Start Your Year, Start Your Day



January 06, 2010
Philippians 1:12-14
12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.

13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.

14 Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
 

I generally think of myself as a glass half-full type of person. I can usually see the sunny side of things and am overall pretty optimistic.

That being said, I'm not sure that I could carry that same chipper attitude into being unjustly imprisoned. Yet, that is exactly what Paul demonstrates in these verses. Paul is able to set aside his own comforts and very freedom and focus only on how his situation can be used for the Kingdom.

Paul was obviously a "big picture" kind of guy, seeing things through the hard to find, eternal perspective.

What are the trials in your life right now, that if viewed differently, might really be opportunities in disguise? Often, when these hardships come our way, we look for the quickest and easiest way out....and understandably so.

But what if God has you positioned exactly where He wants you? What if there is a reason you are in your own personal prison?

Take a minute and ask God to show you that eternal perspective and you might just be surprised by what you see.
 

A Thankful Thought

I am thankful for laughter.  One of the things I treasure is to hear my family & friends laugh. Woody Allen said,“I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose.” 

There has been a couple times in my life where that has happen to me (except it was grapefruit juice & rootbeer instead) and what joy it brings me to think about it again and the great time that was being experienced. 

Sharing a good laugh with someone does a lot for one's outlook on life.  Sometimes it fills in the potholes of life and makes the road a little smoother.

A NewSpring Staff Member


Your Comments

1

Scott | January 06, 2010 at 07.44 am

Great passage and thoughts this morning

2

jane ann | January 06, 2010 at 09.09 am

I am thankful for a Christ-centered home, family & Church!
I recently spent 3 weeks over the holidays with family in their home, helping them as they deal with severe health issues. Christ is not the center of their home & lives and I was reminded over & over how hard it is for those who do not know Christ to deal with the simplest of issues that arise. How difficult it can be to live with the constant stress of trying to control every aspect of your life.
How wonderful it is for me to be able to let Jesus guide me and be in control!

3

Deeds | January 06, 2010 at 11.15 am

Wow - I needed to hear that message today. Good stuff.

4

Ashley | January 06, 2010 at 12.32 pm

Wow.  The sentence about being exactly where God wants you couldn’t be more true.  At times I find it hard to be so far away from the one I love, but God is using this time for me to work on ME.  He isn’t done with me as an individual yet, so He is orchestrating events and situations that are causing me to be a better person so that I can be a better HALF for my significant other.  It’s so funny how God will use a seemingly miserable and lonely circumstance to teach you faith and reliance on His perfect timing!

5

Debbie | January 06, 2010 at 06.15 pm

What an awesome message and boy did I ever need to hear this message..I do my best to always be a happy person but I really do go through times of anxiety and it is then when I take my eyes off God it seems to always get worse.Thank you God for always being in control of my life and allowing the trials to come in and out…May I always know that you are in control and no matter what happens I am just fine and see every circumstance as an opportunity..God bless


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