December 11, 2017 Monday Week 2 Day 2

I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. I want you to know, beloved, that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ; and most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear. Philippians 1:3–14

            When I think of love my heart immediately goes to 1 Corinthians chapter 13 but the book of Philippians could be called the Book of Love!  In the scripture above we see how even as he is imprisoned Paul experiences God and His children’s love for him and expresses his love for God and them.

            Even though imprisoned Paul is in prayer for those he shared the Gospel which is Jesus with.  Paul even then astoundingly declares God has spread the Gospel even more through his time of imprisonment!

            Some may not understand this but to be personal for a moment I can truly say that I know this to be true.  For over thirty years I served God as a pastoral minister and through God’s grace and power I was privileged to see God blessing so many!  Yet “imprisoned” in a chair My Lord and My Love continues to work through me as I seek to glorify Him through the blog, by sending cards to others who are disabled and mostly through amazing times of prayer!

            God through His deep love for us can turn every terrible thing in our lives to blessing for us, glory to Him and salvation for others!  I would not trade my imprisonment for anything because through it I experience the love of My Love and My Love and am truly free! 

            Celebrate God’s love for you!

            For about 39 hours the pain was so intense that I could not sleep!  During this time my mind was not very clear so it was hard to concentrate.  Though I could not spend much time listening to the Bible or even coherently pray God’s presence was a true blessing!  Thank You My Love! I know I do not deserve Your love and faithfulness!