Studies in Philippians 1. Living together in thankfulness

"I never wanted to be a cad, but I guess I am, so, if you've been handed a bunch of lemons, make some lemon juice." A tabloid newspaper said yesterday he was attempting to sell the letters through a third party and one US bidder had been prepared to pay £100,000.

I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1.

Jesus was an ALL man.

Ashamed Sense of failure Angry

Frustrated Weak Useless

God, make the door of this house wide enough to receive all who need human love and fellowship; narrow enough to shut out all envy, pride and strife. Make its threshold smooth enough to be no stumbling block to children, nor to straying feet, but rugged and strong enough to turn back the tempter’s power. God make the doorway of this house the gateway to thine eternal kingdom. (by St. Stephen’s, Walbrook, London)

Dear God I come to you this morning realising that I am not the kind of person I want to be and not the kind of person you want me to be. I have not loved you. I have not lived for you. I have lived for myself. I have done those things which you did not want me to do. I have not done those things you would like me to do. I am a sinner. Thank you that the cross shows that you still love me; that you want the best for me; that Jesus died for the very wrongs which make me a sinner. Thank you that when I say ‘sorry’ for my past life and really mean it, you forgive me for the wrongs of the past and promise me power to live the future for you. And today I want to say ‘sorry’. I ask your forgiveness. And I do so with the assurance that you are a God who keeps his word and who has said that if we confess our sin, you forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all wrongdoing. Thank You, God. Amen.

Dear God I am fed up with living my life oppressed by a sense of failure, weakness, shame, anger and frustration. I confess that these feelings have robbed me of the joy and the peace which should be mine as a Christian. I want now to place all these negative feelings at the foot of your cross. May they no longer burden me. I ask God that you will give me a release from them. Give me a sense of the joy of my salvation, a fresh understanding of my worth to you. Teach me the way in which I should go; open doors of opportunity for service within this church and beyond. Help me to value myself as you value me. May people see more and more of you in me. Because you are a God who lifts up the downcast, I offer you my hand. Take it in yours, lift me to my feet, raise my drooping face and walk with me into our tomorrows. Amen