123rd Week, Philippians Chapter 3-4 (Click on title for Video presentation)

 Clink on Title for Video Presentation

Monday, Philippians Chapter 3A (Verses 1-11)

Philippians 3A

Verse 10

Jane Jones

Verse 10: I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.

THOUGHT

Stop and think about your life...what has been your biggest sacrifice? Maybe it was a day in your life being spent entirely for someone else. Maybe it was your paycheck for a family in need. Maybe it was giving away a possession that meant so much to you. I can’t help but think of when I was five years old, and I was still sucking my thumb when in front of TV or when I went to bed. Dad and Mom told me that I would have to quit before I went to kindergarten. One day Dad said that the next time he saw me sucking my thumb he was going to take away my Tiny-Tears doll. It was my most treasured possession that I loved playing with, my only doll, and pretty much my only toy. The time came when he caught me, and I had to sacrifice my doll for a whole week to learn a much-needed lesson. The price was paid, but I moved closer to being prepared for being a better and more grown-up kindergarten. I can still remember how long that week seemed. 

I wanted to share that with you to point out that at that time in my life, I gave up (in my estimation) everything I cherished to grow as a person. Paul gave up so much more. He gave up everything—family, friendships, and freedom in order to know Christ and His resurrection power. We too have access to this knowledge and this power, but we may have to make sacrifices to enjoy it fully. What are you willing to give up in order to know Christ? A crowded schedule in order to set aside a few minutes each day for prayer and Bible study? Your friend's approval? Some of your plans or pleasures? Whatever it is, knowing Christ is more than worth the sacrifice. 

PRAYER

Lord, we thank You for the life of Paul and the example he set. We have learned so much from his story. We pray that we will learn how to make the greatest sacrifice, and that is turning our life over to You. Thank You for this beautiful day and for my family. AMEN 

Tuesday, Philippians 3B (Verses 12-21)

Philippians 3B

Verse 14

Jane Jones

Verse 14: I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 

THOUGHT

Have you ever truly trained for something very, very difficult? I know in our group, we have one marathon runner, Tressa Meyer, Mindy's sister. Mindy is a half marathon runner. Do you think that they just got up one morning and decided to drive to New York or Vancouver and run in a 13-26-mile race? By no means! They trained hard!!! 

How many years does it take to become a Pharmacist?...seven 

How long will it take to acquire all the knowledge one will need to pass the CFA exam? So far it has taken Bart three years, plus add five years of college on to that. 

How long, how much hard work does it take to pass a CPA exam?...many, many, long hours, long days and long weeks, several years maybe.

How many tries does a take a nurse to put in an IV perfectly or give injections? Just one try...no...many practices. 

How much skill and practice goes into making a frame come out with four perfectly 90-degree corners or the detail that goes into painting miniatures to the delight of customers? …skilled training 

How long does it take to learn to fly a helicopter?...two years minimum.

How long does it take to become a patient homemaker and stay-at-home mom?...years for this is, the toughest job of all. It requires many, many, degrees in many fields of engineering. 

How long does it take to serve your country well in the armed services?...one day, one week, one month...no, years out of your life, never to return to your home the same. 

To get really good at something, it takes time, hours of learning and experiencing. It does not happen overnight. Christians, that is why we must continually press onward, forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. 

Training for the Christian Life 

As a great amount of training is needed for athletic activities and work activities, so we must train diligently for the Christian life. Such training takes time, dedication, energy, continued practice, and vision. We must all commit ourselves to the Christian life, but we must first know the rules as prescribed in God's Word. The rule is found in 2 Timothy 2:5, "If anyone competes as an athlete or professional, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules.”

PRAYER

Lord, may we as Salt Shakers continue to press on to the victor’s crown by playing by the rules of life.  May we not look on what is behind and may we not strain toward what is ahead, but concentrate on training for the Christian life now. Please walk with us as we press onward to Your victory.  AMEN

Wednesday, Philippians Chapter 4A (Verses 1-9)

Philippians 4A

Verse 6

Bart Strayer

Verse 6: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

THOUGHT

As I sit in the wake of the CFA exam, I am thinking back at the amazing power the Lord gave me to study 17 months straight, and I didn’t seem to get tired of it. Is that crazy or what?! Now that I have been away from the material for a few weeks, I think back and realize the Lord’s work through all of your prayers and mine. We made our petitions known, and he delivered. Another amazing thing about the whole experience is that I didn't feel anxious about it. We did it by The Book: we prayed, and combined prayer with action. 

Sorry. You all are probably sick to death of hearing about CFA stuff. I just felt like I needed to use this verse to encourage you all in your prayer life. What seems hard to us is not hard for God. 

PRAYER

Lord, we thank You for Your never-ending power in our lives. Fill our lives with Your calming presence and help us not to be anxious about anything but to depend on You for our peace. AMEN 

Thursday, Philippians Chapter 4B (Verses 10-23)

Philippians 4B

Verse 11

Bart Strayer

Verse 11:  I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

THOUGHT

It is easy to become consumed with wanting more than we have, or thinking that the stuff we have isn’t good enough.  I struggle with being content at times.  So, when I think of being content, I think of me as a human, seeing my life through God’s eyes.  When I feel discontent, the problem is not the temptation of the stuff around me.  The problem is that my relationship with God is not as close as it should be.  If I am close to God, then I am able to see and appreciate things that I otherwise would not. This leads to joy, and contentment is shortly to follow.

PRAYER

Lord, fill us with Your Spirit.  We are so grateful to have such an awesome God.  Help us to grow closer to You so that we may never be discontent.  Uncover our eyes to the many joys around us.  In Jesus Name.  AMEN

Friday, A Little About Paul

Jeanie Boldt

Information taken from the NIV Life Application Bible

Paul belonged to the tribe of Benjamin; a heritage greatly esteemed among the Jews.  From this tribe had come Israel's first king, Saul.  The tribes of Benjamin and Judah were the only two tribes to return to Israel after the exile.  Paul was also a Pharisee, a member of a very devout Jewish sect that scrupulously kept its own numerous rules in addition to the laws of Moses.  Jewish listeners would have been impressed by both of these credentials.  

Why did Paul, a devout Jewish leader, persecute the church? Agreeing with the leaders of the religious establishment, Paul thought that Christianity was heretical and blasphemous.  Because Jesus did not meet his expectations of what the Messiah would be like, Paul assumed that Jesus' claims were false - and therefore wicked. In addition, he saw Christianity as a political menace because it threatened to disrupt the fragile harmony between the Jews and the Roman government.  

Paul, Saul at this time, had breathed out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples.  Saul wanted to take men or women who professed Christ as prisoners to Jerusalem.  It was here on the road to Damascus that a light from heaven flashed around him.  He fell to the ground and heard the voice of the Lord.  He went through a physical, mental and spiritual change and came to love Jesus, the Christ, as His Savior and the person that he lived for.

After Paul considered everything he had accomplished in his life, he said that it was all "a loss" when compared with the greatness of knowing Christ.  To know Christ should be our ultimate goal.    

PRAYER

Father, thank You for these 3 letters that Paul wrote.  They contain so many words that share the importance of knowing Jesus and living in Joyful relationship with Him.  Increase our faith so that we can be content with rejoicing. Take our stress, anxiety and life's issues and help us to give them to Jesus. We Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say, Let us rejoice!!  In the Name of our Savior and Lord, AMEN