Philippians 2
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise, you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.
25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.
Psalm 19
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.
The law of the LORD is perfect,c
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple;
8the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
The fear of the LORD is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the LORD are true,
and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
We live each day having thoughts of life.
Gratitude. Lean to Hope. Believing God is taking care of our Loved ones.
And then days where we have concern to anxiety.
When my eldest son was going off to college, I went up to the High School Counselor to find out about the impossible College Costs. And found today most of The Woodlands students carry up to 150,000 in debts to Graduate ten years ago. We are so many times placed in life where we are going to do our best and watch what life will unfold.
Much of life unfolds around us. Opportunities, careers, housing and where we will spend our lives. Even when we sweep life the way we would have life - the people around us are caught up and moved in circumstance and opinion in the Great River of Living Water Life.
We've all experienced sleep lost for a sudden worry. And found out the worry was just a vapor.
We will all live a time of grave concerns.
And when we are honest and frank - we find that life one day is the same life filled with Hope and Joy and Love.
The next day even our hair is not the hair we wanted. Nothing feels settled and secure. Hope is an illusion.
The Book of James 1 tells us do not doubt. Ask with faith and be settled on the answer of God. We will all have emotion. Hope, sadness, loss, and dreams of the future.
Way. Truth. Life. Have peace for ourselves and for each other. To trust all our situations to God. To simply place trouble in the Hands of God. When we do what we can to be in mercy and peace and find Justice, we can put our assurance in the Battle is Won and the Battle is God's. And refuse to have any concern.
Concerns tend to leap up and say this is the new situation. Life is overcome. And we find in reality one day looks like another. God is building. This is part of the Plan of God. Faith in each day.
To encourage one another is to have comfort. To care for another to be healed is to find the Love of God surrounding us. And in comforting we are comforted and equipped to love one another. Assuring us of a meaningful and promising Life Forevermore.
Simply let God be God Forevermore. Thy Will be done. We are promised God is with us to seek and provide more Heaven on earth.
Abba, Father,
Favored Words of Yours.
May the Words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, Lord Jesus Christ,
be pleasing and acceptable in Your Sight.
Oh Lord God my Father,
My Rock and my Redeemer.
Give us the day! The wonders of Your eternal Word in Jesus.
Let us pray the end of Psalm 64. Remembering what our God has brought about.
Pondering the Wonders of our Father God, what He has done.
Let us be covered with the Name of Jesus, Believing His Word, Promises and Righteousness. And let us be in His Righteousness, rejoicing in the Lord.
This is where we take refuge.
Let all the upright in Heart see in awe our God's Wonders.
Christ Jesus has seen this world through tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger and sword. The Kingdom of Heaven knows about difficulties and violence.
The Church and the People of God are more than conquerors through the Love of Jesus Christ. Nothing from death, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God, Himself, has given us our loved ones. His Work saves us all. Covering our concerns and sometimes anxieties with the Name of Jesus. We ask His Righteousness over our communities, Churches, States, Nation and rejoice in the Lord with all who call upon the Name of Jesus in Prayer.
In His Majestic gift of Salvation, we will never earn His favor. And this is only the Grace of Jesus saving us.
We ask Him to bless us because He is our Father. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †
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