Not ready for prime time

I want to share my journey this past week with you, and only you.

Philippians 4:1–7 NASB95

1 Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved. 2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord. 3 Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

V1 Paul loves the church at Philippi. “My joy and my crown”

V2-3 These two women have had a fight. They both brought pasta salad to the pot luck. Wore the same dress. Something has set these women against each other.

Paul is urging them to live in harmony.

It is important that they are women. In a male dominated society as was the case in this time, God chose to include in HIS Word, that the women should not be ignored, they are not second class Christians, that they are not only important, but vital to the spread of the kingdom.

“shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel.”

“Fellow workers”

“names in the book of life.”

It is in the Word

The fact that this is in there. Martye sometimes thinks I share too much. And I probably do. But Church is where we do life together. It is where we are real with one another.

Keith

I told Martye I didn’t want to speak at his funeral

Mom said that Keith wanted Bro Ed and me to preach his funeral.

Brother Ed couldn’t make it.

I was in the flesh.

I started preparing, and couldn’t make it two minutes.

My mother was dismissive. Even mocking.

If not me then who?

It’s not the job that you want, but it’s the job that’s needed.

I got through the preparation. still not convinced I could do it, but pressed on.

MY SISTER

Wanted to speak, my mother didn’t want her to.

Speech she prepared wasn’t good at all.

She was super emotional.

It was up to me to fix it.

Wednesday night I got to the Calgon take me away moment.

“God I can’t do this!”

Philippians 4:4 NASB95

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

What was going on at Philippi

Philippians 4:5 NASB95

5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

Feels like he is not.

Instruction and promise.

Philippians 4:6 NASB95

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Not anxious

Everything pray

thanksgiving

Promise

Philippians 4:7 NASB95

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

My sister chose not to speak.

Got alone.

Luke 5:16 NASB95

16 But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.

God carried me through that funeral.

When we were leaving the funeral home to go to the grave site, the funeral home told me to leave first and then stand by the door.

Thanks after a service

Charles Jarrett. Bold letters in the book of life.

“I needed that today”

If you believe it: Live It.

Friday Morning.

Philippians 2:1–5 NASB95

1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

Matthew 10:16 NASB95

16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.

Philippians 2:5–8 NASB95

5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.