In Philippians 1:15-21 Paul expresses the facts of ministry as he sees them. He sees some preaching the gospel to win souls. He calls that good will and says their preaching is out of love, desiring that all would be saved and be eternally free in Christ. He also sees those who preach the gospel out of love of self, for self-gratification, self-gain, and self-glory. He calls that selfish ambition and realizes that they can, by their words, stir up trouble for him even as he sits in prison. However, Paul does not hold their actions against them as he rejoices that the name of Christ is proclaimed and trusts in God’s plan and sovereign control over all circumstances. “Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.”
Paul’s continues reasoning that though the prayers of fellow believers and the power of the Holy Spirit, he knows God will be victorious and his place with Jesus is 
assured. “Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Paul knew no matter what, he belonged to Jesus! He knew the support of fellow believers through their powerful prayers and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit were essential to his surviving in his Roman prison. Either in death or in life, he would be victorious in and through Christ.
How is it that Paul was so assured? Paul relied upon the character of God and His Word. He undoubtedly remembered Joseph’s statement of God’s principle in Genesis 
50:20 “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” Or perhaps his own words given by the Holy Spirit in Romans 8:28 “ And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Or Jeremiah’s words in Jeremiah 29:11-12 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.” Paul was a student of scripture and knew for a fact the truths about God’s character revealed throughout the Bible. He had learned to draw upon them for strength, clarity and assurance. We too need to open His Word and dig deep to replenish our joy, see our hope clearly, and gain strength and assurance. Our Sovereign God is bigger than Covid 19 or any other circumstance we face right now or in the future. Be assured like Paul that no matter what, you and I will be victorious in Christ!
My joy is increased:
- I know God is Sovereign and will use all things (people, places, circumstances- yes even the Corona virus) to achieve His will.
- I know God has my back and has good plans for me as I serve Him, therefore, I will trust in Him.
- I know that prayer is essential for survival and brings encouragement and resolve to believers.
Let your joy be in our Sovereign God today. Trust in Him!
Linda
fellow believers. Do you feel that way too? “
Be encouraged and keep on praying. Give you requests to God and He will answer. If you don’t exactly know how to pray? Ask the Holy Spirit to do it for you. Romans 8:27 “And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” God is faithful and will answer in His time and in His way. This requires faith, trust and patience as we wait upon God for His perfect answer.
grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 7:25 “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” James 4:8 “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
Indwelling Holy Spirit testifying and affirming:
what is to come.
A tangible inheritance in Jesus
by the hand of his beloved Son. 
Why would God do this? 
The Word is filled with references to God’s plan of redemption and the restoration of His relationship with mankind from Genesis to Revelation. The story of God’s love for us, His desire to bring us back to Him is why Jesus came. All these things give me Hope and I pray they do the same for you as you meditate on Jesus, God’s love and His desire to be in relationship with you.
I have been praying and pondering what God wants me to write about this summer. What has come to mind over and over is that He is telling me I’m not done with Ephesians. The book of Ephesians was the foundation of my Lenten journey this year. I worked my way through the entire book in the 6 week of Lent. It was a rich time in Word of God, and I was mightily blessed. How He is leading me to write on these subjects again is to start with the lessons and truths revealed in Ephesians and search scripture for other passages that confirm the same or very similar truths. I will not attempt to do all of the truths He revealed during our Lenten journey but as many as I can. I am looking forward to a rich time in God’s Word these summer months.
Ephesians 1:3 “ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,” 
I pray you have the blessing of knowing Christ and are looking forward to these eternal blessings that await us in heaven. May you marvel at the beauty of heaven to come, the safety, completeness and glory we will see there. Be encouraged today as you meditate on these passages. This is our inheritance and a place all believers can look forward to in their future. Praise God!
As we all struggle with the racism that has surfaced yet again in America, we need to seriously ask ourselves if faith matters. People are carrying signs that say “Black Lives Matter” which is so true- as all people matter. We are all precious and made in God’s image. The question I am pondering is
If we want to be more and more like Jesus, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to develop those characteristics within us. He desires that we are kind, loving faithful, thankful, show goodness, gentleness, joy and experience His peace. If we are to mature in faith, the actual term is sanctification, the we need to work our our faith and live it. 
Let us pray for our nation and humble ourselves seeking to do as Jesus would when dealing with others… Faith in God and Love are the ways to peace. Faith matters, let the light of Christ shine in and through you today.
When we see injustice, we need to speak out.
Jesus teaches us to love one another. Unbelievers will know we are Christians because of the love for one another.
be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”
my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
The post resurrection appearances began at the empty tomb. This fact occurs in each of the 4 gospels and 3 of the gospels include the appearance of a heavenly being interacting with the grieving followers of Jesus. Since Jesus had been hastily buried due to the need to have him buried before sundown, as it was the beginning of the Sabbath and no one could be buried on the Sabbath, His body was not properly prepared with spices. It was wrapped but not fully treated. The women, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went to the tomb with spices intending to anoint Jesus’ body. The gospel accounts say it was very early in the morning as they walked and talked on the way to the garden tomb. They were concerned about how they were going to get the stone in front of the tomb removed so they could enter to anoint Jesus’ body. When they arrived this was the scene:
“And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large.
May you encounter the Living Jesus and His transforming power today.
