Beauty For Ashes

Philippians 4:4-8

"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say rejoice. Let your forbearing spirit 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. Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is pure, whatever is right, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute. If there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things."

Now to break this down piece by piece:

A.. Verse 4: Rejoice in the Lord always ; again I will say rejoice…

What are some ways that I can make sure that I am doing my best to always rejoice in him?

1. Make it a point to praise Him.
2. Do I praise the Lord ? (especially when I don’t feel like it?).
3. Thank him in my circumstances.

Do I thank the Lord that he has protected me, and made provisions for what I am facing?

4. Quiet time with Him.

What do I do in order to draw near to the Lord personally?
Do I see this as a personal responsibility I have as a Christian?

B. Verse 5 : Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

What does it mean to have a forbearing spirit?

"Forbearing: Disinclined to be severe or rigorous."

If I am not severe or rigorous, what am I?

Rigorous: Rigid, inflexible, or burdensome..

So opposites would be:

* Merciful (See 1st. Corinth. Ch. 13).
* Kind
* Patience
*Generous
*Loving

The second part of verse 5 says "The Lord is near." If the Lord is near, what does this mean, and why would it then be important to have a forbearing spirit?

(Speak to the Lord specifically. Ask him to show you practical everyday ways to have a forbearing spirit with yourself and with others):


C. Verse 6: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

1. Be anxious for nothing.

What does this literally mean?

*Don’t worry about things
*Relax
*Trust the Lord (See Psalm 37).
*There’s no need to panic ( )
*Wait on the Lord

2. How can I do my best to ensure I am not anxious?

*Sing praises (inwardly or outwardly)
*Ask the Lord for wisdom
*Remind yourself what the Lord has already done
*Breathe deep
*Get some rest
*Be honest with God when anxiety does come.
(Remind yourself that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of faith).

D. But, (rather) in everything, through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.

1. Why does the verse say "through supplication" and prayer? What does this mean?

Supplication: Humility

Through prayer and humility with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God?

*Do I remember what he’s done for me as I pray?
*Am I aware that not only am I praying to a king, but to the King of Kings?
*Do I thank him generously, believing that he’s already provided an answer and that his timing is perfect?

*Am I humble? Do I remember that everything in my life is a gift from him?

E. Verse seven: And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

1. Why does the end of this verse say "In Christ Jesus"?

Christ is the source of the peace. This is why it surpasses understanding. Would you agree?

How does Jesus fill me with that peace? (specifically).

What are some things that I can do to draw near to Him that I would yield to his will in my life?

2. If we are not in Christ Jesus, do we have this assurance?

No. We can only do all things when Christ strengthens us. Anything else is not the sustaining peace of the Lord.

3. What does it mean for this peace to "guard our hearts and our minds"?

This peace keeps our hearts quiet, and helps us to hear the Lord, as he imparts wisdom to us. His wisdom is what guards us or keeps us safe.

F. Verse 8: Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is pure, whatever is right, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute. If there is anything excellent and praiseworthy, let your mind dwell on these things.

1. What is true?

How can I help guard myself against what is not true?

* Decide that gossip stops with me.
*Pray for wisdom and discretion.
*Turn the TV off.
*Turn the computer off.
* Be mindful of who I hang around with.

2. What does it mean when something is honorable?

Honor: "Honesty, fairness, or integrity in ones beliefs or actions." (Dictionary.com)

* What sorts of things are honorable in my life?


* How can I specifically focus on these things, particularly when certain situations seem "dishonoring" to the things of the Lord?

3. Whatever is Pure.

* What does the word "Pure" mean to you?
(Without spot or blemish; pristine; in it’s original condition).

* What can I think on that is pure?

God’s love (How does he show that to me?)
His law (that He has fulfilled it perfectly… purely).
This reminds me that I need a savior. Freedom. Liberty.
A baby coming into the world (life beginning… maybe life beginning again)
Forgiveness (the freedom it brings) That I have the joy of forgiving others because Christ forgave me.
The rain and the rainbow
A waterfall
The clouds and how each one has a different shape
A sunset
A piece of poetry or art (that creativity is a gift from God).
Music: Melodies that keep me filled with His joy

4. Whatever is Right.

As easy as this one seems to be, we often skip over it as if to say "Duh."
But what is "right," not just regarding what is morally right, but what do I do when no one’s looking? What do I NOT do when n one’s looking?
Am I willing to do the right thing WITHOUT getting recognized, knowing that my father sees what is done in secret? (Matt. 6:4)

5. Whatever is Lovely.

This is a neat one to pray about! What is lovely to you? A bike ride? Fishing? An art project? Serving at church? Classical music? Think of what you consider lovely, and ask how you might glorify the Lord with it. Personally, for me, it’s butterflies).

