Philippians:130 Transformation

“Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.” Philippians 1:30

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As extraordinary as he was, he lived on this planet. 

The apostle had no greater access to grace. Nor had he greater wars to fight than we.

Same war. Same conflict.

Same grace. Same victory.

Only because He’s the same Savior.

Paul fought a good fight.

He finished his course.

He followed the light-

Which brings no remorse

He looked unto Christ,

The Author, the End,

Whose grace had sufficed

To always attend.

How daring and bold!

How valiant his heart!

But scripture has told

Of a different start.

For Paul had been Saul,

A leader for wrong.

And yet came the call,

"With Me you belong."

So if you, like me

Are not yet a Paul,

By faith look and see

What God did to Saul.

Through conflict and grief,

Through trial and test,

God granted belief

Where there'd been unrest.

Our Savior is true.

His grace is the same.

For Paul, me and you

Our Lord overcame!

And so we may walk

In newness of heart,

Secure in the Rock

No more to depart.

Though through desert storm,

And darkest of days,

God's grace can transform

In marvelous ways!

Philippians:129 Gifts

“For unto you it is given on the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” Philippians 1:29

It’s not on our wish list.  

But contrary to human thought, it holds the highest of honors. 

Enoch and Elijah, who both tasted eternity without seeing death, did not somehow receive a better gift at the hand of God than did John the Baptist. 

Fellowship with Christ in His sufferings means fellowship also in His consolation. 

...and in the world to come, eternal life. 

Of all the gifts that heaven grants

To humans on this earth,

The highest honor God implants—

The weightiest of worth,

Is fellowship with Jesus Christ

To share His suffering,

To taste of what He sacrificed

Yet trust mid anything!

Philippians: 126 Radiation

“That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.” Philippians 1:26

How can a human being

Impart abundant joy?

Especially while facing

Such trials that annoy?

How can one be so noble

As not to whine and sigh,

While fettered and immobile,

And likely soon to die?

True joy is not created

By those who dwell on earth

But yet it’s radiated

From those of second birth.

It’s only in receiving

That humans can impart,

The joy of faith’s believing

Into another’s heart. 

Philippians: 119 Cooperation

“For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:19

“This shall turn to my salvation” -

It will come to bear good fruit.

It will work a reformation

In the branches of the Root.

But notice though, the means by which

Our crucibles have blessing

It’s “through your prayer” that there’s a switch,

And through the Spirit’s giving.

We see cooperation here:

That man is linked with Christ.

And then salvations’s gift draws near,

For self is sacrificed. 

Philippians: 116 Sufficient

“The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:” Philippians 1:16

There were people in Paul’s world

Who didn’t know the gospel,

Who, yet it’s gonfalon unfurled

To burden the apostle.

These worked from strife and envy

To cause another grief,

But Paul of Tarsus knew the key

To find happy relief.

He dwelt amid thanksgiving.

He looked beyond that day.

He thought on Christ’s own suffering

For what he couldn’t pay.

And so, let’s learn the lesson

Of patience, as did Paul.

For Christ has drunk for everyone

The cup of woe and gall.

We need not dwell in shadows

When Jesus shines with light,

And from Him peace and gladness flows,

Sufficient for the night.

Philippians: 112 Appointment

“But I would that ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;” Philippians 1:12

All things. 

No, not all things are good, but God works all things for good, to them that love Him. 

Seeing as God sees, Paul saw appointment in disappointment. Victory in apparent defeat. Sunshine beside the shadows.

This lesson is for us.

•   •   •   •   •   •  

At times we will not understand

What happens here and now,

But when we reach that happy land

God makes it plain somehow.

Oh, we’ll see each disappointment,

Each trial, and each test,

So transformed for God’s appointment,

That we can call it blessed.

We have need for heaven’s vision

To see by faith today,

And to claim God’s rich provision

Of grace to trust His way.

For the trials haven’t ended,

The tests are sure to come,

But our God for us has blended,

His grace with every one.

Philippians: 108 Defendant

“For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:8

Record - Strongs 3144 - a witness (literally (judicially) or figuratively...); by analogy, a "martyr":-- martyr, record, witness.

God knows you my friend,

The longings you carry.

His own He’ll defend

From His calm sanctuary.

He saw faithful Job

Who was tested and tried.

