Forever n Ever n Always

Last night Scott finished up teaching Philippians. I took notes. Many. I came to hear from God. I needed to be there and listening. I want to see the change in my life that I trust God wants me to welcome! This year not only do I want to learn about God but I want to know who He is and allow that to shape everything I do. I want to think like Paul more and more and more. Especially during times of trials and learn to be content no matter what is going on in my life - rejoicing all the while because I trust in God's love for me.

I want to stop putting limits on God. Because you see when we really understand who He is and what He is doing in and through our lives - we will stop trying to think of Him like us. He is NOT human...yes Jesus the Son of God took on humanity. But that doesn't change He was and is God. There are no limits on God. He can do the impossible. His grace is sufficient. Paul depended upon it and by it was able to withstand being imprisoned by Ceasar Nero for two years - whipped, beaten and chained. He was able to go without anything and never knowing if he would have again because God's grace was sufficient for him. Paul learned the secret of contentment - trusting in God. Because whether or not Paul had anything or was out of jail didn't matter to him - all that mattered was Christ and Christ alone.

Paul wasn't concerned about the how am I going to get out jail? How am I ever going to preach to the people in Philippe? How am I going to share what God sent me to do?

He trusted God to make the way for all of it. Meanwhile Paul bloomed where he was. Right there in that cell one man and guard at a time - the household of Ceasar came to believe. God put him there for a purpose - one Paul never knew or even realized - nor did he question. He simple trusted that God will get me out and until then I'm going to sing the praises of my God and Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul never asked God why? Why did you put me here? Why are you letting me be beaten? Why? Why? Why?

No, he simply prayed to receive the strength and power to do whatever it was God wanted him to do while imprisoned. Instead of why, he asked what can I do to bring glory to Your name Lord?

Paul never asked when is this going to end? When will You let me out of this prison?

No, he gave it all to God. Every detail. Leaving nothing out and watched God move mountains in and through him while locked up without his brothers and friends!

Doing ALL things without complaining or disputing. Philippians 2:14

Paul knew it was God's will for him to be there and it didn't matter how long or why - he just trusted that He who begun a good work in him will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. Phil. 1:6

Paul knew and trusted that it is God who works in you both to will and to do His good pleasure. Phil 2:13

Paul trusted and obeyed God without question. He was content and willing to bloom wherever God led him.

Paul knew that no matter what was going on - it was Christ's strength that would provide all the good needed in his life! He looked only to God to provide the good and never himself. He was content with whatever God gave him or took away.

He trusted when times of trouble came and they came often for Paul - that God would give him peace and would guard his heart and mind through Christ Jesus.

God created man for two things - to worship and serve Him. Or you could say trust and obey Him.

It is the same story from Genesis to Revelation. Trust and Obey. He asks us over and over again one thing:

Will you trust in Me to provide all that you need and the good in your life?

Will you obey Me when I ask you to do and go?

God's uses our life circumstances to sanctify us. And by the power of His spirit and the living Word we will be changed.

Right thinking brings upon right living. Follow Philippians 4:4-9

God will guard our hearts and minds - peace will be ours.
Bring everything to Him in prayer and trust God to do His will with it all. Don't come up with the answers - trust God to provide them.
Thank God for everything
Be content is Christ Jesus - He is enough - His grace is enough!

I was reminded of a verse I prayed over myself last year - Mark 9:24

"Lord, I believe, help me in my unbelief."

It is our unbelief that stops us from being content. It is our lack of trust. It is our lack of obeying God. It is our works of the flesh that stop us from the peace and grace of God. It is our unwillingness to lay down our lives for Jesus Christ.

I wrote down this question to myself last night during bible study and it is one I'm going to put up near my computer to remember to be content!

Who am I to believe I need more than what God has already given me?

That relates to every area of my life - as a wife, mother, sister, daughter, and friend. It relates to all that comes with that - adoption, homeschooling, cooking, cleaning, disciplining, laundry and the list goes on of what God is asking me to do without complaining.   It relates to our health and finances. It relates to work and ministry. It relates to everything.

Content with the amount of time I have alone. When my focus is on God and Jesus - them alone - desiring to walk in their way and bring them the glory - my wants will disappear!

Two weeks ago I made a note in Philippians during our study time - Matthew 5 - the Be Attitudes. All of what Paul is teaching throughout Philippians is living the blessed life!

How great is our God - that He has supplied us with everything we need according to HIS riches in glory by Christ Jesus?

Is that enough?

"Do all things without complaining and disputing...so that we may be found blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom we shine as lights in the world." Philippians 2:14-15

Worship and serve. Trust and Obey. Need encouragement to do this - read Romans 12:1-2 and again study the book of Hebrews with an open heart willing to hear all that God has for you TODAY! Hebrews 3:7-8

I'm giving away two more copies of this fabulous book. As I read it out loud to our children I often feel like my husband has written it. We are LOVING it and I know you and your children will too. Such wisdom inside this book :) All you have to do is comment here in this post before Friday at 6:00am. I will announce the winners then.

No matter what is going on in your life - how hard, lonely, scary...He is ABLE. His love and grace are enough! Come to Him with your full heart ready to trust and obey!