and so somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,  but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Philippians 3:11-12 NIV

While walking down the cleaning products aisle today, I spied a can of room spray that said, "You will feel as if Spring has come."I thought: All I have to do is buy this can of artificial fragrances and chemicals and my life will be complete?

Somehow I didn't believe that. As we all know, ad slogans are an American concoction. Consumers will believe anything, some would say. But not this "been around the block too many times" consumer. Gullibility is not a New York trait. We are usually hard to convince.

Most restaurant chains will come to New York last because they know we are hard customers. We want things done the right way. Paul feels the same way about His walk with God. He knew Jesus paid for his sins and wrong doings so he wanted all God had for him. He knew like I do, God isn't finished working great character and love in us.

We have to be open to God loving us. When I first came to Jesus, I had no idea how deep His love was for me. The Holy Spirit made Himself real to me, and this awesome adventure continues. Why do I ever doubt that He has everything under control? I guess it comes from the world around me.

Our world today is so contrary to what God wants for us. Hostility, anger and outright hatred for other seems to be the way of many. Even our government officials have taken hold of this. We need to take hold of Jesus. He is the anchor for our souls.

It is not easy to press in for more of God. It's not as if He is trying to hide, on the contrary, He longs for us to push through the worldliness around us to experience more love, peace and joy. Silencing the voices around us that vy for our attention is something Christians have had to do from the beginning.

Again our friend the Apostle, is honest about his life. All pretense and formality is behind him as he gives us a glimpse of the Christian walk. What if he decided not to write from his heart? Maybe we wouldn't know what's normal for a follower of Jesus.

I thank God for truth written from the pen of this great man. I have a whole new respect for him since we started this study of Philippians. He seems to have a blend of steadfastness, and emotion, but there is always room for improvement!

that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death. Philippians 3:10

What has happened to January? At first I couldn't believe it was here, and now I can't believe it is almost gone. Where does the time go? I guess my life is busy, but it's more than that. It is said that time seems to move quicker as we age.

It doesn't actually change, we do. Although I can't figure out why we feel it is moving faster. Maybe it's because we think of all the things we have already accomplished. It seems as if we have lived our lives.

Nothing could be further from the truth! God has great things planned for all the moments of our lives. Paul says he wants to know Christ, even the trials of His life. The suffering as well as death. Why does this great man of God want to suffer?

Paul wants to grow closer to God, and suffering is the avenue in which God uses to bring himself out in us. I wish He had another way, but we learn best from our trials. Life is full of good and bad, so why not allow Jesus to use it all for good? 

The only way we can learn the power of God and especially resurrection power is to be dead. God can't resurrect himself in us if we don't first lay down our lives. Jesus says," I say to you, except a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: but if it dies it bears much fruit." John 12:24  Our fleshly ways are the opposite of His nature. He is Holy, righteous, and good always.

Fulfillment comes from denying our ways, and taking up His. We can soar in the presence of God only when we release our will and take up His. The battle wages on between my will and His at times. Humility obeys the will of the Father, but pride holds on to self.

Now I have to tell myself, don't fret, certainly God is faithful to work with us as He is our loving heavenly Father. His grace is sufficient, not that grace is an excuse to disobey. Never will God's grace be a cover up for sin. Grace is given as we comply with the goodness of God, and allow Him to work.

I always rejoice in the Lord when He brings me through a hard time, and I can see Him working in me. The process isn't as bad once I understand the outcome. God isn't interested in putting hardship on us, but He is interested in seeing Himself in us. 

Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27b

and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ- the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. Philippians 3:9 NIV

I read a testimony recently from an actress we may all know. Her name is Candace Cameron Bure. She played the oldest daughter, DJ in the sitcom Full House, and is back with the new series by Netflix. She also has stared in some recent Hallmark channel movies, and is not shy about her faith. 

At a college commencement she shared this: I was in my early twenties when someone told me that my good works pale in comparison to God's mighty goodness, and that I could never do enought to please Him on my own. At this time Candace decided to give her heart to Christ. 

When her first child was born she started reading the Bible and found out who Jesus is for herself. This fits perfectly with our verse today. None of us could ever be righteous and pleasing to God without God's help. Every human being needs to confess the Lord as God and Christ in order to have eternal life.

God knew our weakness couldn't bring us to him, so He sent the only one who could bridge the huge gap between us and Himself. This is why we have hope in a dark world. This is why we can sing praises to God even when things aren't going well. It's also why our future is bright, no matter what age you are.

