Month: April 2023

The Kitchen Table Devotions

Philippians 2 Day 15

Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard; because he came close to death  for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me.      Philippians 2:29-30

Want to keep your joy?  Hang around people who have it.  What to keep your Christian life exciting?  Hang with believers who put it all on the line and share their joy.  Anybody can just go to church.  Those people usually lose their joy.  Honor & spend some time with those who be the church, living it all for Christ, risking it all to fulfill the call.  Those people are joyful and contagious.  Realize that you need some friends like that and receive them with joy.

The Kitchen Table Devotions

Philippians 2 Day 14

Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me; ²⁴ and I trust in the Lord that I myself also will be coming shortly.        Philippians 2:23-24

Our song comes from where our soul is anchored.  The stronger the anchor the bigger the song.  Paul writes, “and I trust in the Lord…”  Big trust leads to big songs and big lives.  He finishes the sentence with “that I myself also will be coming shortly.”  He writes this from prison where it’s easy to lose our big song and our big life.  But he trusts in God.  Those whose anchor is God have a song that’s big and life that’s even bigger.  What kind of tune is your trust singing today.

The Kitchen Table Devotional

Philippians 2  Day 13

But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition                                 Philippians 2:19

Rejoicing in Jesus has the power to give us hope and a heart for life as well as a hope and a heart for others.  We don’t have a hope and a heart because we should, we have hope and a heart because we sing the praises of Him who always has a hope and a heart for us.  Hope in the Lord Jesus and let your heart rejoice.

The Kitchen Table Devotions

Philippians 2 Day 11

But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. ¹⁸ You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.             Philippians 2:17-18

Change the conversation.  Anyone can talk about problems, pain, and paranoia of man.  Rejoice!  Rejoicing has the power to change our perspective and convert our problems into opportunities.  Rejoicing is infectious.  Rejoicing brings purpose and power onto our path and everyone else along the way.  Praise God today, all along the way, and watch God transform our perspective and the perspective of all those around us.  God is good and His plans for us are good too.

The Kitchen Table Devotions

Philippians 2 Day 9

Do all things without grumbling or disputing; ¹⁵ so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you  appear as lights in the world,

Philippians 2:14-15

The proof is in the profession. The proof of a Holy Spirit change is in a Holy Spirit confession.  The mouth reveals the mind.  Prove yourself to be blameless and innocent in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.  Have you ever thought that our words are what separate us from the crooked and perverse?  If our words change, our walk will change too.  “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my mouth be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

The Kitchen Table Devotions

Philippians 2 Day 8

Do all things without grumbling or disputing; ¹⁵ so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you  appear as lights in the world,

Philippians 2:14-15

Remember, our mouth reveals our mind, and our mind is either on God or not.  Working out our salvation happens as we let God be on our minds.  Learn to live in the light and by the light of His Holy Spirit who we continually reveal the mind of God to us who love Him. (1 Cor 2:12-13). 

The Kitchen Table Devotions

Philippians 2 Day 7

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure

Philippians 2:12-13

Remember this, to work out our salvation we must learn to walk out the Holy Spirit’s revelation.  God lives is us, with us, and for us.  This Christian life isn’t about forcing something but rather following Someone, and that Someone is the Holy Spirit.  Don’t ask Him to come, He is here.  Ask Him for hearing, not just showing.  We say to God, “Show me and I’ll believe” but “He says believe Me and I will show you.”  Faith comes by hearing,  ask for the ability to hear Him and He will lead us to His good pleasures. 

The Kitchen Table Devotions

Philippians 2 Day 6

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; ¹³ for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure

Philippians 2:12-13

Work it out!  Every single one of us must eventually work it out.  But don’t put on your work boots, put on your sandals.  This life isn’t about forcing something, it’s about following someone.  The work of working it out is found in the will and the want to follow.  The Holy Spirit lives in us and with us; we just need to learn to follow Him.  The moment we quit trying to impress ourselves and others and possess Him and His will, it is the moment we start working it out.   Make life about following, not forcing.  

The Kitchen Table Devotion

Philippians 2 Day 4

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               Philippians 2:5-7

The secret to soaring is surrendering to the great I Am.  It’s not what we’ve done but what He did and it’s not what we want but what He wills that matters today.  Only the God of all creation can put the wind to live and love under our wings. 

The Kitchen Table Devotional

Philippians 2 Day 3

​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, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.        Philippians 2:1-2

The secret to a good attitude is a good atmosphere.  A good attitude flows from a good or God atmosphere.  Live in the consolation, fellowship, affection, and compassion of God’s love and you will possess the attitude that comes from God’s presence and passion in your life.  God says He will give us strength to soar like an eagle and not get tired (Is 40:30).  Live in God’s love today and you will live with God’s love. today  That’s the secret to a good attitude.