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From Jeri’s
Pen
My Dear Friends;
“Rejoice in the
Lord always; again I will say rejoice! Let your forbearing
spirit (contentment with and generosity towards others)
be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing
, but in everything by prayer, and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of
God, which surpasses all comprehension shall guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:4-7).”
I feel sure that many
of you in recent days have faced some challenging situations.
I can feel sure that this is true for at least three reasons:
1. Satan would set out to discredit
you in whatever resolve you made to follow Christ’s
example while
suffering for His sake. You probably thought some person
just wanted to rain on your parade and
wet your bonnet (hat).
2. God will permit you to have fertile ground in which
to grow. Otherwise you will never know where you are in
faith and action.
3.According to your responses many
of you have an enhanced awareness of who you are and where
you are with Christ.
We, my husband and I, count it a
privilege to have been able to spend that time with you
all during
our brief time together. And just as you grew we grew also
as the result of so much preparation and the time spent
sharing. None of us will likely be the same. As you journey
along, the above verses can be of much benefit as you study
them, memorize them and meditate on them and the teachings
in them.
Beginning with verse 2 and continuing through verse 9 of
the above referenced text Paul admonishes the Philippian
Christians to:
1. Be United – (vs. 2-3) Two women who were obviously
prominent church members could not agree
and would not compromise their ideas in order to secure
a united front. Of course you are not like that or church
or home, but if you know any sisters like so be available
to lovingly assist them if possible lest they continue
to wander in the dark. But just in case others never change
the following verses help us to see what our attitude
should be.
2. Be joyful - (vs. 4-5) “Rejoice
in the Lord always. Real joy is found in the Lord and
can always be found regardless of life’s circumstances
in the security of ones relationship with the sovereign
Lord. Being joyful in the Lord allows one to possess;
1. A forbearing spirit that is demonstrated in
contentedness with and generosity towards others; mercy
or leniency towards the faults of others;
and patience without retaliating when submitting to injustice
or mistreatment.
3. Be Prayerful – (vs. 6-7)
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer…
In other words ‘worry about nothing, but pray about
everything’. To worry and fret indicates a lack
of trust in God’s wisdom, power, or sovereign control.
Pray including making request for specific needs from
a thankful heart (thankful for past provisions and for
whatever His answer for the future will be because you
trust Him) And the peace of God will guard your heart
and mind against anxiety.
The heart and mind comprise the inner person, the real
you or the real me. It is where the issues of life are
dealt with or where they are born and fester and grow.
Issues such as division, bitterness, jealousy, fear, worry.
These issues are only expressed through the outer person.
But when a believer prays who has a thankful attitude
based on full confidence that God is able and willing
to do whatever is best for His children (Rom. 8:28), she
is promised inner calm and tranquility that is beyond
human insight. And this inner calm (peace of God) protects
the believer from anxiety, fear,
doubt and distress.
4. Be Meditative – (vs.8-9)
Finally, sisters……….. (you work this
out)
Jeri
Lampley
P.O. Box 123
Graceville, Florida 32440-0123
Phone (850) 263-5377
E-mail jlll@digitalexp.com
Woman
to Woman
Joy
of Discovery
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