Category: Philippians Series

Helpful Hints

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Hi Peeps,

 

Today’s Quote

“Stop saying how hard it is doing good work, instead of saying look how much fun it is when you have completed the hard work with excellent quality. ~ Jon Barnes

 

Personal

Your quality of work is personal between you and God, with no place to hide.  Match your focus with God’s intentions and you will find success and happiness.  Focus your attention on money, fame, power, and fortune to find failure and emptiness.  This is a personal choice and I’m happy with what you choose for yourself.

Hard Choice

It is hard for me to be lazy and not do a Good Job, as if God is still in the room watching me practice, study, read, pray, play, work, or think.   My mind keeps God close in the Room, the devil is nowhere to be found!  When I turn on my TV, that is a whole different story.  As a result, I turn on the TV sparingly, as needed.  That struggle is real, so I just turn it off!

Easy Choice

Life is so much easier when I just do the Good Work and allow God to help, lead, and guide my day with excellence.  I come up with the best ideas, while helping, mentoring, and coaching others to fight off evil vibes. Let us not get stuck in the mud with negative talk, irrelevant questions, and lazy thinking.  Act out the right choices with God’s patience and practices.


Today’s Question

Do you enjoy the Helpful Hints of others, when God is trying to communicate with you or are you stuck in the mud of your past ignoring today’s assignments, goals, and focus?

Enjoy today’s reading.

Philippians 4

Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity

4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!
2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Final Exhortations

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, 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. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Thanks for Their Gifts

10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. 17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

21 Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings. 22 All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.[a]
Love,
 
Jonathan

The Pill

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Hi Peeps,

Today’s Quote

“We create our Storms of Uncertainty in our lives when we do not depend on God to understand His Plan to use natural solutions to normal problem; rather than randomly popping pills and drugs for quick unnatural energy and solutions.” Jon Barnes

Daily Stress

We tend to feed daily stress with fatty foods, sugar, coffee for breakfast, and greasy foods for lunch and dinner, which smells like it in the bathrooms on our jobs. The fast-paced, quick fix and fake foods we eat are taking a toll on our ability to think clearly and function properly. Lack of exercise and motivation feeds into our empty stomach that looks so bloated with the pregnancy of emptiness.

Emptiness

Stress is an empty, colorless, odorless, mindless process that we become entrapped by when we do not believe that God is in control of our lives, as we make our own crazy plans, pop pills, and eat junk food. God teaches us how to eat well, feel better, exercise faith, practice love, and show compassion so that our bodies and minds become full of Good nutrients and biochemicals for our minds to obey God’s lifestyle. Exercise with God’s mindset to build a better you.

Fullness

It is better to operate on an empty stomach, full of God’s Will than to be full of deceit and disobedience. God will surely feed you and reward your Good hard work and give you ideas that make sense, without pills, additives, preservatives, sugars, caffeine, and other harmful chemicals that clog up your neural pathways to God’s thinking and ways. Consult God and your Doctor to learn how to take better care of yourself to minimize your exposure to unwanted chemicals, pills, bad foods, and ideas. Stay full of God and His wisdom of love, mercy, and grace!

Today’s Question

Are you eating anything that is put on your plate and following the crowd to the edge of the grave with stress, bad food, misguided thoughts, and drugs?

Enjoy the reading

Philippians 3

No Confidence in the Flesh

3 Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh.3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Following Paul’s Example

15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Love,

Jonathan

The Edge

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Hi Peeps,

Today’s Quote

“I prefer not to walk close to the edge of the cliff in life so that I may get back up from the unexpected winds that will blow your way.”  ~ Jon Barnes

The Pusher

Just like a drug dealer or some other evil business person, you can see and smell them coming but you cannot see the wind of activity that they are ready to use to push you over the edge.  The pusher means you harm in a friendly way at first until you are hooked on what they are pushing.  There are many types of pushers.

The Pimp

Slavery and prostitution are cousins of exploitation that use cheap labor, gambling, food, drugs, money, ignorance, and fear to administer the business plan of evil. Extreme capitalism of greed is the mother of this evil, with the devil being the father of lies that fuels the stories. Put your game face on and fight for your freedom in God.

The Storm

Many of us are too close to the edge of the cliff and when we stumble, we expect God to fly down like an eagle to rescue us all the time. We make no room for the storm of uncertainty, which blows in all directions at any given time. As a result, we tend to treat God like a pusher, pimp, or prostitute who is enslaved by our evil business plans. Twisted thinking is always on the edge of disaster, based on evil motives and intent.
Today’s Question
Are you certain that you are praying, fasting, reading, learning, following, and doing the Good Work with God?
Enjoy the reading

Philippians 2

Imitating Christ’s Humility

2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

Do Everything Without Grumbling

12 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, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[c] Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24 And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.

Love,

Jonathan

You know

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Hi Peeps,
Today’s Quote
“You know better, so there is just no point in doing evil things to people since God is recording your every move and will reward you  accordingly.” ~ Jon Barnes

Better You

It feels great to be content with the success of your own work and the quality of love that you give to all people.  Your family, friends, co-workers, and enemies are inspired by your resolve and commitment.  Your personal church is being judged every day with every word you say, how you spend your time, money, and charity. Nothing is hidden from God.

Better Me

I continue to learn from my students, family, friends, co-workers, and enemies so that my love is honest, genuine, and true to God and you. As I improve and grow in grace, mercy, and faith, my focus on humility and fairness must stay right in front of my nose.

Better Us

We are so much better at helping each other in good times and in bad times.  We don’t have to compete to become complete human beings. There is enough green grass for all of us to enjoy!  Bless God for helping us to work together and become better people of love.
Today’s Question
How does it feel to be a better you with God in your life?
Enjoy Today’s Reading.

Philippians 1

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons[a]:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Paul’s Chains Advance the Gospel

12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,[b] that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard[c] and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.[d] 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body,whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

Life Worthy of the Gospel

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit,[e] striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

Love,

Jonathan