If I had to choose a favorite book in the New Testament, Philippians would be pretty close to the top of the list. I simply love this little letter written by Paul somewhere around 60-61 AD.

Our verse to memorize is a short one, but it’s something of a smack in the face.

Don’t just read it and move on. Stop and think abut what Paul is telling you to do. And then take a look at your life and see just where this needs to be applied.

Philippians 2:14. Take a look:

I think we complain too much.

Watch this video.

While humorous, the point is well taken. We complain.

Paul says don’t. It’s that simple.

What have you complained about today? What can you do to eliminate this habit from your life? You can share your thoughts in the comments section below.

This week’s passage is the classic Christian Church text on baptism.

I believe Peter’s message here is pretty clear: baptism is extremely important.

Acts 2:38 is this week’s passage:

This comes in the middle of Peter’s sermon in Acts 2, which resulted in thousands of people turning to Christ.

Pretty amazing day any way you look at it. What would we do in our churches if 3000 people responded at once?

What would we do?

How would we react?

I think we would be in awe of God’s incredible power, just like the believers in Acts were.

Read through the book of Acts and take note of just how many times you see that God was adding to their numbers.

I think the point is this: When we preach the word with boldness and without compromise, God does mighty things through it. He brings people to himself. He rescues. He saves.

So, why do we fear?

Peter shared the gospel with boldness. Do you? What helps you to do this? You can share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Do you ever get the feeling that you aren’t in control?

I don’t know about you, but I hate that feeling.

However, that is something that I’m just going to have to learn to live with. Take a look at Proverbs 16:9:

I can make my plans, but God’s plan supersedes mine. I can direct my life in the directions I want to go, but what God wants is what will occur.

The key, is to develop such a heart for God, and a heart like his, that my wants reflect his wants, that my desires are what he desires, that my plans are set because I’m in tune with his plan.

How does one go about achieving that?

Prayer. Studying the Word.

Consistently.

Continually.

Completely.

What plans do you have in your life that you need to seek God’s counsel on? You can share your thoughts in the comments section below.

This week, I’ve been struck with the sense of entitlement that most people seem to have.

It’s disgusting.

But as I look at my life, I see that I’m just as gross. So many of my thoughts are centered around my wants, my desires, me…

But thankfulness should be the state of my heart, because of what God has done for me.

This week’s passage is from Psalm 30:11-12. Check it out:

God did for me what I could not do for myself. God removed my sin, and made me a new creation. God gave me a reason for joy.

My life should reflect a response of gratitude.

Do you live with a sense of entitlement, or with an attitude of gratitude? You can share your thoughts in the comments section below.

One of the things I’m most concerned about in my life is the legacy I am leaving for my children. This is one of the main reasons I journal fastidiously.

I want to make sure that I live my life in such a way that my top priority, in my life, my marriage, my family, my job, is always and only my God.

I crave a singleness of heart like Jeremiah speaks of in this week’s passage. Take a look at Jeremiah 32:39:

I am confident that if I live my life to the best of my ability for God and his purposes, then my children will see that and choose to follow that path as well.

I am confident that if I succeed in establishing the most dynamic ministry out there, but lose my family, then I have failed.

I am confident that if I teach and uphold biblical principles to my children, then they will be armed with the knowledge to face what the world has to offer and make the right choices.

I am confident that when God says that fearing him is for my own good, and for the good of my children, he has my best interests at heart.

I am confident. That is why I hope.

Do you think about the legacy you are leaving for your children and future generations? You can share your thoughts in the comments section below.