Draw Near: Day 19

Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.


Day 19 MIND ADVERTISEMENT



Famed author Bruce Barton has wisely said: "For good or ill, your conversation is your advertisement. Every time you open your mouth, you let men look into your mind." Jesus said the same thing many years earlier: For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34). It is true that, to know how people think and what they are, we only need listen to their words.



The apostle Paul says, I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. Paul knew how to be abased and how to abound. In other words, circumstances of his life did not affect his happiness. Rather, his joy was firmly rooted in a relationship with the Lord he loved. In such confidence, Paul could frankly claim: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).


Our strongest witness for Christ is our positive conversation that breathes hope.
They Apostle Paul Reminds us to be content, to be joyful no matter what our state may be to count it all a blessing.






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Draw Near: The Thank You Cure

Day 18
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus

The Thank You Cure

A wise old doctor in South Wales often prescribes the "thank-you cure." When a patient comes to him depressed but without symptoms of serious woes, the doctor tells him, "For six weeks, I want you to say 'Thank you' whenever someone does you a favor. And to show you mean it, emphasize the words with a smile." When the patient complains that few do him favors, the doctor simply replies, "Seek and ye shall find." Six weeks later the patient usually returns with a new outlook, freed of his grievances against life, and convinced that people have suddenly become more kind and friendly.

Praise does far more for us than it does for God. Our Father is not some egocentric being Who needs to be told constantly how wonderful He is. He desires the praise of His people because it opens their hearts to God and their fellowman. The grateful heart is a gracious heart. We are to season our request with thanksgiving, and in so doing, our love for the Lord grows deeper.

Reading through this bible plan has been, very inspirational, uplifting and encouraging.

Draw Near: Day 17

 Day 17
Philippians4: I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.


Public Rebuke


The same day the disastrous Chicago fire broke out, a forest fire started in Peshtigo, Wisconsin, which killed five hundred more people than the Chicago blaze. Called the worst natural disaster in history, the Wisconsin fire started when many small fires were sparked in the dry weather. The Chicago conflagration received more publicity because it caused far more property damage and because of the romantic story of Mrs. O'Leary's cow beginning the Chicago blaze. However, both fires were devastating.


Paul warn the Philippians of the false Prophets within the church. Paul also saw a potential danger to such a young church, the disagreement between individual. Often we need help from others to see our problems from a different point of view, and to defuse it immediately. When left unattended our little fires of anger can bring destruction and even spiritual death.  Thank Lord for grace and mercy.

Draw Near: Guide to Greater Intimacy with God - Day 16

Day16
Philippians 3:19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly 20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ

The Writer titles Innocent Victims;

The horror of Hitler often overshadows that of Mussolini. However, we must never forget how evil this little dictator was. He marched without mercy on Ethiopia and machine-gunned peaceful people who still hunted with bows and arrows. He stayed in power for twenty-one years by murder, intrigue, and exile. When German forces collapsed in 1945, the escaping Mussolini was caught and, along with his mistress, shot. Their bodies were taken to Milan and hung by the heels in front of a garage. It was an ugly end to an ugly and totally immoral man.


There are evil men in the world even in the church, who set their minds on earthly things, their end, like Mussolini's, will be disgrace and damnation. Paul warns the Philippians of these false teachers.
Pitted against the evil ones of this world are those who, like Paul, can say that their citizenship is in heaven.
These are men who live for eternity rather than the few years between birth and the grave. They refuse to live by the law of the jungle--"survival of the fittest"--but seek to fulfill their responsibilities to God and man. May our citizenship be rooted in eternity rather than in the gutters of this earth.


Its so important that we focus on the things in heaven and not on earth. There are many who set there sights on here, and now,what the world has to offer.  It is starting to show, how a nation built on the foundation of God.  The world seem to live by the laws of the jungle, survival of the fittest. Have we as a nation forgotten our first love and stray far that there is no redemption and no salvation.  We need to wake up and smell the coffee before its too late and we are left behind.

Christian Bumper stickers! Approve or Disapprove

Draw Near; Guide to Greater Intimacy with God
Day 15
JUST HONK


A Catholic priest told of driving behind a car with the message "Honk if you love Jesus" on the bumper sticker. "I don't exactly approve of that sort of thing," he said, "but maybe it was the nice weather or something." While stopped behind the car at a traffic light, the priest honked and waved. The lady in the car stuck out her head and yelled, "Can't you see the light is red, stupid?" The priest laughed and said, "It serves me right."

This incident reminds us that we often are tempted to act out of character with our Christian witness. In the heat of busy days, we sometimes say or do things that are not a good testimony for the Kingdom. The lady's attitude was wrong, and she probably later regretted it.


Paul approaches the problem of being human he encourage us to behave like believers, when we do not God can and will call it to our attention. As true believer we are convicted of our wrong doings by the Spirit that dwells with in us. It is wonderful when we realize how much God loves us.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God , and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished into all good works.