That one on the globe

Who with Him was allied.

God sees and knows all

When others do not,

Or when heaven’s call

Is past our own thought.

Yes. He is our judge,

Our witness, defendant,

Who will not begrudge

Help to one dependent.

Philippians: 103 Remember

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.” Philippians 1:3. 

The Philippians? Really? Maybe some of those memories, but every remembrance?

Philippi was the home of Lydia, whose heart the Lord opened. - Acts 16:14. Certainly the memory of kindred souls in the faith could have made Paul to thank God.

Of course, remembering the damsel that was freed from the spirit of divination surely brought rejoicing to the apostle. But this very joy could have been overshadowed, or even obliterated completely by black recollections. Missionary work is not for the fainthearted. It was in Philippi that Paul and Silas were beaten, imprisoned, and tortured like anybody’s worst nightmare. And yet, the apostle thanked God.

Was it the dawn of new life in Christ that eclipsed the darkness? Was it the eye of faith, seeing triumph in apparent tragedy? Was is that souls were reached, who could not have been in another way?

Did every memory of the Philippians remind Paul that God can overrule circumstances? That something so bad could actually result in good— devoted, stedfast, and whole-hearted believers? Did the thought of their faithfulness strengthen him to trust in trial the character of his Creator? 

We likely face nothing akin to what Paul and Silas did, but from the planet we call home, let us give thanks. Let us remember that the character of God has not changed. He can still bring beauty out of ashes, and gold from the fire. 

Let us remember, and let us give thanks. 

Simple Song - Unfathomable God// pt. 5 Valley of Victory

There’s something about being in a valley. Everything else is uphill. Valleys have the tendency to keep drawing you downward too. No matter that a valley floor leads to a valley side, which does actually lead to a mountaintop. The valley is like quicksand. Lofty heights are obliterated by dense green forest. Azure blue sky is textured with needle studded silhouettes. The trail is dark. The eyes strain to see it. Shadows come quickly and leave slowly. Every cracking branch is magnified into some great big hungry creature, seeking whomsoever it may devour. 

•  •  •  •  •  •  •

He had been to the top. He had seen that the mountains belonged to God, but this was something else. Mile after mile he ran. Just to get somewhere, anywhere, perhaps nowhere. Nowhere where his enemies would follow. 

So he runs down to the valley of discouragement. Hungry, exhausted, afraid. He presses on, but this leads him only to a deeper basin: self-pity. 

Having seen the glory of God displayed in such magnificent grandeur upon Mt. Carmel, Elijah should have known that God had not left His throne. But the lesson is for us. 

We all have days after a mountaintop. The trail continues beyond each peak, but while we have the option of plunging to the lowest low, we don’t have to do that. There is a higher plain. A plain found through faith, prayer, and work. 

Remember that there was a valley before victory at Ai. That place of earlier defeat and discouragement was still to be conquered, and of all things, Israel had to march through a valley to get there. Talk about daunting. Notice however, that victory is not gained by evading all valleys. As the Psalmist said, Yea, though I walk through the valley…

            …I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me… 

Elijah was not loved less of heaven when he felt brokenhearted and rejected by men and God, then when God sent fire from above in answer to his very own prayer on Mt. Carmel. The mountains belong to God, but so do the valleys. 

Perhaps you find yourself in a valley today. Maybe it plunges beneath the valley of victory. Perhaps it’s a valley of discouragement or defeat. Or perhaps it’s a valley of test and trial. 

Take heart. You are not loved less. With Christ, a valley is a place of victory, and a place of peace. If God led you here, His dream is that you conquer Ai. If, like Elijah, your pit is despair, God’s longing is that you leave it in the arms of faith. The victory is in getting up, and going back to work. We can’t conquer Ai, or climb out of self-pity with finite arms. We need help. We need a great.. strong.. mighty.. God.. 

      …a God who rules the valleys too. 

Remember

Let distractions, delusions, deceptive delights, and disarming duplicity be forgotten. Despite the cost, there is but one Desire worth desiring. That "one thing" the psalmist sought. A closeness with the Man of Sorrows, the Master, the Redeemer, the Conquering King.  

"...Praise our God, all ye His servants, and ye that fear Him, both small and great." Revelation 19:5.

•  •  •  •  •  •  • 

When afflicted for My sake

Remember Me.

