Rejoice

Philippians 4:4-8, focus on 4.

Paul encourages us to rejoice always. That Greek word for rejoice is an imperative- a command to rejoice and keep on rejoicing.  In order to do that we must look beyond our present situation - that is faith. We must repel negativity and attract positivity by being positive. That is why Paul gives the what we used to call ‘The whatsoevers’. 

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. “

That sums it up for positivity. Think about how God has kept you. That’s rejoicing right there. Think about how he has moved you into places that you could not imagine. Then think on the whatsoevers. That’s rejoicing right there! Enough for now.

God’s Not Done

Philippians 1:3-6 NIV

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

This is Paul’s joy letter. And it is encouraging to us to know that we are not yet done. That God’s work continues in us. Look back a few years ago. Can you see God’s progress in you? Sometimes others see it before we do. We are not yet done, there is great hope. We are still being molded into who we are. God continues to remove the caked on lies and false beliefs that has twisted our minds, and caused us to try to fix what hurts through our dysfunctional behaviors. The more he removes, the more we look like who we really are. He’s not done. enough for now.

Step Out

Luke 5:4b

“Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 

T was Simon call into ministry. Go back and read verses 1-6. What would have happened had Simon

Not complied with Jesus to take the boat? What would have happened had he not gone farther as Jesus instructed? Each time he had an opportunity to comply, to obey, and it got bigger and bigger. He went from fishing to fishing for mankind. 

We are offered opportunities to obey God. We don’t know what’s in store but it is always better than where we are. We are encouraged to get out of our comfort zone and to follow what God has. Step out and watch what God does. 

Happy Father’s Day to my son Marq,  my grandson Trey! Happy Father’s Day to all. enough for now.

In the Right Place

Acts 3:9,10

“All the people saw him walking and praising God, and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.” 

Go back and read 1-10. This is about the beggar at the gate and Peter had him to shift his focus on what he was to what he could be. And he walked. Two men, different stories, at the right place at the right time. 

Sometimes we don’t know what God has for us and we miss because our focus is on the wrong thing. We must watch and listen for all opportunities for what God has. Peter offered the lame man his ability to walk, and in that, to move from being a beggar by the gate. 

Don’t know what would have happened had the man not shifted his attention to Peter.- but he did. Oh, what can happen when we shift our focus from whatever to what God is doing in our life. We watch what God is doing. He puts us in the right place at the right time. 

My son graduated this week as a medical doctor. (Yeah God!) His journey was rough, it was tough, but look at what God did. He is that witness to what happens when you shift your focus. You shift from what is to what can be, watch he hat God is doing. enough for now.

Sing

Psalm 96:1–3 (NRSV): “O sing to the Lord a new song; 

sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples.”

There are three imperatives here: we are to praise, proclaim, and declare. We praise him, we proclaim his salvation (how he has delivered us), and we tell it.the thing about it is that it is a new song everyday. There is something different everyday. God is moving everyday. and if we miss it- we miss the opportunity of growing in him. 

God has given each of a reason to sing to him and it is new everyday- because his mercies to us are new everyday. That passage starts with ‘Oh’, and that ‘oh’ comes from a place of great depth- a place of knowing. That place of knowing that you know, that you know, that you know. And nobody can take that away from you. 

Sing! Go ahead- sing a new song. It’s your song! It’s your story wrapped up in God’s story. Won’t he do it? Yeees! Yeeess! Yes he will. enough for now.

 

Together

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!  It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. 

It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.”

God is big on unity among believers. David relates it to the precious anointing oil, which could never be duplicated. Gathering as believers is so important. Each time is different, each time holds something different. It should. 

Each time it is restorative as the dew on Mt Hermon. Mt Hermon is snow capped 2/3 times of the year. Even in the hot summer months. And that dew, the rain, the snow on Mt Hermon flows to the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River, and in to other outlets and emptying into the Dead Sea. 

We are restored in unity - God’s love flows to us, and overflows to others. Can you see how important that is?  We are restored, refreshed, nourished. enough for now. 

The Power

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Today is Pentecost. They were gathered together. Read Acts 2: 1-4. Yes, they heard the sound of a violent rushing wind, but there was no wind. Yes, they saw tongues of fire settling on each person, but they didn’t catch fire. They were gathered together. Together. They heard the sound together, they saw the fire that settled on each person. Oh come on . Holy Spirit is here and he is with personally. We know him collectively, but he guides us personally. 

It’s bigger than just speaking in other languages - no, we are empowered to witness. And there are no language barriers. There are no barriers. That day the disciples shared what they witnessed, what they felt. - in other languages. We tell our story.  

You know we feel when we get together as family. We always have great memories.  Can you even see the memories coming out of that? Come on, we too have those memories. We tell our story. Our actions tell our story that Holy Spirit guides. We are empowered to do what we do in his name. enough for now.