6. Whatever is of Good Report.

This one might be simpler if we define what ISN’T of a good report.


Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?

If something is not each of these things, it is likely that it should not be defined as being of "good report."
Is it gossip, or hearsay? Is it something I’ve been asked to keep in confidence?
OR
Is it a praise? Is it encouragement? Will it build up? Is it glorifying to the Lord?
(Is it excellent?)
Is it appropriate for the given time? A word well spoken?

Pray about it: Lord, what would you have me do in a given situation? What might you not have me do? Pray that you will hear his gentle whisper guiding you through each situation.
His peace be with you! Blessings! J

Kids?

I honestly don't think I want kids at all.
Really.
When their babies and they can be put to bed or pushed in a stroller (Whether they scream or not)
That's okay... this isn't so bad. I can handle that.
You can take them for walks and play with them and be their hero...and it's amazing.
The problem is... THEY DON'T stay that way :)

I have a five year old nephew whose misson in life seems to be completely annoying people till they scratch their own eyes out.
If he know's you're really tired, and need chair, he'll run and plop right where you're going to sit, so you can't sit there. You then have to argue with him to get up (because he won't).
If he knows you need him to move, he deliberately won't (especially if you need to get in the bathroom.
If you ask him to do something, he'll snap at you and say NO, and then stand there because you're not MAKING him do it (of course... he's a kid). And then that's an argument.
He'll wait until you're really tired and you DO sit down, and THEN he'll ask you for a million things. It'd be so easy if he'd just accept your answer and go in the bedroom... but of course, he doesn't. He asks again and again and again.
You know sometimes we adults don't have the energy for our kids to throw another fit.
I've heard parents say "If they throw a fit, they throw a fit...there's nothing you can do about it."
But it seems to me that when your CELLS are tired...you need quiet... you can't take anymore drama for the day.
He throws things at you and flashes things in your face so you flinch (he's a boy alright!) He'll climb up in your chair and jump on you (hurting you).
He hits people. He'll run up behind you and hit you on the back or butt you with his head. Or he'll get up on your lap and start hitting you in front.
His toys are always all over the floor, for us to make sure that we don't break our neck over them.
It's his job to pick them up and put them away so this does not happen...and this too is a contest. A fight.
He's been told several times not to race his cars on the kitchen table. He's allowed to on the floor... but not the table.
So now our kitchen table has several scratches in it because my nephew won't stop... racing his cars on it.

It's exactly like Bill Cosby said: "Sound like a tobacco auctioneer... 'Come here, come here come here, come here, come here, COME HERE... HERE!!!
'Stop it, stop it, stop it, stop it, stop it, stop it, stop it... STOP IT!!
I've come to this conclusion:

Children certainly are a herritage from the Lord...but it's the most difficult herritage there is!
They take every ounce of energy that you have and more... with no ability to understand that you need a break.. They are unpredictable, and often, (whether we like it or not) uncontrollable. You can read all the books and manuals in the world (There are too many things, especially in parenting that you can't prepare for).
I once heard James Dobson do a show (FOTF) that was called "Motherhood: The guilt that keeps on giving." (also the title of the book).
Okay, I'm single with no kids...and I'm looking in from the outside; but I know this:
Mom's never stop worrying and they never stop feeling guilty. (I don't think dad's do either... really.)
They just don't... there's no way around it... they just don't :)
I've also heard parenting described this way: "...as hard as you think it is, you end up wishing it were that easy."
That was Deborah Winger in "Terms of Endearment."

Anyway, a great big hand to all you parents and relatives and mentors who have a hand in raising children... you are indeed blessed... and the rewards are eternal. :)
Try to take a long bath or soak your feet at the end of the day (here's hoping that you can :)
But I'd just like to thank my mother right now... because she's never pressured me to have children.
There are two questions that niether my mother or my dad have ever asked me:

1. when are you going to get married?
2. When am I going to see grandbabies?

I've spent some time (a lot, acually) being frustrated because my parents did not encourage me in these things. I never could understand why. Isn't this what people are supposed to do?
Some. Not all.
Train up a child in the way he (or she) should go.

Not everyone is meant to have children, and it seems to have taken me sooo long to really understand that this is OK. When I was a teen, my mom would tell me "Jesus never had any children... look at the impact he had."
I would cringe at that, because I would think "Yeah, and I'll never go to a cross either." (thank you Lord).
It all depends on what a person is made for. I was being so stubborn! I would KNOW that God might want to do "something else" with me... but be convinced that I didn't care (I'm supposed to get married and have kids right? (???)
Thank you Lord for helping me to listen...and see it differently!