When oppressed and soon to break

Remember Me.

When rejected on this earth,

Don't forget to Me you're worth

Every cross I bore from birth.

Remember Me.

When your duties seem severe

Remember Me.

When like mountains they appear

Remember Me.

When your burdens are too great,

When they have a dreadful weight,

Then My own cross contemplate.

Remember Me.

When you'd shrink from the ordeal

Remember Me.

When too great the pain you feel 

Remember Me.

For I live to intercede,

I, who answers human need,

I, who also in this lead.

Remember Me.*

*See the book, Desire of Ages page 659.2

Consider It Joy

Long centuries ago, a scripture was penned,

Enlightening the Christian's night
A precept to show, and blessing defend,
It still gives to Christian's their sight
This word in the flame, when taken to heart,
Will comfort, bring hope, and uplift
In floods, just the same, a gift t'will impart,
To buoy those who feel they're adrift

So what is this word, this most precious thought,
That cheers those who heed it's advice?
That tests those who've heard, entreating for naught,
The ones who make gloom to suffice?
Oh, "Count it all joy", is Heaven's high word,
To all who face trial and test
When troubles annoy, and grief seems assured,
This note rings above all the rest

Consider it joy, and count it the same,
When troubles and trials surround
When fear would destroy, all peace in the flame,
Faith holds, and so joy can abound
This joy will not come, apart divine grace,
- It's song is a gift from above -
But will overcome, in trial's dark face,
Through faith in God's mercy and love!

A New Year ;)

A new year has begun for me,
I know not what it holds
I cannot count the joys I'll see,
Until it's path unfolds
I can't foretell the cliff ahead,
The valley I must meet
The dangers through which I must tread,
Or what distress I'll greet

But this I know, in this I rest,
That He the future keeps
Who's felt earth's joys and trial's test,
Whose watch-care never sleeps
This One abides beyond our sphere,
His view sees start and end
On Him, through all this coming year,
On Him we can depend

Dependance is a wondrous thing-
A weakness to pursue
For when to God in faith we cling,
His grace will see us through
Then may we know this more and more,
Our need and His supply
That we will grow to trust the store,
On which we can rely

So in this year may you and I,
Grow more to lean on Him
Who every need can satisfy,
With overflowing brim
Through what may come within its day,
If on God we depend
He'll lead us in His perfect way,
Unto the very end!

Gather the Roses

      The promises of God: what a precious blessing they are! They encourage, strengthen, uplift, ennoble. God has given them already, it is up to us what we will do with them. Will we cherish them? Will we search for them? Will we share them with those in need? Will we value them? The promise of God are like flowers: Very beautiful when you stop to look at them, but they will not stop the busy passer-by. We must take time to pick the roses. The Heavenly Gardener has many flowers suited to each need. He knows exactly which flower to give, which promise to put before our eyes at the time of greatest need. Here are a few of God's flowers. 

      "Your life is precious in the sight of God. He has a work for you to do. It is not unfolded to you now, but just walk on trustingly without a single word, because this would grieve the dear Jesus and show that you were afraid to trust Him. Lay your hand in His; He is reaching over the battlements of heaven [for it] to be laid confidingly in His. Oh, what love, what tender love has Jesus manifested in our behalf. The Bible promises are the pinks and the roses and the lilies in the garden of the Lord... Do not listen to Satan’s lies, but recount God’s promises. Gather the roses and the lilies and the pinks. Talk of the promises of God. Talk faith. Trust in God, for He is your only hope. He is my only hope." – {DG 146}

Gather the roses, the lilies, and pinks,
Destiny rests upon that which one thinks
Promises brighten the heart and the mind,
But contemplate doubts and thorns you will find

There may be briers that poke and that prick,
But cherish the blooms that near them are thick
Dwell upon trials and thorns multiply,
Though promises blossom in heaven's supply

When thistles increase, and hardships abound,
Look for the blossoms that there will be found
Flowers like promises sent from above,
Bloom bright in trials of patience and love

Contemplate blessings, and more will be seen,
Splashing their colors across fields of green
Dwell in the pastures where God's word is found,
Eating each morning from heavenly ground

Gather the roses, the lilies, each one,
Pick them ahead of the fast rising sun
Think and consider upon heaven's word,
Faith will then strengthen and hope be assured