Philippians 4

New International Version (NIV)

Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity

4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

² I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. ³ Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Final Exhortations

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Thanks for Their Gifts

¹⁰ I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. ¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

¹⁴ Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. ¹⁵ Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; ¹⁶ for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. ¹⁷ Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. ¹⁸ I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

²⁰ To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.^[a]

Whatever is Lovely

Spiritual Breathing Practices

Spiritual Breathing practice

Fully surrendering your “junk” or things you want to get rid of at the foot of the Cross, or Jesus Lap whichever you wish.

It is the person’s heart posture or motivation behind desiring to surrender and hear from God. Not the discipline, but the heart that makes the difference.

 

Key Idea:             1) In order to Inhale Oxygen, you need to exhale the carbon dioxide. –

a. Inhale to exhale .

b. Upon exhaling- think of  the thing you want to surrender –

2) Now you need to fill up the empty breath with an inhale –

3) With prayer ask Jesus to replace the word to take back with you on your inhale.

 

Thought:              1) Picture in mind what you want to surrender.

– Imagine you are sitting at the feet of Jesus like Mary Magdelane, and you are giving this thing/feeling/issue and placing it on the lap of Jesus.

(Let Jesus take it from you. Lift your burdens to him, and let him take whatever you need to surrender. )

 

Action: 2) Take your hands and hold on to this word/idea and stretch them out and drop it. As you exhale move your arms out at the same time.

a. Keep actioning and don’t forget to exhale the words

b. Remember when you drop something, you don’t take it back. So make sure your palms are open faced when you bring your hands back to your sides.

Action on the Inhale:

 

 

3) Taking Motion Action- Place your hands face up, to receive the gift from Jesus. Extend your hands to his lap, face up, and be silent so you can hear God’s still small voice speak to you. Receive his gift and take it back to your chest. Hold it to your heart, and do it again until you feel you’ve received the gift he has for you. With no expectations, just surrender your thoughts as you feel his presence with you.

 

Note: Do this repeatedly, First give it away – as the spirit helps us to feel peace that you’ve given it.

Then Start the Deep Inhaling while receiving the “Word” or whatever the Holy SPirit fills you up with”.

 

Verse that helps us see why this type of discipline can help us, is to let our source be Jesus Love for us. So that as we grow, he will help us, when we are centered with him.

I like to say, “Plugged In”

 

John 15

New International Version (NIV)

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

 

Another Discipline is a Scripture one:

Read Colossians 3:1 -17 – 3 times. –

Ask God to speak to you, something that jumps out at you.

Go over it and just rest as you think about the words and see what your spirit says to you.

Psalm 46:10 – Be still, and know that I am your God.

Ephesians 1

Ephesians chapter 1:
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Truth?

The Truth Will Set You Free

John 8

³¹ So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, ³² and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” ³³ They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”

³⁴ Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave^[b] to sin. ³⁵ The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.

 

http://www.biblegateway.com/

I Am the Light …

I Am the Light of the World

John 8

¹² Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” ¹³ So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” ¹⁴ Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. ¹⁵ You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. ¹⁶ Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father^[a] who sent me. ¹⁷ In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. ¹⁸ I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.”

http://www.biblegateway.com

The Light in You

Luke 8

³³ “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. ³⁴ Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. ³⁵ Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. ³⁶ If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”    http://www.biblegateway.com/