Dreams Bring Joy-filled Thoughts

August 19, 2020 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Today the wild fires in California are burning brightly and smoke covers so much of our beautiful state. Where is joy? The passage in Philippians that I had for reflection today seems odd- how does it relate to me and my world? In this passage in Philippians 2:19-30 (entire text at the bottom) Paul makes the letter personal. He is sending notes to the Philippians about his ‘family’. Specifically Paul mentions Timothy his proven, genuine, caring son in the faith. He also says he desires to see them soon if his situation changes in Rome and he is free to travel again. Paul also talks about Epaphroditus who would be bringing the letter to them. Paul asks them to welcome him openly and realize that he has personally suffered a great deal for the sake of the gospel. Paul had plans for himself (24) and for the future of the ministry. He was looking forward to their work together in the name of Christ. Paul never doubted God had plans and knew the work of Christ would go forward!

What plans do you have for yourself and for you place in ministry? Do you dream and look forward with joy to things you can, or will do? Do you have dreams big things? I think God is calling us to trust in Him, no matter what fires are burning around us, and place our dreams at His feet. God promises us in His Word that He has good plans with purpose and they will not be thwarted.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Do you believe God has good plans and a future for you?

Job 42:2 ““I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” Do you believe anything can stop God’s plans?

Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” Do you believe God can follow through on the plans He has established for you?

Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Do you believe the Lord’s purpose is for your good and His glory?

James 4:13-15 “Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” ¹⁴Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ¹⁵Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” Do you consider what God wants you to do when you make plans or do you leave Him out of the planning?

Paul’s joy was increased when he thought about his ‘family’ of faith and what plans and purposes God had for them in the future. What about you does dreaming about future events and plans in ministry bring you joy and excitement? If yes, then you are in good company and are forward looking with God, expecting joy in the future with Christ.

May your joy be multiplied today as you dream and think about what God has for you to do. Walk in faith- trusting and believing in our All Powerful God!

Linda

Philippians 2:19-30

¹⁹I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. ²⁰I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. ²¹For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. ²²But 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. ²³I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. ²⁴And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

²⁵But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. ²⁶For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. ²⁷Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. ²⁹So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, ³⁰because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.

Joy, Does your perspective need a ‘reboot’?

August 14, 2020 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Philippians 2:14-17 presents joy in several ways. My joy is increased:

godly character leads to joy in my life because of Christ’s work in me.
sharing the gospel and investing in others brings joy.
mutual joy is to be had for both you and me over what Christ is doing and will do in/through us both individually and as a group of believers.

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing, ¹⁵that 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, ¹⁶holding 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. ¹⁷Even 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.” Paul is continuing in these verses with the conclusions he made about our lives due to Christ’s power, sovereignty and sacrifice in Philippians 2:5-11. Ours is to be a life filled with integrity and humility as we strive to live together peacefully, in harmony, and shine as a light in the darkness for those who do no know Jesus. The gospel we offer, sometimes at great personal sacrifice, is a light holding promise of eternity for others. Paul says he receives joy as he looks at their lives and his own in light of eternity and work done in Christ’s name. He also claims joy that knowing other believers, working with them in ministry as he sees the work of Christ in his own life and in their lives. This brings mutual joy and gives him cause for rejoicing.

What about you? Do you rejoice in the growth you see in your own life as you strive daily to be more and more like Jesus? Do you feel joy when you share the gospel of Christ with others or take advantage of the opportunities God provides to praise and glorify His name? Do you have joy when you work with others in ministry for both yourself and those you are working with? Paul says all of these circumstances should bring us joy. I pray that you will see each of these in your own life and praise Him for the joy He brings!

Linda

God at Work in me = JOY!

August 11, 2020 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Therefore is a transition word that means the writer has reached a conclusion and has a truth for us. Philippians 2:12-13 is one such passage. Paul had just finished describing Jesus, his role as Savior and Lord of Lords in verses 5-11 and reached a conclusion about Jesus’ effect on all our lives. “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, ¹³for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Paul reminds the Philippian believers of their faithful obedience to Jesus, even when he was not there supervising them, and admonishes them to ‘work out their salvation with fear and trembling’.

