Philippians

Reflection: Forgetting the Past

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by Bro. Joe Miles

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before”

(Phil 3:13, KVJ)

The Apostle Paul had what some would call a checkered past. Like all of us, he did some things which he later regretted doing. Unfortunately, with human nature being what it is, even after working in ministry for several years there were most likely some people who still felt inclined to remind him of how he use to persecute Christians. Thankfully, Paul had come to understand that the hope he had in Christ enabled him to let go of his past mistakes and look forward to becoming the man of God he was destined to be.  Continue reading →

Friday after Ash Wednesday

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by Matthew B. Harper

Philippians 4:6-7 – …Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The Bible tells us that the Lord already knows all of our cares and concerns, and it instructs us to tell them to God. So why must we then give voice to these things if God already knows them? I have often wondered about this, and I have come to understand two things. 1 – It isn’t that God needs to know what we have to tell him. It is that God wants us to tell him what our concerns are. God is our heavenly parent, and God wants us to talk to him. And 2 – WE need to give voice to the things that trouble us, to cast our cares to the Lord.

The flip side of this is that if we give over our cares to the Lord, we must not then turn around and take them back. Our task may be to work very hard at whatever our concern is, but we need to let go of all the worry and frustration. All too often in my life I have prayed earnestly to the Lord, and then continued to worry and fret about something. When I pray to God, and let my cares and concerns be handled by God, then I know the peace of God. Even in any dark place in my life, I have known the great peace that can only come from the Lord. And I don’t worry about what I think God needs to know, I worry about what I need to tell the Lord. When I know peace in this dark place, I give thanks to the Lord.

“Prayer is the greatest, swiftest, ship my heart could sail upon.” – Jewel Kilcher

“Remember not, Lord Christ, our offenses, nor the offenses of our forefathers; neither reward us according to our sins…. By thy mercy preserve us forever. Spare us, good Lord” BCP148