for His sake...

In Philippians 1:9, Paul prayed for the christians of Philippi in this way: "That your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve all things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteouness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."

This is my prayer, that, like Paul, I can say "that the things which have happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel" (1:12); and that "Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death" (1:20)...that "my conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ" because "it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake." And my sufferings are little compared to what Christ put Himself through for ME.

On Saturday, Emma came down with the flu...high fever, body aches, sick eyes, deep chest cough, sore throat...by the time we realized that she didn't just have a cold, Michael had already been exposed since this flu is an airborne virus. Elliot climbed into my bed in the middle of the night on Sunday and upon feeling his head and listening to him cough, I knew he had it too. Yesterday, Michael woke up sick. Today he spent a few hours in the ER, being treated for dehydration. He tested positive for the flu, so he will be on meds to help cope with that. Ethan seemed extra sleepy this morning, so he ended up taking a morning nap...and woke up with a 103+ fever.

Praise God, he is all powerful and He sustains us through our weakness. Sing with us in your hearts...

Water You turned into wine
Open the eyes of the blind
There’s no one like You
None like You
Into the darkness You shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There’s no one like You
None like You

Into the darkness you shining
Out of the ashes we Rise
There’s no One like You
None like You.

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…

And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
What can stand against?

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Chris Tomlin {"Our God"}