Philippians 1 - 1.30.24

SCRIPTURE:  Philippians 1:6

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.

OBSERVATION

This chapter begins with Paul giving thanks and encouragement for the believers in Philippi. In verse 6, Paul is sharing his confidence that God will continue the ongoing process of sanctification for each believer until the day Jesus Christ comes back for the saints. God began the good work in us with salvation through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. At that moment, we become a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17). Just like a caterpillar emerging from the chrysalis, our transformation to become more like Christ begins when we become a believer but it doesn’t end there. It’s ongoing!

I’m so thankful He doesn’t give up on us – ever! Even though we fall, make mistakes, HIS process in us continues. He empowers and builds us up each day. He’s at work in our lives and thankfully continues our sanctification all the way until Christ’s return.

“He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” 1 Corinthians 1:8

APPLICATION

I am so humbled to know that God not only saved me but He continues the sanctification process in my life to the end. Although I fail and fall down, He doesn’t give up on me. Knowing He believes in me, cares about my life, and will guide me until Christ returns is empowering. My heart is full knowing the depth of His love in my life.

PRAYER

Thank you, Lord, for caring about the details of my life. You don’t give up on me but works each day in my life, helping me, and sanctifying my life for your good work. I’m so thankful you chose me, began the good work, and will carry it to completion – even until the day of Christ’s return.

- Mary Oberg

Psalm 64 - 1.29.24

Scripture

Psalms‬ ‭64‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“All people will fear; they will proclaim the works of God and ponder what he has done. The righteous will rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him; all the upright in heart will glory in him!”

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Observation

In the beginning of this passage, David was petitioning God for protection from his enemy and complaining about “the conspiracy of the wicked” and “the plots of evildoers” beginning in verse 1. He was complaining about their evil schemes. However, the Psalm shifts its tone in verse 7 when he says, “But God…” He begins to describe how much greater God is than his enemy. 

Application

But God…

We cast all our anxieties on the Lord because He cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7). We offer up our complaints to Him and He hears them all. However, as Pastor Katie said in one of our huddles, we cannot stay there. This is essentially what King David did in this Psalm. He could’ve easily spiraled into who his enemy was and how he was making his life miserable. But instead, he switched his tone and said, “But God..!”

Whatever situation or circumstance in life is getting us down or whatever earthly or spiritual enemy is trying to pull us down, we must remember that God is greater! What situation do you need to add the words, “But God…” to? 

This also reminds me of one of my favorite sermons that Pastor Levi preached a couple of months ago when he started a series on Joseph, called, “Even If.” Here’s a link if you missed it, want to rewatch it, or share it with someone. https://youtu.be/kE5sUJSp3Pg?si=LoAFfQR0dAUXqgBX

Prayer

Dear Lord,

Thank You for always being willing to listen to my complaints, concerns, hardships, worries, anxieties, pain, etc. Thank You that You care so deeply for me. I’m grateful that I can always run to You in hard moments and with anything because You know everything already. However, I pray for Your strength to also encourage myself through trials by remembering Who You are in the midst of them all. May I always run to You with my complaints, but also remember the words, “ But God..” through it. You are so good Lord. Amen. 

-Michelle Gaddi

Genesis 1 - 1.26.24

Scripture Genesis 1:1-27

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day. And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day. And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day. And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day. And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

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Observation:

The God of the Universe took 6 days to create the earth. There was a process, one step, then another.  We often pray to God and expect an instant change, healing, or answer.  These verses gave me a new perspective as I read them. God takes his time and builds one thing upon another. Sounds like a sermon Pastor Levi shared recently.  Could the animals have survived if He created them before the land?  There are wonderful reasons for His process.  The dreams and plans God has for us have a process too. God created man in His image. He orders our steps and tells us to number our days, AKA plan.  Instant things can be gone as fast as they come. A good foundation and roots are important. I need to be sure I do this as well. 

Application:

I need to embrace that good things take time. God has a plan for me and one thing lays a foundation for the next.  May I change my expectation from now to what needs to happen first. 

Prayer:

Father God you can instantly work. However, there are times when to have a solid foundation, there is a process I need to go through to prepare me for all you have for me. Please give me patience to endure, eyes to see your hand, understanding to learn the lessons, and wisdom to do the things you are calling me to.  You love me and know what’s best. You will not withhold any good thing. Help me to trust you and walk in faith.  Amen

- Cindy Howard