"The latter do so in love, knowing I was put here for the defense of the gospel." Philippians 1:16 NIV
Who are our guests here? Mary Poppins and Walt Disney. I guess if Mary were a person she would be surprised by the year 2018. How about my friend Fred Rogers? What a sweet, contrite man. His heart was filled with the love of God for the most vulnerable among us.
We are all vulnerable to the torments of this world, because this is not our home. As christians we are not comfortable here. We do not belong. My friends and I were talking about how liberal N.Y. is and having a desire to live somewhere else. It is not much different anywhere else.
The hearts of men will try to make this life all about themselves.
A life left to itself, will implode, and then there isn't any life. God made our hearts to need one another. When we try to live without others, depression, anxiety and other serious sicknesses try to take over.
My sister asked me this morning why she was having yet another storm come to her area. I told her, "You are not to blame. It's not about you. It's about the fall.
Our natural man thinks it's about something we did wrong. We are taught to think good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people, but this is not true. The rain falls on the just and the unjust, literally in North Carolina.
Jesus said," These things I have spoken to you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33 NIV
The gospel of Jesus Christ was sent to us so we would not be hopeless in the face of tragedy. God is a miracle working God. He makes a way even streams in the desert, but in this case we are asking for no more water.
Would you add your faith with ours and pray that Hurricane Michael would not hit land. Allison and Steve have had volunteers come everyday to clean out their house. It currently has no walls, floor and a leaky roof. It is not in any condition for another storm.
Thank you for your prayers. Our God is able. The Wilmington area has suffered enough.
"It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill." Philippians 1:15 NIV
Do you remember being this small, and being held in someone's arms? I don't think I can remember this. It feels good I should think! Make sure you give hugs to the little ones in your life.
Life can become all about busyness, and our schedules, and running from one place to the next. I remember a neighbor telling me the reason she was a stay at home Mom was to drive everyone to different activities. Everything within me wanted to scream out, "That is not a good reason!"
I felt bad for her because she thought this was her vocation.
Moms are much more than this, and I'm sure she did good things with them too. Children need to sit with us so we can play with them, or make a craft, or whatever they find amusing. Quality time.
Matthew, my third child wanted to wrestle all day, and this wasn't something I was good at. My brother wasn't physical so I didn't know what to do with him, except take him outside. He loved jumping on the trampoline, running through the lawn, and digging forts in the back of the yard.
He was so content, and happy with this so I went with him, as much as I could. He will be 24 in December, but I'm glad for some happy memories. I regret he watched more television than my older two. As Mom we cannot go back and pull apart what we did or didn't do.
I did the best that I could, and I'm sure you did too. Our friend the Apostle was all about moving forward, and I love this about him. He didn't care much about what was behind him. He said, "I press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."Philippians 3:14.
How many of us would be free from stress or fear if we could put the past behind us. We all can, by allowing Jesus to wash over us with His precious Holy Spirit.
If you can right now, close your eyes, and say to Him Father, please wash me anew from past mistakes or fears. Help me to not go the same way again. Teach me to learn from those failures so you can be glorified in my life in these areas. Amen.
I love you and am praying you were blessed by this. Ann
"Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly." Philippians 1:14 NIV
I don't understand? Am I reading this correctly? Is Paul saying his chains are encouraging others to preach the gospel without fear? Yes, this is exactly what he is saying. Paul is sure his chains will promote the gospel.
He is right. It seems to me others would be discouraged to preach since Paul is in chains, but the opposite is true. It may be others are bold by the power of the Holy Spirit. We can see from other biblical passages fear is vanquished when the Spirit of God takes over.
The same is true for you and I. The Spirit of God is the same yesterday, today and forever! We can be free from fear to share the truth of God's word. How much do we want to be changed by the message of Jesus?
As we resist the lies of this world, and yield to God's ways we come into a deeper presence of His spirit. Yesterday as I pulled into a parking lot I read a bumper sticker on a car. It said"RESIST."
What does it mean? I can say it either says a lot, or nothing at all. If I am to resist everything my life will be miserable. No friends, no health care, no food? If it is a general meaning to resist the establishment, this will cause undo suffering, anger and fear. If we resist God, all we have to do is look at history to see where this will get you.
Do not resist the Holy Spirit. All the blessings of heaven are for those who yield to His commands. It is not heavy or weary, but life giving and full of joy. True joy comes from yielding to the One who will lift our burdens and set us into a freedom this world doesn't know.
Our dear friend the Apostle, has overwhelming confidence because he joys in the gospel going forward. Let this be our joy as well! This glorifies God, and all of heaven. We agree with the Holy Spirit when we rejoice in what He has said. We are here today on this earth to testify of the truth of God.
