Philippians Study Starts

1/09/09-

Our study of Philippians officially started on Sunday. I joined a class that is a round table discussion. There were three men and two other women at my table and I didn’t have much to add to the conversation. The teachers, Jerry Morgan and Bob Bennett, provided some excellent questions that I have been thinking about this week. After I write this, I need to read Philippians 1:12-30 and do some journaling. First of all, though, Brian, our preacher (read his blog sometime-he is very interesting), began our study by focusing on 1:9-11. He reviewed in detail the desire of Paul’s heart of the church at Philippi and stated numerous times that this was the same desire he had for our church at Southwest-love always increasing, love abounding in knowledge, and love in depth of insight. The thing I took away from his sermon was that the result of these things led to discernment, purity and being filled righteousness. I loved what Brian had to say about figuring out what qualities fit into righteousness. It was so simple-he said to look at what qualities we want our kids to have when everything else is stripped away and that is a pretty good guide. Once again, if we only kept the faith and heart child, it would be easier to enter into the gates of heaven. In our class, one question that again penetrated my heart was “how do I need to live so that others might pray for me with joy and thanksgiving?” I guess the question was not the hard part; it was the answer that I didn’t really like because it convicts me that I don’t live my life in a very Christ like way. The answer that came to mind is that I need to be gentle, humble, loving and kind. Again, I have many reasons on this earth not to be gentle or kind. That is when I must stop my worldly thinking and consider what has been done for me. Due to Christ’s love for me, I have no reason what so ever to be anything but gentle, humble, loving and kind. It boils down to, I need to get over myself and realize to whom I belong. I get so caught up in the everyday business of living, teaching, disciplining and working that I forget the real reason Jason and I followed the call into houseparenting. We are not in this work to look good others, to feel good about ourselves and really we are not even in this work to make ever kid we come in contact with a Christian. We are in this work to bring glory and praise to the only One to ever deserve it! It is His work- He started it and it is His work- He will complete. I really don’t have to do much besides live and rest in that promise. If I do that, God will be glorified and I will have done my “job” well.