Day 10 - Philippians 4:10-23 - LAST DAY of Flipping Through Philippians!

10 How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. 11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. 14 Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.

15 As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. 16 Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. 17 I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.

18 At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

20 Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen.

21 Give my greetings to each of God’s holy people—all who belong to Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you their greetings. 22 And all the rest of God’s people send you greetings, too, especially those in Caesar’s household.

23 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.


Terrie's Comments:

Paul's letters always end on a very personal note.  Often he addresses friends by name.  In the midst of closing this letter Paul has some great nuggets for us to learn from and stand on.

We can learn to be content no matter what... because... we can do all things through Christ who gives us our strength.

And God will supply all of our needs.  This is not long after he tells us not to worry.  

It has been a blast going through Philippians!  It has lifted my spirit and bolstered my faith (as time in God's word always does :-))







Our last day of another great challenge!  Congratulations :-)  I know I have benefited greatly from the daily discipline of blogging and spending time contemplating God's word.  Allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to me through the scriptures.  I trust that y'all are getting as much out of the Christ Capp Challenges as I know Tori and I are!


Tori's Comments:

The secret of living... you can just hear everyone lean forward in their chairs, eager to hear something that will blow their mind and put to death any survival show ever... wait, Christ?

That's the big secret?!

It's bigger than I could possibly imagine, a story written from before the start of creation. And it keeps me overflowing with love and joy and peace and all of the things. It suddenly doesn't matter what's going on around me, I'm free from that!





Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 9 - Philippians 4:1-9

1 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work.

2 Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. 3 And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.

4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.


Tori's Comments:

That he considers these people his reward for hard work... are there any people in my life whom I feel the same about? That I put so much prayer and love towards?

Why should I let go of an argument? Because I'm wrong? No, because I belong to the Lord. Unity of the church is not just for us but for the glory of God! We seem to think that because it's our argument, we should be allowed to do with it what we want, but the Scripture says that WHATEVER we do, we do for the glory of God.


Terrie's Comments:

WOW so many gems in this package today!  It's like Christmas... let's start unwrapping :-) 

First gift I see is the Joy we can have when we see those we are running the race with doing well.  Paul refers to it as a Joy and a Crown he received for his work with the churches.

Second gift I see is unity and peace in the body.  Again we see Paul encouraging unity in the body of Christ and to settle any disagreements we have between us and other believers.

Third gift I see is Joy!  We are to live our lives full of Joy in the Lord and Rejoicing because of all He has given to us!

Forth gift I see is that the Lord is coming soon... we will not have earthly struggles forever!  

Fifth gift is AWESOME!  The gift of Peace that passes all understanding, which guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus!  This gift however requires action on our behalf to make good use of it... Go back and re read the passage (v 6-7)  Did you see it?  DO NOT WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING!!!!!!  Instead of worrying we are suppose to PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING.  Tell God what you need and thank Him for what He has done.... THEN the peace of God will Guard your heart and mind in Jesus!  When we notice ourselves worrying WE need to decide to stop and pray about it and thank God that it is taken care of.  Pray until peace comes... the more you practice this the easier it will be to rest in that place of peace.

Sixth gift is God's presence.  He promises to be with us as we fix our thoughts on heavenly things.  











Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 8 - Philippians 3:12-21

12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

15 Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. 16 But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.

17 Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. 18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. 20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.


Terrie's Comments:

Paul's focus was on one thing... His future in Heaven!  This is a theme that runs through many of his letters to the churches.  This portion of Philippians is quoted often, and for good reason.  It would be a great passage to have tattooed on the inside of your eyelids (if that would work to help memorize scripture or to engrave it on our hearts...LOL).  It is a great reminder that we are not perfect but we are pressing forward.  We are not to dwell on the past.  We are to be pressing towards our future in Heaven.

It's been a while since we added a music video... Toby Mac fans here you go!  

Tori's Comments:

We are all works in progress, as are your brothers in sisters in Christ. Sometimes we forget this, and it ends up with us either comparing ourselves to others (despite us ALL being a piece of work) and feeling ashamed of our own lack of perfection or we assume everyone else should be at the same place you are in your walk with God. Each of these things involves us taking our eyes off of where we're headed. We should focus on a deeper relationship with God, first and foremost, remembering what's been done for us and who God has created us to be.

And who has He created us to be? His. He's created us to be His.





Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 6 - Philippians 2:19-30

19 If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. 20 I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. 21 All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. 22 But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. 23 I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. 24 And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon.

25 Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. 26 I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. 27 And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another.

28 So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you. 29 Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. 30 For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.


Terrie's Comments:

This passage speaks of the value of caring for mentors in the faith and having close friends who work with us as we are working for the Lord.  It feels better when we run together the race that has been set before us.


Tori's Comments:

"All the others" I'm unsure of who is being talked about here.

"fellow soldier" WOW, I love this wording. It makes sense, as we are in a spiritual battle.





Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 5 - Philippians 2:12-18

12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. 17 But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. 18 Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.


Tori's Comments:

"Work hard to show the results of your salvation"

 Though I see this in two parts, its entirety makes for a great resolution so close to the new year:

1) Work hard. Maybe it's just me as a college student, but sometimes procrastination overtakes me. I may just not feel like doing something, or suddenly realize that a few hours of Netflix sound good right about now. But everything we do, we do for the Lord. And a half-hearted attempt at writing a paper shortly before it's due is not for the Lord. I can easily forget I'm in a spiritual battle, and that Satan would looove for me to get off track or distracted rather than do my best at the work God has given me.

