Heaviness

Things I am grateful for today. Hot coffee on a humid day. It’s just good stuff. Dogs who get their head stuck in paper bag and just stand there waiting for help. Laughter in my house, making meals together, rest. For food in our house, for a/c blasting throughout, for green leaves and grass, for beautiful cloud formations. For people reaching out, for time to serve, for hugs. For beauty found in animals, in squirrels, bunnies, birds, cats, dogs and even geckos. For music, for scripture set to music to help memorize. For conversations, for encouragement…

To combat the low feelings. Start with gratitude. As I speak Philippians over my heart over and over, I think of Paul’s prayer in chapter 1.

“And this I pray, that your love may abound more and more [displaying itself in greater depth] in real knowledge and in practical insight, so that you may learn to recognize and treasure what is excellent [identifying the best, and distinguishing moral differences], and that you may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ [actually living lives that lead others away from sin]; filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God [so that His glory may be both revealed and recognized].”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭AMP

Love abounding. ‬Listen, I know that we can all take examples anywhere we look of the opposite. I don’t have to look far. Hello. Me. Love is based in real knowledge. Not what I would like to stand on at times, feelings are not truth. I heard this quote today, unknown source, “If you want to hear the voice of God in your life, read his word aloud.” If I compare my thoughts and feelings with the truth found in his word, do I line up? Love doesn’t always have a clip answer for someone confused and asking the identical question over and over. To them, it is all new and I am reminded to respond in kind.

Love keeps verses in my mind and in front of me as I see the caller id. Love keeps asking questions. Love keeps asking for insight and recognition. Love takes the next step towards others. Love changes my thoughts and behaviors in kind.

Back to where I began here. What can I offer in thanksgiving even in the tough times, tough conversations? I always have something to offer in gratitude. When I don’t have an answer for a patient or a friend, I know the One is our answer. Being bold to tell people about my best answer.

So, verse 9, give us the picture of love found in knowledge and insight, not to exalt ourselves or bring attention to our works, but this will teach us to recognize and treasure what is best. 1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now there remain, faith, hope, and love, but the greatest of these is love.”

Love vertically by listening, responding and obeying the word of God. Love horizontally by listening and responding to those around us. I want to continue to hear the promptings of the Spirit and respond. Whether it be financially or spiritually, to speak or to say. All of this to say, God asks that with all of this truth and knowledge, I would walk pure and blameless, filled with the fruit of righteousness.

As I write this, I already know I do not meet that standard. I am not pure and blameless, but I keep coming near and continuing to confess. Who I am when nobody is watching, God knows. Love coming full circle. God loving me to become more like his son. Me sharing that love with those around me.

I end with this. I want to remind you that those verses are a prayer. I’ll share this passage with you:

“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

More tomorrow.