A New Year’s Blogging

I’ve wanted to blog more often, but time constraints have been hard to overcome because of the writing and research needed for most of my posts, as well as trying to find a photo or graphic that works with my words.  Sometimes after I’ve finished a series, it’s taken some time to decide what to […]

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A New Year’s New Mind

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of […]

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Connections

In the last half of Philippians 2 there are such wonderful examples of connections of love and friendship. Paul’s love is so evident in his joy in pouring himself out for them, and his high recommendation of Timothy speaks of his regard for both Timothy and the Philippians in sending to them someone he trusts […]

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Lights

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without […]

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Hallelujah!

When I was growing up we attended a church with a large music program, and I first sang in a choir as a young child.  Our minister of music frequently had us sing the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah during December.  The adult choir was at the front of the church behind the ministers, while […]

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Journey to Bethlehem

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son…. Galatians 4:4a God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son… Hebrews 1:1-2 God spoke through the prophet Malachi of a […]

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Having—Minding—Counting—Looking

In Philippians 2:1 Paul lays the foundation of these next three verses by describing the reality of God’s grace in the Philippians’ lives. Because of this reality, he tells the Philippians to  “make full (the measure of) my joy.” 2 make full (the measure of) my joy by being of the same mind, having the […]

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A Benchmark of Joy

In times past shoemakers marked out the measure of a person’s foot on their bench. This benchmarking determined the size of the shoe.1 When a surveyor made a mark at the correct height on a stone for his leveling rod, this was his benchmark.2 Benchmark has come to mean a standard for excellence—a mark by […]

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Grounds of Appeal

In the second chapter of his letter to the Philippians, Paul turns to writing to them about considering each other—serving each other—ministering to each other.  He lays the groundwork—the foundation—the irrefutable bedrock of ministry as he makes this appeal to them. Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of […]

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