From the Kitchen Table

The Kitchen Table            Philippians Day 10

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped Philippians 2:5-6

One of the easiest and most costly mistakes any one of us can make is to put ourselves on the same level with God.  We do that when we decided to do what we want rather than what He wants.  We put ourselves is as the god of good when only God is good.  How we chose to talk to and treat others becomes “good enough” and that’s when we slip.  Jesus shared the mind of the Father and always obeyed Him.  “Obedience is our expression of faith and faith is our claim ticket to the God realm.” Bill Johnson  The Holy Spirit lives in the heart of humility and the heart that is humble toward God, honors God.

The Kitchen Table            Philippians Day 9

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Philippians 2:3

The Holy Spirit lives in the heart of humility.  It is the only heart He can really work with, in power.  God doesn’t walk over us, He walks with us.  This Christian life isn’t just about believing in Jesus but believing Jesus and that requires a humble heart.  It is His presence that makes all the difference but an indifferent heart or in defiance is a haughty heart with no room for in the inn for Christ.  Repentance relinquishes my ambitions for His ambitions and lets my heart become His home with all the furniture and features of heaven.

The Kitchen Table            Philippians Day 8

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, ² complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Philippians 2:1-2

“So, if…”  That’s always the question and it should be.  So, if you’re a real believer than what?  This relationship isn’t just about religion, it’s about being real.  And Paul goes on to say, if there is encouragement (partnership) in Jesus, it will show.  There will be a persuasion, a passion, a partnership with the Holy Spirit that you just can’t miss.  Sure, we’re all growing in this but it should show up.  This is not about mere words, it’s about a want, a walk, a work with Jesus and His church.  If we have the Spirit of Christ, we will share the wants, walk and work of Christ and it will be beautiful.

The Kitchen Table            Philippians Day 5

Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, Philippians 1:18-19

Bringing Christ into our circumstances involves prayer that takes us to heaven or brings heaven here to us.  It’s like prayer is the magnetic power of heaven that brings heaven here.  God works in our wants waiting for us to pray.  He comes with our permission into our everyday lives.  He’s always here waiting to hear from us. Bringing Christ into our circumstances happens as we pray for us and for others.

The Kitchen Table            Philippians Day 4

Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Philippians 1:18

When we know that Christ is in our circumstances, we don’t have to let our circumstances take us away from Christ.  There are all sorts of things that can happen today, Jesus is still Lord.  We don’t want to let deception become our drama.  God is in the room.  What matters is that Christ is proclaimed.  He is the answer because He is the solution to our circumstances.

The Kitchen Table            Philippians Day 3

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.  Phil 1:12

If we want to find Christ in our circumstances, we must be Christ in our circumstances.  If Christ is our reason for living, then Christ will have the reason for what we’re living through.  The moment Christ is no longer our mission we won’t see the mission of what we’re living.  He hasn’t left; we have.  He isn’t done and neither are we.  Look for Christ in your circumstances by being Christ in your circumstances.  Those who live for Him see Him.

The Kitchen Table            Philippians Day 2

And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.  Phil 1:6

Confidence creates compassion.  So when you look out there and don’t see much care and compassion, you can know that most people are living in fear.  When we know that we are loved, we can love.  When we know that God is at work in us we can be free to let Him work through us.  This is all preparation for the day Jesus comes back and the life we will live forever with him in love.

The Kitchen Table            Philippians Day 1

Grace & peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Philippians 1:2

Don’t leave the house without grace and peace today.  God is with you and His undeserved and unreserved love comes with Him.  And His love works in and through as well as on and around those who believe.  Recognize it, receive it and rest in it by faith in the name of Jesus.  Just say it, “God’s love is on me today and I am blessed!”

The Kitchen Table    96

Today’s Reading:  Ps 66; Gen 7:1-24; Acts 27:13-38

Bless the Lord, O people; let the sound of His praise be heard, who has kept our soul among the living and He has not let our feet slip.

 Ps 66:8-9

Keep your soul among the living.  We must realize just how important that is and how important it was to Noah and to Paul.  Storms happen and trouble comes but God is the same today and forever.  As we lift up His praise, He keeps our soul (our mind & emotions) among the living.  A dead soul sees no hope and finds no help.  But the one who lifts up praise knows there is hope and help in the storm and in the still.  Praise empowers God to live in us and enables us to live through Him in the storm and in the sill alike.

Today’s Reading:  PS 66; Gen 6:5-22; Acts 27:1-12

Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer
or removed his steadfast love from me! Psalms 66:20

There hardly anything more unsettling than troubled water and anything more undoing than the troubled soul.  We were not created to live in water and when its troubling its terrorizing.  And there’s hardly anything more comforting than love and listen and God gives us both.  Both Paul and Noah found themselves in troubled water but both had the heart and ear of God and that makes all the difference.  God doesn’t reject our pray or remove His love and that is so satisfying to the soul.  We all need love and listening and sometimes that is the best gift anyone can find while sailing troubled waters.