Knowing Christ Jesus makes all the difference. The expectation of His plans for me far exceed any plan I could have. I'm stuck in what I can see, but He isn't!

" The ocean mirrors our lives in a lot of ways. Each day, we get to decide whether to live in fear of what might be washed away or in anticipation of what our losses makes possible. Our lives are filled with give and takes, but neither the waves nor the setbacks we experience are our enemy."Maria Goff The Magnolia Journal  9.

Maria wrote this after their family cabin in the woods of Canada was burned to the ground. She was discouraged when she went to see that only the foundation was left standing. Soon after that she decided to focus on what could be built in place of the older cabin. 

Although many family memories were made in the first home, the second could continue on as a better place for all the family to gather. It could incorporate new ideas and updates never imaginiable in the old one. Maria decided to think with "anticipation of what our losses make possible."

Our Heavenly Father is good. He's not just good as we think of good, He astoundingly surpasses our definition of what good is. He makes streams in the desert, and turns mountains into valleys. Can we trust a God who is like this?  Can we allow Him to turn our mourning into dancing? I think so.

For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all rubbish{refuse, dregs}, in order that I may win{gain} Christ, the Anointed One, Philippians 3:8b AMP

Here is a gate with a pathway leading to? This is a dilemma for all of us.  If I decide to take this path,where will it lead me, and will I be able to get off this one if I don't like what's ahead? Some easy answers to this question: Will I ever stop paying taxes? 

Will my body live for ever?  Will I be able to jump off the cliff and not be harmed? Of course you realize that no is the correct answer to these questions, but life isn't this simple. Thank God he has given us His word as a faithful guide.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105 Why did the Psalmist write lamp and light? Why couldn't he use only one reference to enlightenment? A lamp guides your steps in a close one by one secession. A light opens up the path before us.

 We need God's word in our everyday life as a step by step process, and in the long term as we move down the path. I have a wonderful testimony to share! After my parents died I sought out a cardiologist to check my heart. I was about 50 years old. Both of them had heart issues, and I thought it should be checked but I wasn't concerned.

The Doctor I chose was a young man, and he was adamant about me being on medication for a leaky valve. I reluctently agreed. Every time I went I told him I didn't believe I needed medication. He told me my valve would only get worse not better. I told him I didn't believe him. 

He thought I was being rebellious, but I assured him I wasn't against him, but knowing God is in control. Today, I  have a healthy heart, no medication, no leaky valve, 10 years later! I got to talk to the doctor about a cardiologist my friend in Florida goes to, who prays for his patients, and has seen miraclous healings.

I say this to explain the path I took, and how God led me to believe Him for my healing. I don't want anyone to stop taking medication, and what I took was a precautionary measure, but my point is I did what I knew to do, and God took care of the rest.

Paul tells us he gained everything even though he lost it all. How does this make sense? He lost only the bad stuff, the things not worth anything by God's Kingdom standards. He is a miracle working God and He is worthy of our total adoration and praise. 

Many can testify to the healing and power of God in their lives. The Bible tells us that the world wouldn't be big enough to hold any book about all His mighty works. He is ever present to help, and work in your life too, and I know He is!

Yes, furthermore I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege- the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth and supreme advantage- of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, and of progressively becoming more deeply intimately acquainted with Him, of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly. Philippians 3:8a AMP

Whew, that is some verse, and this is only half of it. I am writing from the amplified today because I want you to see this verse in all of its glory. It is impossible to put into words with accuracy the greatness and privilege of knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior. Each day we get little glimpses of truth from His word and creation around us.

His majesty and honor surpass anything we can know here on earth, so I'm glad for the glimpses. I want to hold them in my hand like a ray of sunshine, but not let them go. I'm not made to hold them yet. One day I will be surrounded by His presence forever and then I won't have to seek after God, because I will be with Him forever.

I have peace here on earth, yes, this is His will for us as we wait. My peace comes from knowing He lives within me, by His Holy  Spirit. The best thing in this relationship with God, is growing ever  stronger  as a vessel of His grace.  I don't want to shine; I want Him to shine.

It can be a rocky road at times, as I still want to be in control. In the classic"Hind's Feet on High Places" the main character , Much Afraid finds it very difficult to navigate the rocky terrain. She slips and falls, but she is encouraged to get up again, and not give up.

I feel this story captures who I was as a young christian and so do many of you. We didn't know the shepherd well, but we wanted to believe he was good and kind as he seemed to be. As time moved on, we learned we could trust him, and we leaned on his arm, and the path became easier to walk on.

