Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in union with the Lord always! I will say it again: rejoice! 5 Let everyone see how reasonable and gentle you are. The Lord is near! 6 Don’t worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. 7 Then God’s shalom, passing all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with the Messiah Yeshua. 8 In conclusion, brothers, focus your thoughts on what is true, noble, righteous, pure, lovable or admirable, on some virtue or on something praiseworthy. 9 Keep doing what you have learned and received from me, what you have heard and seen me doing; then the God who gives shalom will be with you.
-------
Do you want a good life? From a Roman prison cell (cf. Philippians 1:13-14), the apostle Paul bore radiant witness to the quality of life God offers us. As we hand over our anxieties to God in prayer, he said God’s peace, purity and contentment flow in and through us, no matter what our situation. If we have any question about whether the apostle believed he had had a good life, we can read what he wrote to his young friend Timothy, again from a prison cell: “I have
fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. At last the champion’s wreath that is awarded for righteousness is waiting for me” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
• Paul connected our ability to live a good life, filled with God’s peace and joy, with the mental “diet” we choose. Like a spiritual nutritionist, he advised, “If anything is excellent and if anything is admirable, focus your thoughts on these things: all that is true, all that is holy, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is lovely, and all that is worthy of praise” (verse 8).
With reality TV, tabloids reporting who was seen with someone they weren’t supposed to be with, negative political ads and celebrity tweets seemingly everywhere, does that strike
you as naïve, idealistic and impossible to follow? Or might it hold a key to helping you live with more peace and a stronger connection with God?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, remind me to bring my anxieties to you, not to my well-worn escape
mechanisms. Focus my thoughts on all that is true, holy, just, pure, lovely and worthy of
praise. Amen.
Family Activity: Gather or create the following: play money, pictures of items a child might want to buy (toys, vacation, junk food) and pictures of ways to give (missionary, charity, church). Assign a pretend purchase price to each of the items. Pass out play money, giving each family member different amounts. Show your family members their choices of items to buy and ways to give. Invite your family to spend their play money however they would like by
purchasing the items on pictures or giving to the places/people in need. After each person has spent their money, discuss the choices people made. Discuss the importance of a God-given life mission for each person, and for you as a family. Ask God to help you each pursue a truly good life.
-------
Insights from Chris Folmsbee
-------
Do you want a good life? From a Roman prison cell (cf. Philippians 1:13-14), the apostle Paul bore radiant witness to the quality of life God offers us. As we hand over our anxieties to God in prayer, he said God’s peace, purity and contentment flow in and through us, no matter what our situation. If we have any question about whether the apostle believed he had had a good life, we can read what he wrote to his young friend Timothy, again from a prison cell: “I have
fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. At last the champion’s wreath that is awarded for righteousness is waiting for me” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
• Paul connected our ability to live a good life, filled with God’s peace and joy, with the mental “diet” we choose. Like a spiritual nutritionist, he advised, “If anything is excellent and if anything is admirable, focus your thoughts on these things: all that is true, all that is holy, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is lovely, and all that is worthy of praise” (verse 8).
With reality TV, tabloids reporting who was seen with someone they weren’t supposed to be with, negative political ads and celebrity tweets seemingly everywhere, does that strike
you as naïve, idealistic and impossible to follow? Or might it hold a key to helping you live with more peace and a stronger connection with God?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, remind me to bring my anxieties to you, not to my well-worn escape
mechanisms. Focus my thoughts on all that is true, holy, just, pure, lovely and worthy of
praise. Amen.
Family Activity: Gather or create the following: play money, pictures of items a child might want to buy (toys, vacation, junk food) and pictures of ways to give (missionary, charity, church). Assign a pretend purchase price to each of the items. Pass out play money, giving each family member different amounts. Show your family members their choices of items to buy and ways to give. Invite your family to spend their play money however they would like by
purchasing the items on pictures or giving to the places/people in need. After each person has spent their money, discuss the choices people made. Discuss the importance of a God-given life mission for each person, and for you as a family. Ask God to help you each pursue a truly good life.
-------
Insights from Chris Folmsbee
Chris Folmsbee is Resurrection’s Director of Discipleship Ministries. He is the author of several books and has an extensive background in applying principles of spiritual growth to real life. He, his wife Gina and their family have been attending Resurrection since 2008.“I hope so.” Three words we often use to indicate a resilient desire for a positive outcome. For example, “Will the Royals be back in the playoffs next year?” “I hope so.” “Will this fantastic weather remain so that we can enjoy autumn longer?” “I hope so.” “Will the stock market continue to remain stable and strong?” “I hope so.” You get the point.
To bring it closer to home, however…“Will I be able to overcome my addictive behavior?” “Is there a way out of the mess I have created?” “Will this pain and grief ever go away?” “Is there ever going to be peace in this world?” “I hope so.”
For Christians, it is not a stretch to think that we can answer the above questions, and questions like them, with more than a worn-out “I hope so.” Christians can confidently say, with fresh enthusiasm, “I know so.”
When we are “glad” and live as though the Lord is “near,” as today’s Scripture reading suggests, we do so reflecting on the truth found a page or two earlier in Philippians 3. We find in 3:20-21 that the reason for Paul’s exhortation to be glad, generous and grateful and to ultimately be at peace with a contented awareness of being reconciled to God, is that hope is 100% real as evidenced in the life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus.
The reason we can say, “I know so” and “be glad always” to all our challenges, trials, pain, grief, confusion, or angst is simple. One day, because of our reconciliation with God through Jesus, we will experience the glory of God in heaven. “I know so” means, “I believe in everlasting, heavenly life – a life in Jesus Christ our Savior that surpasses any earthly concern or worry.”
Rejoice and be glad this day, for you are able to say with passion and confidence, “I know so.”-------
Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer
Prayers for Peace & Comfort for:
• Eileen Markley and family on the death of her brother Gerry Cromwell, 10/1
• Jerry Lesjack and family on the death of his brother-in-law Bill Koresky, 10/1
• Van Torian and family on the death of his mother Joan Torian, 9/27
• Libby Hawkins and family on the death of her father Gene Bowling, 9/26
• Joy Wheeler and family on the death of her mother Beebs Downing Wheeler, 9/25
• Page Campbell and family on the death of her sister D’Arlene Aldrich, 9/24
• Charlene Perry and family on the death of her mother Marcella Karel, 9/17
• Carolyn Barnette and family on the death of her brother-in-law Martain “Keith” Croft, 8/24
-------
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
913.897.0120
-------
No comments:
Post a Comment