"As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ." Philippians 1:13 NIV
He was in chains. Have you ever been chained to another person for a number of years? A Palace Guard is a Roman soldier who is powerful and rough. I suppose Paul was able to charm him, and the love of God won the guard over time.
Being chained meant Paul was never alone. Did he have to be chained to go to the bathroom? Probably. Sounds as if the guard was in jail too, or maybe there were shifts?
Paul says he had joy knowing this church was his partner in the gospel in verse 5. He rejoiced to know the gospel was being preached in verse 18.
Was Our Apostle ever lonely, afraid, or cold? I'm sure he was. He was like us. He was prone to all emotions as we are, but he was not defeated. What makes him different from you and I? He didn't take his eyes off of Jesus.
I can be fixated on my circumstances so easily, but God has a way of changing me too. Have you noticed how God can bring about different situations to show us our hearts?
Will I trust him if someone I love is hurt or sick? Can I trust God to care for me even when the paycheck is nowhere in sight? Is He still Lord of my life when tragedy strikes?
Yes, He is. He is able to take our worst situations and turn them around. We don't always understand why God allows someone to die and another to live. We don't know why one house is destroyed and another is left untouched. What we can do is know God is good, all the time.
We can trust His heart even when we don't understand His hand.
Dear Friends,
This is a picture of my sister Allison, her husband Steve, and their children Kim, and Zac. This was last June when my niece graduated from High School.
They live in North Carolina, about 20 miles outside Wilmington. Their house was flooded two weeks ago during Hurricane Florence. Many have come forward to provide household items and gift cards. They did not have flood insurance.
Since they already have a mortgage, a loan would be out of the question. FEMA may give them some money but not enough to rebuild. If God places them on your heart, there is a go fund me page on my facebook or at gofundme.com. Look for Ann and Rudy's sister and family. God bless you, Ann
"Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel."
What is Paul referring to here? What happened to him? He was in jail for preaching the gospel, The good news. He must have been an optimistic person to think being in jail brought about good.
Actually Paul's time in jail caused the gospel to spread quickly. News of his stand for the truth of Jesus Christ spread throughout the Palace guard. Those who loved the Lord spread the message, and even those who opposed Paul told of the Gospel, thinking it would harm him.
Paul was overjoyed to know the gospel was being preached, no matter the reason. He was a remarkable man, because he believed God would use everything for his good. I can believe this too, but sometimes I wonder.
Have you ever said to God, "How will you use this in a good way?"
I believe you God, but this? How will you bring any good out of the sadness I feel? How can the loss of a loved one ever be ok?
Loosing a loved one isn't ever O.K., but the ache doesn't hurt as much. Time moves on and so do our lives. Sadness doesn't have to last for ever, if we look to the Lord. He can fill us with joy, peace and love regardless of our circumstances.
Times of deep sadness come to every life. I don't want you to fall into the lie I once did. I thought certain people had a better life than I did.These young ladies who sat in front of me in church had their mother and father with them.
The parents were blessed financially, so I thought, looking on the outside their lives had to be better than mine.This was not true!
As time passed, they had serious struggles like the rest of us.
It was a lesson I learned well, and I remind myself of it every once in a while. 'The rain falls on the just and the unjust." Matthew 5:45
The difference is, when a christian goes through struggles, they can become better, not bitter.
"And we know that all things work together for the good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 KJV
"filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ- to the glory and praise of God. " Philippians 1:11 NIV
Do you ever walk and pray outside? Walking while I pray is my preferable way of praying, but not outside. I get distracted easily outside. I want to pray so my attention is only on Jesus.
This can be hard sometimes. It takes concentration and determination, and a plan ahead of time, not pick up the phone unless it's an emergency. My plans don't work out the way I always want them to.
We have a busy household. People coming and going, dogs who need to go out. I'm not making excuses, but maybe some of this sounds familiar to you?
The father of lies knows the truth about prayer. It is a powerful vehicle by which we can stop him. He knows what one woman on her knees can accomplish in an afternoon. If he can convince us that prayer isn't worth the time and effort, he has us on the run.
Jesus is our righteousness. On our own we could never come to our Father in heaven. He is the only way to God, and so our righteousness comes from Him. All of the spirit realm knows this is true. If we don't realize the truth, the enemy may get a foot in the door.
Jesus in perfect, sinless, eternal, and full of light as we have never seen. Will we fall before Him when He appears? Will we jump up and down in excitement, or simply be overcome by His holy and beautiful self? Will we worship for eternity?
It is beyond my wildest imagination how full and complete we will become. If we can sense this through prayer, how much greater the reality will be. For now, we need to be on our knees. Our nation needs us to stand for morality and decency. Blessings to you and your family.