2) Show the results of your salvation. Working hard will glorify God, but this also makes me think of how we can see God's work in our lives. Anyone can work hard, but perhaps not whilst pouring out love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self control. We work for the Lord, and through that we are also occasionally privileged enough to be a witness, to share this amazing gift we've been given.

I got a little stuck at a specific part of the passage today, but it has definitely been something I've needed to hear.


Terrie's Comments:

God is working in me... that is a humbling thought... He is giving me the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.  It's not like he just gives us instructions and then leaves us helpless.  He actually remains with each of us working in and through us.  His Holy Spirit dwells in each one of us.

Our faithful service to God is an offering to God.  And we can rejoice as we respond to the Holy Spirit and follow God's voice in obedience.  Walking in unity and love towards everyone... especially towards fellow believers.  When we Faithfully serve God we will find joy in our service :-) 

I'm curious what has God asked you to do and has resulted in joy as you served Him faithfully?


Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 4 - Philippians 2:1-11

1 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? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

6 Though he was God,
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
7 Instead, 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.
9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
    and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.


Terrie's Comments:



Jesus Himself gave us this template to follow when He, even though He was God, didn't consider himself equal with God.  He humbled Himself so that we could be saved!



Tori's Comments:

The first verse itself shows me things I should see in my own life: encouragement and comfort from my personal time with Christ that fills me throughout the day, a tenderness and compassion towards others both in and out of the church, and a unity and love between the body of Christ.

Verse 3 immediately makes me think of people-pleasing, something I wrote a post on and have recently worked through. Oh, to be free in Christ!

The humility that Jesus displayed is dumbfounding. I can't even comprehend how our King and Savior could bend down and wash his disciples' feet, or take beatings for me. How even when He was tired and wanted to get alone with His Father, he would still be overtaken by compassion for the crowds of people and would wring out every last bit energy from His body. For us. 

And if the One who was there when the stars were hung in the sky could be so selfless, so humble.... why can't I even bother to think about someone else before myself for once?




Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 3 - Philippians 1:27-30

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. 28 Don’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. 29 For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. 30 We 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.


Tori's Comments:

I notice with all of the patriotism about that we sometimes forget that we are first and foremost citizens of heaven. That even the most bountiful country will fade, but God's Kingdom is eternal. That from a Christian's perspective, you don't see your brother or sister's nationality but the Holy Spirit living inside of them. Even rulers or presidents are short-lived, and ultimately, we serve a higher King.


Terrie's Comments: 

Two things I notice in this passage - Unity and Confidence

Paul encourages us to be unified together with Christ and with each other as the body of Christ.  We are to fight together for the faith.  It is our unity in one spirit and one purpose that makes this possible.

And to have confidence in God that he will save us from our enemies.  

The unity that Paul encourages in the body is so vibrant in his letters.  It is something that the body of Christ today so desperately needs to learn.  It is our unity in one spirit and one purpose that makes this possible.  


Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 2 - Philippians 1:12-26

12 And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. 13 For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. 14 And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.

15 It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. 16 They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. 17 Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. 18 But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. 19 For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance.

20 For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. 21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.

25 Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith. 26 And when I come to you again, you will have even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus because of what he is doing through me.


Terrie's Comments:
Have you ever had the thought "does it even matter if I pray?"  In verse 19 Paul talks about knowing that as the body in Philippi prayed for him the Spirit of Jesus helped him and led to his deliverance.  Prayer is powerful.  I think most of the time I don't remember how powerful my prayers are.  

Paul had a confidence in Christ that was unshakable and one to be learned from.  He had ONE focus in his life... to bring honor to Jesus Christ!  His heart was for the body of Christ and for those who were not yet believers.  He knew that he had purpose and that is what drove his life daily.  

The balance between living or dying was a matter of what Jesus wanted Paul to do.  It was not a self focused dilemma for him.  I know that there have been times that I have wrestled with similar thoughts to what Paul talks about in verse 20-25 and have come to the same conclusion that he did...

" 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.


25 Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith."

There is no better feeling than to be a part of seeing people grow in their faith and to know that God used you to help encourage them in their journey.  Our work here on earth as ambassadors for Jesus Christ is far from over!



Tori's Comments:

This passage makes for an interesting comparison of my life. Do I speak of the gospel boldly and without fear? Do I seek to honor God with my life daily?

Even more, is there any hint of shame in me at the thought of telling someone what God has done in my life? That would easily be identified as something not from God.

The people needed help to "experience the joy of your faith". Am I experiencing that now? Do I keep in mind the freedom I've been given and what's been done for me, or do I let things block my light? 


Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Welcome to 2017 and Day 1 of Philippians 1:1-11!!

1 This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus.

I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the church leaders and deacons.

2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

7 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. 8 God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.

9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. 11 May 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.


Tori's Comments:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Verse 6 kind of emphasizes the idea in my mind that we are all a "work in progress".

How often do I pray that I will overflow with love? Or for knowledge and understanding? I have noticed my prayers revolve around events I want to happen instead of humbly asking God to give me growth in the fruit of the Spirit. 


Terrie's Comments:

This is a great passage to begin 2017 off with, isn't it?  Paul and Timothy are writing a letter to "those who belong to Christ Jesus"  So many people spend their whole lives trying to find a place where they "belong".   We who have placed our faith in Jesus Christ belong to Him and His family.  

I can't help but notice Paul's love towards those who are part of the body of Christ.  He loves them deeply and desires that they grow in their relationship with Jesus.  However his confidence that they will continue to go deeper and live lives that bring glory and praise to God is not in the believers... His confidence lies in Jesus who works in the body.  When our confidence is in Jesus Christ and not in the people around us then our confidence will not be shaken... people will fail us but Jesus never will.

This is my prayer for our readers in 2017...


AMEN




Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!