Verse of the Day - Philippians 2:13

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. ~ Philippians 2:13 (NLT)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Did you ever really read this verse before? Aren't you glad to know that you aren't expected to live your Christian life on your own?

Let's face it -- God's call to believers to walk in His ways is not for wimps. It's tough! I just started a book, entitled, "Jesus Did it Anyway," by Kent Keith, so I don't have much yet to say about it, although a friend from church just finished it, and she said it was very good. The author penned "The Paradoxical Commandments for Christians" back in 1967, while he was attending Harvard:

* People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway.

* If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway.

* If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.

* The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

* Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.

* The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think big anyway.

* People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

* What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.

* People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. Help people anyway.

* Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway.

The inside book cover says, "We're called to a paradoxical life...Jesus did it anyway. Will you?"

What God asks of us is not to have pious motives and stellar abilities to be a "Super Christian", but simply the will to have Him change our selfish motives and puny abilities into people that love Him and love others. Willingly. Passionately. In grand fashion.

Don't think you have to do this Christian life by yourself. And don't think you can, either, because you can't. It is God who does it in you. All you need to do, and all you can do is show up. He'll do the rest.

Love,
Joelene