Philippians 4

"Finally, brothers, 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."

What do you think about? I don't know about you but what I think about how a huge influence on my emotions and how I feel. I choose the things upon which I dwell.

What type of entertainment do you watch? With children we are concerned about what television shows or movies they watch. We rate shows as for their appropriateness. We protect our children. Why do we think as adults anything is fine? As we pour those images and stories into our lives do we ever consider how such entertainments shapes our minds? How we dwell on such images? Paul certainly would have much higher hopes for me.

Philippians 3

"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God called me heavenward in Christ Jesus"

Did you ever think about your spiritual life in terms of a goal? Paul certainly does. He understands that his life is centered in spirituality. His goal in life is to live out his faith as he has been called by Christ. What is your goal?

Philippians 2

Philippians 1

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

Paul makes it clear that his life is centered on Jesus. As long as he is alive he is following Jesus. In death, he will be with Christ. Either in life or in death, he is about following Jesus.

Galatians 6

"If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day is out." (The Message)

Paul brings his book to close with a series of statements on how to live the life of faith. This is the line that struck me. I might be frustrated with the actions of another person, but I need to be careful. In the the coming moments I may need the same forgiveness I am offering the person. I am very aware the temptation to want others to always forgive me, while being slow to forgive others.

Galatians 5

Galatians 5:23 But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

This was one of the first scripture passages I memorized. It is an amazing verse. Consider what it says about the type of life that God wants for us. The greatest experiences in life are summed up as the fruit that God's spirit will bring to our lives.

Galatians 4

"Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman."

Paul continues on the theme of grace and law in this chapter. God has given us grace, called us to be his children. With that adoption comes the rights and privileges of being God's child. Yet, the people continued to go back to the law and the slavery of the law.

The irony for us is the only religious law we have to deal with is our own legalism. We forget that God calls us into relationship, not a list of rules.

Galatians 3

Salvation is a gift from God. The struggle that Paul deals with in Ephesians 3 is that we want to make salvation about our efforts. Instead of receiving the gift of grace, we want to try to earn it by following the law or creating our own structure. It is simply not possible. Grace and salvation are a gift from God.

Galatians 2

The early church struggled with whether a person had to become a Jew first to be a Christian. In this chapter we capture a glimpse of this struggle. Paul felt he was called to preach to the Gentiles. He was part of the leadership that understood that a person did not have to become a Jew first. Yet, there was strong push back on this decision. The push back was strong enough that it influenced Peter. Thus Paul speaks of his confrontation with Peter over his wavering on this issue.

This issue has not been an issue in the church for a very long time. However, the struggle to remain strong in your belief when others are pushing back on you is a current day issue. It is difficult to stand firm in what you believe when others are pushing on you.

Galatians 1

Erma Hollingsworth died last week. I thought of her in reading this passage. Erma kept up with all the newest ideas in popular Christian theology. I am referring to those books about the faith that become best sellers. But what she would do is read them, then compare the ideas presented in the books to her beliefs that she had held for years. She didn't just accept a new idea because it sounded good, she reflected and compared the new idea.

Paul is upset with the Galatians because they have simply chased new gospels. They have abandoned what they were taught to chase something new. He wants them to do the very thing Erma did. Evaluate, judge and then decide.

Ephesians 6

As Paul concludes his letter to the Ephesians he writes that our real struggle in life is a spiritual one. The struggle is against the evil spiritual forces of this world. He writes that God has given us the tools of truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and prayer to deal with this struggle. He calls us to put this on to be able to deal with the daily struggle.

Ephesians 5

This is how "The Message" translates verses 1-2

"Watch what God does, and then do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that."

Ephesians 4

"In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry."

Don recently shared with me that this verse has been a guiding force in his life. He uses this verse as guidance for how to deal with not only anger, but all negative emotions in life. When any negative emotion come upon him, he quotes this verse to himself, putting the name of the emotion in the place of anger. This practise has helped him learn to deal immediately with the negative emotions of life.

Ephesians 3

"through the church"

Paul understands that it is God's intention to work through the church. I don't believe God is speaking of the institution, for the church was not old enough at the point Paul wrote this to be a large institution with a great deal of structure. I believe that Paul is referring to the gathering of people. As the church has grown over the centuries God does work through the institution but I believe that God's intention is to work through the people. God does not work exclusively through the church, but that is the way God usually works.

Ephesians 2

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God - not by works so that no one may boast."

This verse is a tremendous summary of God's work for us. Grace is God's gift. I don't earn grace. I don't deserve grace. Grace is what God gives to me. Grace is God's way of salvation for us.

Grace is what distinguishes Christianity from the other religions of the world. Virtually every other religion requires the person to do something to earn or deserve relationship with God. Christianity is the only religion in which relationship with God comes as a gift.

Ephesians 1

"And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him him to be head over everything for the church"

The church is the community for Christians. The bible knows nothing of Christians who are not part of the church. As people of faith we are to live in community together. As a community we are to do the work of God. Yet, we not in charge of the church. Jesus is. Jesus is our leader and we are to follow his direction.

Acts 28: 7-10

Publius welcomed the stranger Paul into his home.

Hospitality is a special gift. In practicing hospitality we are expressing our Christian faith for we are acting on the basis of the needs of another person. We are loving our neighbor as ourself. Some seem to practice hospitality naturally. For the rest of us it becomes an intentional act in which we consider the needs of the other person. We open our lives to help the other feel welcome and at home.

Luke 2: 8-20

Shepherds, angels, a manger, in a strange town, the birth of her child....a lot is going on in Mary's life. In the midst of all this the passage says, "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." She reflects on her life.

Reflecting on our lives is not in fashion at the moment. Reflecting takes times, there is not instant gratification but it helps us sort through what has meaning and value. It is well worth the time to spend a few moments pondering your life.

Psalm 100

"On your feet now -- applaud your God!" This is the way the "Message" translates verse one. Several images came to mind as I read this passage. One was being at a football game and the crowd raising to their feet in excitement to cheer the team. The other was being at a concert and the crowd raising to their feet to show appreciation for the performance. I doubt that the Psalmist had either of those images in mind but there is no doubt that he is calling us to express our thanksgiving to God for all that God has done for us.

2 Kings 4: 8-17

Elisha responds to the generosity of the women by giving her the gift of a child. Women in the ancient world we defined by their children. For this woman, it was the perfect gift. A gift she never expected. She was just being kind to the prophet, she wasn't acting in hopes of receiving in return.

How do you receive gifts? Some struggle with gifts, thinking that somehow they haven't deserved the gift. But a gift is not about what we deserve. A gift is given in love, not because of effort. The gift of grace that God gives to us is never about our effort. Grace is always about God's love.

2 Samuel 9: 1-13

Mephibosheth had everything going against him. He was Saul's grandson. (Saul was the terrible King that had attempted to kill David on numerous occasions. David had ultimately conquered Saul.) He was lame in both feet. He thought he was a dead dog. The one thing he had going for him was he was Jonathan's son. (David and Jonathan had been great friends.)

In honor of his friendship with Jonathan, David restores all that Saul had to Mephibosheth. What an amazing gift in honor of his friend. Yet maybe more than an amazing gift it shows the recognition of the importance of a very good friend. What about your friendships? How valuable are they to you? How have they blessed your life?