world.

There's a passage in the OT about a slave and master. "If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years; and in the seventh he shall go out free and pay nothing. If he comes in by himself, he shall go out by himself; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. If his master has given him a wife, and she has borne him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself. But if the servant plainly says, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,' then his master shall bring him to the judges. He shall also bring him to the door, or to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever" (Exodus 21:2-6). There's a little chorus that was written from this but speaking of our servant relationship to God. I hope this encourages you wherever you are ...

Pierce my ear, Oh Lord, my God,
Take me to your door this day;
I will serve no other God,
Lord, I’m here to stay.
For you have paid a price for me.
With your blood you ransomed me;
I will serve you eternally,
A free man I’ll never be.

Greetings

2007-01-15T16:01:00.000-05:00

How do you address those to whom you write? Is it always the same no matter who it is?
Dear So-and-so,
Hey, So-and-so!
So-and-so:
Greetings, my dear So-and-so!

Why is this? Well, for one, we have varying relationships with the people to whom we write. Our affections towards each person vary as does the time we spend with him/her. We may also find our circumstances different when we write. In like manner, Paul addressees the recipients of his letters differently. Of course Paul would never greet his recipients the way that we might today.

I thought it might be interesting for us to take a moment and flip through to the beginning of some of the other Pauline epistles. Read the greeting. What kinds of things do you notice? What is similar? What is different? Feel free to share your findings with the rest of us in the comments section*. It’s such a blessing to learn from one another as the Holy Spirit reveals God’s Word to us.

*Note: Some of you don’t have a blogger account and don’t care to get one. I understand because I don’t have a myspace account for the same reason. If ever you have a comment to share, e-mail me with that comment and I can post it. I’m happy to do that to add more comments to the mix.

God's blessings be upon you.

To Philippi Via Circumcision

2007-01-14T15:55:00.000-05:00

As I was studying this past week, upon reading of Timothy’s circumcision, I found myself wondering why Timothy wasn’t circumcised before and further, why Paul was circumcising him at this point in his life. Clearly, this is a bunny trail and doesn’t pertain directly to our study in Philippians. However, understanding these issues will offer insight into Timothy’s life in particular. As noted in the text of Acts 16, Timothy’s mom was a believing Jew and his father was Greek. Interesting combination. Let me offer some insights from my studies …

Paul mentions Timothy’s mom, Eunice (named in 2 Timothy 1:5 along with his grandmother, Lois) first. Both of these women believed in Jesus, so this was already a faith that was passed on from generation to generation – pretty neat to have that so soon after Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Jewish law required that in an inter-faith situation, a child must adhere to the religion of the mother. So technically, Timothy should have been circumcised and raised a Jew. Why was that not the case? Hang with me for a moment.
Timothy’s father is brought up next in this way, “…but his father was Greek.” Clearly the author is attempting to contrast the mother and the father by his use of the word “but.” I think we can assume that Timothy’s father was not a believer, otherwise Paul would have mentioned it and not made such a distinction between the two parents. It was also suggested by scholars that perhaps Timothy’s father was no longer living. As I stated in the comments yesterday, this is perhaps why Paul felt more inclined to view Timothy as a son. As to Greek law, the father was to dominate the home. So that law, coupled with a probable weak or lax Jewish community in which this family lived enabled Timothy to be reared predominantly as a Greek.
Yet still, Jews regarded Timothy as a Jew, and I believe that’s why Paul went ahead and circumcised him – so that he would have rapport among the Jews. For there was nothing wrong for a Jew to continue to practice the law (Acts 21:21-26; 1 Cor. 9:19-23). What Paul and the apostles fought for at the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 was distinct from this situation. They were opposed to the group of Jews (Judaizers) who were going around announcing that circumcision was mandatory for salvation for Jew and Gentile … BIG difference. Paul was vehemently opposed to such a contradiction to the gospel. Let’s not miss the boat here, people – salvation is a work of God’s grace and CANNOT be merited.

Enough regarding circumcision – let’s move on in Acts 16 so we can get back to Philippians soon. I want to address a couple more things before I close out.

The Work: After adding Timothy to the team, Paul and his associates travel around that area to share the results of the Jerusalem Council so that the people would abide by the decrees. Can you imagine how this high tech society could have benefited their work? But you know, it probably would have ruined their work in a sense too, or rather impaired it. The kind of interaction that they had with these churches must have been amazing as they met face-to-face rather than computer-to-computer. Ah, the blessings and curses of modern technology!

The Result: As these men met with the believers in various cities, not only was their faith strengthened but their numbers continued to grow daily. What an exciting work!

