A Message of Inspiration From the Author of Living Loved, January 12, 2025
Friends, a while back I took my family to Kentucky to the Ark Experience and wow was it powerful. And as we were coming home from Kentucky, we were listening to a sermon and the pastor told a story of a woman on a plane. He said, as she looked out one window she saw a beautiful sunset and as she looked out the other side windows she saw an approaching storm. And in that moment I feel like the Lord spoke to my heart what he spoke to hers which was, no matter what was coming, that plane was headed to Boston. And she could either focus on the storm or she could focus on the sunset, but it would not change her final destination. And friends, we are all headed to a final destination, an eternity. Where is your final destination? Heaven? Hell? If you don’t know, let’s talk. And if you do, I ask what are you focusing on?
As we enter this new year, I want to challenge my friends to the Philippians 4 way of living. There is a simple formula for enjoying our journeys. On how to focus on the sunsets and not the storms. How to keep the Lord at the forefront of our minds. Read with me!
Philippians 4:4-14
1. BE FULL OF THE JOY OF THE LORD. REJOICE IN HIM ALWAYS! “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do.
2. REMEMBER HE IS COMING BACK SOON!! Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
3. STOP WORRYING. QUIT THE STINKING THINKING. PRAY! THANK HIM! EXPERIENCE HIS PEACE. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
4. FIX YOUR THOUGHTS ON HIM!! MEDITATE ON THE WORD! And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
5. KEEP LEARNING AND LIVING IT OUT LOUD!! Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again.
6. PARTNER WITH OTHER BELIEVERS AND HELP WHEN YOU CAN. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.
7. LEARN TO LIVE WITH EVERYTHING OR NOTHING. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.
8. YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING HE PUTS BEFORE YOU! For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.”
Friends, we are so loved and when we stay focused on the Lord and we REMAIN in Him, He will remain with us and we will experience His peace, His joy, His Strength, His ways. Because friends, along this journey to our final destination, we will have sunrises, sunsets and storms. Beauty and struggle. Choose today, where you will fix your mind and your thoughts. You are so loved friends!! Live loved!!
About the author
Tracy Kelley is a follower of Jesus, mother, grandmother, author and speaker, living in Sulphur Springs, TX. She is the author of the book Living Loved, Learning to Live in the Fullness of Gods Love, where she shares encouragement from her daily journey and how God has shown His love to her through various trials. You can buy her book, find events, book her for your event, and follow her by going to her Facebook page, where you will always be greeted as friend! You can purchase her book at Good News Book Store in Sulphur Springs, TX; online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and most other major retailers.
