Some Philippians thoughts . . . 

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.     Words to live by from Philippians 1:  [I am] confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  >For whom are you praying?  Have they ‘love their first love of Jesus Christ’? Do not lose heart, my dear friends.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.   For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.  >Either way, I win. 

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. >Note to self:  is my conduct worthy of Jesus?

Words to live by from Philippians 2:                                                                If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ,  if any comfort from his love,                                                                                                              if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,                                                                                                       then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love,                                                                                                                          being one in spirit and purpose.  >Unity in the body of Christ is imperative! The world is watching.                       Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. >Consider the feelings of others first.

 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  >humble!

 Who, being in very nature God, ?did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, ?but made himself nothing, ? taking the very nature of a servant, ?being made in human likeness. ? And being found in appearance as a man, ? he humbled himself ?and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!

?Therefore God exalted him to the highest place ?and gave him the name that is above every name, ?that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, ?in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ?and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, ?to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and  to act according to his good purpose.  >Press in … press on—discipline yourself to pursue what it means to honor Christ, what it means to be transformed; and then, participate with the Holy Spirit within you—as you morph into a more Christ-like person.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, >Wow!  This is what Paul highlights to indicate that we are becoming pure Christians?  You mean there is that much wrong with complaining and arguing?  Hmmm . . . I think this might take us back to pursuing humility, maintaining unity, and thinking of others’ feelings before our own.

…so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe . . .

'Thankful for Paul's relationship with the Philippians, 'thankful that he wrote to them, 'thankful that I can glean from the table.

Grace and Peace,

Christine