And eventually these men ended up in Philippi – a Greek colony that was eventually conquered by the Romans in 167 B.C. At the time Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke got there, there was no established congregation meeting. Jewish law required that ten male heads of households were needed to constitute an official congregation. Since Philippi lacked that, those who did meet for prayer did so outside in a public place. That’s where the men met Lydia and some other women who were gathered for prayer. My assumption then is that the church in Philippi began with a good core group of women … interesting.

Okay, I promise I won’t always be this in-depth. I just found a lot of this info very interesting and helpful as we head into a better understanding of the book of Philippians. As we move ahead, I do hope to offer more by the way of application, for what good is it if we study the Word of God and fail to let it pierce our own hearts and mold us to be more like Christ? That is our goal, correct?

Tomorrow – back to Philippians. Grace and peace to you.

A Helpful Companion

2007-01-13T16:51:00.000-05:00

In the opening verse of Philippians, Paul makes mention of someone named Timothy. Just reading those first three words, “Paul and Timothy” might lead one to believe that they were both the authors of the letter; however, upon further reading of the epistle (letter), it becomes clear that Paul was the one writing. First of all, the author used I rather than we when speaking. Additionally, he spoke of sending Timothy to the Philippians in 2:19. So it becomes apparent that Paul is the author. Nevertheless, who is this guy named Timothy? After reading in Acts 16 yesterday, you’re probably ready to answer that question. Let me add my two cents to the pot …

Timothy was a young disciple whom Paul picked up in Lystra – a city located in modern-day Turkey. (By the way, it is quite fascinating to follow Paul’s journeys while looking at a map. That guy did a ton of traveling, and all for the sake of telling others about Jesus …wow!) Timothy was respected not only among the believers in his own town but also those in the neighboring town of Iconium. Yet I wonder what Paul saw in Timothy that made him want Timothy as part of the team. Perhaps Timothy had some strengths that would help Paul and the others as they went from city to city proclaiming the gospel. I wonder what young Timothy was thinking as he agreed to go with Paul, leaving his home and family.

Anyone want to add some thoughts on this? Perhaps there might be something in one of Paul's letters to Timothy that would add insight here.

Ultimately, God built this team of missionaries to quickly and effectively, through the Holy Spirit's power, spread the Word to others. And it was by the Holy Spirit that many people were saved and that the Church grew significantly. How awesome it would have been to be a part of that, but in fact, we are - just much, much later in time.

Setting the Stage

2007-01-12T16:13:00.000-05:00

Today we pick up our study in Acts 16. This particular chapter is going to set the historical stage for Paul’s beginnings with the Philippians. In this chapter we will also be introduced to Timothy. As you read this chapter, take note of the following …

What do we learn about Timothy?
Who was accompanying Paul and how did they end up in Philippi?
Who else do we meet in this chapter and what do we learn about him/her?

Feel free to post your findings. We can “dialogue” in the comment section of this blog entry.

Where to Begin

2007-01-11T21:45:00.000-05:00

I think sometimes when approaching the in-depth study of a book of the Bible, the question that stares me in the face is “Where to begin?” There are mass amounts of information to uncover, especially since we are so far removed from the period of time in which it was written. The task becomes so daunting that I have often just closed my Bible and picked up some devotional literature instead. I remember Alistair said (in the same sermon I mentioned earlier) that we are at times better students of the writers of devotionals and books than we are students of the Word of our Lord. Yikes!

So bear with me as I take us on a few rabbit trails before we really sink our teeth into the feast that God has prepared for us in Philippians.

Paul is the opening word in Philippians. Now, I shouldn’t assume that everyone knows who Paul is, so I’ll make a brief introduction and if you’d like, you can read the references mentioned. Paul is first introduced in Acts 7:58 as “a young man named Saul” associated with the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. In short, Saul was a Jew who vehemently opposed the church. In fact, he was out to destroy it; however, God had other plans for Saul. The resurrected Jesus dramatically confronted Saul one day as he was journeying to Damascus. You can read the miraculous account in Acts 9 as Jesus changed Saul’s heart instantly. From that point on, he was a changed man with a new mission: to preach Christ to all, Jew and Gentile, no matter the cost. And that he did. Eventually Luke, the author of Acts, begins to refer to Saul (his Jewish name) as Paul (his Roman name) – just in case you were wondering.

Tomorrow we’ll jump into Acts 16 and learn a bit more before undertaking the study of the book of Philippians. But before we do that, is there anything else you’d like to add that we should know about Paul prior to his work in Philippi? Feel free to make comments to enlighten us. I know I have merely scratched the surface with my brief introduction.

Grace and peace to you.

