Dear Gateway Family,

I hope and pray this encouragement finds you well. Alas, if it doesn’t, I’m glad you’re reading it. Because my friend, this one’s for you.

Buckle up and read this passage of scripture from Philippians 4:2-7.

2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Final Exhortations
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

What a glorious passage of Scripture! Certainly, one to memorize and repeat. To rejoice, give thanks, praise and to pray in ANY and EVERY circumstance is truly a powerful key to life in Christ. May we own and use this key! May it become as natural to us as breathing. In fact, take 20 seconds right now to give God thanks for something He has done.

Ah, that’s it. Sometimes we forget what he has done and we just focus on what he hasn’t done or what we are waiting for Him to do. We can increase our level of faith and hope when we remind ourselves of how he has been there for us in the past. “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.” (Psalm 103:2-4)

I think that far too often our faith is determined by our circumstances, rather than the Gospel. Paul, who wrote the book of Philippians along with Timothy, had every right to speak these words to us: “Rejoice ALWAYS.” Wait no, I’ll say it AGAIN. As in DO IT NOW! REJOICE! Laugh! Take Joy! In the middle of your prison, in the middle of your sickness, in the middle of your struggle and waiting on God. Rejoice! And don’t worry. I know; easier said than done.

So, what do you need? You need FELLOW BELIEVERS!!! Come on, now. We need to remind one another to praise and pray, and be there to do so together. Two are better than one! Look at the beginning of this passage where Paul is telling these individuals to “be of the same mind in the Lord”. He obviously needs to tell them to be of the same mind because they aren’t. For whatever reason they have odds with each other. I hear him saying, “put it all aside and realize what really matters: contending for the cause of the Gospel.” He also talks about our gentleness being known to all. Why? Because the Lord is near. How would you act if Jesus was standing there right now? Act that way, because He is.

Also, just a little shout out to all my ladies who are WORKING and contending for the Gospel and the area that God has called you to. Don’t give up. Much rests on your shoulders, and help is coming. Don’t. Give. Up.

I also see a command hidden in this scripture. A command that I have forgotten about or ignored at times. Do you see it? “DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING, but in every situation by prayer and petition, WITH THANKSGIVING, present your requests to God.” Ok, so the next time my body and mind want to feel anxious, that’s my cue to sing. Try it!

The word “Contend” sticks out to me. It makes me wonder, what am I contending for? What am I striving for earnestly? It seems to me that I contend not for the Gospel, but for perhaps the wrong things at times. Contending to be heard. Contending to be right. Contending to lose weight. (Come on, I’m not the only one.) Contending for what I want. But am I contending for the Gospel? Am I working and living in a way to see the Gospel become reality around? Well, I am now.

Thank you, Jesus for your Word that brings life.

And now, as you have worshipped, praised and thanked God and presented to Him all your needs, I trust that "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

All my love,
Pastor Amy