Philippians – The Happiness Letter

Seriously. I do not know what I would do without Christ in my heart, His Presence in my daily journey. HE is my life. HE comes first before I can begin my day! Because of Christ, I live, truly live. His is my strength and my song all day long, no matter the challenge or circumstance. He is there. Yes, in Jesus Name, I live a redeemed life. Is it because I am strong? NO, it is because I am weak and always in need of a Savior and Lord. HE is my strength. And I rejoice. Again, I rejoice. My joy is never ending all because of Christ.

Paul is a serious, passionate believer…a true believer who also knows his needs, knows his Savior and Lord, knows his purpose and “fills the air with Christ’s praise” as he does it. This is the person I want to be…all because of Christ.

Philippians 3, The Message
The real believers are the ones the Spirit of God leads to work away at this ministry, filling the air with Christ’s praise as we do it. We couldn’t carry this off by our own efforts, and we know it—even though we can list what many might think are impressive credentials. You know my pedigree: a legitimate birth, circumcised on the eighth day; an Israelite from the elite tribe of Benjamin; a strict and devout adherent to God’s law; a fiery defender of the purity of my religion, even to the point of persecuting the church; a meticulous observer of everything set down in God’s law Book.

7-9 The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I’m tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn’t want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God’s righteousness.

10-11 I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it.

Focused on the Goal
12-14 I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me.

Reflect…
May all we think, imagine, act on or behave be done in Jesus Name…all because of Christ Jesus our Savior and Lord.

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray we all can relate and be Your breath of fresh air to someone today. Help us to see You clearly then see others through Your eyes. We will be praising you all day long. All because of Christ. In Jesus Name, Amen

And I’m singing…

Hope for all the world You came down,

Traded heaven’s throne for a sinner’s crown,

Grace poured out,

Son of righteousness crucified,

Hanging on the cross You paid the price,

To give us life
In Jesus’ name our sins are washed away,

In Jesus’ name we are rescued, we are saved,

For love has come to make a way for us,

In Jesus’ name there is freedom for the broken,

In Jesus’ name there is healing for the hopeless,

For all our days, We rest in Jesus’ name

You alone are good forever true,

Never far away,

We’re holding on to you, only You…

In Jesus’ name our sins are washed away,

In Jesus’ name we are rescued, we are saved,

For love has come to make a way for us,

In Jesus’ name there is freedom for the broken,

In Jesus’ name there is healing for the hopeless,

For all our days, We rest in Jesus’ name
Holy, holy, You are worthy,

Hallelujah we are free

For all our days, We rest in Jesus’ name