Paul’s charge to ‘work out their salvation with fear and trembling’ would apply to us too. This phrase implies that we need to continue in faith regardless of the obstacles we face daily. We need to commit to growing in our faith, and strive to know more about God each day. We need to take that growth and then apply it to our faith with diligence and persistence. All this should be done without doubt or fear but because of our faith and reverence towards God. Scholars agree it does not mean any kind of ‘earning’ or working hard to create our salvation but rather living our faith in Jesus out in our daily lives. Paul refers to believers as new creations in Christ in 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” That new creation, a life filled with faith in Jesus, demands a new walk with Christ that causes us to live by His Word and be indwelt and transformed by His Holy Spirit. We did nothing to earn this transformation as it is God’s gift to us through faith but it needs to be cared for and nurtured as we grow in Him.

philippians 2 13 As Paul continues, I love what he says in verse 13. “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Paul knows that God is the one working within us to mold and shape us. God is doing the work. Psalm 37:5 “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” God needs our commitment to Him, then He is the one doing the work within us. We trust and commit then God does the follow through! Paul also knew that what God intends or wills happens. Job 42:2 ““I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” Finally, Paul adds that the things God does in our lives are for His good pleasure. This will always be good for us as promised in Jeremiah 29:11 “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.” God’s plans are always for His glory and our good!

Increased joy for me, how about you?

I am filled with joy that my growth in character pleases God and equals joy in my life.
I am filled with joy that God is at work within me with purpose and goodness.
I am filled with joy knowing that God keeps His promises!

Have a blessed and joy filled day!

Linda

Jesus, a name that brings Joy for Eternity!

August 7, 2020January 23, 2021 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Today’s passage is amazingly beautiful, descriptive of our Savior and presents us with a challenge and hope for the future. Philippians 2:5-11 is a well known and often quoted portion of scripture. I like the New Living Translation of this passage,

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. (our challenge as believers)

⁶Though he was God,
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
⁷Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
    he took the humble position of a slave
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
⁸    he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

⁹Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

What was Jesus’ attitude? He was not filled with self-pride. He could have been as He was God and possessed power and might beyond measure. But, He acted with sacrificial humility and came to earth in human form with the purpose of saving us though His death on the cross. He was obedient to God’s plan of redemption. The result was God honored His obedience forever and made us all be subject to Jesus. What a challenge to live each day with an attitude like Christ’s with humility, a servant’s heart, a willingness to put others first and with pure devotion and love for God. Only through the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit is it possible. Jesus promised in Matthew 19:26 “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Live life each day, trusting in the power of Jesus, the name above all names!

As I read this passage, I am awestruck by Jesus’ humility and sacrifice. He gave up His position in heaven to come to earth to save and to serve. How much He must love us!

My joy is increased today:

as I consider how much God loves me.
as I see that obedience brings blessings.
as I see that no matter how things look right now, God has a plan for eternity and is in His control.
as I realize that Jesus in King now and forever!

Have a blessed day and may there be joy in your heart and on your lips!

Linda

Joy in Being Like Minded…

August 5, 2020August 5, 2020 nofearlindaLeave a comment

The portion of Philippians for today’s blog has caused me to think and then rethink what it means for my life. Paul starts out with a statement that should cause us to pause and evaluate our life experiences. I like the New Living Translation as I think it makes it clearer. Philippians 2:1-2 “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? ²Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.” It seems Paul is saying if we have experienced Christ in our life through His love and compassion or felt the indwelling Holy Spirit within us then we should be able to work together with other believers having Christ and His gospel ministry as our priority. Being like minded does not mean uniformity like we are clones of one another. God made us to be individuals and gave us uniquely different gifts. We are to use them in working together striving to be joined in Christlike attitude. When we digress into petty arguments or oppose one another for the sake of opposition then we are not practicing God’s love towards one another and are hindering the spread of the gospel. Paul is saying that being like minded brings him complete joy or makes him truly happy. Seeing fellow believers working together in unity makes him glad! Paul goes on to admonish us to watch our “self” attitudes and motives and humbly look out for others. ³Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. ⁴Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” Sobering thoughts.

