What You Can Expect When You Press On, Put Behind, and Pull Together

I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.

Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women,

who have labored side by side with me in the gospel

together with Clement and the rest of my follow workers,

whose names are in the book of life.

Rejoice in the Lord always;

again I will say, Rejoice.

Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.

The Lord is at hand;

do not be anxious about anything,

but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God,

which surpasses all understanding,

will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally brothers,

whatever is true, whatever is honorable whatever is just,

whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable,

if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise,

think about these things.

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--

practice these things,

and the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:2-9

Joining hands and hearts to partner together to advance the gospel requires the laying aside of differences.  And when this happens there is cause for rejoicing.  Because choosing to set aside real things, for the sake of that which is more real, is always a miracle.  Would you choose?

God is near.  So near.  In the hard, hard now … God is near.  Trust him.  Run to him.  Rely on him.  In everything.  Everything.  And he will bring the peace that is beyond the best that this world has to offer.  

Would you trust?

So many needs clamor for your attention.  And the biggest lie of all is that you can fix them.  When your mind gets blinded by this savior-lie, you can't see straight.  You rush past the true, the honorable to  what is demanding most loudly.  Would you pause?

What you have learned and received and heard and seen … live out.  And as you  press on, put behind, and pull together… God will be with you.  The God of peace will be with you.  He will. Would you live?  

Would you leave a comment and share what has been particularly meaningful to you in Riverside this week?  

I am so grateful for your prayers for me and our family.  I am praying for Jennifer, Natasha, Beth, Alecia and her family, Elizabeth, Lynne and her family.  Would you join me in praying for all the women who gather Riverside?  That together we would choose, and trust, and pause and live out all that the Lord is teaching us as we sit at his feet?  I love being here with you.  And if you'd like to get in touch with me directly, here's my email address -- cynthiafin@gmail.com. 

Next week is Thanksgiving week and our last week Riverside in Philippians.  I am so thankful for you and for all the Lord has taught me as we have gathered here together.  

Beginning December 1, we will turn our attention to welcoming Jesus, this one who we have learned left behind his rightful place and took on the form of a babe.  Last year I provided a Jesse Tree scripture guide and offered a template for the ornaments.  I will make that available again, but I'm adding in a devotional right here, each day for you and your household.  If you'd like the template for the ornaments, email me and I'll send it out to you.