After a little trip down memory lane, I was going to launch into something about how who could’ve guessed I’d soon be living a 90 minute high-speed-train ride away from Paris…and then something about how, of course, no idea I’d be waiting to watch my company’s CEO defend our existence before the US Congress either (thanks Fi, for understanding my need to be home watching CSPAN online tonight!).However that blog post was mostly scrapped over dinner. While waiting for the Senate hearing to start, I listened to a podcast. I’ve been keeping up with a series Rob Bell, at Mars Hill, is teaching on Philippians. It’s an awesome series—challenging and encouraging me in multiple ways. But I just loved the major takeaways from the message called “I’ll say it again and again and again…” focused on Philippians 4 v.4-7:
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
The message is worth a listen, but here are the main points:
- Joy is not fake happy, but alert awareness.
- Joy is learning to discern that God is up to something even in this.
- Joy is learning to perceive things that run counter to prevailing wisdom about how the world works.
- Joy and celebration are evidence of a particular kind of formation.
2 comments:
God has really been reminding me of the importance of thankfulness these days. it's hard to be thankful at times, but i'm learning to take off my human glasses & let God shape my vision...
God is really reminding me about the importance of thankfulness these days. sometimes it's hard to be thankful, but i'm learning to take off my human glasses & let God shape my vision. glad to hear you & i are both on the same learning curve!
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