Paul’s words are as applicable today as they were to the believers of ancient Phillipi. People digress and desire to look out for themselves and their own interests rather than seeking to look out for the interest of others. Jesus wants us to have godly priorities: God first then man. He gave this as a command in Matthew 22:38-39 “Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ ³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Take some time today and reexamine your priorities- who are you putting first in your life? What is motivating you-love of God or love of self? Do, like Paul, find joy in seeing people work together in love and commitment to Christ?

My Joy is increased:

I can be like-minded in and through Christ with other believers. (vs 2)
I can experience joy as I focus on Christ and not worldly self-interests. (vs 3)
I can have a loving and compassionate attitude towards others because of Christ in me. (vs 4)

Do these truths bring you joy? Hopefully, they will cause you to meditate and pray asking God to infuse you with His Holy Spirit and cause you to walk humbly before Him. That will surely bring you joy!!

Linda

Joy in Standing with Christ

July 31, 2020 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Paul knows by experience that the truth of Christ bring opposition. He is trying to encourage the Philippian believers by stating the facts about their shared work for Jesus. Telling others about salvation, redemption, eternal life, heaven…. are all things in which the believer rejoices. The unbeliever sees them as a pronouncement of coming destruction and fights against those who proclaim these gospel truths. In Philippians 1:27-30, Paul says we need to stand up for Christ and walk in a manner worthy of His calling. This is a life lived fearlessly for Christ knowing He alone is Savior, Redeemer, and Sovereign over all things.

^{27 “}Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. ²⁸Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. ²⁹For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. ³⁰We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.”

Paul’s conclusion is that knowing and walking with Christ each day is a privilege entrusted to us by faith and with that comes suffering. Know it, accept it and then lean on Him. Remember you can take strength in and from fellow believers as you stand together in the cause of Christ. Here are a few verses that help with the concept of suffering and why it comes with the job of being a believer. (I have printed them at the bottom.) I pray they help you to put in perspective what a privilege we have to suffer with Christ and the bigger purpose He has for us in suffering. James 1:2-4, 1 Peter 4:14 and Acts 5:40-41.

My joy is increased:

I do not need to be fearful in my daily walk. Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
I am in this with life with victorious Christ and fellow believers are at my side.
Remembering Christ sacrifice for me, it is a privilege to suffer for Him.

Let your joy in serving Christ fill you today.

Linda

James 1:2-4 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, ³for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ⁴And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

1 Peter 4:14 “If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.”

Acts 5:40-41 “and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. ⁴¹Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.”

Assurances that bring Joy!

July 29, 2020 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Paul had just stated in Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” However, in today’s passage he goes on to explain these words in verses 1:22-26. “If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. ²³I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. ²⁴But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. ²⁵Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.”

Paul is torn between the desire to be with Jesus and the desire to be with believers working to spread the gospel and for Christ. Paul doesn’t know what the future holds for him but he rejoices in the assurance that God holds the future! (Sounds like today huh!) He knows that God’s plans can be trusted and are good for him. Jeremiah 29:11 “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.” Paul also knows how the fellowship with other believers, the work of preaching, disciplining and proclaiming Christ is also good. He loves his fellow co-workers and loves seeing their joy in Christ and the glory they all bring to God.

Therefore, Paul is good with either way the future unfolds. He knows he will have joy in either case- death and moving into the presence of God (remember Paul is imprisoned at this point awaiting Caesar’s judgement) or life and continued fellowship and spread of the gospel here on earth.

