BREAKING OUT IN EXCLAMATIONS OF THANKS TO GOD FOR YOU!!! - The Message

I hope you are enjoying our walk through the book of Philippians.  I am!  Last week we looked at Chapter 1 verses 3-11.  These are verses of Thanksgiving and Prayer that Paul has for his friends in Philippi.  You know that I enjoy looking at Peterson's translation in the Message.  He addresses a love that will grow and the exclamations of thanks to God that he has for each of them - which reminds him to pray for them.   

Prayer!!  That is something that we can all do, for our own discipleship, guidance, and development and for others.  I love praying for you!  And I hope you do the same for me!  Paul gives us a good guide for prayer:  Gratitude (Thankfulness), Joy, Confidence, and Affection.  We talked about how the word for affection came from the word for intestines.  When Patti and I were going home last week she reminded me how that makes total sense.  We get those "feelings in our gut" and they are usually right .  Paul reminds us to pray for love, discernment, purity, and to be fruitful.

I am using some discernment this Sunday.  I have the flu (or worse) and there is NO WAY I want to spread it to you.  Worship will still be incredible, and it will make next Sunday even more special-at least for me.  Please keep me in your prayers.  I fall under the "sick and afflicted category today".

One of my favorite authors/poets is Shel Silverstein.  My favorite book that he wrote is "The Giving Tree".  However, he has special poetry as well.  With all of the crazy things going on in the world, especially this week, I want to share with you his poem "Tug O'War".  It goes....

“I will not play at tug o’ war.

I’d rather play at hug o’ war,

Where everyone hugs

Instead of tugs,

Where everyone giggles

And rolls on the rug,

Where everyone kisses,

And everyone grins,

And everyone cuddles,

And everyone wins”

I encourage you to play hug o'war, giggle, grin, and definitely win!!  

Remember...

You ARE Loved!

Pastor Lonnie