Today, Tomorrow, and Every Day … You Press On

The marker of the Christian life is not that you have walked the aisle, said the prayer, or raised your hand.  The marker of the Christian life is that you press on.

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect,

but I press on to make it my own,

because Christ has made me his own.

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own.

But one thing I do:

forgetting what is behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,

I press on toward the goal of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Let those of us who are mature thing this way,

and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that to you also.

Only let us hold true to what we have attained.  

Philippians 3:12-16

You are motivated by love for Jesus.  He has made you his own.  He has

drawn you to himself,
rescued you out of darkness,
welcomed you into the family, and
called you his friend.  

With the love as the propelling force, you press on.

You know you've not arrived.
You believe your past is forgiven.
You let your shame, your pain, your bitterness go.
You have no claim for vengeance.

`

You press on in the now knowing that

every heartache you face now is for greater purpose,
every challenge can be embraced as an opportunity to shine forth Christ,
every trial, every suffering, every wound has the potential to drip with glory weight.

You press on knowing

that one day, one Day, every knee will bow, every tongue confess that Jesus is, indeed, Lord.
that one day, one Day, you will be like him because you'll see him as he is.
that one day, one Day, all will be right
that one day, one Day, he will wipe every tear. Every tear.
that one day, one Day, you will stand shoulder to shoulder with brothers and sisters from every tongue, every tribe, every nation proclaiming, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty!" 

and the praise will roll,
and the thunder will peal,
and the lighting will flash,
and it will all be good.

You press on refusing to

shrink back,
hold back,
give anything less,
join in petty wallpaper arguments,
dwell on the past,
put in the minimum,
rely upon a walk down the aisle,
make an idol of job, house, car, health, money, husband, children, or anything else
play with mud pies when there is an glorious holiday at the beach for you to enjoy. 

You press on

joined in holy sisterhood,
partners in advancing Christ's love,
with your eyes firmly riveted to the face of Jesus
because he is worth it all.  He's worth it all.  

You press on.  Today, tomorrow, and every day until Christ returns or takes you home.  You press on.

Today, or this week, what has been the idea that has seared your heart, encouraged you, enlightened you? What has been the verse that is particularly meaningful?  What change are you making in your life as a result of being in Philippians 3:12-16?  Please be bold, go public, and leave a comment.   

We are completing Week 11 of Riverside!  Next week we start Chapter 4 of Philippians.  We will conclude Philippians during Thanksgiving week. Then we will start a four-week Advent series.  I am LOVING being with you in the word.  I am hearing from women across the country that something is stirring…A passion to join hands and hearts and be a Bible-saturated, Christ-exalting,  God-centered, neighbor-loving holy band of women.  More is coming.  And I'm so excited.  Are you in?

Oh, I also want to let you know that I'm linked up over at Missional Women today for Faith Filled Friday.  So, if you have a blog to link, or want to read what other women are writing today, head on over.