He never meant for us to walk alone. This is why those who isolate themselves are not happy. We are meant to fellowship, communicate, and rely on others, but especially on the Savior.
Other people can satisfy our needs to a certain extent, but no one can meet us and truly complete us as the Creator of all things can.

No one can understand you better than Jesus! No one knows all the details of you, like Him. He sees every valley and mountain of where life has taken you. He knows why you chose to go one way or another, and loves you regardless of your choice. Who could be greater than this?

as for zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness based on the law, faultless. But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. Philippians 3:6-7 NIV

We had a bit of snow this morning but only an inch or so. Today is the  17th of January and no snow storms. I hope you can say the same where ever you are. I don't dislike snow it's just a hassle if you have to get out of the house. Now that I have all of my children driving it is a different story.

When my youngest was about 8 years old she got caught in a blizzard, while coming home from school on the bus. It seemingly came from no where, but fell quickly and stopped traffic. She was two hours late, but thank God no one was hurt.  Just a random story about January.

Our friend the Apostle had everything to hope in as far as natural circumstances were concerned. The best education, the right family, so what more could he need? God knew Paul needed a clean heart.  He was of no use to Jesus without cleansing and salvation. At times we can think someone is the most wonderful person, maybe because of their sports ability, or their smart enough to be at the top of their class.

Our society values people for their outward appearance. I sat this morning at my kitchen table reading "Shape" magazine. I don't know where it came from but I thought maybe I could learn something important. The hair dressers were giving life advice. Now maybe these women had knowledge I wasn't aware of, but to me it seemed silly to be saying anything about life if you cut hair.

I'm probably wrong, but it just didn't make sense to me. Where did their advice come from, and why was it valid? How could it be substantiated as good? My hairdresser and I talk about history because we both like it. Anyway, Call me an old Bible teacher, but I'm not going to listen to anything about life that's not truth.

I've been around the block a few times and I know what listening to just anybody will do for you. It can cause me to go around in circles, doubting what I knew all along. I don't have time for this, because I'm older but also I have learned to want Jesus more than anything else.

Paul seemed to be a devout Jew on the outside, when in reality he was killing those who were right before God. He needed an attitude adjustment which involved a horse and the Lord. God got his attention in the most unusual way, but Paul had to be stopped right in his horsetracks.

 Blindness gave him time to contemplate what Jesus said to him, and He believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who cleansed his heart, and gave him a new way of thinking. I don't want God to throw me off my horse to get my attention. I'll stay close by His side without any need for an attitude adjustment! 

If anyone thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more. Philippians 3:5 NIV

All is quiet this afternoon. The dogs are sleeping on the floor, as the sun fades from the sky. I have been tired today so my regular laundry and cleaning will have to wait until tomorrow. Some days are like this, and it's fine. I'll catch up tomorrow.

This morning I was up and out with our Great Pyrenees pup to the Veterinarian. She is six months old and needed to be spayed. I was ready to go, but she wasn't. She's 61 pounds and only half way through her growing season. I couldn't convince her to go into the garage and I realized she is afraid of cars.

On the way out of the Vets office I couldn't get her to move off the sidewalk. I thought it would be easier going home since she would be sedated. She wasn't interested in moving. I asked the Lord to help, and she advanced into the car! Don't ever think any prayer is too simple for the Lord!

Paul states in our verse that he had confidence in his upbringing, and education. Why do we think any one of us is superior to another? Insecurity, division, and competetion cause us to strive against everyone else, but in the end it does nothing but destroy us.

The enemy is behind this for sure. He wants to dominate our thinking, and he especially wants us to think we are superior to others. If he can convince us to be alone, isolated from others then he can grab our attention and really make us miserable!

From the beginning of time this has been his way of operating. In Genesis, the enemy by way of a snake, spoke to Eve and convinced her that God didn't really say she couldn't eat the fruit from the middle of the garden. He has been on the attack ever since the creation of man, because this is his way of attacking God.

The enemy knows he can't attack God, so he tries to pull us under, making us feel less than, or unworthy of God's attention and love. When we belong to Jesus, by way of the cross, the enemy will lie cheat and steal to get us to turn away from believing in Jesus and following His ways. Don't believe him. 

What God says about you will stand for eternity. His love is ever-lasting, and HE promises to never leave us or forsake us. NEVER! Who do you know that can say this? Even our loved ones can't be with us always. Rest in His truth, and allow Him to take control.