Read It Again

2007-01-10T15:09:00.000-05:00

Repetition can be good … really. I remember having to practice piano as a little girl. Although I only took two years of formal instruction, I hated practicing the piano. I would have much rather been outside playing football or soccer with my brothers or working on my fort in the woods in our backyard. Practicing was for pansies! Playing the same thing over and over and over again throughout the week was BORING. I mean after practicing the song(s) one day (for a religious 30 minutes … how was that even possible!), I had things down. Why should I practice it again the next day or even the following week after another lesson? What more could I possibly do with the song?!?! I wasn’t catching on as a young and immature musician – the more you play a piece, the more you understand it and the more you are able to do with it musically. As you follow the melody and the dynamics, you may uncover more of what the composer intended. The song then becomes more than just a piece that your teacher assigned you and more than just a piece in which to play the notes on the page flawlessly. You begin to understand it and play it with a depth of feeling that wasn’t there before. And then you get excited about it.

So, much like my mom encouraged me to practice again back in the day, I am encouraging you to read through the book of Philippians yet another time. Perhaps this time you will begin to notice themes popping out, reoccurrences of certain words, or develop more of an understanding of what Paul was experiencing when he wrote this letter. Ignoring the chapter and verse divisions, try and read it as a letter – as if you were the recipient. Jot down a few thoughts when you’re done to share on this blog, share with another person, or simply to keep to yourself.

As to a third reading, well, I won’t subject you to that tomorrow. But feel free to partake a third time. You’ll be amazed at what you discover each time you read through the book in one setting. My Bible prof knew what he was talking about.

May God bless the reading of His Word again.

Read It

2007-01-09T15:32:00.001-05:00

I was told by one of my favorite Bible professors (all but one were fantastic and my favorites really) that when studying a book of the Bible, one should read through the book three times in three different translations. I find it interesting to read in Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase, The Message, to get a bird’s eye view of a book. But translation is really a matter of preference – there are several good ones out there. Some are more accurate word-for-word and others thought for thought. I have a New Geneva Study Bible that was given to me at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Muncie, Indiana on December 22, 1997. This Christmas gift was presented to the youth director (me) from the youth group. My well-worn, teal green NIV student Bible was falling apart at the seams from all the use and abuse from four years of study as a Christian Education major at Taylor University. So there was a welcomed need for a new Bible, although it can be a challenge to break in a new Bible. We love the familiar, don’t we? In time, my new Bible became the new familiar. And I even got used to the New King James version, which I have grown to like over the years.
So, before we dive into a more in-depth look at this letter from Paul to the church in Philippi, take some time to read through at least once in a reliable translation. There are only four short chapters and this can be done in less than an hour. Go grab a cup of coffee and read through Philippians. Read it aloud. Stand up and read it. Get on your knees and read it. Read it to a friend or a spouse or a child. Or just read it like you usually read the Word. And as you read, ask the Holy Spirit of God to guide your thoughts and open up your heart to hear the Word of God – the precious, holy words of our awesome God.

Always A Student

2007-01-08T18:08:00.000-05:00

A few months ago while running I was listening to some solid preaching by one of my favorite contemporary preachers, Alistair Begg. I've made a habit of listening to his sermons on my early morning runs. Not only am I filling my head with the Word, but I'm focused ... not on my running which makes running easier in my opinion. Alistair is pretty good at packing a punch, and that day I was challenged by his words that we believers need to be students of the Word of God. That stuck with me and I was reminded of that during Joel's (my pastor) sermon yesterday in Hebrews 5 & 6. I have been meadering along, taking a sip of the Word here and there lately. Easy to do when you're busy. And since I'm always busy (who isn't), well, I'm quite famished b/c a sip or two here and there just ain't gonna cut it. In fact, that won't even nourish an infant! So I was convicted (again), but what to do about it ...

Well, my dear friend Alice and I spontaneously met for coffee after church. Great day for what I call a social beverage anyhow with the steady rain and cooler temperatures. (social beverage: coffee - everyone meets for coffee or a "coffee" drink) After brainstorming for a bit among other meaningful conversation, Alice threw out the idea of doing a blog study; that is, not a study of blogs (although that would be intriguing), but a study via a blog site. Thus Solid Food for Thought. I do love digging into Scripture to try to uncover its meaning, but really, the only times I do that is when I'm preparing for something. Alice said that I needed a teaching responsibility, and she's right. So, for all intents and purposes, this is my teaching responsibility. I'll start in Phillipians and take things at my own pace (some days are better than others when you have two small children running around), but I hope to post daily - even if it's just a nugget of truth to ponder. Nuggets can be just as rich as those big hunks of meat (or a piece of dark chocolate which I just indulged in with delight).

Thanks for the encouragement Alistair, Joel, Alice - vessels who through the work of God prepare delicious meals in which to partake. I'm eager to continue my study of God. May He bless this study and may His Spirit guide us into the Truth alone.