Mother's Day 2020

Some days Quarantine felt a lot like prison

Happy mother’s day! This is my first mother’s day without my mom present with me on earth.

I am thankful she is healed and has recieved her heavenly body.

Open to Philippians 4

Paul is writing to the church at Philippi from prison.

I don’t know about you but some days in quarantine felt a little bit like prison. It is so good to be back together as a body of believers worshipping together the King of kings and Lord of lords.

It is a little bit of an exaggeration to compare my sufferings with what Paul was facing, but you get my point.

Let me share a couple of my days with you.

The night before Bathtub

Finding the plumbing snake in the dark

Next day plunging

Church van battery dying

Colten calling me from menards about the microwave

The other was Monday of this week

It was the day of my mom’s funeral visitation. Amy got us all packed for the visitation Monday night and the funeral Tuesday. For a family of 5 this is a lot of packing for two formal events.

We went and got our haircuts and could only go in one at a time. So we sit in the car from 9-11:30 getting haircuts.

Kids were watching movies as I was writing my moms funeral sermon.

We left there and decided the girls would make a stop in Springfield and Colten and I would take the car and go on.

Marshfield hail

Car crash

Checking in to the hotel

losing power and High winds

Dad’s business

Trying to get to dad

Changing and getting to the visitation 15 min late.

I hope your quarantine was not as exciting as mine was some days.

If any one had an excuse to worry it was the Apostle Paul. He is in prison. He does not have the luxury prison with TV and food and all the things a modern day prison would have.

He is chained to a Roman soldier day and night.

He writes this beautiful letter inspired by the Holy Spirit here in Philippians 4

Philippians 4:1 HCSB

1 So then, my brothers, you are dearly loved and longed for—my joy and crown. In this manner stand firm in the Lord, dear friends.

He considers his brothers that he is writing too in Philippi as his joy and crown.

The image here is that of the runner’s wreath or victor’s crown.

You church at Philippi, you are my trophy, you the people are my prized possession.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 4:1

These saints were to their spiritual father what victory wreaths were to runners in the Greek races.

He says to them stand firm

Philippians 4:2–3 HCSB

2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I also ask you, true partner, to help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the book of life.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 4:2

Euodia and Syntyche, did not live up to the meanings of their names. “Euodia” means a “prosperous journey.” “Syntyche” means a “pleasant acquaintance.”

He urges them to agree in the Lord.

Mother’s I bet at some time in quarantine you could have penned this letter to your children. I urge my children to agree in the Lord.

Please Lord tell my kids to stop fighting.

These women at one time contended at Paul’s side in the cause of the gospel. Paul pleads and says please help these women get along.

Philippians 4:4–5 HCSB

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 4:4

Sometimes the trials and pressures of life make it almost impossible to be happy. But Paul did not tell his readers to be happy. He encouraged them to rejoice in the Lord

Christ is the One in whom we are to rejoice in. There are many circumstances as Christians that we can’t be happy in, but the Christians can always rejoice in the Lord and delight in Him.

Paul is tied to a Roman soldier in prison and he writes to this church that some ladies are quarreling in and say to them rejoice and I will say it again rejoice!

v.5 Let you graciousness or gentleness be known to everyone.

Gentleness is forbearing with someone or a non retaliatory spirit. A spirit that does not retaliate.

Philippians 4:6–7 HCSB

6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

What is worry?

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Ten: You Don’t Have to Worry! (Philippians 4:1–9)

The Greek word translated “anxious” (careful) in Philippians 4:6 means “to be pulled in different directions.” Our hopes pull us in one direction; our fears pull us the opposite direction; and we are pulled apart! The Old English root from which we get our word “worry” means “to strangle.” If you have ever really worried, you know how it does strangle a person! In fact, worry has definite physical consequences: headaches, neck pains, ulcers, even back pains. Worry affects our thinking, our digestion, and even our coordination.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Ten: You Don’t Have to Worry! (Philippians 4:1–9)

From the spiritual point of view, worry is wrong thinking (the mind) and wrong feeling (the heart) about circumstances, people, and things. Worry is the greatest thief of joy.

Worry eliminates trust in God

Paul encourages a solution to worry here in Philippians 4. He tells them to pray.

4 words are used here for prayer

Prayer: Describes a believer’s approach to God

Petition: Emphasizes requesting an answer to a specific need

Thanksgiving: is an attitude of the heart which should always accompany one’s prayer

Requests: Speak of definite and specific things asked for.

The peace of God will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus

The word Guard translates a military term which means “to protect or garrison by guarding”

Trip to Venezuela being guarded by our bus driver

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 4:6–7

Like soldiers assigned to watch over a certain area, God’s peace garrisons the hearts and … minds, that is, the emotions and thoughts, of God’s children.

Philippians 4:8–9 HCSB

8 Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things. 9 Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

True:

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Ten: You Don’t Have to Worry! (Philippians 4:1–9)

Dr. Walter Cavert reported a survey on worry that indicated that only 8 percent of the things people worried about were legitimate matters of concern! The other 92 percent were either imaginary, never happened, or involved matters over which the people had no control anyway

Truth was when the van would not start I called Jeremy at BAT Boys and he came immediately to get me going in the rain. Plus when I picked up the church van their was not a charge for the work that had been done because it would not shut off.

Truth on the day of my moms visitation my family was first in line for haircuts and I went to pay and the lady that cuts our hair said no charge. Let this be a blessing to you.

In the middle of chaos, think about truth.

Honorable:

This means that which is worthy of respect. If it is not worthy of respect, then Christians should not think about these things.

Just or right

refers to conformity to God’s standards. Think about what conforms to the standards of God. Think on these things.

Pure

What is wholesome and not mixed with moral impurity

Lovely

What promotes pease rather than conflict

Commendable

positive and constructive rather than negative and destructive

Moral excellence and praise

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Ten: You Don’t Have to Worry! (Philippians 4:1–9)

If it has virtue, it will motivate us to do better; and if it has praise, it is worth commending to others. No Christian can afford to waste “mind power” on thoughts that tear him down or that would tear others down if these thoughts were shared.