What about you? Do you trust God with your future? Are you assured of eternal life with Christ as Paul was? I have listed the following verses below for you to mediate upon and claim their truths in your life. I pray they will bring you reassurance: John 3:16, John 3:36, John 6:47, Romans 6:23, 1 John 2:25, 1 John 5:11. (Printed out below)

Today my joy is increased as I know:

In death I will be with Jesus (verse 23)
The life I now have in Christ, in faith, is cause for joy. (25)
Fellowshipping with other believers, working in the cause of Christ brings me joy. (26)

May your joy be solidly rooted in Jesus as you walk in faith and trust in Almighty God.

Linda

John 3:16 ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:36 “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

John 6:47 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.”

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

1 John 2:25 “And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.”

1 John 5:11 “And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”

Eternal life with Jesus is a sure thing for the believer. Live like you believe it today!

Joy, Knowing God is Sovereign

July 24, 2020 nofearlindaLeave a comment

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. ¹⁶The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. ¹⁷The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. ¹⁸What 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, ¹⁹for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, ²⁰as 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. ²¹For 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. ¹²Then 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.

joy in sovereignty of God Let your joy be in our Sovereign God today. Trust in Him!

Linda

Joy- Right Where You Are!

July 21, 2020 nofearlindaLeave a comment

I really identified with Paul’s message to the Philippians in Philippians in 1:12-14. He was in jail because of his faith in Christ and his desire to tell others about Jesus. God had prepared him for this journey to Rome through years of persecution where Christ faithfully walked beside him, blessed him and gave him fellow co-workers to share in his struggles. I see all of us as being imprisoned, too, during this time of Covid-19 throughout the world. God has prepared us for just such a time and given us resources to continue His work in the world. Here are Paul’s words: “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, ¹³so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. ¹⁴And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” Paul knew God was able to use any and all situations- even his being imprisoned, to further the gospel. Paul was fearless in telling other about Jesus and his imprisonment had even increased his boldness.

How has Covid-19 affected your witness? Are you more bold like Paul? Do you readily tell others about Jesus in emails, in Zoom meetings, on the phone, etc? Paul was amazed by what God could do with him during his isolation. What about you? How has God amazed you? Has He given you people to contact you haven’t seen in a long time, friends you did not seem to have time to connect with because of your busy schedule that you can take time now to reach out to?

Seeking to live with joy during this time-

I feel joy when I see God working in this difficult time in my life and the lives of fellow believers.
I feel joy to see that I am being used by God right where I am. Praise God!

May you look for joy today and see it right where you are!

Linda

Praying with Heart motivated by Joy

July 16, 2020 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Today I am soaking in the joy Paul felt as he describes his fellow coworkers in the cause of Christ in Philippians 1:7-11.

“So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. ⁸God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.”

Do you love those you work with when serving Christ? I have felt like Paul and have a special bond with brothers and sisters in faith as we work together for the Lord. Those friendships are lasting and are firmly rooted in the love of Christ. Whether you are near or far from them you always hold them dear and can’t wait to be with them again. Why is that? I think the shared love and spirit of Christ permeates the friendship and links us for eternity. We know that time and place may separate us, but we are and will always be together in the Lord. I can only imagine that this is part of what Paul was expressing to the Philippians. He then explains how he prays for them.

^“9I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. ¹⁰For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. ¹¹May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.” He prays that they will abound in love, continue to grow in the Lord, walk with Him and live a productive life for Christ that will bring glory and honor to the Lord. What beautiful words with power and conviction. He loves his co-laborers in the cause of Christ and desires to see them grow and flourish. Is that what you desire for your brothers and sisters in Christ? Do you pray for their growth, their walk and witness in the world? These are tangible ways we can support each other. Seek God on behalf of your friends and ask Him to grow and develop them for His purposes.

My joy is greater as I stand with others in the cause of Christ.

My joy increases as I walk with Christ. As I seek to grow and serve Him, I am uplifted and encouraged by others in faith.

Joy is renewed and kindled as we work, pray, and serve together! Paul knew that- how about you? Mediate today on your friendships in the Lord and pray for them with a heart filled with love.